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Going Deeper, Deeper . . . |
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Through the entertainment media, you've no doubt been introduced to hypnosis as a supernatural force that takes over a person's inhibitions and makes them do silly, embarrassing things. But hypnosis is not just a parlor trick; it is a useful medical and psychic tool used by health professionals around the world. At its heart, hypnosis is simply a state of intense concentration. When you're hypnotized, you're more alert and receptive to new ideas or suggestions. |
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Perhaps the biggest myth about hypnosis is that the person undergoing hypnosis gives up control of his (or her) own mind and is subject to the control of someone else, namely, the hypnotist. This myth has given hypnosis a bad rap. In fact, experts in the field of hypnosis propose that, although they make suggestions, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis and that its power lies in the mind of the person being hypnotized. |
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Hypnosis is actually achieved when the client reaches such an intense level of concentration that he (or she) blocks out any mental interference that distracts him from his focus. The physical process involved shows that his brainwaves slow down measurably, from the conscious beta waves to the subconscious alpha waves or perhaps even theta waves, which mark the dream state that you go through on your way in and out of deep sleep. (If these ABCs of brainwaves are confusing you, revisit Chapter 5, where we introduced them to you.) |
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In a sense, hypnosis is like guided meditation. You pass through a series of steps to go deeper into the unconscious, but actually hear every word during the process. Whether you enter a light trance or a deep one determines whether you experience other effects as well. A light trance may give you a feeling of being very relaxed or perhaps weightless, but otherwise may not feel all that different from the concentrated frame of mind you achieve when reading a good book. A deeper trance could create a euphoric state, or a state similar to being intoxicatedwithout the loss of control (or the hangover!). |
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Although the hypnotist remains fully conscious in a completely normal state of mind, the client's mind is free to soar to new levels of intense concentration. Free from the rational constraints of the conscious mind, you'll be able to heighten certain innate abilities, including your imagination, your memory, your creative tendencies, and your suggestibility. All of these abilities are closely linked to the intuitive side of your brain, which helps explain why hypnosis is such an effective route to psychic insight. |
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