What is this voodoo you do?

Hypnosis is a natural phenomenon that occurs to us many times as a day. It is entering a mind state, known as trance, in which our conscious thoughts become so focussed, that it allows our unconscious mind to be able to be contacted directly, without distraction from the conscious mind. It is the half aware state that is experienced just before we fall asleep or as we awake. We enter these trance states at any point of focus, like a daydream or a task that is undertaken mindfully. It can occur when we do an automatic task such as typing or driving a car; also, when we get absorbed in a piece of work, a book or while listening to music.

Hypnosis is something that you do to yourself, not a magic mind control trick from another person. The hypnotist tries to find the right language that you would accept, for you to focus your mind and may use language and repetition to instigate a sense of comfortable relaxation that is conducive to your mind going into trance.

During healing trancework, the hypnotist can give suggestions to the client that can be acted upon more powerfully than if they were conveyed during conscious thought. According to the type of person, a hypnotist may evoke images, sounds and inferences that will take on significant meaning to a person in a trance state.

A person can intentionally hypnotise themselves, practicing making the process as easy as possible, and it can be a very enjoyable, healing experience where the mind is calm and completely relaxed. It should allay fears some may have about the experience that it is some kind of mind control - where the hypnotist bends another’s thoughts to their will - nobody can be made to do anything that goes against their nature. Hypnosis is not about handing control of themselves to another person, rather the hypnotist and the client work actively in partnership together to unlock the inner strengths of the client which can be applied to their issue.