the Free Hypnosis Social Network
What is trance?
Every now and then I encounter people who have varying opinions of what trance is and how it works. Just today I have read here where people think sleep is trance, or think that hypnosis doesn't need to involve trance at all.
So just what is trance?
In my formal training, I was taught "trance begins with 3 words....close...your...eyes." I have since found out that I was given misinformation about what trance was, and so that started me questioning everything, doing my own research, and writing a book about it, but that's another story.
Needless to say, that my own personal findings indicated that trance is a natural state for us as a species. Since the analytical mind can only focus on one thing at a time, we have to use a trance state to be able to multi-task.
Trance is simply a state where the reactive mind (subconscious) automatically reacts to outside input. Hypnosis takes advantage of this by realizing the outside input can be in the form of a suggestion.
To me; hypnosis is simply the means to induce a purposeful trance state. So it doesn't matter what method you use, if you have induced a trance state in someone, you have hypnotized them.
In our everyday lives, we are well used to using trance states with the conscious mind very active and aware.
Trance has nothing to do with if the eyes are open or shut, if you are nervous or relaxed, or anything else like that. The reason we use commands like sleep, relax, etc. is because for the most part, the subject is very familiar with the terms and understands how to automatically react to them, and it turns the focus of their mind further inside.
When ever our conscious mind is focused on something, especially on the inside of the body, a trance state HAS TO exist in order for us to keep maintaining.
A trance state does not bypass the critical factor unless the magnitude of the trance state (depth?) is sufficient to shut down that filter. We refer to that magnitude of trance as somnambulism, and during somnambulism our ability to determine what is real and true is impaired (what we call "the critical factor") which is why we get the trance effects and results we get with it.
I realize that we all have our models of hypnosis and trance, this is mine, and I would love to hear how you define trance.
John
So just what is trance?
In my formal training, I was taught "trance begins with 3 words....close...your...eyes." I have since found out that I was given misinformation about what trance was, and so that started me questioning everything, doing my own research, and writing a book about it, but that's another story.
Needless to say, that my own personal findings indicated that trance is a natural state for us as a species. Since the analytical mind can only focus on one thing at a time, we have to use a trance state to be able to multi-task.
Trance is simply a state where the reactive mind (subconscious) automatically reacts to outside input. Hypnosis takes advantage of this by realizing the outside input can be in the form of a suggestion.
To me; hypnosis is simply the means to induce a purposeful trance state. So it doesn't matter what method you use, if you have induced a trance state in someone, you have hypnotized them.
In our everyday lives, we are well used to using trance states with the conscious mind very active and aware.
Trance has nothing to do with if the eyes are open or shut, if you are nervous or relaxed, or anything else like that. The reason we use commands like sleep, relax, etc. is because for the most part, the subject is very familiar with the terms and understands how to automatically react to them, and it turns the focus of their mind further inside.
When ever our conscious mind is focused on something, especially on the inside of the body, a trance state HAS TO exist in order for us to keep maintaining.
A trance state does not bypass the critical factor unless the magnitude of the trance state (depth?) is sufficient to shut down that filter. We refer to that magnitude of trance as somnambulism, and during somnambulism our ability to determine what is real and true is impaired (what we call "the critical factor") which is why we get the trance effects and results we get with it.
I realize that we all have our models of hypnosis and trance, this is mine, and I would love to hear how you define trance.
John
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Hugh Cole on -
Hi all ... Agree with Micheal and Kelley .... Life is a "connected" series of trances where people are being "input to" rather than "inputing on" thier enviorenment. People are on a more or less constant trans-derivational search to find the proper previously-learned reaction to some semi-perceived input. That of course is a wonderfully productive environment for a hypnotist, because you can simply hi-jack thier unguided trance and quickly and easily turn it into your guided one.
So while we are on the subject of hi-jacking trances and the potential usefulness of that concept ... What if you were to adopt that model as your own personal core belief.? Would it effect the way you saw "trance"... Would it effect the way you use "trance"... would it become your most effective 'trance "model/metaphor". Hmm
So ask me again .. What is Trance? and why are we all not geeky enough for Adrian to play with? Could it be that utilization is more important to us than the correctness of the model.. Could it be that we "less than conciously" recognize that *any* concept about the mind is simply a model or metaphor whose underlying value lies in the metaphorical concept of .. "usefulness". Could it be that imprinting useful beliefs ... learning useful skills ,, or just plain learning ... is the begining and ending of the purpose of the this "trance thing" we biped earth traveling trance machines "do" and that any definition of "trance" is only about learning why we would want to define it anyway.
Hugh Cole
The Pretty Goodest Hypnotist on the Planet
-
Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on -
Hugh,
To me, hi-jacking an existing trance state is a bit of a coarse description for umm..."utilizing" what already exists. LOL!
And the ability to utilize, is of course, the ultimate benefit of understanding how something works. I have always maintained that the one of the biggest benefits of a model (besides providing explanations) is being able to use it to extrapolate with. If you are able to successfully extrapolate an outcome using an operational model, then the accuracy of your model becomes more verified.
but that's just my nerdy gerdie
John
Hugh Cole said:Hi all ... Agree with Micheal and Kelley .... Life is a "connected" series of trances where people are being "input to" rather than "inputing on" thier enviorenment. People are on a more or less constant trans-derivational search to find the proper previously-learned reaction to some semi-perceived input. That of course is a wonderfully productive environment for a hypnotist, because you can simply hi-jack thier unguided trance and quickly and easily turn it into your guided one.
So while we are on the subject of hi-jacking trances and the potential usefulness of that concept ... What if you were to adopt that model as your own personal core belief.? Would it effect the way you saw "trance"... Would it effect the way you use "trance"... would it become your most effective 'trance "model/metaphor". Hmm
So ask me again .. What is Trance? and why are we all not geeky enough for Adrian to play with? Could it be that utilization is more important to us than the correctness of the model.. Could it be that we "less than conciously" recognize that *any* concept about the mind is simply a model or metaphor whose underlying value lies in the metaphorical concept of .. "usefulness". Could it be that imprinting useful beliefs ... learning useful skills ,, or just plain learning ... is the begining and ending of the purpose of the this "trance thing" we biped earth traveling trance machines "do" and that any definition of "trance" is only about learning why we would want to define it anyway.
Hugh Cole
The Pretty Goodest Hypnotist on the Planet
-
Permalink Reply by Ricky Strode on -
I think life itself as we see it is a series of trances. We set up patterens and make them. How many things do you automatically react to without thinking. Our concsiousness is limited our unconcsious is unlimited except your beliefs.
-
Permalink Reply by Hugh Cole on
-
Well Thank you for the Winky's and thank you for coming back to play with us. The geekier forums aren't nearly as much fun.....
Hugh Cole
The Pretty Goodest (and passably geeky) Hypnotist on the Planet.
-
Permalink Reply by GIL BOYNE on
-
So just what is trance? ----------Why does it matter?
Hugh Cole said:Well Thank you for the Winky's and thank you for coming back to play with us. The geekier forums aren't nearly as much fun.....
Hugh Cole
The Pretty Goodest (and passably geeky) Hypnotist on the Planet.
-
Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on
-
Why does it matter?
Because if you understand what something is and how it works, you can more easily use it to achieve a specified goal.
Because there are those who think "I can't be hypnotized", and those who wonder "Why can't I hypnotize them? How come what I say doesn't work? "
and because of that, there are those who are stuck looking for that next best script to try and make up the difference.
To me, these would be a few of the more obvious reasons :) What is the benefit of ignorance in this case?
John
GIL BOYNE said:So just what is trance? ----------Why does it matter?
Hugh Cole said:Well Thank you for the Winky's and thank you for coming back to play with us. The geekier forums aren't nearly as much fun.....
Hugh Cole
The Pretty Goodest (and passably geeky) Hypnotist on the Planet.
-
Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig on -
I was thinking about this the other day, and it occurred to me that nearly any attempt to define such terms as "hypnosis" and "trance" can benefit from a language called English Prime. E' lacks the verb "to be," making it impossible to say, "Hypnosis is . . . " or "Trance is . . . " In E' you would say, "Hypnosis seems to me like . . ." or "To me, trance appears like . . . " E' provides one more way to remind ourselves that we construct models, and as others have pointed out here, one's effectiveness and understanding can expand by examining disparate models.
-
Permalink Reply by Ricky Strode on
-
what is reality ? what is reaction ? what is pleasure ? what is anger ? what is dreaming ? what is life ? all in one way or another associated with a trance of some kind. I think the trances we use are to build new beliefs, expand our realities, our experiences and our life
-
-
Ricky said, Why does it matter?
Because if you understand what something is and how it works, you can more easily use it to achieve a specified goal.
Because there are those who think "I can't be hypnotized", and those who wonder "Why can't I hypnotize them? How come what I say doesn't work? "
and because of that, there are those who are stuck looking for that next best script to try and make up the difference.
My response
My first session is 90 minutes and I NEV ER fail to hypnotize the subject, if not in seconds then in a few minutes
and rarely an extended period of time ( in the first session). I do not use scripts--my scripts are in my memory and I use parts of them as links when I create new programming that is suited to the clients desires and needs.
It has been this way for more than 50 of my 56 year career. Everyone can be hypnotized when in the hands of a well-trained and highly experienced hypnotherapist because hypnosis is a natural state of mind.
-
Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on
-
Gill,
It wasn't Ricky that replied, it was me.
My response:
You are able to do this because of your personal understanding of what trance is and how it works, and is an excellent example of the point I was making, of why this understanding is important.
John
GIL BOYNE said:Ricky said, Why does it matter?
Because if you understand what something is and how it works, you can more easily use it to achieve a specified goal.
Because there are those who think "I can't be hypnotized", and those who wonder "Why can't I hypnotize them? How come what I say doesn't work? "
and because of that, there are those who are stuck looking for that next best script to try and make up the difference.
My response
My first session is 90 minutes and I NEV ER fail to hypnotize the subject, if not in seconds then in a few minutes
and rarely an extended period of time ( in the first session). I do not use scripts--my scripts are in my memory and I use parts of them as links when I create new programming that is suited to the clients desires and needs.
It has been this way for more than 50 of my 56 year career. Everyone can be hypnotized when in the hands of a well-trained and highly experienced hypnotherapist because hypnosis is a natural state of mind.
-
Permalink Reply by Hugh Cole on
-
i think you are both saying the same thing or am I missing something? It is all about beliefs and understanding, Once you understand trance and can use the knowledge you have ... anything is possible. If you are relying on externals .. scripts, flashy things, dangly things etc. then of course you will fail (often not always) because you can't make adjustments for, or understand where, the client really is in the process. I have heard people say "stage hypnosis is a numbers game", not so, its a knowledge game.
Just because someone has memorized a "wonder script" and can get 10% of the crowd... doesn't mean that a more experienced and knowlegable hypnotist can't get 100% of the crowd.. not that that is neccessary for a great show.
Hugh Cole
The Pretty Goodest Hypnotist on the Planet
-
Permalink Reply by John Cerbone - The Trance-Master on -
1st - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trance
2nd - A naturally occuring brain-wave pattern energy shift into relaxation that occurs 7 times a day in the average person, which opens the mind to possibilities and suggestion. The way your brain is designed to bring down stress and say healthy.
3rd - the 1st half of my stage name, LOL
Featured Advertising
Latest Activity
Don replied to Lorrie Hale-Ozbey's discussion 'NLP and Human Performance Technology'
Seth-Deborah Roth replied to Steve G. Jones's discussion 'Hypnotherapy Regulation'
Roy Hunter replied to Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com's discussion 'Informed Consent'
Dennis Atkinson replied to Steve G. Jones's discussion 'Hypnotherapy Regulation'
Roy Hunter replied to Steve G. Jones's discussion 'Hypnotherapy Regulation'
Leshem Yosef commented on Leshem Yosef's group 'Hypno Photo's'
Leshem Yosef commented on Leshem Yosef's group 'Hypno Photo's'
Leshem Yosef commented on Leshem Yosef's group 'Hypno Photo's'
Leshem Yosef commented on Leshem Yosef's group 'Hypno Photo's'
Leshem Yosef commented on Leshem Yosef's group 'Hypno Photo's'
© 2012 Created by Scott Sandland.
About Us
Contact Us
Subscribe To RSS