Achieving hypnosis is a matter of directing the suggestibility that we all possess into the channels that may eventually produce the hypnotic state. It can be much more complicated than this explanation in several cases, but let us use this as a working premise.

Everyone can be hypnotized. The time needed for achieving hypnosis will vary from subject to subject. We will discuss some of the explanations for this in a successive chapter , but for our conversation at this time we want to understand this point. I have run across numerous individuals who were extremely disappointed because they did not respond to hypnosis straight away or after a couple of attempts. They needed to know “what was wrong.” A reason that nothing was wrong somehow didn’t satisfy these individuals. “After all,” they disagreed, “failed to I’m going to a hypnotist particularly to be hypnotized?” Some insinuated that perhaps the hypnotist was not particularly good.

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Let me explain that most subjects need to be conditioned for hypnosis, and this conditioning is helped when the [14] subject practices certain conditioning exercises that I shall discuss in detail in chapter six, titled “ways to accomplish Self-Hypnosis.” In my teaching, i have found that about one out of ten subjects reacts to the 1st attempt at hypnosis. One can’t make a definite statement regarding the length of time important to learn self-hypnosis, but it is my experience this usually takes about one month. I’ve had subjects learn self-hypnosis in about half an hour, but I must also relate that I have worked with subjects for one year before they achieved it.

For the main part, the laws of learning apply to self-hypnosis as with anything else that one would like to learn. It can be a comparatively simple process, or it can be really confusing. The answer lies not so much with the hypnotist as with the topic.

One question that turns up is : “if i’m under hypnosis, how am I able to give myself suggestions?” during the hypnotic state, it’s got to be remembered, the subject is always aware of what is occurring. He hears what is asserted, follows directions and terminates the state when told to do so. In the self-hypnotic state, the topic is in full control. Therefore , he will think, reason, act, criticise, suggest or do whatever he needs. He can audibly give himself recommendations, or he will mentally give himself ideas. In either case, he doesn’t wake from the hypnotic state till he gives himself specific ideas to do so. Many feel if they audibly give themselves ideas, they will “awaken.” In hypno-analysis, the topic answers questions during the hypnotic state. Having the subject talk doesn’t end the state. You can keep the talkative subject under hypnosis as long as you would like. Furthermore, the topic can be sitting erect with his eyes open and still be under hypnosis. Carrying this further, the topic may not even be advised that he is [15] under hypnosis. He will be given a cue not to recollect when the specialist makes a certain motion or says a certain word that he will go into the hypnotic state but still keep his eyes open. Only an experienced hypnotist could spot the change.

Another frequent question is : “How do I arouse myself from the self-hypnotic state?” You only say to oneself that upon counting to five you may open your eyes and wake up feeling good. Many times the subject goes to sleep while giving himself posthypnotic recommendations. This isn’t unattractive since the recommendations will spill over into the unconscious mind as he is going from consciousness to unconsciousness.

A popular opinion about hypnosis is that the subject surrenders his will to the hypnotist in the act of being hypnotized. Furthermore, many think that once the subject is hypnotized, the hypnotist has complete control of the subject and the subject is powerless to resist recommendation. Both principles are erroneous. I think the 1st misconception comes from seeing methods where the hypnotist requests the subject to look into his eyes. The hypnotist suggests to the topic that as he continues to take a look at his eyes he is going to fall into a deep hypnotic state. This, then, becomes a matter of who can outstare whom. The topic usually starts to blink his eyes and the hypnotist follows this up with quick ideas the subject’s eyes are becoming watery and heavy and the subject will fall into a deep hypnotic sleep just as soon as he ( the subject ) closes his eyes. This procedure gives the impression to the observer the subject is “willed” to go under hypnosis. It appears that once the hypnotist concentrates or wills satisfactorily, the topic succumbs. In fact the hypnotist in this technique is not looking into the eyes of the subject. [16] He fixes his attention on the bridge of the nose of the topic.