THE MEDICINE OF THE IMAGINATION: What is Hypnosis and How Does it Work?

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a guided experience that leads you into a state of deeply relaxed focus where you can access your subconscious mind.  In this trance state, you are able to bypass your critical mind and become more receptive to influence and suggestion and use your imagination to shift patterns, attitudes, behaviors, sensations and states of consciousness. Thus, you can heal and transform yourself and your life from the inside out.

How does hypnosis work?

Hypnosis typically occurs in the theta brain wave state, which is the state between waking states and the sleep state. How you get into this state is through an induction process where the hypnosis practitioner will guide you into deeper and deeper states of relaxation until you have reached the theta state. In this deeply relaxed and focused hypnotic state and with the help of your hypnosis practitioner, you can bypass your critical mind (the one that says things are impossible or have to be a certain way or that all this is stupid and you are wasting your time, etc).  When you drop in beneath that critical mind layer, you gain access to your deep mind which is inherently creative, intuitive and flexible.

This is where the MAGICK happens!  

It’s in this deep hypnotic state that you can make lasting changes by simply suggesting something new to your brain, effectively forming new neural pathways and shifting the way your brain responds to things.  Hypnosis can be very effective in transforming habits, anxiety, repetitive thinking patterns, chronic issues, fears and phobias, and so much more.  It can also connect us with our inner parts and spirit guides and take us back in time and forward to the future!     

What does being hypnotized feel like?

Unless you have some experience with hypnosis, when you hear that word, your mind probably conjures an image of a person on a stage making people bark like a dog or something in that vein. You may have the notion that you won’t have control over yourself or your body or remember a thing when you come to after being hypnotized. 

Nothing could be further from the truth!

Have you ever done a guided meditation or visualization? Or experienced that dreamlike state that happens just before you fall asleep or just after you wake up?  Hypnosis feels very similar.  I like to think of it as a guided meditation with an intention to shift something internally.  You are still conscious and in control of yourself, but also deeply relaxed and focused on your inner world.  In this state, your hypnosis practitioner (or a self-hypnosis recording) will guide you through an inner process or take you on an adventure using your imagination and make gentle suggestions along the way.  Your mind will intuitively create imagery, feeling states, sensations, etc. depending on the language your subconscious mind uses to communicate with you.  When you come back to the space you are in, you will most likely feel like you just had the most relaxing daydream and your body might feel like you took the best nap ever!

Hypnosis isn’t for everyone, but if you are a person who loves to use your imagination, is curious about exploring your inner world in a deeper way, and are ready to shift something in yourself, you might just fall in love with it!  Not only is it incredibly relaxing, but it can also be so fun and interesting to relate with your subconscious mind in this way.

So what do you think? Are you ready to give it a try?

If you are intrigued, check out my hypnosis offerings. Let’s explore your inner world and see what kind of magick you can make there!