Hypnosis is a bit like going to physical therapy. The doctor tells you what to do, but if you don't do it, you don't experience the results you went there for. It's up to you to follow the instructions that your guide gives you.

Do they?

There's no such thing as a POWERFUL hypnotist. There are SKILLED hypnotists who can guide you in a way that makes it easy for you to have the experience you're looking for

Spend some time with "low-expectations" hypnosis files where the only goal is to feel relaxed. Notice what that feels like so you can get some unequivocal successes checked off your list. Meditation is really good for this too.

it's okay if you think during your session. You don't need to have a blank mind. Just notice when you're distracted and refocus. It's okay if your mind wanders during hypnosis.

The most effective thing you can do to ensure a successful trance is make sure that everyone is comfortable with what's going to happen

What does hypnotic amnesia feel like to you?

Eyestrain makes your eyelids feel heavy. Hypnotists will tell you that the hypnosis is working when it's just the strain of staring at a swinging object But if you believe it's because of the hypnosis, then suddenly the hypnosis is working.

What are the most hypnotic colors for a spiral? * Soothing & relaxing? * Faint colors for hypnotic eye fatigue? * Harsh contrast for eye fatigue? * use the same colors every time to act like a trigger? * Pink is the only hypnotic color you need?

Talk with your partner abt the plan & listen carefully to the words they use. Talk about what hypnosis feels like. If they say it feels SLOW then use that word in your session. If they say HEAVY then use that word. When you echo their own words back it will be much more effective

What makes a script effective is that it gets them to focus. You may be better able to do that for them than a generic script can. It's certainly okay to use a script, but feel free to change out parts that feel awkward or that don't really fit what you know about them

Every time you listen to a file or have a session with a hypnotist, you become a better subject. You're practicing the skills of going into trance following hypnotic suggestions.

There's debate in the community as to whether depth is irrelevant or critical. If you want to do smth extra nifty with hypnosis, do you need to get them deep first, or is the concept of depth just a crutch? These are the questions that start bar-fights at the hypnotist cafeteria.

Most hypnotic sessions start out with an "induction" where you tell the subject to focus, or relax. Many sessions then go on to a "deepener" phase with more of the same

Use hypnosis to make her act sexy? Great! There shouldn't be any problem having her feel and act a certain way for an evening as part of a sexy game - just don't try to create long-term changes as an attempt to "fix" something. That leads to traumatic associations.

How much experience do you have as a subject? Some appealing-sounding files have really complex post-hypnotic suggestions in the file, so you may need to be fairly skilled for it to work on the first try. Look for some beginner files to help you get used to responding

For a beginner hypnotist and beginner subjects, start out with no-failure suggestions. Don't say that their arm is going to float up now. Tell them that their arm is getting lighter and lighter.

What does it look like to you when hypnosis "doesn't work" and what would it look like if it did? Tell us a bit about what happens and what you would like to happen instead?

ADHD? A good hypnosis file for you might just be the same that work for anyone else. Sure, something really slow-paced is less likely to be a good fit, but there's nothing keeping you from connecting to any one recording. Keep searching for one that meets your needs

I struggled with starting as a hypnotist. "The books all tell me what to say and do, but how do I **DO** it?" Don't worry -- it's magic. Just do it and it works

if your memory of a file feels a bit foggy compared to your waking life, that counts. I will frequently wake up from a session with full memory of what happened, but then forget it within a day or two. That's one way hypnotic amnesia can work

Two files: one free, one paid

When I was starting out with amnesia (as a hypnotic subject), I was tenuously able to think about other things and not recall parts that I didn't want to. That's a great place to start - you forget but then you remember again.

There's a wide range of examples of how hypnosis might feel for you, and all of them are valid.

HALLUCINATIONS! The latest in my series of quick practice videos to help you become a better subject: Here's the first step in being able to experience visual hallucinations. Take 3 minutes from your day to become a better subject youtu.be/rYcHN_2iYxY

Erotic hypnosis? Yes that's a thing, and it's much more than just a hands free orgasm. The pure bliss of relaxation, and the personal connection between a hypnotist & their partner are phenomena far more intense than a free O. I'm here for the hypnosis, not just physical pleasure

You can use hypnosis to help yourself stand taller, improve your confidence & the way you carry yourself. It can help you eat healthy, sleep, and exercise. We can convince you to style your hair differently or use conditioner, but hypnosis can't change your hair color.

Being strong-willed makes you easier to hypnotize. You need to be able to focus your will on the hypnotist and will yourself to cooperate. People who claim to be too "powerful" to be hypnotized are hilarious On the other hand, lots of things can get in the way of a good trance

Have you ever experienced Time Dialation? Here's a one minute loop to help you learn to S L O W down during trance. Part of a series of quick exercises for subjects to improve hypnotic skills youtu.be/wzN0yHr0FMk

Yes, you can be hypnotized. If it's not working: A. Something is holding you back B. You're working with unskilled hypnotists C. It IS working, and it's not what you're expecting D. All of the above

Being hypnotized won't feel like sleeping. Despite the cliche of a hypnotist saying SLEEEEEEEP, you'll be awake for the whole thing

Want to improve as a subject? Take 2 minutes to practice feeling phantom touch youtu.be/e8x0DTZ35xM Give it a "Like" and check out my other short Hypnosis clips while you're there

You can probably find an AI that claims to do real hypnosis, & if you're an exceptional subject with lots of experience, you might be able to have a good session with a lousy AI, but overall, the technology isn't there yet That's probably a good thing

The goal in meditation isn't to have zero thoughts, but to change your relationship to them. What's your goal in getting hypnotized? If it's to have zero thoughts, you may be disappointed when starting out.

A skilled hypnotist guides, leads, and invites their partner. They don't give commands. That makes it easier for the subject to follow along naturally without feeling like they're trying too hard or faking it.

"The Normalcy Trap:" If you expect hypnosis to feel like something foreign to everything you've ever experienced, you'll be disappointed. It's a combination of many very normal states, all combined into one. Don't be fooled. Hypnosis is surprisingly normal-feeling at times.

These days we talk about going blank but that's not how hypnosis works. Erickson encouraged those journeys where your mind would wander off during a session. That can be a sign that it's working. When it happens though it's probably best to simply refocus on the hypnotist.

Are you a good little pet? Do you deserve to be pet? Yes, of course you do! Good little pet! This 3 minute hypnotic YouTube short will let you record and play back the feeling of being petted. youtu.be/G_3EJH1P3MM Check out my other shorts while you're there

If you've tried popular recordings and they're not doing anything, try meditating first. Get yourself nice and calm and receptive first and then start the file going

Keep trying, and try to stay positive. If you can convince yourself that it's working, then it WILL be. Try lots of different files (from respectable hypnotists) until you find one that fits

Hypnosis isn't real. It's all in your head.

For the best trance, get a good night's sleep first. Sleep and hypnosis are different states, and if you're overtired, you won't be able to focus properly.

If you're easily distracted, the common advice is to try a confusion induction. I have ADHD, but confusion & overload inductions never did much for me until I got some practice going under on my own Do what works for YOU

Beware messages from overeager hypnotists. Every community has disreputable and manipulative people. You don't want to get involved with them

Having two hypnosis sessions in a row is a great way to encourage hypnotic amnesia. The second round is a distraction that keeps you from focusing too much on the content of the first

Repeated Mantra phrases can be a very powerful hypnotic technique. We're not used to chanting "deeper and deeper, I'm deeply hypnotized," so that "newness" can easily be enough to make it true

Text hypnosis can be just as intense as listening to someone's voice if you've got the right rapport and skillset.

Binaural beats are an acoustic phenom. Play two tones & get a pulsing sound. 247 & 253Hz tones create a 6hz beat & encourage Theta brain-waves, generally assoc. w/focus but the effect is minor. More effective is that things that sound hypnotic tend to be - based on expectations