Trance doesn’t have to be hard. Even if you’ve struggled to trance in the past it doesn’t mean that you are a “bad” or “difficult” subject (please run a mile from anyone who tries to tell you that you are!). We all learn in different ways which means that some techniques will work better on some people than on others. That doesn’t make some people better subjects than others – it simply highlights the fact that we all learn in different ways and that hypnotists should be aware of and respond to this fact (sadly many don’t and instead blame the subject. Such hypnotists are to be avoided at all costs!)

There are some simple things you can do to ensure that trancing becomes easier and ultimately more successful for you. I’ve shared some ideas below:

• Research I know this sounds boring but I promise you that it pays dividends. The more you understand about hypnosis and what to expect, the better your experience will be. Just ensure that you are getting your information from legitimate sources.

• Ask questions As above, the more you understand the more comfortable and confident you will feel. Asking questions doesn’t always mean asking the hypnotist, though. You can make a list of questions you have and research the answers yourself. Where you do reach out to a hypnotist for answers, if you are asking more than one or two basic questions then please consider paying the hypnotist for their time and expertise. After all, the information they are sharing ultimately benefits you!

• Communicate If you have worries/concerns about anything, have ideas of what you want to achieve or things aren’t happening the way you expect, speak up! I mean, obviously be polite and respectful but never be afraid to speak up and share. Open, honest communication is vitally important. It will help you feel more comfortable and will help the hypnotist better understand what you need for trance to be successful. Communication also cuts both ways so make sure that the hypnotist is answering any questions you have thoroughly (though as mentioned above be mindful of the time and energy that they are investing into your questions).

• Be gentle with yourself If things aren’t working the way you hope/expect it is easy to get frustrated. I get it. But I promise you that you are not a bad subject. You simply haven’t found the right induction technique to unlock your trance potential. Sometimes that takes time to achieve but I promise the persistence is worth it. In the meantime be gentle with yourself and celebrate even the small successes. It all counts.

• Give to consideration to your trance environment Is your space relatively quiet? Are you comfortable and able to comfortably maintain the position you’re in? The position itself matters less than whether or not you’re comfortable. Can you ensure that you have privacy and won’t be disturbed? Have you made sure that you’re not too tired/mentally distracted by other things? It’s also worth having a glass of water to hand as trancing can be thirsty work.