As part of a discussion on depth of trance and the validity of various theoretical trance states such as Sicort, Ultradepth, Ultraheight, Esdaile, hypnotic coma, and the like, I posited that “Depth of trance” is all muddied water as it is often tied into so-called levels of hypnotizeability and scales based upon “phenomena” with the assumption that some phenomena are more easily achieved than others and some are extremely difficult so that if a person has a positive hallucination, for example, then they must inherently be deeply hypnotized . . . and yet ALL trance phenomena are achievable without the so-called deep depth inductions the very same scales claim to be required to achieve them.

Hypnotic Depth – in my opinion, and it’s okay if you disagree with me, I don’t mind if you agree to disagree on this – is better considered less about “depth of trance” then as a form of intensifying imaginative involvement within the hypnotic experience.

To me – and as I have mentioned on many occasions in a whole slew of contexts – the Esdaile State (Hypnotic Coma by Dave Elman) or Sichort State (Ultra-Depth adaptation of Walter Sichort’s work by James Ramey) or Ultra-Height (Jerry Kein’s take) or even what I do with engineering experiential ecstasy or higher self are all simply suggested states within the hypersuggestible experiential state of hypnosis. They are less independent states in and of themselves then they are compliance to suggestions to feel certain ways or experience particular phenomena. It’s all hypnosis is hypnosis is hypnosis with suggestions. You want someone to feel ultra-depth? Then hypnotize ’em and tell ’em to experience that feeling of ultra-depth with a description of the phenomena associated with the suggested state and that’s what they experience (no need for a perfectly worded script that must be parroted exactly, just any effective induction with the suggestion will do). You want ’em to feel ultra-height or ecstasy or ultramegalove or any positive emotional flood state then do the same thing. I include the hypnotic coma here too as the process Elman suggests is less an independent state than it is a deepener process. Run the Esdaile protocol with someone who does not know the symptoms of the hypnotic coma and it’s just a deepener (a good one, but a deepener nonetheless) but run it with someone who has been told what to expect (as Walter Sichort suggested to his own trance partner when demonstrating the phenomena of ultradepth) and there will be a startling difference in responsiveness, particularly if you run the process with ten folks one way and ten the other.

This is not a bad thing . . . actually, it’s pretty good as by understanding that these are all suggested states we can create even more useful adaptations of positive emotional flood states for all sorts of nifty purposes.

Of course, this is my opinion and you can take it or leave it.

I have suggested ultradepth using Ramey’s protocol and using my own . . . it is simple and straightforward. However, having said that, I posit that some of the claims of benefit for folks who claim to use ultradepth for mind to mind communication or universal healing or distance healing or telepathy or stretching the truth quite a bit . . . well stretching it the way one would a rubberband that snaps in half because of the tension. My lack of success in creating a state where a person actually achived mind to mind communication may simply be, as some folks have explained it to me, based upon my poor technique (although I’ve observed recordings of myself running such processes and technique does not seem to be a weakness) or perhaps my incompetence as a hypnotist (which is always possible although I have been told by those whose opinion I trust that incompetence is not one of my weaknesses) or my skepticism getting in the way (which is certainly possible as despite my personal beliefs in certain otherworldly things I do have a tendency to look at those who make certain claims with a rather critical eye) . . . I would suggest that it is more likely that such a failure is based upon there being a wall called “reality” that just won’t let certain phenomena crash through. Yes, I have managed to use flood states to guide a person into BELIEVING they have certain abilities at the time . . . BUT . . . this is not the same as actually achieving it.

Of course, without the over-reaching claims some attribute to the state, such a positive emotional flood state can be extremely beneficial to a trance partner and is well worth practicing . . . I would suggest that it’s a response to suggestion rather than some other state . . . sure, that suggested state is qualitatively different from other suggested states but this does not make it a non-hypnotic process because of that.

I understand that there are those who perceive these suggested states to be independant and new altered states of consciousness completely separate from the hypnotic state . . . I respectfully disagree but look forward to their objective proof of such phenomena outside of what can be explained within the hypnotic context.

In my opinion.

All the best,
Brian
http://www.briandavidphillips.com