Waking Hypnosis

Waking hypnosis is a state of mind in which there is no difference between being hypnotized, with the eyes open or the eyes shut. The state of mind is the same.

Waking hypnosis is a state of hyper-awareness or concentrated attention. As a result, there are not the distractions in waking hypnosis like in the conscious state. It can be used very effectively if efforts are concentrated on a single project.

For instance, if one has an intricate or exacting task to do, he may do it better by using waking hypnosis. This can mean playing a better game of golf, bowling a better game, studying with more retention and recall, or writing a letter, poem, story or scientific document.

Waking hypnosis can mean a greater command of mental and intellectual capacities at any given time with correct preparation and suggestion. Those who use it cover a wide swath of endeavour, from weight lifters to oral surgeons, from engravers to gymnasts, from real estate salesmen to lecturers and teachers, from billiard champions to actors.

Waking hypnosis means being tuned in and turned on to a specific project. As in the case of hypnosis generally, there seems as yet to be no clearly defined scientific explanation or study as to precisely how waking hypnosis works and how its mental alterations function.

We know that it can be a self-directed state, or one directed by a hypnotist but exactly what in the way of brainwave alteration or energy change takes place has yet to be scientifically studied and documented. There are persons who do better than others in waking hypnosis.

We cannot explain, for example, why a subject who in the conscious state can only do ten push-ups can consistently do fifteen in waking hypnosis. We cannot explain why it is that intuition, concentration and inner control of one's talents are increased and augmented with waking hypnosis. All we know is that it does work, but not "how" or "why."

Similarly, expanded awareness is a technique of focussing on a spot above the normal height of vision then allowing the eyes to expand left and right to take in a wide range of awareness. It is a useful learning technique at seminars or in lectures.

Antonia Harrison is an English Hypnotherapist in Belgium