Is There Anything Magical or Spiritual About Hypnosis?

The main concern for most people is that the hypnotherapist will have some sort of magical power over them. It is hardly surprising when 99% of the time, when any hypnosis is discussed on TV, program makers turn to stage hypnotists for "authoratative information". These people are good at making money by showing how clever they are! Also too many TV programs will depict a "hypnotherapist" who also does shows, and who is also some sort of "spiritualist".

It is true that many (actually very good) hypnotherapists truly believe in such things as past lives and the spirit world. However, you don't have to believe in such things for it to work! I don't believe any of it, I must say. In my world, there is no such thing as magic and the only power used is the natural power of your own mind to heal itself and your body.

The mind has evolved to be able to be hypnotised, and most people hypnotise themselves every day, e.g. when becoming absorbed in a TV thriller, or when trying to work out a problem by "thinking out of the box".

For example: A familiar situation is when you put down your house key, turn away for a moment - and it's gone! You know that the key should be where you believe you put it, but it isn't. You then think furiously, talking yourself through your actions, but still you can't work it out. You then stare blankly at a wall, doorknob, etc., take a breath, and empty your mind. After a few seconds you get that "eureka" moment and the answer comes to you. You have just hypnotised yourself. Your conscious mind allowed the unconscious mind to take over in order to solve the problem.

The hypnotherapist simply helps you to extend the amount of time in this state, and uses this time to make helpful suggestions to the unconscious mind.