Hypnotic States

1) Light State - which is usually typified by feelings of heaviness in the eyes, along with sensations of general drowsiness in the body. A feeling of relaxation is experienced, and the person will have less tendency to exhibit voluntary movement.

2) The Deep (somnambulistic) State - which is the most impressive state for producing hypnotic phenomena such as that witnessed in stage demonstrations.

3) The Hypnotic Coma - this is an extremely deep state, much deeper than the somnambulistic state. A person achieving this state appears comatose, yet is totally aware of everything that is going on, in spite of the fact that he/she seems to be totally unaware.

4) Hypno-sleep - In this state the person appears to be sound asleep, and may even snore, if he/she habitually snores in his/her normal sleep. But the person is not asleep. His/her conscious mind may be unaware of what he/she is being told, but the subconscious mind is aware, and will receive suggestions from the hypnotist in the same way they would be received if the person was in a lighter level.

5) Waking Hypnosis - For a person responding to "waking hypnosis", no suggestions are given to induce the hypnotic state, yet the person will respond to the suggestion given by the hypnotist just as readily as he/she would respond if in the somnambulistic state. With proper use of hypnotic techniques, all persons can be trained to respond to waking hypnosis quite effectively.

Brain Wave Frequencies

Delta - The frequency of brain activity ranges from 0 to 4 cycles per second. This is total unconsciousness. Not much is known about Delta.

Theta - The frequency range is 4 to 7 cycles per second. Theta is part of the subconscious range and hypnosis can take place here.

Alpha - The frequency range of brain activity in Alpha is 7 to 14 cycles per second. Alpha is the range usually regarded as he sub-conscious range. his is where nearly all hypnosis takes place. This is also where daydreaming takes place.

Beta - This is the conscious mind region which frequency ranges from 14 cycles upward. Beta is where we do our reasoning and conduct most of our affairs while awake.

When you sleep the brain automatically cycles down from the beta range into Alpha and then for brief cyclic periods into Theta and Delta. Most of your sleep is in alpha.