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If you’ve ever considered hypnosis to help you deal with a bad habit, the power of entering a trance state appeals to you. During the trance state, either imposed by a hypnotist or entered through meditation or prayer, we enter a passageway where thoughts can be viewed from all angles. Some in a trance state find that memories long forgotten by the conscious mind come back up for study, while others find that former experiences can be brought together to tell a new story.
What is a trance?
The word trance has origins in Latin and French. Transir, from the Latin, refers to cross into or over, such as in the word “entrance”. For those who use trances as a place to find a better understanding of a situation, this version offers a great deal of power to the person undergoing the trance like state.
What causes a trance?
Some people enter a trancelike state when engaging in repetitive activities or habitual behaviors. Others use a the guidance of a hypnotist to get them to a new level of thinking. Habitual behaviors that require no creative brain activity are idea for entering the trance like state.
For example, you may be out for a walk on a familiar path and suddenly see the answer to a frustrating problem. The familiarity of the path allowed your feet to stay in a pattern while your brain moved into a mode of creative connection. Many people find that sounds can help them into a trancelike state. For example, if you have ever had an “aha!” moment in the shower, the combination of habitual behavior (showering) plus the steady sound of running water could have freed up your creative brain power.
What Does Hypnosis Really Feel Like?
For many who undergo hypnosis, the physical sensation is one of deep relaxation. In addition, entering a state of deep hypnosis can be mentally freeing because it shuts down the critical mind, or the part of the brain that blocks us from considering the ultimate edges of our imaginations.
If you are striving to stop a bad habit, such as overeating or smoking, you may be given a post-hypnotic suggestion. This suggestion may be something simple, such as a reminder that you are worthy of good food, so junk food is not worthy of you. Hypnosis is deeply intentional. If you don’t want to be hypnotized, you can’t be. If you truly want help, hypnosis can be extremely effective.
What happens when you are in a trance?
During the trance state, your muscles enter a state of deep relaxation. If you have tried to build a meditation habit but always fall asleep, you’re actually doing it right. Sleep is a natural progression of the trance state. Your breathing will slow down and the critical part of your mind that
- Resists change
- Despairs of improving
- Is always happy to shut down your goals
coils up and goes to sleep deep within you. Once the barriers of physical tension and the critical mind are out of the way, your subconscious mind can easily get free and do some exploring.
If you have never gotten yourself into a trance, you may struggle to find something to think about. This is why the focus on breath and nothing else is so critical when meditating. Other thoughts that show up during your meditation practice are nearly always the function of the critical mind trying to keep you safe (if unhappy) in your current structure.
Don’t expect big answers to problems to come during the trance state. Often, those who work with a hypnotist or get into a trance on their own simply find the experience relaxing. Moments of breathtaking awareness will show up later when you try to do something habitual.
If you undergo hypnosis for overeating, you may leave your appointment feeling rested and relaxed. When you reach for a bag of chips or fill up your plate without basing it on hunger, your brain will stand up and say, “we don’t eat that” or “we’re not that hungry” and your first reaction may actually be, “Of course, why on earth did I open the chips?” What was automatic or habitual becomes questionable, which means you can shed the bad habit.
How do you know if you’re in a trance?
You will feel extremely relaxed. Many who enter a trance state also feel comfortably warm. You may want to lay down, as the droop of a trance state can be hard on your spine and your neck. If you decide to try to meditate your way into a trance state, it’s a good idea to
- Use a timer, so you can fully focus without worrying about time
- Eat something and use the bathroom before you start
- Light a candle to focus your eyes on
As the body relaxes, you will notice your breathing get deep and slow. You may relax to the point that you snore a bit, or that your face relaxes to the point that the roof of the mouth drops onto the tongue.
If your hypnotist tells you to close your eyes and focus on their voice, you may find that their voice is the only sound you can pick up. This is an indication that
- You are deep into the subconscious
- You really trust your hypnotist
- Your subconscious is paying attention
Try to feel safe in this space, rather than dwelling on these results, or you will wake up the critical mind.
How do you get yourself into a trance?
Inactivity and activity can both get you into a trance. A runner’s high can feel like a trance, as can the meditation while reading a candle as noted above. You can get closer to a trance state while exercising if you focus on the positive. If you’re walking your dog early in the morning, think about how lucky you are to see the sunrise. Let your feet get your blood moving and just enjoy the light. By the time you get home, a troubling problem may suddenly be easily fixed.
You can also get into a trance doing something creative. If you love to work with fabrics, cutting up fabric for a quilt or trying different layouts is a path to a trance. Crocheting, knitting and weaving can all get you into a trance state as well.
The point of trying to get yourself into a trance is to free up your creative mind without the roadblocks tossed up by your critical mind. To that end,
- Eat something before you start to avoid giving your critical mind the power to get “hangry”
- Make sure you have the supplies you need, from crafting tools to comfortable walking shoes to a candle that will burn for a while
- Use a timer so you can let your whole brain dive into the project or meditation
For those who already have a regular meditation practice but want to go deeper, the escalator visualization can help. When your mind is empty, visualize yourself taking a escalator into a warm, calm space full of diffused light. You can also just visualize your body being filled with this light from the top of your head down to your feet.
If the time between waking and sleeping has ever felt trance-like to you, you can try putting a problem into your mental computer before bed. When you lay down, stretch into a comfortable position and give some thanks for your mattress, pillow, and blankets. You might also be thankful for the alarm clock, as it gets you up and moving to build the life you’re thankful for.
Finally, if you choose to pray, offer up a thought for those you love. As you drift off, tell yourself that you’re going to work on an issue that has been troubling you. You may end up dreaming at this point.
In the morning, write down your thoughts. If you can remember them, write down your dreams. Don’t look for an answer to your problems or expect things to make sense; that is critical mind trying to see the world in a linear form. Your brain is capable of multiple connections in an endless variety of angles and combinations. Don’t force linear thinking on this incredibly creative tool.