Rather than becoming caught up in exaggerated warnings about the supposed negative aspects of hypnosis, know that neither meditation nor mindfulness cannot be achieved without the support of a state of hypnosis.

This fact has been recognized in the medical community. However, the perception of hypnosis globally has been distorted by Hollywood's portrayal of Svengali-like characters, stage hypnotists posing for pictures with outstretched arms and penetrating gazes, and the propagation of myths by “righteous” individuals endeavouring to deliver their own message.

MY INSIDE SMILE

It’s ironically amusing to hear individuals condemn hypnosis by thundering how it’s the work of the devil, yet praise the effectiveness of last Sunday's sermon at church.

When I deliver a sermon, or funeral service, I purposefully guide the congregation into a state of focused attention, as do all public speakers, so I can embed a positive, healing message.

It should be understood that language always has always been a means of influencing individuals' thought processes, no matter how delivered.

HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENTLY THE SAME?

Hypnosis and meditation are two distinct practices that share a lot of similarities. They both involve altered states of consciousness, focused attention, and relaxation. However, when initially entering into a meditative state, meditative practitioners restrict themselves to the conscious mind when trying to achieve a state of calm, clarity, and focus by sitting quietly and focusing the mind on a particular object or activity, such as breathing, a mantra, or a visual image.
It can take weeks to learn how to effectively discipline the mind on a conscious level, but using hypnosis, you can enter state either instantly or in a matter of minutes.

During formal hypnosis, the client is guided by an NGH trained hypnotist, who induces the trance and provides suggestions for positive changes in behaviour.
During every session, with every client, we also embed and emphasise suggestions to enable them to achieve a self-hypnotic state at will.
We know that hypnosis can be used for a variety of purposes, including smoking cessation, weight loss, pain management, anxiety reduction, or phobia elimination, and to evoke the same emotions as visited in meditation.
Like hypnosis, meditation can be done alone or in a group, and practiced for spiritual, health, or psychological benefits.

THE PATH OF MEDITATION

Meditation can induce various brain states depending on the specific type of meditation practiced. However, one common brain state that is associated with meditation is the alpha state.
A person who takes time out to reflect or meditate is usually in an alpha state, the relaxed state of consciousness characterised by brainwave patterns that are slower and more synchronised than those present during normal waking consciousness in beta.
Research has shown that practicing meditation can increase alpha wave activity in the brain to induce a state of relaxation and heightened mental clarity.
Other brain states associated with meditation include the theta state, which is associated with deep relaxation, and the gamma state,  also associated with heightened As a matter of fact, when experiencing regression and articulating experiences, it’s the alpha part of the brain speaking as different states will come to the fore depending on the motivation.
It is important to note that the effects of meditation on brain states can vary depending on the individual and the specific type of meditation practiced. Different types of meditation may induce different brain states, and individuals may respond differently to the same meditation practice.
Nonetheless, research suggests that meditation, like hypnosis, can have a positive impact on brain function and mental health although in comparison to the time it takes to reach a meditative state, an NGH hypnotist can guide someone into full theta in minutes.

WHAT DO PHYSICIANS SAY?

Doctors may prefer meditation over hypnosis for a variety of reasons. One is that meditation is a well-established practice with a long history of use in various cultures and traditions.
Too, meditation has been studied extensively and has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, improving immune function, and increasing overall well-being.
Another reason why doctors may prefer meditation is that it is a self-directed practice that empowers individuals to take control of their health and well-being.
I’ve also read that hypnosis requires a trained practitioner and may not be as widely available or accessible as meditation. Baloney.
I’ve been embedding suggestions to empower self-hypnosis on a daily basis for years.
Doctors may also prefer meditation over hypnosis because they believe it to be a  more holistic approach to health and well-being, addressing not only physical health but also mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being - ahem … like self-hypnosis, you mean?
When I’m invited into hospital by the family, if medical professionals ask what I’m doing, I truthfully tell them we’re practicing positive affirmations.
Why? Because that’s the accepted term social workers use in therapy, plus meditation is well within the physician’s … hear this well … insurable norms.
I’ve been a grief counsellor and a pastor for 23 years and have been told some incredible stories by families of the highs and lows of medical interventions.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some incredibly talented and intuitive physicians out there saving lives in both little and courageous ways every day but as soon as “the system” gets ahold of them following a misadventure, or if there’s bias on their hospital’s death committee, they tend to withdraw and lose their mojo.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BALONEY

The world seems to be in a big rush for anxiety relief and mental health professionals are stuck on recommending meditation.
Even though it was the stage hypnotists icons like Gerry Kein who kept the art of hypnosis alive during the 60’s and 70’s, the reason hypnosis is considered the “bad boy” of mental health is because of us.
Hypnosis practitioners who deliberately post dramatic “casting a spell” poses on their webpages, who litter their web site with angels, fairies or other wispy images just cater to the folks who ridicule us as backwoods soothsayers, rather referring to us as professionals.
Intuitively speaking, I am spirit aware and a clear channel, but I don’t advertise it on my professional web page ‘cause people go there to see how I can help them change behaviours no longer working for them, not to hear from Granny.
My intuitive gifts were given to me to help people improve their lives and I supplemented them with professional certifications at the university level, as we should all endeavour to do.


YOUR TAKEAWAY MESSAGE

No matter what science says, some people will continue to insist there’s a real difference between hypnosis and meditation. As an experienced practicing professional I say horse puppies. Don’t believe them. is a light state of hypnosis and meditatively leading a brain into the alpha or theta state is definitively hypnosis.
Having said that, not to argue with clients, if they want to learn how to meditate, I’m happy to guide them to that state because to a hypnotherapist, meditation comes naturally, and I’m happy to share.

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Written by The Reverend Timothy Jones, BCH, CI, FNGH, OB
President, NGH Clergy Special Interest Group
(Updated 2024)

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