become completely absorbed in it? So you just completely ignore your surroundings. You just become so fascinated by the characters, the imaginary landscape, all the exciting events and you feel emotions intensely in that state, don’t you. You see when you’re reading in that absorbed way – you’re in hypnosis…now. And your sense of time passing too changes doesn’t it. Focusing on the words generates pictures in your mind, compelling pictures that captivate you for a while.’
TV trance.
‘Do you know that you can go into trance watching TV? As long as you are really into the program. It’s not like going into hypnosis where your attention is focused inside. It’s an external state of focus. You become so absorbed by the TV, the characters, maybe you find one really attractive and can’t take your eyes off them. You become very relaxed and still too. Maybe the photography or spectacle of the movie is so incredible that you forget what’s going on around you for a while. You ever feel that? Now, I’m like that when I watch Star Wars. What films make you enter that state?’
Conversational trance.
‘We’ve all had conversations in which become totally absorbed, haven’t we? Maybe someone is really funny or interesting or very attractive and we listen to every word, we ignore everything else …sometimes it’s what the person is talking about that can mesmerise someone, sometimes it’s a quality of their voice, a certain cadence, an attractive quality, maybe the resonance that can really allow you to focus in and relax while listening.’
I’m laying it on thick to illustrate a point. You can be more subtle if you wish.
You could describe playing golf and going into the zone, sex, anything in which you become very absorbed – it’s very easy to do. You just need to practise. If you want someone to feel a state – say joy – describe it vividly – a time it happened to you…when you do this skilfully the listener will experience it too. Don’t be afraid to be flowery, somewhat. Notice what I compare the feeling to – this is a metaphor, which is hypnotic.
‘I remember a time when I passed an audition to get into drama school I was so happy afterwards, I knew it was a moment that would change my life. I felt this lovely warm glow in my head, a kind of lightness, a soft tingle, it felt like a nice warm sun inside me…making me feel good.’
Over the top I know. By doing this you are also triggering associations to what you are saying in their past experience. This is one way humans bond.
Or relaxation.
‘Your muscles just let go don’t they, gradually all the tension eases away. You just rest maybe lying down or sitting. Sometimes you get a soft sweet feeling in your muscles too. You might drift off into a daydream. Before you know it your whole body can feel very calm and deeply relaxed …we’ve all experienced that.’
Interestingly when women see men they are attracted too they feel a set of feelings inside. Often these are tingles or butterflies. If you talk about something you evoke it. Then you can change it into a colour or symbol – intensify it or move it about. Odd isn’t it??
Your 1st bonus: Symbolic deepeners.
This is a nice alternative to the PMR or an addition to it. It allows the person to use their own symbolism to relax the muscles. You can also use it to elicit pleasurable feelings. Now why on earth would you do that!? Deep hypnosis is assumed but it would work in light trance too. Let’s also assume the feeling I am referring to is relaxation. It can be anything! Remember symbols are very powerful; more powerful than you know. They affect the deepest instincts, templates and archetypes of the ‘unconscious mind.’
The Symbolic Deepener script.
(Hypnosis is assumed.)
‘Be aware of this feeling,
this relaxation you’re feeling. Now…
Imagine…
if it were to form your symbol of deep relaxation…
in your mind.
See it there…
Wherever there is?
Get to