Staircase
Hypnotism is a branch of psychological science
that bridges the physical
photoreceptors with imaginary ones. The imaginary photoreceptors are the ones
that guide our imagination and thoughts. Hypnosis leans towards the imaginary
and
fantasy aspect of our minds, more than toward the actual physical aspect.
The staircase method utilizes the tendency toward the mind’s imaginative
aspects to help induce a hypnotic state in a subject.
In this method, as with almost all hypnosis methods, complete concentration and
no external distractions are essential. The hypnotist
asks the subject to calm
down and become relaxed by asking that the subject close the eyes and clear the
mind of all extraneous thoughts. The hypnotist will instruct the subject to count
backwards (from 100, perhaps) while imagine climbing down a flight of stairs.
As the subject reaches zero, the subject is asked to imagine falling onto a bed or
into a pool of water.
Then the subject is asked to visualize sinking into the pool or bed. This is a
symbolic representation of the subject’s mind. When the subject is in a relaxed
state, the top of the staircase symbolizes the uppermost part of the mind that is
the shallowest. The process of climbing down symbolizes the process of delving
deeper into the mind, while the end of the staircase symbolizes the innermost
sanctum of the subject’s mind. The subject is said to be in a state of complete
hypnosis once having fallen into the bed or pool, thus symbolically submerged
in the subconscious mind.