Chapter 33

HYPNOSIS

The word “hypnosis” is derived from the Greek word hypnos, meaning “sleep” — although hypnosis is not sleep; in fact, it is quite the opposite. Hypnosis is a way of accessing the subconscious mind in a controlled and conscious way. There are many ways to use it, and many benefits to be gained, from healing to past-life regression to achieving out-of-body experiences. I took a course in hypnotherapy a few years ago, so I know quite a bit about the subject.

Hypnosis, when utilized, brings about a state of mind commonly known as trance. This word sounds awful, really, and hypnosis has been given a bad name because of the way it has been portrayed in films, where people in so-called “trance” are shown walking around like zombies. The state of hypnosis is nothing like this at all; it is actually quite a pleasant experience, and varies in depth, from a light state of daydreaming to a deep state of somnambulism, where the body becomes fully asleep and the mind fully active. All of us are in a trance state two or three times a day. For example, when driving a car, your mind is so focused on the road that it produces a trance state; you can drive along and, when you get to your destination, seem to have no conscious recollection of the route you took. When this happens, our subconscious mind takes over and goes into autopilot, and driving becomes automatic.

The most common type of trance state is when we watch TV or a movie: we get so absorbed in the story that, for a short time, we become a part of the movie, lose our sense of time, and become unaware of our surroundings. We sometimes cry if the film is a sad one, or become emotional — this is because we are in a trance, and the subconscious is active. The subconscious has a lot to do with the right side of the brain (it is interesting to note, too, that left-handed people tend to be more artistic and imaginative, whereas right-handed people tend to be more practical — because the right side of the brain is connected to the left side of the body, and the left side of the brain to the right side of the body). The subconscious side is where all the psychic stuff takes place.

This chapter is adapted from a piece by M. A. Robotham. See www.crystalinks.com/hypnotherapy.html