(I posted this in my LJ "hypnodommes" community, but thought I'd post it here, too)

This topic can be (and has been) debated into the ground. And it will be discussed on and on until the end of time. I am not sure what the "real" answer is, if there is one real answer, so I'll just give the opinion I currently have.

Everyone has been in a state of hypnosis, but not everyone can be hypnotized.

This opinion might change in the future, after I experience more life and learn more. But what currently makes sense to me is that everyone experiences states of hypnosis on a daily basis. We are not always aware of it, but it happens. My hypnotherapy teacher said that a state of hypnosis is the same as being "spaced out." And I pretty much agree. When we are watching television and space out a whole scene, kind of dazed-like, we're in hypnosis. That means that if someone in the room says, "You want to buy me roses" while you're zoned out in la-la land, you might soon find yourself checking out nearby florists online, or at least stopping by the flower area before you leave the supermarket.

Have you done the "think of eating a lemon" test? If you take a moment or so to really imagine yourself biting into a sour juicy lemon, if you really picture it in your mind, you will literally salivate. You can trick your mind into believing you are actually biting into a lemon, and your body reacts by creating more saliva.

Hypnosis, while fascinating, isn't as mystical as it seems.

States of hypnosis occur when we're driving on the freeway, when we're reading a book, when we're eating, when we're having sex, and when we're about to sleep. And like, a hundred other times during the day.

But, being in a state of hypnosis isn't the same as being hypnotized. Some people just cannot go into trance if they are put on the spot. It only happens to them when they don't think about it, and don't expect it. Some people can't even do self-hypnosis, because they're holding on to their conscious mind too much.

There are different ways to hypnotize different people. With many people, a progressive relaxation works just fine. Other people, they need something quick and anxiety-provoking (triggering the "fight or flight" instinct). It's very possible that those who feel they have not been hypnotized simply haven't experienced the proper induction for the way their minds work.

I wouldn't give up. I would just advise hypno-subjects go let go of any expectations, and just allow yourself to fall into the hypnotist's voice. Refrain from analyzing the trance. And if you are still not feeling it, then fake it 'til it's real. Hypnosis isn't roleplay, despite what I've heard others say. But if you really get into pretending that it's happening, you might just make it real.

I fall into the "hard to go deep" camp. I can enter trance states rather easily, but it is hard to completely bypass the "watcher" in me. The deepest trance I ever experienced was a trance I accidentally put myself in at the John Wayne airport in Orange County. I was not attempting to self-hypnotize; I was just thinking very intensely about how a previous hypnosis session felt. I lost two hours of time completely, and introduced post-hypnotic suggestion that took me three days to get rid of. I think because it was an accidental trance, I was not inhibited in my response by the "watcher" part of me.

I have a friend who goes just as deep as any hypnotist could want, and she does so easily and repeatedly. I really envy her.

Hi wombat. Do you mean your friend "d"? Yeah, she sounds like a dream subject! Except for the financial part...

And that "watcher"...what a pest he is!

Yes, I'm referring to "D." I got started in hypnosis when she asked me to learn to hypnotize her so I could help her control her panic attacks during college exams. She responded so well to my hypnotic efforts that I thought for a while I was some kind of natural genius at hypnosis; but it turned out that the deck was stacked in my favor.

However, watching her respond to hypnosis and watching her carry out post hypnotic suggestions without realizing she was doing so made me very curious about what it felt like in her head when all this was happening. Since she never had any memory afterwards for what happened in trance, she wasn't able to tell me anything useful. This is what launched my search for the perfect Evil Female Hypnotist.

As for the watcher, he is really annoying despite his good intentions. I am so eager to go under, and all the watcher wants to do is to observe what it's like when I do so, but his activity sort of cushions me against dropping further. I think that's one of the reasons why finger snapping as a deepener works well. It creates a sudden step down instead of a slow descent that can be adjusted to.

Hi!

First I'd like to state that I personally don't think everyone goes into a hypnotic state several times daily. Let me explain: I do think that there are trance states in our daily life. A trance is a different state of mind. But a trance isn't always of the same kind.

There's daydreaming, there's the driving thing, there's thinking about a problem and forgetting everything else while working on that. There are other trances that are in a way deeper. Meditation or magical rituals trance you deep. Dancing for hours can trance you. And of course Hypnosis can bring you into a deep trance.

All these trances differ from each other more or less. When I'm in deep meditation it feels so different to being in hypnosis. Just not the same.

So, telling someone he enters trances several times each day is actually true. But these trances aren't of the hypnotic kind.

For me the key to a deep hypnotic trance is to trust and wanting to let go. Accepting the words as is. The conscious mind normally stops us from that. We question, we evaluate, we wonder. So, when wanting to go into hypnosis I don't think "Go under, go under, go under!". Instead I just try to let go... and try to think the words that are being said.
The more I trust and let go, the less the watcher comes in.
Letting go and accepting is a thing that is normally heard in audio files. But really doing it isn't as easy. They are an important part of the key to a deep hypnotic trance though.

Well, these were my 2 cents...

I agree there's different kinds of trance. I've been in magical rituals where I was in trance, & it's a different sort of trance than hypnotic trance. I get some of the same focus-floaty feeling, but am self-directed, not waiting for suggestions the way I am when I'm in a hypnotic trance. I don't think the magic would work very well if I were just waiting for suggestions. I haven't done it that much, so I can't say much more about it, but it was very interesting to experience ritual trance & to experience how it's different from hypnosis.

& of course I've read books & daydreamed while driving. I don't think I'd accept suggestions while reading, I think I'd get annoyed at the interruption . . . probably because the book is acting as the tist, not the person trying to talk to me. Neither of those produces the same feeling of openness & relaxation when I wake up as hypnosis does.

That was very well said Goddess Lycia. I think I fall in the group of people who need long inductions (pocket watch,crystal,spiral,eyes).That is what has worked the best for me. Some times I start to try to be hypnotized. Instead of letting my mind go blank. I'm not trying to fight it. But buy not trying I end up doing just that. I have found though and I know most will agree that getting use to the sound of certain FemDom's voices has made it easier for me to transcend and go under and deeper. I have been trying to condition myself for over 2 years now and have made progress but I still think I have a long way to go. I thought I would just add this. My sister claims that several experts have tried and that she cannot be hypnotized. Knowing the way she is I wouldn't doubt it.

Edited by Cowboy49er2003, 2 year(s) ago