Definition???

[UnregisteredABC]

Hello,

I’ve been interested in self hypnosis for some time and haven’t found in books a consensus regarding the exact definition of hypnosis. I’d be much obliged if you could supply me the relevant information.

Thanks!

[Simple Guy]

Hi,

There are many definitions; many are correct. What would you like a
definition of it to be and why? Though you may not get a consensus
of agreement here or anywhere else, someone may provide one that
is relevant to you.

[Poodle]

The US Gov't. has to give every profession a definition or it could not collect taxes. Scientifically, hypnosis is a state of changed brain waves induced by a hypnotist. According to us, more or less, it is a state of intense focused awareness as to exclude anything else artifically induced by us and by-passing the critical factor (conscious mind) producing the trance state. To sum it up simply we by-pass your conscious mind (the guard at the gate) either by relaxation, boredom, confusion or shock (hypnotic induction) and we are then able to give useful and beneficial suggestions to your subconscious or inner mind. When the inner mind or subconscious mind accepts a suggestion it just causes things to happen automatically as if it had always been there. Hypnosis is no truth serum. One can accept or reject the suggestions.

Now comes the biggie. You want self-hypnosis. To achieve this you will have two choices: Go to a live training OR go to your local hypnotist and ask for it and learn how to communicate with your inner mind.

[Merlin]

I define hypnosis in my FAQ

[Simon]

I would suggest reading wikipedia. HERE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnosis)

[Don]

The Wikipedia is set up so that anyone can enter anything. Recently, there have been scandals over false information entered and information being deleted or altered.

With that understanding, please know that information in Wikipedia is raw, someone's opinion, and may not be accurate.

[Poodle]

That was taken from an article that was just recently published in a newspaper, I believe. I remember reading it and thinking what a load of garbage. 195? Hypnosis was approved by the American Medical Association. That says something in itself. Obviously written by someone that doesn't have the facts. As to the history of hypnosis that's up for grabs -- some say Mesmer. I say it goes waaay back to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks or even possibly before. The Incas used it and still do. Definitely rather limiting beliefs on hypnosis. We can just sit around and be smug as we know better. Pood

[Don]

Actually, if you read what Mesmer wrote, it's clear that he didn't use hypnosis. He was more of what we would today call an "energy healer." His work was closer to Reiki than hypnosis. However, when it was discovered you could get similar effects with hypnosis, Mesmerism was denounced as nothing more than suggestion.

This technique--I can create something similar, therefore what you do is fake--has been a staple in the armory of debunkers for hundreds of years.

[Poodle]

I would hate to put people in bathtubs with steel rods and call it hypnosis but at the same time it has nothing to do with Reiki. Reiki is a very certain type of energy that supposedly can only be passed on through attunements although I certainly agree that Mesmer was more into energy as in electro-biological circuits and magnets than hypnosis but you will still find it written that he is the father of hypnosis. He did write his 27 Propositions of Animal Magnetism in which he wrote the "art of healing may be brought to absolute perfection". I think it's a cute name for a dog or cat belonging to a hypnotist! LOL!! Laughingly, Pood

[Don]

I apologize if you thought I was saying that what Mesmer did either was Reiki or was directly related to Reiki. What I was trying to say was that both Mesmerism and Reiki are forms of energy healing. They are no more the same than apples and oranges are the same even though both are fruit.

Be that as it may, Mesmer's form of energy healing, IMO, is closer to the form of energy healing used by Reiki healers than it is to any form of hypnosis. Mesmer also used directly touching clients and working with energy, a technique used, in different ways, by some Reiki practitioners.