3 Magic Stages of Hypnotic Trance

Specialists have estimated that there are probably over one hundred different stages of hypnotic trance. Until 19th century neurologist, Dr. Jean Charcot, established them at three distinct stages, hypnotists and physicians wrangled for years over the number of stages or levels of trance.

Thanks to Charcot, we will observe the three as follows:

· Light - lethargy or the hypnodial state.
· Medium - catalepsy or the moderate and intermediate state.
· Deep - somnambulism or the somnambulistic state.

In the 20th century the Davis-Husband scale was established by two hypno-therapists who observed the three distinct stages but divided each stage into ten sub Levels. By a more sensitive allocation to both suggestion and effect, the Davis-Husband scale permits one to determine more precisely the depth to which his client has descended.

With ten sub levels for each stage this then accumulates 30 for the three distinct stages.

LETHARGY OR LIGHT STAGE

This preliminary level of relaxation is not much more than what it is called, a lethargic or lightly relaxed state.

The subject will be fully aware of his surroundings and will remember the details of an entire session.

If ordered, he will (usually) close his eyes and appear somewhat relaxed. He will agree to move small muscles only. (eyelids, fingers, toes, etc.) In this light state, his eyelids may flicker - something you will seldom, if ever, see in medium or deep state.

Facial muscles will sag only a little and some stiffness may still be observed in the body. Breathing will usually not be heavy, as in the medium or deep state. Complicated suggestions are futile.

Posthypnotic suggestion and induction to create amnesia or to block pain are generally ineffective in the light state.

In the light state the subject is persuaded or coaxed rather than commanded by the hypnotist.

It is evident that the hypnotist is not in complete control of the subject. This is a good time, though, for the practitioner to determine which persons in a group are more hypnotizable than others.

The hypnotist may wish to determine what subjects need more conditioning. This is not to say that at first sessions all persons respond only to the light state. As every experienced hypnotist knows, we are often pleasantly surprised by newcomers who manifest somnambulistic qualities at the very first session. This is one of the wonderful mysteries of hypnosis.

Many students have inquired if hypnosis or the trance state is the same as the Alpha state.

The answer is no!

Alpha, or roughly 7! to 12 energy revolutions per second as generated by the brain, is the drowsy, dreamy state apparently preceding sleep. This, however, is not necessarily the hypnotic state.

At times it is called the "Hypnogogic" state, which aligns it very closely to hypnosis, but not necessarily to the true hypnotic state.

The subject may well slide in and out of Alpha, Beta or Theta while hypnotized. We do know that those individuals who more readily induce Alpha make excellent hypnotic subjects.

Generally in the hypnotic state there is some direction either from the hypnotist, or as in auto-hypnosis. The hypnogogic state appears to be without intentional control, as in reverie or relaxed fantasy.

CATALEPSY OR MEDIUM STATE

Once into this intermediate state, your subject becomes much more responsive to direction by the hypnotist. He/she will move large muscles (arms, legs) more readily, and will be partially if not fully susceptible to posthypnotic suggestion. He/she will be more or less aware of what is going on and his/her surroundings.

He/she may or may not remember the proceedings. As you can see, this state is in contrast to the light state - the subject will be definitely more relaxed and more responsive. His/her eyes will be closed upon command and he will "appear" hypnotized and be more under the control of the hypnotist.

He/she will follow suggestions much more readily and precisely. He/she will be breathing deeper and have the ability to block pain more effectively or to use waking hypnosis.

Positive reflexive tests - the hand clasp, rigidity test, postural sway, locked eyelids and glove anesthesia are characteristic of the medium state, as is the feeling of timelessness and the susceptibility to posthypnotic suggestion.

On the Davis-Husband scale, the medium state can vary from 10 to 20 or from deep-light to light-medium to medium-medium and thence to deep-medium.

It is in the medium-medium to deep-medium that the expression on the face changes from a slight smile to a blank look or one of awe.

Note, too, the deeper, more rhythmic breathing. These are signs for the trained hypnotist to recognize in determining depth of trance.

SOMNAMBULISM OR DEEP STATE

In this, the deepest state of hypnosis, there is no doubt or question as to the hypnotizability or the depth of trance exhibited by the subject.

In this state the subject is completely and absolutely under the control of the hypnotist and will perform or assent to almost any suggestion insofar as it does not subconsciously conflict with learned values, standards or ethics.

In the deepest state, or deep-deep, the subject will remember nothing and will be totally unaware of his surroundings.

To all intents and purposes, the somnambulist is in "sleep" yet will follow each suggestion or command explicitly, He/she will follow posthypnotic suggestions flawlessly.

He/she will hallucinate upon command and evidence complete amnesia at a word from the hypnotist.

In fact, he/she will respond to the hypnotist's directions even if they are absurd or ridiculous, He/she will open his/her eyes, yet remain in the deepest state - and he/she will see whatever the hypnotist directs him/her to see, whether the object is real or imaginary.

At command, his body can change from rigid to limp in a split second. Reflexive tests are followed minutely and perfectly.

There is no questioning the astonishing evidence of hypnosis when observing someone in this state.

In the light or even at times in the medium, a cynical spectator may question the validity of the hypnotic state and perhaps call a given demonstration "role-playing," but with a subject in the deep state this would not be possible.

Many a critic has become a convert to hypnosis after viewing a skilled hypnotist working with a somnambulistic subject.

No one expects all clients to be somnambulists. Subjects who easily drift into "deep-deep" are probably in the one-in-four ratio as found by Dr. Hilgard of Stanford in his hypnotizability studies; and this has been our experience as well.

In view of this, the new hypnotist should not be disappointed because a client fails to reach somnambulism.

Too many new practitioners seem to feel that they are at fault or their technique ineffective because a client or group shows only light or medium trance. With experience, the hypnotist learns that somnambulists are in the minority and that the deepest state is not at all necessary for teaching self-hypnosis.

The preconditioning of a client, before he ever sees a hypnotist, has a great deal to do with his hypnotizability. How he feels about hypnosis, correct or incorrect, will (in part) be determined in your first interview. You will attempt to learn what may affect the receptivity and cooperation of the client.

A person's attitude toward hypnosis will often construct either a good subject or one who needs considerable conditioning and practice. If a client is afraid and has been pressured into seeing you, you can be sure there will be some problems inducing relaxation and trance.
The experienced hypnotist Learns to expect and welcome all types of people from varying walks of life who also differ in degree of hypnotizability.