Safety. Everything you need to know:
You are forgiven for being skeptical, confused or even frightened by the terms 'Hypnosis' and 'Trance'. Hollywood, the Tabloid Press and trashy novels have given the general public a very distorted belief about what these terms actually mean. Listen to the Free Audio Lecture for more detailed information. There is also a 'podcast' on the Musicians Hypnosis iPhone App which also helps reassure you that everything is cast-iron, platinum-plated safe!
The main issue is one of control. The media have implied over the years that when in hypnosis you hand over control to someone else. *Sigh*. If only this were true! Think about it: if you could control people with a bit of hypnosis, then wouldn't governments be using hypnosis? The fact is that they have tried very hard, and even after spending an awful lot of money, they have got nowhere. To truly make someone truly act against their morals requires pain, drugs and a whole lot more. When in hypnotic trance you are completely in control. If there were a suggestion that you felt uncomfortable with, you would immediately revert back to your normal wakefulness.
There is a part of the brain called the Reticular Activating System which seems to have a lot to do with the formation of trance in the mind. It acts as a filter and only presents information to our consciousness if it deems this information relevant. The smell of the air in the room is not deemed important, so you are un-aware of it. If your brain sensed the smell of smoke in the air, your Reticular Activating System would alert your consciousness to it. There are thousands more great examples of how this mechanism looks after your best interests. I think of it as your own, personal Guardian Angel.
So why did my normally timid Aunt Maude wind up dancing like Tina Turner in a Stage Hypnosis Show recently? Well, a part of her really wanted to do this - otherwise she would not have done it. In a stage hypnosis show there is considerable care taken in selecting the subjects. Ten percent of the population are 'hypnotically talented' and can go into a deep trance very easily. Therefore, the Stage Hypnotist's job is to find the ten people in a room of one hundred that are going to be the best on stage. Heres the crux: anybody that genuinely does NOT want to be involved in such shenanigans on stage WILL REMAIN SEATED during the selection process.
A universally accepted description of hypnosis is that it is the fixation of attention on one thing. This explains the 'gazing out of the window in a boring Geography lesson' syndrome. The truth is that our brains need to go into this daydream state for a few seconds periodically throughout the day as a kind of 'level3 diagnostic' (if you'll excuse the Star Trek' term!). Trance is as natural as waking up in the morning. You go into trance when you watch a good movie, or get absorbed in a book. Computer games put you in a trance, an engaging hobby puts you in a trance... I could go on.
Have I convinced you that Trance and Hypnosis are not the spooky, mind-control stuff that the media would have you believe? Well, if not, please listen to the Free Audio Lecture - its full of really useful information which will give you the knowledge you need.
Enjoy :)