HYPNOSIS WITHOUT TRANCE™ PRESENTS EXCLUSIVE E-BOOK

Hypnosis Beyond the

Trance Myth
A Special Report for Hypnotists,
NLPers and the Curious!

BY JAMES TRIPP

www.hypnosiswithouttrance.com
CONTENTS

2009 Acknowledgements Page 3

2020 Introduction Page 4

2009 Introduction Page 5

Feedback Page 7

Why Should I Read This Report? Page 9

What on Earth is Hypnosis? Page 10

The Trance Myth Page 12

Trance is Cool! Page 14

New Realities Page 16

Introducing the Hypnotic Loop Page 18

Beliefs, Reality and the Big Because Page 21

A Practical Look at the Hypnotic Loop Page 24

The Power of Understanding the Loop Page 27

Key Skills for Managing Hypnotic Loops Page 28

What Else and Where Next? Page 30

Recommended Reading/Listening Page 32

Afterword Page 33

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 02

DISCLAIMER 2009 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The information in this report is presented to Thanks indeed are due to many, including:
you free of charge and with the very best of
intentions. Please, however, be aware that Mesmer, Braid, Charcot, Bernheim,
you are a responsible human being and any Milton Erickson, Dave Elman, Richard
experimentation with the ideas presented in Bandler, John Grinder, David Calof,
this report is undertaken at your own risk Steven Heller, Paul McKenna,
and responsibility. Stephen Brooks, Derren Brown,
The Amazing Kreskin,
For the most part, hypnosis is safe and Major Mark Cunningham, Ross Jeffries,
enjoyable providing you pay attention to your Steve Piccus, Kenrick Cleveland,
subject’s health and safety, and even safer Ormond McGill, David Grove, James Lawley,
when you stay away from ‘trance’ (and Penny Tompkin, Jonathan Chase.
especially any form of regression). Please
remember that you have a duty of care when Special thanks are due to my teachers,
hypnotizing to both your client and any mentors and peers - especially:
spectators.
Anthony Jacquin, Wendy Sullivan, Judy Rees,
If you are unsure as to how to look after your Melody Cheal, Joe Cheal, Freddy Jacquin,
client, please seek further advice before Simon Goodlad, Gary Colfer, Lee Smith,
proceeding, and remember, regardless of the Tai Shindo, Darren Altman, Amit Badiani,
advice the responsibility is still yours. Nick Davies and Alan Whitton.

At all times when practicing hypnosis, it is

your responsibility to ensure that you comply
with the laws, regulations and codes of your
home country, region, state or territory.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE STATED, THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND

COPYRIGHT ARE RETAINED BY THE AUTHOR, JAMES TRIPP, WHO ALSO RETAINS THE
TRADEMARK “HYPNOSIS WITHOUT TRANCE”.

Please do not copy any portion of this book without permission

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 03

 Summary
introduction

2020 INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Hypnosis Beyond the Trance flexibility that is the hallmark of Hypnosis
Myth '10th Anniversary Edition'. Without Trance).

Metaphorically speaking, 2020 might be a Since the first publication, I have had 10 more
good year for looking back with clear vision years exploring, experimenting and
but I'm going to keep this introduction TEACHING hypnosis via both live workshops
super-short as frankly, the 2009 intro is way and online programs. And, inevitably, this
more interesting anyway! means that I have continued to grow both as
a hypnotist and hypnosis trainer. And so...
I do want to say, however...
What I was confronted with here was the
At the time of original publication I had been challenge of how much to rewrite the 2009
exploring and experimenting with material! Ultimately, I have chosen to re-
conversational hypnosis for about 7 years but write minimally, only really upgrading my
only about 3 with formal hypnosis (a languaging around some things - sometimes
significantly different game). At that time, for clarity, sometimes to better reflect my
the ideas I released through this little book current frames. Essentially the book remains
caused quite a lot of upset in the hypnosis the same, and so the primary voice is still
world as they challenged a great many James Tripp circa 2009.
established trainers' cherished truths. Since
that time however, the ground has shifted OK, that's enough for 2020 for now... I'll hand
significantly and there are more and more you back in time to JT 2009 and see you
people teaching process based and again in the afterword for a note on how
'cognitive-behavioural' approaches (but few, I HWT has evolved in the decade since.
will say, with the level of attention of deep
and detailed skill and in the moment James Tripp, Edinburgh UK, 2020

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 04

2009 INTRODUCTION

About 3 years ago I was sitting in La Concha This piece had caught my imagination for
Wine Bar in Letchworth Garden City (where I some reason so I had listened to it on the
once lived), chatting to some friends about audio over and over – and now, for the first
this and that, when the subject of hypnosis time, I was going to try it on a real live human
came up. At that time I had been practising being! I set up my subject holding my
as a Hypnotherapist for about a year, and had business card between thumb and index
taken various trainings and read various finger and then began the piece proper
books, so naturally people where seeing me (making like I’d done it a 1000 times before, of
as the expert at the table. course :-) )...

But the truth was I knew little about hypnosis And it worked!!! Well, kind of. By my
beyond the myths that I had been taught, and standards at the time it was a raging success,
even then those myths didn’t seem quite right because for about 10 seconds the subject (my
to me. friend’s girlfriend) was unable to drop the
card. No lengthy trance induction, no
In my hypnotherapy practice, I used mostly obvious signs of trance (she was talking quite
NLP based techniques and rounded off the normally at the time), but the card was
session with some ‘trance’ – and I always stuck in her fingers! (My subject was
used the same inductions (overlapping sceptical and claimed it had something to do
pacing and leading, progressive muscle with the position of her wrist making it hard
relaxation). I never elicited any strong to drop the card, but this just isn’t so.)
hypnotic phenomena because I had never
been taught to and wasn’t really sure how. Now, I still do this piece, but after many
subjects, many repetitions and many
But in that moment sitting in that bar I learnings I do it a lot differently now and get
decided to try something that I had never much more consistent results. I have also
done before and go for a little bit of genuine expanded out from this routine to develop a
hypnotic phenomena. I had recently been whole range of ‘induction-free’ hypnosis
listening to an audio recording of a teaching pieces, from various ‘sticks’ to amnesias and
seminar called Hypnotic Techniques by a the occasional hallucination or two.
hypnotist named David Calof (recommended
listening), and right near the beginning David One thing I have come to realise over this
does this thing where he has delegates hold time is that hypnosis has little or nothing to
up a sheet of paper and very quickly sets it do with ‘trance’ or any other kind of altered
up so as they are unable to drop it – their state that people are ‘in’ or ‘out’ of or ‘under’
fingers become hypnotically stuck! No in any way whatsoever. Hypnosis is much
obvious trance induction and all done in more about everyday cognitive processes
under a minute. being drawn into what I like to call a hypnotic
loop!

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 05

 Summary
feedback

Here’s some of the initial feedback recieved ANTHONY JACQUIN – HYPNOTIST,

back in 2009: CHANGE AGENT, HYPNOSIS TRAINER AND
AUTHOR OF REALITY IS PLASTIC
HARRY GUINNESS - IRELAND'S PREMIER
STREET HYPNOTIST (DUBLIN, IRELAND) (Talking about the ‘hypnotic sticky fingers’
sequence) “I knew the routine worked well,
“James, it has been a pleasure to see you but James has helped me understand some of
work! You have some great ideas and an the finer points of why it works and how to
infectious attitude to everything. In my make it rock solid and reliable. He has turned
opinion, you are one of the few hypnotists it into a flexible routine that can be used at
working today with a modern attitude to both any stage of the hypnotic process.”
the performance and the theory behind it.”

MICHAEL WATSON – NLP MASTER

DARREN ALTMAN – HYPNOTIST (LONDON, PRACTITIONER AND TRAINER OF
UK) HYPNOSIS AND NLP

“I love how you can pace and lead with this “James, James, James …I want to let you know
stuff, so you stick all their body parts to how much I appreciate your video and blog. I
anything and everything as you springboard: am an NLP and Hypnosis Trainer (US and UK)
So as x sticks even more, you can notice that with a 30 year history in the field, and quite
y is happening! Great stuff - cheers James!!” frankly, when I look around the “academic
and professional hypnosis community”, I see
KALDER BENN – NLP MASTER more bullshit than substance.
PRACTITIONER AND TRAINER (LONDON
UK) It is refreshing to see you at your art… and
your great language utilization is as natural
“James has the unparalleled knack to spot the as it is effective. You are a member of an elite
leverage points that create the largest circle of hypnosis trainers – you’re the real
number of choices for his (hypnosis) clients deal.
with absolute minimal effort”.
I’m going to share your video with my
students and friends.”

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 07

Now, over time I have built a model for this During that time I have discovered some
loop, which serves to underpin my things that I think are pretty important and
understanding of hypnosis and allows me to that you need to know if you really want to
routinely elicit strong hypnotic phenomena get into hypnosis and reach the top of your
from subjects without apparently doing any game!
actual ‘hypnosis’ at all! And I am going to
share the fundamentals of this model with Now, I know that that’s a bold claim, which is
you in this report. part of the reason I have been hesitant in
giving this information out but I think it is
But I am getting ahead of myself because I time to start sharing this stuff because
haven’t even introduced myself yet! people have been asking me and I’d like them
to have the chance to judge the value for
My name is James Tripp, and I am truly themselves.
delighted that you have taken the time to
download this report and are now taking the I also want to make it clear up front that I’m
time to read it! no hypnosis guru and make no claim to be –
I’m actually pretty new to this field really!
Obviously I’m a Hypnotist... It took me a
while of experimenting with hypnosis before I’m no university professor or radical genius
I was comfortable saying that, but I now can but what I do have is an inquisitive mind that
and I am! just won’t accept things that don’t fit and
over the last few years what I have found is
I’m also an NLPer and a Mentalist (no that virtually everything I have ever read or
sniggering please, just look it up), and over been taught about what hypnosis is and how
the last 4 years I have been experimenting it works just doesn’t ring true!
with hypnosis and hypnotising across a range
of different contexts – formal hypnotherapy, So I have let much of it go and built some
mentalism performance settings, impromptu new models to explain hypnosis in a way that
demonstration and educational contexts. helps me to do it better! And of course it is no
good to you if it only works for me – so I have
been sharing bits and pieces with friends and
colleagues to test out my approach.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 06

And a small sample of feedback from the CHAD K - HWT ONLINE DEEP
years that followed (please visit APPRENTICESHIP MEMBER
https://www.hypnosiswithouttrance.com
"This is completely transformative. Not just in
for much more!):
terms of how I will approach changework, but
in terms of how I approach my own life. I'm so
grateful for this course..."
MICHELLE M – HYPNOTHERAPIST – PERTH
AUSTRALIA

ANTHONY T - HWT ONLINE DEEP

“Hypnosis Without Trance has blown my mind
APPRENTICESHIP MEMBER
and completely changed my thoughts on how
hypnosis works with my clients – it’s clicked
"This course is amazing. I was telling my wife
together a lot of gaps that my traditional
last nite, it feels as though I’m doing a
learning couldn’t explain…”
philosophy, psychology and hypnosis course all
at once the platform is amazing and James
Tripp's teachings are resonating in a very deep
NATHAN T – HYPNOTIST
and embodied way."
"I stumbled across your HWT site in November,
and I’ve been totally blown away by your theory
JD - HWT ONLINE DEEP APPRENTICESHIP
and model of hypnosis. I’m not blowing smoke
MEMBER
when I say that I believe you are one of the
great contemporary thinkers of this discipline.
…each moment is orchestrated for the desired "Hello, just a quick appreciation of all the
outcome with Seeding, NLP “tricks”, clean thought you have put into the course. I really
language, and what else? Inspiring. Thanks." appreciate the breadth of your theoretical
thinking and that your ethical principles
shine through. Not naming names here but
RAYMOND G - HWT ONLINE DEEP
the same I could not find in some prominent
APPRENTICESHIP MEMBER
international online hypnosis courses!"
James you have awakened something in me
that I have pushed away from at different
points in my life due to the limitations that I And of course it is my hope that through
had held onto during those periods. Better late this report and my blog, you will be able to
to the party than not to join at all. Thanks for learn enough about my approach to
the space to ....... My mind continues to be
experiment a little and hopefully transform
blown.....
your own approach to hypnosis for the
better! (If you do, please do let me know how
MARK W - HWT ONLINE DEEP it has helped you!)
APPRENTICESHIP MEMBER

...this material is years ahead of itself, basically

pioneering stuff. Thanks for the opportunity to
learn this!

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 08

 Summary
why should I read
this report?

The short answer is: there is no should! If you Now, these myths all had their moment, but
do hypnosis as well as you wish to and are sometimes it is time to move on, because, to
happy with what you do and what you paraphrase Brad Blanton (Radical Honesty,
believe, then there is really no need to Sparrowhawk Publications):
bother.
Yesterday's liberating insight is today’s
If, on the other hand, you are looking to jailhouse of stale thinking!
deepen your understanding and become a
more effective hypnotist, the ideas contained I think that it is time to challenge the hypno-
within the following pages will really help myths of old and bring hypnosis fully into the
you to do this. 21st century. I am not claiming to be doing
this single-handedly, but it is part of my
I believe that to be the most effective personal agenda, and I think you’ll benefit
hypnotist you can be, you need to do only from it becoming part of yours. When you do
that which works and strip away that which this and streamline your thinking and
doesn’t. For all kinds of reasons the world of approach, it will make a real difference to
hypnosis seems to be filled with myths and your efficacy as a hypnotist.
confusion about what hypnosis is and how it
actually works - myths that originate from This is what this report is about – the first
the 19th and 20th century pioneers of steps in taking a modern, streamlined
hypnosis and are passed down to us through approach to hypnosis that cuts out all the
successive generations of hypnosis teachers ‘hypno- theology’ that can hold you back.
and authors.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 09

 Summary
what on earth
is hypnosis?

I have no idea how many people there are on So this is my most basic definition - hypnosis
this planet who are proficient in ‘formal’ is:
hypnosis, but I do know that none of them
really know what hypnosis is! Some may think The alteration of a person's subjective
that they know, and many of them have great experience through means of verbal
‘models’ or explanations of hypnosis that are and non-verbal communication.
useful, but none of them really know ‘the
truth’. And that goes for me too. This definition is OK, but it is limited because
it says nothing of how communication can
Now I also know that you don’t need to know alter experience. I believe there are 2 key
'the truth' – but to be your very best as a elements here:
hypnotist you need to work by a set of
assumptions and models that liberate and
1. The engagement and modification of
guide you to take only the most effective
action. beliefs

To me, hypnosis is a way of altering a 2. The capturing and leading of

person’s subjective experience through means imagination
of verbal and non-verbal communication.
Out of these two, the first is primary – it is
So you may have someone experience their the modification of beliefs that is the key to
hand as being stuck to a table, or their name altering perception. Beliefs are powerful in
as gone from their mind, or the experience of that they shape our perception and
a powerful emotion, or the relief from experience. This is too big an area to go into
physical cravings for cigarettes... or fully in these pages, but consider for a
whatever. moment the power of the placebo effect –

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 10

people experience powerful, positive Now you have read this and maybe tried it
physiological changes simply because they out, do it again with full focus (without
believe they are receiving effective treatment. reading it).

Personally, I consider placebo to be a form of

hypnosis, or hypnosis to be a more dynamic Now this is a simple experiment, so don't
form of placebo (I haven’t made up my mind take the results too seriously yet (becasue we
yet, and may not for some time). didn't do much there with beliefs) but...

The second key element is imagination! Essentially, hypnosis is a process of engaging

Imagination is easy to evoke and experience people’s beliefs and imagination in creating
can be changed through the simple for them a new subjective reality.
application of imagination. Here’s a quick
exercise: Let me say that again:

Go ahead and imagine that you have an itch Hypnosis is the engagement of a person’s
on the end of your nose (and REALLY slow beliefs and imagination in creating for
down and take the time to fully do this)... them an altered subjective reality.

...notice how it would feel if you did... have an And effective communication skills and
itch on the end of your nose... and even if techniques are the tools that enable the
that doesn’t feel totally itchy yet, you can hypnotist to do it.
probably already feel the change in
awareness... and sensation... can't you? You’ll note that there is no mention of
‘trance’ or 'special states' here, or of hypnosis
How long would you have to focus on that being something you can be ‘in’ or ‘under’.
idea of that itching sensation before you What we have here is a pure process
really feel like scratching it? definition – no peculiar states of mind
necessary!

Let’s deal with traditional ‘trance’ now!

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 11

 Summary
the trance myth

There is a long history, dating back to The most basic distinction is that the
hypnosis pioneer James Braid (1795-1860), of Wikipedia definition describes hypnosis as a
thinking of hypnosis as some kind of ‘special ‘state or set of attitudes’, while my definition
state’ often referred to as ‘trance’ (or simply is describes a process. So what?
‘hypnosis’). The belief being that when a
person is in that state they become Well, to answer the question you need to
‘suggestible’, and the deeper they are in that consider what it is that you want to achieve
with hypnosis.
state the more able they are to manifest
various hypnotic phenomena on demand.
If all you want to achieve is a relaxed ‘trance’,
This theory is still the most pervasive in the then the state model is just fine. But if you want
world of hypnotherapy by far – take a look at to achieve hypnotic phenomena (what I call a
the Wikipedia definition (as at time of ‘new subjective reality’), then the state model
writing): becomes more of a hindrance than a help...

“Hypnosis is a mental state... usually ...because hypnotic phenomena have got

induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic nothing to do with any special signature state

induction, which is commonly composed of 'induced' via hypnotism or any other means!!!

a series of preliminary instructions and

suggestions.” Now, I hope that you are wondering how it is
that I know this and can say it with such

Now this definition contrasts quite radically conviction! Well, it is simply because I

with the definition I offered in the previous regularly elicit hypnotic phenomena from

section: people without using a ‘hypnotic induction’ or

eliciting any alleged prerequisite state in any

Hypnosis is the engagement of a person’s way.

beliefs and imagination in creating for them

an altered subjective reality.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 12

The subjects display no ‘trance analogues’ because it seems so strange and even
(changes in physiology which are said to magical, and a special mental/neurological
indicate 'trance' – e.g. breathing rate, muscle state fits the bill just perfectly – after all,
tone, pulse rate, skin colour changes, eye something must be making all that weird
movement etc.), and are able to chat stuff possible!
normally and laugh about their experience as
it is happening. But the truth is, 'hypnosis' is already
happening for us 24/7, but we just don't see
If you are reading this then you have it because we are seeing the world through it. 
probably already seen the video of hypnosis
with the girl at the music festival – she is Ask any neuroscientist and they will tell you
laughing and interacting with me just as she the same thing - that our mind/brain
would in a normal everyday waking state generates our experience of reality in  every
because that is what she is in! moment of every day  of our lives  - we just
don’t tend to notice (any more than a fish
You may also have seen the video of the guy notices the water it swims in) because we
stuck to the chair in the pub – I ask him “you simply take the results of this at face-value
seem perfectly awake to me” and he replies and call it 'what is'. Indeed, it is only when
quick as a flash “I am” – his reply is genuine the results of this process start to deviate
(not because I hypnotised him to believe he from the normal (as they do through skilled
was not hypnotised – I didn’t) hypnotic facilitation) that we feel we require
an explanation. Well, explain it we can...
So why is the trance myth so pervasive in the
world of hypnosis? ...and without any recourse to stories of
special states or 'going under' whatsoever!
I believe the biggest reason is that people
need an explanation for what is happening Though before we do that, there is one last
thing I would like to say about trance...

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 13

 Summary
trance is cool!

Before we move to my explanation of how I Now I use this kind of trance in conjunction
believe hypnosis really works (and this will be a with hypnosis and value it highly as a
model, not a truth), I want to be clear that I am therapeutic/transformational tool. This kind
not saying that there is no such thing as
of 'trance' can be of great utility in
‘traditional trance’ or that such traditional
trance is wrong. What I am saying is simply transforming habitual cognitive patterning
that: and facilitating access to different levels of
client ‘self-knowledge’, but that doesn’t make
1. Hypnosis and 'traditional trance' are it hypnosis. In fact, 'deep trance' can actually
not the same thing create a barrier to a broader range of
hypnotic effects - many hypnotherapists who
2. The traditional 'trance state' is not at all utilise hypnotic phenomena (rather than - to
necessary for hypnosis borrow a term from Hypnosis Trainer Jon
Chase - operating as mere 'relaxotherapists')
By 'traditional trance' I am talking about a will likely have had experience of this (ever
state of turning inwards (what in NLP would had finger signals disappear when the trance
be called a ‘downtime trance’) characterised goes too deep?).
by relaxation and a probable shift in
brainwave activity (perhaps to alpha or So, to be clear, I am not suggesting that
theta). This is the kind of trance that is hypnotherapists stop using 'traditional
typically (though not necessarily) marked by trance' where there is utility in doing so.
traditional trance analogues (changes in
physiology – e.g. breathing rate, muscle tone, Only that in giving it it up as an explanation
pulse rate, skin colour changes, eye for hypnosis and hypnotic phenomena...
movement etc.)

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 14

...you will liberate yourself to become far more The reason for this is simply that 'hypnotic
generative, adaptive and impactful as a trances' are always the result of skilled
hypnotic facilitator. Indeed... hypnotic facilitation. You see it has been the
other way round all along – hypnosis
Dropping the 'trance myth' and learning the
process driven hypnotic facilitation of Hypnosis (hypnotic facilitation) generates trance
Without Trance will actually make you even rather than trance generating the effects of
more effective as a tranceworker! hypnosis! When you learn the Hypnosis
Without Trance process model of hypnosis
It’s true! By working skillfully with the true that I am introducing here, you will realise
mechanisms behind hypnosis you become
that trance is just another hypnotic
significantly more adept at creating and
phenomenon (altered subjective reality) like
shaping any kind of 'trance' you choose with a
much higher level of precision and impact. any other.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 15

 Summary
new realities

I want to stress once again that hypnosis is what is classically called the ideomotor effect
about engaging and leading cognitive - a psychological phenomenon wherein
processes in order to alter a person’s reality. physical motor-activity is generated
It is important to understand this because unconsciously in response to ideas and
without a quantifiable change in reality emotions.
hypnosis is not taking place. The only way to
know if the process is working is if you are The term ideomotor effect  is far older than
getting the outcome you are going for
the term ideodynamics, first seeing use in an
(which, as we have discussed, may well be
1852 paper by William Benjamin Carpenter
'traditional trance' if you have a use for it!).
discussing the means through which the
Ouija board produced its unusual effects. In
In the next section, I am going to be
this paper, Carpenter laid out a theory that
introducing to you to a simple but powerful
muscular movement can be psychologically
'base model' for hypnosis and hypnotic
initiated, maintained and directed
facilitation that I call the Hypnotic Loop. As a
pre-curser to this, I would like to first independently of conscious awareness or
introduce you to the idea of Ideodynamics. volition.

To the best of my understanding, the term In hypnosis, we see the ideomotor effect at
ideodynamics was first introduced by Ernest work in generating many classic hypnotic
Rossi and David Cheek in their book Mind- phenomena. Arm levitation is a good
body Therapy: Methods of Ideodynamic example - in response to the idea of lifting,
Healing in Hypnosis. the appropriate muscles engage to make it
happen outside of consciousness. Or the idea
In this book, Rossi and Cheek use the term that a hand is stuck to a table-top engages
only to refer to phenomena associated with  the appropriate muscle action to make it so
outside of consciousness.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 16

But ideomotor action doesn’t account for the remedy the problem by taking them into a
full range of ‘hypnotic phenomena’, which is 'deeper trance' (layering in more 'deepeners'
why I advocate using a broader model of etc.). And it is true that sometimes this
ideodynamics when making sense of hypnotic gambit can work... but plenty of other times
responses. it just doesn’t. The reason being that 'depth
of trance' wasn't really the key variable and
In my rendering here, hypnotic phenomena so if it worked, you got lucky but the real
fall into 4 catagories: reasons why remain unrevealed. So let us,
once again, clean things up by removing
1. Ideomotor - Motor system responses 'trance' and 'depth' (once again) from the
(e.g. Catalepsies, sticking, movements). equation.

2. Ideosensory - Sensory system From what I have been able to deduce from
responses (e.g. anaesthesia, heat, tingling, my experience, a major part of the reason is
etc.). that people simply differ in their ‘cognitive
styles’ and preferences and, for this reason,
3. Ideoemotive – Emotional responses (e.g. any given individual will find some classes of
feeling happy, feeling calm etc.). hypnotic phenomena easier to manifest than
others. So, for example, they may find
4. Ideocognitive – mental processing ideomotor easier than ideocognitive (this is
responses (e.g. amnesia, confusion, common but not absolute).
'scenario' based skits etc.)
Knowing this can serve us greatly as hypnotic
So I use the term ideodynamics to cover this facilitators as it opens the option to identify
whole range. Please be aware that while some and begin with that which a person finds
hypnotic responses fall clearly into one or easiest and then to 'overlap' from this into
another of these categories, many will more challenging areas.
actually be cross-boundary compounds.

How is this idea useful? Well, when you are So, by way of example, imagine that you are a
out and about hypnotising a lot of different hypnotic facilitator looking to create an 'arm
people, you are going to find that different floating up all by itself' type experience. With
people seem to manifest some categories of someone who does ideomotor well, you can
hypnotic phenomena more readily than simply suggest that their arm will begin to lift
others. So you may get ‘arm-lock’ but not all by itself, and off it goes. But if they don’t
amnesia – for example. So what is the do ideomotor well and do ideosensory more
difference? easily, you can suggest a sensation of
lightness, or invite them to feel into where
Those still following the trance model may their unconscious mind will begin the
likely conclude that the subject isn’t "deep movement.
enough" for the latter, and so attempt to

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 17

 Summary
introducing the
hypnotic loop

Before we go any further, please take a Before we dive in I will quickly say that,
moment to refresh yourself with our basic whilst most hypnotists may not be familiar
(trance-free) definition for hypnosis: with the Hypnotic Loop as presented here, I
believe that all consistently effective
Hypnosis is the engagement of a person’s hypnotists understand the truths that it maps
beliefs and imagination in creating for them at least intuitively (even if they are still
an altered subjective reality. consciously allied to the trance model). I say
this because in order to hypnotise with
We’ve talked briefly about ideodynamics but
consistent efficacy, you need to be aligned
practically speaking, how does it all work?
with reality as it is, and this is what we are
functionally mapping through the Hypnotic
Well, brain/bodies unquestionably create
Loop... so let's get to it!
experience through phenomenally complex
neurophysiological interactions of feedback,
As you will remember, our aim with hypnosis
control, emergence and all manner neuro-
crazy 'strange loops' (to borrow a term from is to engage and manipulate the subject’s
cognitive scientist scholar Douglas beliefs and imagination so as to create for
Hofstadter). But, whilst it can be useful to them a new temporary (or permanent)
bear this complexity in mind, what we really reality. To do this we need to generate within
require as practitioners (rather than our subject a hypnotic loop:
theoreticians) is a much simplified but highly
useful 'map' by which we can navigate the A hypnotic loop is a circular process
basic hypnotic terrain. And so may I (feedback loop) that consists in a self-
introduce... perpetuating loop of belief, imagination,
physiology and experience.
...the Hypnotic Loop!
All hypnotic phenomena are generated out of
hypnotic loops!

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 18

The aim of the hypnotic loop is to model the physiological response (an ideomotor
ideodynamic processes of hypnosis in such a response in this case) that simulates
way as to practically aid us in making cool stuckness. This experience of stuckness
stuff happen. So to begin to unpack it, let's becomes their new subjective reality, which
make illustrative use of practical example of feeds back into beliefs... beliefs to which
hypnotic facilitation: imagination now further responds  – and so
the loop begins to self-perpetuate.
Imagine that we want someone to experience
an altered subjective reality – we want to And so, from this we see that the four key
stick their hand to a table-top! elements here are:

To do so we need to engage the person's 1. Belief

cognitive processes in such a way as they 2. Imagination
come to believe that their hand is stuck. In 3. Physiological Response
doing this we may first need to engage with 4. Experience
their current beliefs  to create 'buy-in',
'engagement' and 'expectancy' (these are all Belief drives imagination, to which responds
key ideas in HWT). From here we can begin, physiology, creating a new experience which
through our languaging and facilitation, to feeds back into beliefs about what is
lead their imagination in generating a strong happening right now (and what it all means).

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 19

Without getting into too much detail, can you We can also, as we develop acuity for the
already see how this model could be useful to different aspects of the loop, start to pick up
you as a hypnotist? on loops that are already at play, and through
this awareness start to steer them toward
To begin with, it presents four points through
which you can enter and influence the loop. the outcomes we (inclusive of the person we
Although belief is the prime driver, we don’t are facilitating) desire.
always have to enter at that point, so we could
begin with imagination, or pacing physiological So that’s our first look at the hypnotic loop.
happenings like changing breathing or We’ll come back to it again later but before
sensation or movements), or with
we do, I’d like to talk a little more about
influencing experience more directly through
belief and share with you another simple
shifting attention patterns.
model which should be useful in aiding our
understanding here.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 20

 Summary
beliefs, reality and
the big because

With the hypnotic loop, belief sits right at the can also imagine that which they disbelieve,
top and can, in many ways, be seen as the and this can be a useful entry point into the
fundamental driver. As such, our primary loop).
objective as a hypnotist is the engagement
and modification of beliefs. Belief is so A simple way of thinking about this is to
fundamental because people automatically follow Robert Anton Wilson in making use of
create their experience of reality (via the rest Dr. Leonard Orr's rendering of the Thinker
of the loop) according to how they believe and the Prover:
things are, both generally and in this
moment. Dr. Orr's observation is that the human mind
behaves as if it were divided into two parts,
If I believe I am a fundamentally likeable the Thinker and the Prover.
person and you insult me, I am unlikely to
take it personally - I'll create a reality in “The Thinker can think about virtually
which you are upset and NOT one in which anything. History shows that it can think the
there is something wrong with me. earth is suspended on the backs of infinite
turtles or that the Earth is hollow, or that the
Put another way, depending upon what I Earth is floating in space; comparative
believe, my imagination (creative faculty) will religion and philosophy show that the
create an experience that is congruent, Thinker can regard itself as mortal, as
regardless of your behaviour. immortal, as both mortal and immortal (the
reincarnation model) or even as non-existent
This turns the popular idea of 'seeing is (Buddhism). It can think itself into living in a
believing' on it's head. Instead we 'see' Christian universe, a Marxist universe, a
(perceive) according to what we believe. So scientific-relativist universe, or a Nazi
essentially people always reflexively imagine universe –among many possibilities.
(perceive - perception is 'believed in
imagination') that which they truly believe to As psychiatrists and psychologists have often
be so (although it is worth mentioning, they observed (much to the chagrin of their

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 21

medical colleagues), the Thinker can think From a practical perspective, whatever
itself sick, and even think itself well again. reason you choose doesn’t really matter  so
long as it is plausible to the subject. In
The Prover is a much simpler mechanism. It teaching Hypnosis Without Trance, I often
operates on one law only: Whatever the refer to this reason (whatever it may be) as
thinker thinks, the Prover proves.” the "big because" – the overarching reason
that makes everything else possible. And by
(quoted from Robert Anton Wilson's, the way...
Prometheus Rising - 2005 New Falcon Press,
P25) ...this is the upside of a strong belief in the
'trance model' - it can create a very congruent
What Wilson is talking about here is how 'big because'!
human beings prove their beliefs as truths –
even going as far as to alter their physiology For a lot of hypnotists, this is a strong
to do so. As a hypnotist it is essential to unconscious motivator for staying wedded to
understand this and to develop the key skill the trance myth - firstly because they need a
of being able to engage a subject's beliefs on 'big becasue' they can believe in for
many levels (this is a whole area of deep craft themselves but also because they are
in-and-of-itself, of immense value to change uncomfortable playing with belief itself as a
agents and professional influencers across driver - it can feel to some like 'telling lies'
the board). to 'manipulate'... but consider this:

Now, understand this: If you are going to Reality (including the reality of hypnosis) is
have someone believe in the alternative complex... to paraphrase Werner Heisenberg
subjective reality that you wish to lead them "not only more complex than you think, but
into... more complex than you can think".

...they are going to need to have a plausible Every way of understanding the world is only
reason why what is happening is actually ever a map at best (and never the actual
possible.... territory), because the world is never made
of the ideas we use to make sense of it. So, in
..because if their  Thinker  thinks it is not helping people make sense that is useful for
possible, their Prover will be sure to prove engaging with hypnotic facilitation, our
that it’s not. pragmatic aim is to select the 'sense' most
useful for this person to hypnotically create
Essentially people need a because – i.e. this is with via the hypnotic loop.
possible because the hypnotist has powers,
because of chi energy, because of the power Nothing that you offer as a big because is
of Christ, because of voodoo, or because of a ever a 'lie', just a way of thinking about things
‘special state of mind’... or whatever this (a metaphor, if you like) that is a good fit for
person can key in to. this client and their current worldview (you

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 22

can pace and lead them to new worldviews as In conclusion here, when you learn to set up
you go if you wish, but start with what works the 'big because' with subtlety and finesse
for them). (though these are not always necessary), you
will be a good way there to becoming an
In Hypnosis Without Trance (and some other excellent hypnotist. Without this skill you will
approaches to hypnosis) this management of be close to nowhere!
beliefs and meaning making is called 'framing'
and is always our first consideration in any AND ONE MORE THING:
hypnotic facilitation.
When doing hypnosis, you’ll often find that
When setting about shifting a person's reality with the same subject you can get certain
through hypnotic facilitation, do remember the phenomena but not others, and there may
importance of establishing a "big because", often seem to be no rhyme or reason to this.
because it is this that sets the frame for the But there is!
whole ‘hypnotic interaction’ (whether overt or
covert). You are looking to get the subject's Sometimes it will be just that you managed the
‘buy-in’ because without it you really have loops badly but often it is because according to
nothing. And be aware that this ‘buy-in’ the person's current belief system, only some
operates on 2 levels: of the altered realities are plausible (believable)
whilst others are not (yet!). Very often you only
1. Belief in the process (‘hypnosis’ or whatever need to make some small adjustments in re-
you have named it as being) engaging their beliefs towards your outcome.

2. Belief in you as the ‘Hypnotist’ – that is, belief Sometimes however, you might need to
in your skills, expertise and competence introduce new beliefs into the system to make
things work.
It is not enough that someone believes your
'big because' regarding the process if they don’t One of the strong advantages with the
believe in you! The most solid way to take care Hypnosis Without Trance approach is that it is
of part 2 is create clarity within yourself as to highly interactive. This means we can get a lot
how hypnosis works and why it is valuable, of 'report feedback' from the client that we can
along with a clear grounding in the skills of use to make adjustments (either in framing or
hypnotic facilitation. Also coming from an adapting to cognitive style or utilising our
attidude of curiosity and generative difference- hypnotic parter's personal 'neurohandles') and
making towards your hypnotic co-operator tailor things to create the kind of engagement
rather than a place of 'trying to prove and response we are looking for.
something or getting recognition.
You will be able to find video examples of this
(This is outside the scope of this ebook but interactive approach at...
worth mentioning: Whilst there is a lot to be
said for developing high level hypnotic https://www.hypnosiswithouttrance.com/
facilitation skills, without appropriate
'groundedness' and 'inner stance', the utility of O.K., lets get back to that hypnotic loop!
those skillsets will be undermined.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 23

 Summary
a practical look at
the hypnotic loop

So as we have discussed, belief is key – we outline description, for the full ‘hand-stick’
want to get the Thinker to think what we tutorial,visit:
want it to think!
https://www.hypnosiswithouttrance.com/
While the Hypnotic Loop model is essentially
mapping the same process as the
Thinker/Prover, it has a higher level of SET-UP AND PRE-FRAME - THE BIG
functional detail that we can make use of as BECAUSE
hypnotic facilitators. Here it is again in a
nutshell: First we need to give the subject a reason
why this is going to happen (although we
Belief fires and shapes the imagination, won’t have told them specifically what is
which in turn triggers the physiological going to happen yet - in HWT we keep our
response, which creates the new experience options open to increase manoeuvrability).
– and the whole thing is what creates and
maintains the altered subjective reality. At the top level, the three major frames (big
becauses) I use most in HWT are ‘hypnosis’
And, of course, the newly created experience (whatever they think that is - and I will need
feeds right back into the belief system to find out and maybe do some re-shaping of
(because it provides evidence to support the concept), ‘energy’ (chi, prana etc.) and ‘the
belief and/or modify it further), thus power of the mind’ (which I can flesh out in a
generating, strengthening and perpetuating variety of different ways.
the loop.
When setting up a big because, I will often do
To understand this Hypnotic Loop better, let’s it subtly and indirectly (i.e. in a 'street
move beyond the theoretical and into the hypnosis' context I may mention that I have
practical. We’ll use the example of sticking a spent a lot of time exploring with hypnosis,
subjects hand to a table-top. This is just an then do a few simple, self-working ‘mind

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 24

tricks’ to create some 'buy in'). At this point I Physiology – Loop 1: Their physiology
am engaging their beliefs in what might be responds by firing the appropriate neural
possible for them here. Once I feel that they pathways and altering muscle tone in
are engaging and buying in I will then say response to imagination (when we sleep,
something like “let me show you something the body inhibits movement otherwise we
really interesting... this is not hypnosis as would 'move with our dreams' - this is the
such but will give you a good insight into how same principle at play.)
hypnosis actually works...”
Experience – Loop 1: The subject
Through my actions (mind tricks) and indirect experiences a little stuckness.
suggestions (I mention this in passing here,
but hypno-linguistics and suggestion Belief – Loop 2: The experience of
formulation is a rich skillset in itself that is, stuckness compounds the belief in the
unfortunately, way beyond the scope of this possibility, adding a new layer of belief -
introduction) I have set the frame for the "this is really happening!"
specific piece of hypnotic creation I am
looking to facilitate. Imagination – Loop 2: The imagination is
seduced by the belief, pulling it further
Belief – Loop 1: The frame is set, so the into absorption in what is manifesting in
facilitator proceeds by inviting the mind and body.
participant to place his/her hand on the
table and may begin with some additional Physiology – Loop 2: The physiological
belief work by seeding some ideas around response increases correspondingly in
hands sticking... setting the participant to strength.
begin entertaining the notion that their
hand may be beginning to stick (this is Experience – Loop 2: The experience of
done with a mini loop using pacing and stuckness is further compounded,
leading language – see the full tutorial for becoming yet more complete.
details).
And so the loop continues so long as nothing
Imagination – Loop 1: The hypnotist uses happens to break it.
descriptive language wrapped around
'pacing and leading' structures, along with And here is one of the primary keys to
non-verbal suggestion (very powerful in understanding hypnosis:
hypnotic facilitation) to lead cognition and
evoke and shape within the realm of As a hypnotist it is your job to set up,
imagination. The participants mind creates maintain and manage hypnotic loops for your
and connects deeply into the mind made participant and a major part of this is
experience, and...

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 25

managing their engagement. As such, you are a Pick an experience or response that you run
facilitator of hypnotic experience, and NOT and there will be a loop lying hidden
(contrary to popular myth) a mind-controller! underneath.

Essentially, whilst an immersive hypnotic

experience is unquestionably magical, you do The basic truth is that we human beings do
not have any magical powers as you do not not live in the world as it is but in the world
directly create the subjects altered reality as our minds are making it up to be through
yourself. Your co-operator is the one who ourbeliefs, imagination, physiology and the
manifests the magic with their mind-body experience that these create. Someone
system - you are just there as an expert
canbelieve their hand is stuck and that
facilitator and guide to run the process that
becomes their reality. They can also believe
sets up and maintains the loops.
their life is stuck and that becomes their
reality too... or they can connect with new
(Incidently, while you do not possess any ways of seeing and being... new loops... and
special powers, for some people their belief create new and powerful engagements with
that you do will form part of their big because. the world and corresponding results.
I personally never push this overtly, but
neither do I necessarily push it away until
In my work as a change agent I am always
afterwards, at which point I make it clear that
everything that happened was due to their own looking for the loops that are maintaining my
creative power and innate capability. This is an clients' problems, helping them to bust out of
empowering gift to give someone – do good them and create new functional loops to run
things with your hypnosis always and it will pay in their place. In my own life I've learned to
dividends for all. Hypnotic Loop?... or Reality workwith my own loops so as I can recreate
Loop?
my own engagement with the world as I need

THE LOOPS THAT RUN YOUR LIFE! to (and I'm not claiming complete mastery
here - there's always a degree of
The last thing I want to say here is that the 'bootstrapping' in self-facilitation even when
Hypnotic Loop is NOT something that applies you get pretty competent with it because you
only to hypnotic facilitation. Indeed, the same can't always see how the new loops need to
processes underlie all human experience.
be when caught up in the beliefs of the old
loops... but that's a whole
I won't go into great depth on this here
because this is not at all what this book is other story).
supposed to be about, but...
Suffice to say, getting into hypnosis
Procrastination? Theres a hypnotic loop (...beyond the trance myth) can end up
underneath it. Excitement? A loop. A phobia... enriching your life in ways that you could
it's a hypnotic loop that got kicked off.
probably never have imagined at the outset.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 26

 Summary the power of
understanding the loop

When you start to understand hypnotic loops hypnotic loops and find out where it takes
and how to generate and maintain them, you you – have a mind for taking care of all the
are able to become much more precise and elements! To do this, you’ll need to work up a
effective as a hypnotist because you can few skills for setting up, monitoring,
always monitor the loops to know where you maintaining and modifying loops effectively
need to make adjustments to strengthen, and efficiently. I have a ton of free material
perpetuate or modify them. Essentially... available via the Hypnosis Without Trance
blog and James Tripp | Chaos Wave YouTube
Take care of the loop and the hypnosis takes
channel, but if you are really looking to
care of itself!
develop your skills and understandings to the
highest level, there is also the option of
The old ‘trance’ model, on the other hand,
joining me in my fully interactive HWT Online
whilst it can indeed serve as a strong big
Deep Apprenticeship.
because, also shuts our awareness off from
the places where we have real leverage as a
hypnotic facilitator, instead drawing us to So... mastering the craft of the Hypnotic
focus on red herrings like ‘trance analogues’ Loops... seeing an array of options and choice
and generic 'deepeners'. Focusing on such points for creating strong hypnotic
things whilst following prescribed 'trance engagement, for seamless and effective
induction' recipes may or may not get you troubleshooting in the moment... and
'trance', but it leaves you very low on options hypnotically creating on the fly with
when you find the responses that it is whatever cognitive differences your hypnotic
supposed to facilitate just aren’t happening partner may bring... Thinking about this now,
(because there was no real attention to the can you already imagine the difference this
crafting of those loops). will make to you as a hypnotist and/or
professional mindshifter? Possibilities,
As a professional hypnotist, I highly possibilities, possibilities!
recommend that you study this concept of

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 27

 Summary
key skills for managing
hypnotic loops

A rich understanding of the Hypnotic Loop I'll say here that I unequivocally disagree with
(and we are only really scratching the surface that perspective and at the time of the 2020
here) is unquestionably of massive benefit to update to this ebook, I have been teaching
anyone looking to facilitate powerful the skills of hypnotic facilitation for over 10
hypnotic experiences but, to be clear, it is years to people all over the world. So in
only of practical use to those who have contrast I will say this...
embodied the skills required to make good
and effective use of it in. To manage loops
...the skills necessary for facilitating
effectively you need to be able to do four
hypnotic experiences via the Hypnotic Loop
basic things:
are learnable by pretty much anyone who
chooses to really learn them.
Set up loops
Monitor and Maintain loops
When it comes to true skills, due to their
Transition between Loops
richness, it is clear that a simple ebook is no
Close loops
place to be attempting to teach/coach them
One 'hypnosis authority' I met during my - again I have many pointers available on
quest to master the craft of hypnosis told me YouTube and HypnosisWithoutTrance.com
quite clearly that the 'ability to hypnotise' for free and you will get much from the video
was really just a talent - either you had it or program Hypno Dynamics Revealed that
you didn't. This seemed an odd thing to say accompanies this ebook. There is also my
for a teacher of hypnosis (what's to teach if interactive Online Deep Apprenticeship for
people either have it or they don't). those who really want to deepen their game.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 28

But... to give an overview of some of the more different frames)... and you may already have
important skills and competencies that you will some awareness of areas where you can
be wanting to develop, we are talking about: tighten your game.

Establishing and Maintaining Authority and

If you are just starting out, my
Connection
recommendation to you is to implement 'the
Sensory Acuity
only success strategy that ever works' - get
Loop Thinking and Perceiving
in the game, stay in the game, learn grow
Linguistic and Non-verbal Pacing and
and adapt. Make the commitment to yourself
Leading Skills
to get these skills and understandings into
Linguistic Linking Skills
your body and if you truly want these skills
Framing and Ideas Seeding
you'll get them!
Holding and Directing Attention
Giving Directions and Suggestions (direct
Whatever stage you're at, you have some
and indirect)
resource videos available to you as part of
Non-verbal suggestion and influencing
the bundle alongside this ebook (including
Engagement Coaching
Hypno Dynamics Revealed). Please do

If you are an effective hypnotist already, you engage with those as there is much to be had
will possess many of these skills to some level of value that both complements and
(though you may identify them through contrasts with what you have been
introduced to here.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 29

 Summary
what else and
where next?

Although this is only the briefest of delighted to have been able to assist.
introductions, it is my hope that you have
nonetheless got real value from this short But if you know you want more, stay engaged
ebook - that it has got you doing some fresh with me via any or all of these options...
thinking about hypnosis and perhaps
Hypnosis Without Trance Blog:
considering taking a more contemporary
https://www.hypnosiswithouttrance.com/
approach to the craft. Above all else, I hope
that it has inspired you to take your personal James Tripp | Chaos Wave on YouTube:
understanding and practise of hypnosis to https://www.youtube.com/user/JamesTripp
new levels, by whichever routes you choose TV
to take.
HWT Online Deep Apprenticeship:
Due to the nature of the format, much of https://www.hypnosiswithouttrance.com/ho
what we have covered here is in the realm of me-study/
the theoretical but is absolutely not  mere
HWT Facebook Page:
theory for theory’s sake!
https://www.facebook.com/hypnosiswithoutt
rance/
It is instead strong theoretical underpinning
for enhanced, effective real world practice. Please note that the content on James Tripp |
Chaos Wave goes beyond hypnosis and
My sinceire hope is that you take this and run hypnotic facilitation and into the realms of
with it... get out there in the world and start 'upgrading your personal operating system' and
exploring with it and getting hold of what 'using your mind to shape your life'.
you need (both resources and experience) to
If you have any feedback or questions for me
make your hypnosis work better.
about anything in this report, please do ask via
facebook or leave a comment on the blog. And I
If you were here to simply scratch an itch of
am especially keen to hear how this material is
curiosity (was it on the tip of your nose?) and working for you!
you have now found it scratched then I am

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 30

 My thanks to you for you engagement! P.S. If you have received this report by any
means other than signing up for it at
HypnosisWithoutTrance.com, to ensure that
James Tripp you get the rest of the bundle that this is part
of (including the video series Hypno
Hypnosis Without Trance™ Dynamics Revealed) along with additional
videos and updates please do visit...

james@hypnosiswithouttrance.com https://www.hypnosiswithouttrance.com
https://www.hypnosiswithouttrance.com/
...and sign up formally!

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 31

 Summary
recommended
reading/listening

The following books have all, bar two, been excellent information (not all of which I agree
highly influential to me in developing my skill with!).
and approach as a hypnotist and it is for that
reason that I recommend them. The two that *Monsters & Magical Sticks - Stephen
have not are Teach Yourself NLP by Steve
Heller
Bavister and Amanda Vickers, and Clean
*Frogs Into Princes - Bandler and Grinder
Language by Wendy Sullivan and Judy Rees.
The reason I have included these is that both *Trance-formations - Bandler and Grinder
NLP and Clean language are two disciplines *Hypnotic Techniques (Audio) - David
that have shaped my approach and I believe Calof
they are the best introductions to the two *Don’t Look in His Eyes! - Jonathan Chase
fields respectively.
*Hypnotherapy - Dave Elman

Please be aware that there is no need to read *Reality is Plastic - Anthony Jacquin
any of this stuff to understand my approach *Trances People Live - Stephen Wolinsky
but all of them are cracking reads and full of *Teach Yourself NLP - Bavister and
Vickers
*Clean Language - Sullivan and Rees

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 32

 Summary
afterword

When I first published Hypnosis Beyond the ...and, of course, across all this time and
Trance Myth, I was not a hypnosis teacher by activity I have continued to develop my
profession. Whilst at that time I had been approach to both facilitating and teaching
exploring with conversational hypnosis for hypnosis.
about 7 years, I had only been practicing
formal hypnosis (as a Hypnotherapist and And so Hypnosis Without Trance has evolved!
'Street Hypnotist') for about 3 years and had
very little experience of teaching hypnosis at
So what's changed across these 10 or so
all (bringing people to true skill and
years?
understanding) beyond some informal
coaching of fellow street hypnotists in
NO-FAIL PROTOCOLS, GENERATIVE
aspects of my approach.
ENGAGEMENT AND GROUNDING
After launching the HWT blog in October
2009 and getting a flurry of initial interest One thing that became very clear for me
(some love, some hate) I ran my first hypnosis early on as a teacher, was that a LOT of
workshop around December 2010, and in people looking to develop as hypnotists were
March 2010 I released the Hypnosis Without holding themselves back through fear of
Trance, Hypnosis Mastery Programme (a mail failure...
order DVD set, as was the technological
'cutting edge' at that time). "But what if I go from the hand stick and it
doesn't work?"
During the decade since, an international
reputation has self-assembled and I have This was something I could relate to because
taught all over the world and have had people as a street hypnotist, I had been afflicted by
come from all over the world to learn from just such fear also. My solution at the time
me in London and Edinburgh (where I now was to build rich 'decision trees'
live) in the UK...

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 33

that would enable absolute manoeuvrability "This is completely transformative. Not just
through agile frame management and in terms of how I will approach change
utilisation, and so 'outmanoeuvre' any chance work, but in terms of how I approach my
of 'failure'. This was unquestionably a rich
own life. I’m so grateful for this course, and
addition to the HWT approach and something
that I believe is still highly unique. this module in particular!"

Now in 2020, the No-Fail Protocol material has - Chad K, Online Deep Apprenticeship
deepened and changed in character
significantly. Whereas in 2010 it was about
outmanoeuvring 'failure' it is now about
"I can already feel my brain beginning to
creating generatively with whatever comes up.
work in a different way..."
Much less 'fear driven' and much more
'creation driven'.
- Nikolaos P, Online Deep Apprenticeship
The reality is that the potential for failure is
created by the facilitator's own 'toxic trances'
or reality tunnels (we, as facilitators, run our "This course is amazing. I was telling my
loops too), so as a part of the base fabric of
wife last night, it feels as though I’m doing a
HWT today, we teach grounding and
philosophy, psychology and hypnosis course
groundedness in strong reality tunnels that
liberate and serve (as well as all the strategy all at once. The platform is amazing and the
and tactics from the no-fail position). Put in teachings are resonating in a very deep and
another way, we do a lot more of our hypnosis embodied way."
from the 'inside out'.
- Anthony T, Online Deep Apprenticeship
This evolution has lead to my current Hypnosis
Without Trance Online Deep Apprenticeship
getting unsolicited feedback like this:
NON VERBAL SUGGESTION DYNAMICS

"Amazing course James... It's changing my Perhaps due to a background as a martial artist
entire outlook and my life. I finally feel as and manual therapist, I always had an acuity for
the non-verbal aspects of influence and
though I’m creating a working
communication which I brought to my
understanding of hypnosis and, as I do, the
hypnosis from the very beginning, but over the
fear to explore and experiment is leaving years it has become more and more clear to me
and being replaced with an enthusiastic just how much impact we can have through
courage to see what is truly possible." non-verbal channels.

- Anthony J, Online Deep Apprenticeship One of the reasons non-verbal suggestion is so

impactful is simply that it cannot really be
argued with in any way - only responded to. It
was legendary hypnotherapist Dave Elman

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 34

who stated that Hypnosis is, to a great degree, I believe the elements that lead to this are...
the art of "bypassing the critical faculty" of the
'hypnotee'. In my view, whilst only being half * A much higher level of clarity on what is
right (it is equally or more about engaging the
being created and shaped with each
'creative faculty'), this was a profoundly
valuable observation with much relevance to facilitation
understanding effective hypnosis.
* A higher level of acuity for gauging
But what is the 'critical faculty'? How does it response (the better you can read when
work? someone is engaged and psychoactively
responding, the more efficient and lean you
The job of the 'critical faculty' is essentially to
can be in your work - doing only as much as
keep out ideas that may threaten a person's
current way of understanding the world... but you need to and not overdoing.)
because it is symbolic and logical in its
operations, it can only work upon ideas * More effective use of non-verbal
structured and delivered in linguistic form! communication in creating multi-
This is where non-verbal suggestion becomes dimensional suggestions
powerful. Because it is not operating
linguistically, it cannot be sliced up by the
* Having greater clarity in setting conducive
'logic' and critical thinking of the critical
faculty. Non verbal suggestion slips right conditions
under the radar and speaks to far deeper and
far older (evolutionarily speaking) 'systems of * Being more grounded and less 'needy'
mind'. around getting the outcome

So, non-verbal communication dynamics is

Some of these changes have been formally
something that has become an ever richer
aspect to the Hypnosis Without Trance 'encoded' into the HWT approach, others can
approach. Indeed, in live workshops I often still only be taught implicitly through means
don't even let people use words in their of demonstration.
facilitation work for a fair portion of the first
day - we stay non-verbal and then layer words In the Online Deep Apprenticeship I include
in bit by bit as we go. In the Online Deep
breakdown and analysis of sessions from
Apprenticeship we evolve the use of language
across the last 10 years. The advantage of
and non-verbal communication simultaneously
throughout the program. I will state outright this is that there is much learning to be had
that I do not believe that any other hypnosis from comparing and contrasting different
training comes anywhere close when it comes 'evolutionary phases'. It is also true that
to unpacking non-verbal suggestion. earlier demos often contain more 'training
wheels' elements to them - things that are of
value when learning but can fall away when a
STREAMLINING
higher level of expertise emerges. So people
get to see the streamlining emerging across
Looking back to the recordings from 10
time, whilst simultaneously getting the
years ago, I am a lot more streamlined and
opportunity to learn from it.
efficient in my facilitations.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 35

STREET SHAMANICS it rather than take with it (ultimately this will
be more generative for all). This is what Street
Given that I am a professional change agent Shamanics is all about.
who makes significant use of hypnosis and
hypnotic principles, a lot of people ask me why In the Online Deep Apprenticeship our
change work or hypnotherapy is not a part of capacities to empower the people we work
the HWT curriculum ? The reason for this is with progressively grow as we move through
simple: HWT keeps a narrower focus on the levels on the Apprenticeship Roadmap. In
hypnotic facilitation because this is a rich craft phase 3 they really ignite!
in and of itself and thus benefits from a tight
focus in its development. So whilst HWT makes no claim to be therapy or
changework in any complete or rigorous sense,
However, this does not mean that we close our we are learning to create and shape
eyes to the transformative and generative experiences that open up possibility and
potentials in hypnotic facilitation. Indeed, we empowerment for people, and much
keep them clearly in the mix the whole time. transformation can happen.

In HWT, we conduct all our hypnotic

facilitations in what I call the Street Shamanics TRANCE REHABILITATED
frame. The basic Street Shamanics rule is...
When I originally chose the name Hypnosis
"Make everything meaningful in a way that Without Trance to label my approach to
empowers the client." hypnosis, I was wanting to highlight something
very specific - that there is no special
Here 'client' stands for anyone you are working signature state that is 'hypnosis' that people
with, and 'empowered' means either can be 'in' or 'under', has 'depth' to it and is
connecting someone more fully to their value necessary for 'deep trance phenomena' to
and capabilities or opening up new generative emerge.
possibilities going forward in their lives.
More to the point, when we let go of that
To be clear, this has always been an ethos of restrictive idea, a whole world of new
HWT since the start and across time it has possibility for powerful hypnotic facilitation
become a significantly more developed aspect opens up.
of the HWT mix.
That said, evocatively speaking, I really rather
Also, in 'Street Shamanics' the 'street' bit simply like the term 'trance' and have found myself
refers to the idea of 'anytime, anywhere with using it more and more often over the last few
any one' - it doesn't necessarily refer to years... albeit using it 'poetically' rather than
roaming the streets looking to 'shamanise' 'scientifically'.
people (though some might explore with that).
The way I tend to use 'trance' today is to refer
My friend Freddy Jacquin has said that when he to...
learned hypnosis, it was like someone had
given him a magical cape. To me, this very ANY state that a person finds themselves in,
much sums up the spirit of Street Shamanics... from which automated behaviours emerge.
if you are doing 'magic', make that magic count Not some special state, brought about by
for the people you work with. Contribute with ritualistic induction, but ANY state.

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 36

Now, considering this definition alongside a and choosing how we shift them, steer them,
little reflection on the nature of life, it quickly shape them, expand them, disrupt them or
becomes apparent that... work with them in a potentially near infinite
number of gross and subtle ways.
We are ALWAYS in one kind of trance or
another! And so Hypnosis Without Trance, ironically,
becomes a profoundly adaptive approach for
From this perspective, we live our lives through working with trances as they relate to ongoing
our own personal repertoire of trances - skill human life and experience.
trances, interpersonal trances, mood trances
etc - and each trance has its own little And so, you have been reading Hypnosis
hypnotic loop creating it. Beyond the Trance Myth... and beyond that
myth lies a new reality and accompanying
So, recognising this, hypnosis stops becoming world of possibility!
about 'putting people into trance' and becomes
about 'recognising the trances people are in' James Tripp, Edinburgh UK, 2020

HYPNOSIS BEYOND THE TRANCE MYTH PAGE 37