Trance in Action

[Stookie]

A trance state needs to be achieved for OBE and AP, but there are other aspects of physical life where trance can help a person to work outside their average capabilities. I recently read an Associated Press article on the jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins. He says people often ask him what goes through his mind when he's playing:

"I relate to them that when I'm playing at my best, which is not often ... my mind is blank, there's nothing in my mind at all," Rollins said at a January panel attended by hundreds of people at the International Association for Jazz Education convention.

"It's sort of like being in a trance, you're just playing, and often the guys in my band sometimes have to remind me that, hey, it's time to get off the stage,"

I can relate to this in music and art. I think any artist can. There are times when I try for long periods of time and nothing comes out, and then the best work comes effortlessly, without "thinking".

Bike riding is another thing that can put me into trance. It's similar to a "runner's high". It's not a creative thing, but it's stress relieving and satisfying.

What activities do you do in trance?
and
What activities would be better in trance?

[WarpedReality]

Driving   and listening to music, seriously, I trance out for several hours and I look at the clock and two hours have gone by.

What else am I going to do while I am driving?

[Covelo]

I play quite a bit of pool/billiards, compete in many tournaments, and carry the highest ranking for players in my area.  I do seem to get into some kind of trance state, or altered state of some kind, which is hard to describe.  I have noticed that when playing at my highest level that I seem to be more fully in the moment and not having any other thoughts about the future or past... and many times I seem to lose sight or consciousness of everything else going on around me... even though the jukebox may be blasting music and people are talking and walking right in front of me.  Sometimes I may not even be able to recall how I just ran the last rack of balls.

Being in this state is like being in a place where there is nothing to worry about and anything is possible... and that no matter what happens... everything will work out in a positive way.  Even when I miss a shot in this state of mind... the ball goes in a different pocket, or leaves the other player in a very difficult position usually.  I seem to have a natural ability in this game and may someday be a top rated player in the world.

[hypnotist1]

Hi everyone,

A little something about Hypnosis:

When you hear the word hypnosis, you may picture the mysterious hypnotist figure popularized in movies, comic books and television. This ominous, goateed man waves a pocket watch back and forth, guiding his subject into a semi-sleep, zombi-like state. Once hypnotized, the subject is compelled to obey, no matter how strange or immoral the request. Muttering "Yes, master," the subject does the hypnotist's evil bidding.

This popular representation bears little resemblance to actual hypnotism, of course. In fact, modern understanding of hypnosis contradicts this conception on several key points. Subjects in a hypnotic trance are not slaves to their "masters" -- they have absolute free will. And they're not really in a semi-sleep state -- they're actually hyper attentive.

Our understanding of hypnosis has advanced a great deal in the past century, but the phenomenon is still a mystery of sorts. In this article, we'll look at some popular theories of hypnosis and explore the various ways hypnotists put their art to work.
What is Hypnosis?

WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?

People have been pondering and arguing over hypnosis for more than 200 years, but science has yet to fully explain how it actually happens. We see what a person does under hypnosis, but it isn't clear why he or she does it. This puzzle is really a small piece in a much bigger puzzle: how the human mind works. It's unlikely that scientists will arrive at a definitive explanation of the mind in the foreseeable future, so it's a good bet hypnosis will remain something of a mystery as well.

But psychiatrists do understand the general characteristics of hypnosis, and they have some model of how it works. It is a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination. It's not really like sleep, because the subject is alert the whole time. It is most often compared to daydreaming, or the feeling of "losing yourself" in a book or movie. You are fully conscious, but you tune out most of the stimuli around you. You focus intently on the subject at hand, to the near exclusion of any other thought.

In the everyday trance of a daydream or movie, an imaginary world seems somewhat real to you, in the sense that it fully engages your emotions. Imaginary events can cause real fear, sadness or happiness, and you may even jolt in your seat if you are surprised by something (a monster leaping from the shadows, for example). Some researchers categorize all such trances as forms of self-hypnosis. Milton Erickson, the premier hypnotism expert of the 20th century, contended that people hypnotize themselves on a daily basis. But most psychiatrists focus on the trance state brought on by intentional relaxation and focusing exercises. This deep hypnosis is often compared to the relaxed mental state between wakefulness and sleep.

If you would like to read more about it go here http://www.howstuffworks.com/hypnosis.htm/printable

Sincerely,
Frank (hypnotist1)

[Stookie]

Driving  and listening to music, seriously, I trance out for several hours and I look at the clock and two hours have gone by.

What else am I going to do while I am driving?

LOL!

Being in this state is like being in a place where there is nothing to worry about and anything is possible... and that no matter what happens... everything will work out in a positive way.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm talking about.

[Sepultura123]

You think riding bike is not creative ? You're wrong and im doing BMX and all extreme sports have a creative way in...

[Stookie]

Yeah, your right. I used to race BMX and when I found that zone I could hit and land every jump perfect, every turn perfect. The track was mine and no one else was on it. Like they say - the bike became an extension of myself. And there's no internal dialog going on whatsoever.  

When you get in that place you know your doing it for the love of it.

[Steve 2B]

Stookie,

I get exactly the same thing when I riding my motorbike. The mind empties of thoughts and worries, everything becomes simple and uncomplicated. It's a very liberating thing to do, especially after a stressfull day at work

Cheers,

Steve

[Sepultura123]

Ill be real cool to know the exact mood to be to ride everythings perfect. Or to be in the zone each time you does this activity. it would be cool...

[Stookie]

For me, it's something I can't plan for. Either I've got it or I don't, and I never know when that will be. Sometimes when I try to create music, I can sit down and mess with it for a while and then BOOM!, it just starts flowing on it's own. Like it's creating itself, using my body as the medium. I instinctively know what to do.

Other times I sit for two hours with nothing, thinking I'm in way over my head even attempting.

But that would be cool to figure out the "trick"...

Any suggestions?

[Covelo]

I have found that the main factor in how often this happens with me is when I have practiced more.  Also when I just put myself more fully into the task at hand, with no other intentions, and less going on around me to distract me... and just play for the love of playing.  This seems to the be the formula for success... for me.

Happy Trancing... :surfing:

[Sepultura123]

good smyley

[jalef]

i do martial arts and whenever i fight my mind is completely clear and its comparable to trance.

[Stookie]

I thought of an obvious one: SEX

When everything dissappears and you melt into each other. WHO-ha!

[Sepultura123]

Im sure you got a good sex dream !  

[WarpedReality]

I thought of an obvious one: SEX

When everything dissappears and you melt into each other. WHO-ha!

how many times do i have to tell you stookie, your right hand doesn't count

[Stookie]

Oww! Slammed on my own thread!   I guess I kind of asked for it.  

[Sepultura123]

So funny ... lol