(Editors note: This article is slightly outside of the usual theme of this site - it is included here because there is a lot of interest in alternative aspects of hypnosis and we have received a number of queries about including more esoteric material)

The handshake induction is a great way to quickly induce trance, and comes under the category of a rapid induction. Many call it an instant induction, but this is, I believe, inaccurate as after you have interrupted the handshake the person does not stay in trance for more than a few seconds. You have to deepen the trance and then lead the person to your result, be it to heal him (this works better on men) or persuade him to do something.

The deepening often goes something like: "now just look at your hand and as your eyes refocus I want you to become aware of your slow and steady deep breathing, as your eyes begin to close now and you become more and more relaxed. When next you breath in your unconscious mind will take this as a signal, and will completely take over, leaving your conscious mind to wonder freely. Perhaps in a peaceful relaxing forest, where the leaves crunch underfoot and you can smell the pine needles in the air, and as you continue to tread through this forest you notice the soft chime of bird calls and you breath in the rich forest air and feel yourself more relaxed with every breath you take."

This patter will continue until the subject is deeply in trance, look for signs such as twitching eyelids and slow deep breathing, then you can begin to lead them to your outcome.

The handshake inductions are a form of pattern interrupts, where an unconscious pattern is interrupted. In many people, especially male adults, shaking hands is an unconscious action, so interrupting it causes a gap, which you have to be quick an crafty to fill.

Pattern interrupts are a fun way to induce trance, here is a Derren Brown style one: in the middle of a conversation (it has to be flowing for best effect) just say something completely out of place, such as "is the wall outside your house 2 feet tall?" Say this and just watch their mind go blank, then quickly anchor it and fire it off later.
 

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Nathan Thomas is a young hypnotist with a passion for street and impromptu hypnosis as well as conversational and clinical hypnosis. He is dedicated to making the most powerful hypnosis skills and resources available to whoever needs them, which is clearly reflected in his spectacular hypnosis blog

http://keystothemind.blogspot.com

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