A brief history of hypnosis

Although the phenomena of hypnotic trance has been around since the dawn of ritualistic ceremony by prehistoric peoples, it was developed to a high art by the healers of ancient Persia and Egypt. It was passed on to the Greeks and Romans in the Temples of Sleep, where Hippocrates and later Aesculapius lulled patients into a deep sleep to ease pain with physical stroking and the soothing musical sound of the ancient lyre.

The 1600’s brought about the theories of Animal Magnetism, later made famous by Franz Mesmer. In 1842, hypnotism was coined from the Greek word “Hypnos” meaning, sleep. By this time operations and other medical procedures were being performed under hypnotic trances until the introduction of chloroform and ether as the standard anesthesia. However, hypnotism was still in common usage for psychological ills.

In 1955 and 1958 respectively, the British Medical Association and the American Medical Association gave an official endorsement of hypnosis for anesthesia and other medical interventions.

So what is trance?

You have experienced hypnotic trance many times in your life. It is a state of focused attention. Have you ever sat looking out a window; pondering some idea, when suddenly, you shook yourself to attention to find that 5, 10 or 15 minutes have passed?

Have you ever found yourself, in a car, watching the white line in the middle of the road and had to consciously bring yourself to an alert state of consciousness?

These are moments when your conscious mind has stepped aside and given your unconscious its free reign. These are forms of hypnotic trance. These states are wonderful opportunities for creative exploration and learning new behaviors. These states are also, your prime opportunities for self-healing.

The Ultradian Cycle

Our bodies and minds go through rhythms. Every hour and a half to two hours we are lulled into an ultradian rhythm. This cycle directly corresponds to our REM dream cycle throughout the night. These are moments when we dip into the pool of subconscious consciousness to refresh ourselves. Studies show that if we take a 5, 10 or up to a 20 minute break at these moments, we can effect wondrous changes in our psychological makeup as well as our physical health.

To this end we give you a tool to use whenever you feel an ultradian dip coming on. Actually, any time of day or night is the right time to take a few minutes to go within to heal or to learn.

Free Self Hypnosis Streaming Audio

We offer you free streaming audio from two different perspectives.

For a completely secular approach to mind body healing imagery, choose Secular.

For those of you comfortable with a spiritual yet entirely non-sectarian approach, please try our link marked Spiritual.

We invite you to visit us daily and enjoy the gift of healing, mind body therapy. Any time you need to take a break from your day's stressful routine, log on and relax.

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