Using Altered States (Trance) in a Purposeful, Positive Way

Since the dawn of man, human beings have used altered states of consciousness in both purposeful ways – shamanic healing, divination, getting battle ready, etc. – and non-purposeful ways. (getting drunk or stoned for fun)

Truly, from a historical perspective, we are party animals. We’ve been getting high as far back as historians can measure. As one example, humans, like all animals, drank mother’s milk as infants and then, after infancy, basically drank water and nothing else. The FIRST beverages, beside water, that people began drinking with any sort of regularity were fermented juices and then beer and then wine.

Indeed, Dr. Andrew Weil in his book The Natural Mind, argues that human beings have an innate need for altered states of consciousness and that attempts to eliminate this need–and the personal and cultural expressions of this need–are doomed to perpetual failure.

I personally have been exploring altered states as a means towards learning and, dare I say it, enlightenment, for many, many years. For the past 25 years that has been done through Hypnosis and Trance.

Dr. Bradford Keeney, in his time spent with Shamanic cultures like the Bushmen of the Kalahari desert in Africa, tells us that their for of therapy is dancing. He described how, if a member of the tribe takes ill either mentally, emotionally or physically, the entire tribe turns out, builds a bon fire and dances all night long to the music of the drummers.

It’s been working for centuries.

Join me at our next “Trance Night” ( see TRAININGS Listing) for a quieter sort of exploration. There will be some dancing but not like the Bush men and its only a couple hours. There will be some hypnotic stories and a good induction or two.  Find Listings here: https://ericksonian.com/training