Much mystery has surrounded the topic of hypnosis, especially since a conclusive scientific explanation of how hypnosis works is yet to be established. Nevertheless, it is safe to say that virtually everyone, whether aware of it or not, has experienced hypnosis spontaneously, at least once.

Think back to a time when you were avidly reading an inspired, well-written, highly descriptive novel. Remember the experience of feeling captivated while watching an exhilarating movie about a time and place that intrigues you -- one filled with characters who took you with them on their adventures, transporting you into their world so totally that you forgot where you really were. You became very quiet and still. You lost track of time, and perhaps became unaware of your own body or the activity around you. You were in a hypnotic state.

Can you remember driving on the freeway, perhaps on a long-distance trip by yourself, or during your daily commute to work, when the monotony of the road, the lack of physical activity, and the music on the radio lulled you into a state of reverie? Your conscious mind drifted giving way to memories from the past, a conversation with a friend, or perhaps a fantasy about what you would do when you arrived at your destination. Were you so inwardly focused that you actually missed the exit? Were you surprised to realize that you reached your destination safely and that what seemed like twenty minutes was really an hour? Once again, you were experiencing a spontaneous hypnotic state.