In an experiment to deepen hypnosis, Charles Tart, Psychology Professor at UC Davis for 28 years, had two graduate students, both deeply hypnotizable and versed in hypnosis, induct each other into a trance. The hypothesis being tested was that the mutual trust between a hypnotist and subject would deepen the hypnotic level attained. It worked—extremely well, with a surprise.During the session, the two subjects began visualizing a beach, complete with sparkling sands, champagne seas, and crystalline rocks—an astral world. They also ceased talking, but continued relating in this astral world vividly, as if actually experiencing it. Post-session interviews determined the subjects had experienced the same environment and events even though they had ceased talking—at least out loud.
After the sessions, the experiences were so real and so unusual that the two students refused further sessions and the male student ceased hypnosis work altogether.
This experiment is documented in Tart’s book: Altered States of Consciousness.
The import of this experiment is tremendous:
First, the experiment is easily testable by any two people, and can be done without anything other than some hypnosis training. Knowing the expectations should alleviate the fears aroused in the original subjects. The world visualized was simply an astral world as described often in the spiritual literature of Victorian-era England.
If the experience is reproducible, a couple could explore each other in incredible detail, in heart and soul as well as physically. The Star Trek “mind meld” comes to mind. Could an intimate couple exchange roles, or feel what the other feels as they feel it?
Just shear adventuring appears to greatly exceed what is available from the likes of Xbox, Wii, or even multi-million dollar simulators.
This experiment also perhaps explains the knowledge and wisdom teachings documented in the literature of shaman-apprentice mind transfers—educational mind melds, so to speak.
If this consciousness state is possible and can be readily reproduced, the potential is staggering—and scary—which may explain why it has not been seemingly repeated in the almost 40-years since Tart’s book was originally published.
I have my Master Hypnotist certificate. Now I need…
When did you get a license to hypnotize? Wow. Sounds like a very interesting book... Have you had any adventures or misadventures doing hypnosis? There are that many people who can do that kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteThat was ME as in Liz writing that. I guess Robert was signed in to his e-mail
ReplyDeleteHi Liz, I've had the certificate for a couple of years and haven't much used it except to help a few cease smoking. To obtain certification as a hypnotherapist requires I perform another 50 sessions, plus complete an exam which is hypnotizing the examiner.
ReplyDeleteI became interested years ago. Dad had it performed on him in the VA hospital after WWII to treat combat fatigue (as it was called then). It was first used during the Battle of the Bulge, where shell-shock cases were given hypno-therapy for a day or two, then the soldier was sent back into the line. Although Dad did not say anything about it in this connection, he was involved in the Bulge. I do know he had utter contempt for Bradley and Eisenhower, who recycled troops into frontal assaults, encuring over a hundred-thousand US casualties in a matter of weeks.
I also have had training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), which can treat such in minutes where other modes of therapy took months and years, and were less effective. Interesting stuff, NLP. You can look it up if interested.
My primary interest in hypnosis is to hopefully fast-track myself into some of the enlightenment studies. I have no interest in, say, sitting in a cave for years so I learn how to sit in a cave for years, if you know what I mean. On the other hand, I know that self-mastery requires some concentration, contemplation practice, thus the hypnosis. Probably goes back to trying to cover the IQ shortfall preventing me from being the next Einstein. (grin)
Dad, you should totally become a hypnotherapist. Then Liz would be an acupuncturist, for the body, you could be a hypnotherapist for the mind and I would be a cosmetologist for fabulousness....
ReplyDeleteSounds like a brilliant idea, but then I knew you were--brilliant that is. You are still my favorite youngest daughter.
ReplyDelete