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Is Hypnosis A Science Or An Art?
It's All In The Mind
Richard MacKenzie
The debate is an ongoing one, and no one seems to know the
definite answer. So is Hypnosis actually an art or is it a
science. Loyalists from both the camps will fervently argue
about their case being stronger; however, I maintain that
hypnosis is a combination of both these streams. So there!
It's a win-win situation.
Researches studying the nature of hypnosis have found that
it's a state of near trance, where the person undergoing hypnosis
is extremely relaxed, both internally and externally. We experience
a heightened sense of imagination while under a hypnotic state,
and are open to suggestions and changes. Through the years
psychiatrists and researchers have also figured out a number
of instances in our daily lives when we experience these hypnotic
states on our own. Times when we are daydreaming, when we
are completely engrossed in a book, when we are driving or
even while watching a movie; these are situations when we
lose ourselves in the moment; we are concentrating on something
we are doing with such force, that we shut out external disturbances
and stimuli. Even though we are conscious of all that's going
on around us, it seems as if we have switched off mentally.
And that is exactly how hypnotherapy works as well.
Hypnosis has long been perceived with doubt; all sorts of
misgivings have clouded people's imaginations. Some people
called it pagan rituals, while others gave it the sinister
name of occult. Popular mediums such as films and books also
added to the image by presenting the hypnotist as an evil
character who is out to control your life by uttering strange
words. For the last few years hypnotherapists like me, aided
with research findings have been fighting against that image.
If you look at me, you will consider me to be a normal guy;
no turbans, gaudy costumes, and cheap jewelry can be found
on my person. I am here to break a myth, and I am here to
say that hypnotherapy is both a science and art.
It is a science because hypnotherapy is being widely practiced
today for clinical psychology and its healing properties.
People the world over are waking up to the reality of hypnosis
being able to cure innumerable lifestyle and personality maladies.
From low confidence to sexual issues, from smoking to weight
loss... people seem to be benefiting from the effects of hypnosis
for a variety of problems. Hypnosis is a science because it
deals with our minds - the subconscious mind. A lot of research
has been undertaken to understand the way our mind functions;
and one of the astounding discoveries was, that our conscious
minds are constantly being directed by the more powerful,
yet subtle subconscious. So, in truth our subconscious is
the real driving force behind all our thoughts and actions;
our conscious minds constantly ruminating over the feedback
given to it by our subconscious. And hypnotherapy's underlying
belief lies in the power of our subconscious.
Hypnotherapy can also be an art, simply because it can be
mastered with practice. Something like learning to play a
flute, or learning to paint. While we may have the natural
flair to be artists, we need to hone our talent. Similarly
hypnosis takes practice and patience, before we can see positive
results. It is also an art because it deals with humans and
human feelings such as jealousy, guilt, shame, which have
been so well represented over the years in literature. Hypnotherapy
is an art also because individuals who have mastered it can
use it for lighthearted entertainment - stage hypnosis is
practiced successfully by many professionals, who manage to
make people laugh even while demonstrating how powerful our
subconscious really is.
Richard MacKenzie - Find more information on Hypnotherapy
and Self
Hypnosis at Richard MacKenzie's site.
Article Source: http://www.upublish.info
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