Recreational Hypnosis

[GiantRies]

Often, while pondering hypnosis, I find myself drawing parallels between it and drugs. Drugs, originally, were used as a sort of cultural, tribal thing, in religion and spirituality. Hypnosis too, in its early stages, was used to induce trance into shamans, etc during ceremony. (I realize I should probably be linking to some research, but I'll leave that to you. As far as I'm concerned, this is common knowledge).

Following this, drugs were used medicinally. I'm not sure of the exact time periods we're looking at here, but thousands of years ago seems about right. Hypnosis, too, followed the same pattern, while in a different age. If my knowledge is correct, the late 19th and early 20th century defined the modern birth of hypnosis, as hypnotherapy. Milton Erickson was a pioneer in this, and provided much of the groundwork for modern day NLP and hypnosis techniques.

The most recent incarnation of drugs is as a recreational tool. To provide pleasure and escape from the world, from one's own mind, from whatever. Marijuana, LSD, Heroin, used recreationally for the first time in this century. (Alcohol is a bit of an odd duck, maybe a conversation for another time).

This brings me to the use of hypnosis for recreation. I have personally used hypnosis for pleasure, and I know it works. I'm not sure how it started, where it started, only that it exists now in a sort of underground world, and has not been made professional. Would the community answer these questions for me:

Do you all think that it will suffer the same fate as drugs, and be kept unprofessional, or will universities ever teach recreational hypnosis alongside hypnotherapy?

What are your experiences with recreation hypnosis, if at all?

Can recreational hypnosis currently, or ever bring about the same effects as powerful drugs?

Where/with whom did recreational hypnosis begin?

AAR

[master_debator]

The most recent incarnation of drugs is as a recreational tool. To provide pleasure and escape from the world, from one's own mind, from whatever. Marijuana, LSD, Heroin, used recreationally for the first time in this century. (Alcohol is a bit of an odd duck, maybe a conversation for another time).


What evidence do you have that drugs are just now being used recreationaly?

[skip]

"Do you all think that it will suffer the same fate as drugs, and be kept unprofessional, or will universities ever teach recreational hypnosis alongside hypnotherapy?"

You speak as if it is over, that nothing will ever change from now. What fate is that in an ongoing process?

Universities are the last bastion of the old. And universities will teach whatever they believe is going to attract students. It may take what is considered a radical professor or two to get it started. But universities are full of radical wannabes. So yes it will be taught, just as hypnosis as a general topic is gaining ground in universities.

"What are your experiences with recreation hypnosis, if at all?"

Considerable.


"Can recreational hypnosis currently, or ever bring about the same effects as powerful drugs?"

Yes. And I might point out that this question reveals a lack of understanding that the 'drug effect' is actually the bodies response to the 'drug' and not the drug itsself. And that the body/mind can duplicate that 'effect' any time it wishes.


"Where/with whom did recreational hypnosis begin?"


Mary Jane Whatshername behind the garage in 4th grade. Been in a 'trance' ever since.

Any other personally intrusive questions you want to ask?


skip

[Merlin]

Often, while pondering hypnosis, I find myself drawing parallels between it and drugs. Drugs, originally, were used as a sort of cultural, tribal thing, in religion and spirituality. Hypnosis too, in its early stages, was used to induce trance into shamans, etc during ceremony. (I realize I should probably be linking to some research, but I'll leave that to you. As far as I'm concerned, this is common knowledge).

don't look now, but your ignorance is showing

What are your experiences with recreation hypnosis, if at all?

just read past forum posts