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For the genre of electronic music, see Trance music. Trance is a style of Electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s For other uses, see Trance (disambiguation).

Trance, as a class term, is a categoric auspice or rubric, employed to denote a variety of processes, techniques, modalities and states of mind, awareness and consciousness.

Trance states may be consciously and intentionally induced, or they may occur involuntarily and unbidden.

The term "trance" may be conflated with others such as meditation, magic, flow and prayer. Conflation occurs when the identities of two or more individuals concepts or places sharing some characteristics of one another become confused until there seems to be only a single Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness MagiC OS an alternative implementation of the Multitasking TOS / GEM OS for Atari ST line of computers Flow is the mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a feeling of energized focus full involvement and success in the process of the Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit It may also be conflated with the earlier generic term, altered states of consciousness, which, due to the value judgement that is embedded within the adjective "altered", is no longer used in "Consciousness Studies" discourse. An altered state of consciousness, (ASC also named altered state of mind is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking Beta wave state Transpersonal psychology is a school of Psychology that studies the Transpersonal, self- transcendent or spiritual aspects of the human experience

Contents

Etymology

Trance is from Latin 'transīre': to cross, pass over and the multiple meaning of the polyvalent homonym "entrance" as a verb and noun provide insight into the nature of trance as a threshold, conduit, portal and/or channel. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. In linguistics a homonym is one of a group of words that share the same pronunciation but have different meanings and are usually spelled differently For English usage of verbs see the wiki article English verbs. Portal is a general term describing an opening in the walls of a building gate or fortification and especially a grand entrance to an important structure

Trance, n. [F. 'transe' fright, in OF. also, trance or swoon, fr. 'transir' to chill, benumb, to be chilled, to shiver, OF. also, to die, L. 'transire' to pass over, go over, pass away, cease; trans across, over + ire to go; cf. L. 'transitus' a passing over. See Issue, and cf. Transit.

An intransitive usage of the verb 'trance' now obsolete is 'to pass', 'to travel'. In Grammar, an intransitive Verb does not take an object. In more technical terms an intransitive verb has only one argument (its subject For English usage of verbs see the wiki article English verbs.

Working models

Trance is increasingly used as a meta-paradigm and inclusive term for different states of consciousness and what has come to be known as altered states of consciousness. Meta (from Greek: μετά = "after" "beyond" "with" "adjacent" is a prefix used in English in order to indicate a concept The word paradigm ( Greek:παράδειγμα (paradigmacomposite from para- and the verb δείχνυμι "to show" as a whole -roughly- meaning "example" Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the An altered state of consciousness, (ASC also named altered state of mind is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking Beta wave state No value judgement on the states is intended. A value judgment is a Judgment of the Rightness or Wrongness of something or of the Usefulness of something based on a personal view The trance as meta-paradigm model has been developing through the confluence of various fields and disciplines since the 1970s. Meta (from Greek: μετά = "after" "beyond" "with" "adjacent" is a prefix used in English in order to indicate a concept The word paradigm ( Greek:παράδειγμα (paradigmacomposite from para- and the verb δείχνυμι "to show" as a whole -roughly- meaning "example"

Hoffman (1998, p. 9) writes "Over the past few decades, less of a value judgement has been made regarding whether these states are deeper or lighter or better or worse than ordinary consciousness. This means that usual, everyday consciousness no longer unequivocally ranks first, as it had for so long in the West. "

Hoffman (1998: p. 10) writes further that ". . . as the anthropologists and ethnologists (for example Felicitas Goodman) tell us, there are no traditional rituals or ceremonies that truly work and change our reality without the use of trance. Anthropology (/ˌænθɹəˈpɒlədʒi/ from Greek grc ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos, "human" -λογία -logia) is the study of Ethnology (from the Greek ἔθνος, ethnos meaning "habit custom convention" is the branch of Anthropology that compares and Felicitas D Goodman (1914-2005 Hungarian linguist and Anthropologist. "

Wier, in his 1995 book, "Trance: from magic to technology", defines a simple trance (p. 58) as being caused by cognitive loops which always result in various sets of disabled cognitive functions. With this simple definition, Wier defines meditation, hypnosis, addiction and charisma as complex forms of the simple definition. In Wier's 2007 book, "The Way of Trance," he elaborates on these forms, adds ecstacy as an additional form and discusses the ethical implications of his model, including magic.

John Horgan in Rational Mysticism (2003) explores the neurological mechanisms and psychological implications of trances and other mystical manifestations. John Horgan is an American Science Journalist best known for his 1996 book The End of Science. Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity Horgan incorporates literature and case-studies from a number of disciplines in this work: chemistry, physics, psychology, radiology and theology. Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. Psychology (from Greek grc ψῡχή psȳkhē, "breath life soul" and grc -λογία -logia) is an Academic and Radiology is the medical specialty directing Medical imaging technologies to diagnose and treat diseases Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective

Critique of term usage

Some people respond passionately to the usage of the term trance. Trance has a parallel history of negative associations and connotations. This word has distinct meanings in other fields see Connotation (semiotics and Connotation and denotation. This article seeks to embrace these differences and engage them as a mutually rewarding dialogue, rather than contrive a homogenous position. Brian Inglis (1989) provides an interesting literature review and overview of the absence and oversight of 'trance' in reference materials. Brian Inglis ( 31 July 1916 – 11 February 1993) was a British journalist historian and television presenter

Working definitions

Trance conditions include all the different states of mind, emotions, moods and daydreams that human beings experience. MIND ( Moving In New Directions) (est 1975 is an alternative education high school in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. An emotion is a mental and physiological state associated with a wide variety of feelings thoughts and behaviours A daydream is a visionary fantasy experienced while awake especially one of happy pleasant thoughts hopes or ambitions All activities which engage a human involve the filtering of information coming into sense modalities and hence, brain functioning and consciousness. Therefore, trance may be understood as a matter of functionality and efficiency ~ to economize consciousness resource usage. In engineering in psychology as well as in common parlance function denotes the property of something which is used/applied for an objective/ goal / Purpose / Scope Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the

Trance states may also be accessed or induced by various modalities and is a way of accessing the unconscious mind for the purposes of relaxation, healing, intuition and inspiration. Many observers throughout history have argued that there are influences on Consciousness from other parts of the Mind. Healing, assessed physically is the process by which the cells in the Body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area There is an extensive documented history of trance as evidenced by the case-studies of anthropologists and ethnologists and associated and derivative disciplines. Hence trance, may be perceived as endemic to the human condition and a Human Universal. The human condition encompasses all of the Experience of being Human. A cultural universal (see George Murdock, Claude Levi-Strauss, Donald Brown) is an element pattern trait or institution that is common to all Human Principles of trance are being explored and documented as are methods of trance induction. Benefits of trance states are being explored by medical and scientific inquiry. Many traditions and rituals employ trance. Trance also has a function in religion and mystical experience.

Castillo (1995) states that: "Trance phenomena result from the behavior of intense focusing of attention, which is the key psychological mechanism of trance induction. Adaptive responses, including institutionalized forms of trance, are 'tuned' into neural networks in the brain and depend to a large extent on the characteristics of culture. Culture-specific organizations exist in the structure of individual neurons and in the organizational formation of neural networks. "

Hoffman (1998: p. 9) states that: "Trance is still conventionally defined as a state of reduced consciousness, or a somnolent state. Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the However, the more recent anthropological definition, linking it to 'altered states of consciousness' (Charles Tart), is becoming increasingly accepted. Anthropology (/ˌænθɹəˈpɒlədʒi/ from Greek grc ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos, "human" -λογία -logia) is the study of An altered state of consciousness, (ASC also named altered state of mind is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking Beta wave state Dr Charles T Tart (born 1937 is a American Psychologist and Parapsychologist known for his psychological work on the nature of consciousness (particularly "

Hoffman (1998, p. 9) asserts that: ". . . the trance state should be discussed in the plural, because there is more than one altered state of consciousness significantly different from everyday consciousness. "

Origins and history

Temple of Epidaurus: healing sleep

According to Hoffman (1998: p. 10), pilgrims visited the Temple of Epidaurus an asclepieion in Greece for healing sleep. Pilgrims, or Pilgrim Fathers (or Pilgrim Mothers) is a name commonly applied to the early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth A temple (from the Latin word Templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities such as prayer and sacrifice or analogous rites Epidaurus (Ἐπίδαυρος Epidavros) was a small city ( Polis) in ancient Greece, at the Saronic Gulf. In ancient Greece, an asclepieion (or asklepieion) was a healing temple, sacred to the god Asclepius. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία A seeker of healing would make pilgrimage and be received by a priest who would welcome and bless them. In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities This temple housed an ancient religious ritual promoting dreams in the seeker that endeavoured to promote healing and the solutions to problems, as did the oracles. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions Dreams are the images sounds thoughts and feelings experienced while Sleeping, particularly strongly associated with Rapid eye movement sleep. An oracle is a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinion an Infallible authority usually spiritual in nature This temple was built in honour of Asclepios, the Greek God of Medicine. Asclepius (pronounced /æsˈkliːpiːəs/, Greek, transliterated Asklēpiós; Latin Aesculapius) is the god of Medicine The Greek treatment was referred to as incubation, and focused on prayers to Asclepios for healing. Incubation is the religious practice of sleeping in a sacred area with the intention of experiencing a divinely inspired Dream or cure Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit The asclepion at Epidaurus is both extensive and well preserved, and is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Asclepius. In ancient Greece, an asclepieion (or asklepieion) was a healing temple, sacred to the god Asclepius. Epidaurus (Ἐπίδαυρος Epidavros) was a small city ( Polis) in ancient Greece, at the Saronic Gulf. Asclepius (pronounced /æsˈkliːpiːəs/, Greek, transliterated Asklēpiós; Latin Aesculapius) is the god of Medicine (For a comparable modern tool refer dreamwork. Dreamwork and Dreamworking is a complex of emergent consciousness processes and technologies (refer Worldwork; Transpersonal Psychology) based on ancient traditions )

Oral lore and storytelling

Stories of the saints in the Middle Ages, myths, parables, fairy tales, oral lore and storytelling from different cultures are themselves potentially inducers of trance. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" A parable is a brief succinct story in Prose or verse, that illustrates a Moral or Religious lesson A fairy tale or fairy story is a fictional Story that may feature folkloric characters (such as fairies, enchantments]] often involving Oral tradition, oral culture and oral lore is a way for a society to transmit history, literature, law and other Knowledges Storytelling is the ancient art of conveying events in Words Images and Sounds often by Improvisation or embellishment Often literary devices such as repetition are employed which is evident in many forms of trance induction. In Rhetoric, a rhetorical device or resource of language is a technique that an author or speaker uses to evoke an Emotional response in the audience (the Milton Erickson used stories to induce trance as do many NLP practitioners. Milton Hyland Erickson, MD (born 5 December 1901 in Aurum Nevada, died 25 March 1980 in Phoenix Arizona) was an

Military

From at least the 16th century it was held that march music may induce soldiers marching in unison into trance states where according to apologists, they bond together as a unit engendered by the rigors of training, the ties of comradeship and the chain of command. A march, as a Musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a Military Conversely, the detractor may hold that they entrain as automaton. This article is about a self-operating machine For other uses of Automaton see Automaton (disambiguation or Automata (disambiguation. This effect was widely evident in the 16th, 17th and 18th century due to the increasing prevalence of firearms employed in warcraft. Military instruments, especially snare drum and other drums were used to entone a monotonous ostinato at the pace of march and heartbeat. The snare drum is a Drum with strands of snares made of curled metal wire metal cable plastic cable or gut cords stretched across the a drumhead typically In Music, an Ostinato (derived from Italian: "stubborn" see also Oscillation) is a motif or phrase which is persistently High-pitched fifes, flutes and bagpipes were used for their "piercing" effect to play the melody. A fife is a small high-pitched transverse Flute that is similar to the Piccolo, but louder and shriller due to its narrower bore The flute is a Musical instrument of the Woodwind family Unlike other woodwind instruments a flute is a Reedless wind instrument that produces its Bagpipes are a class of Musical instrument, Aerophones using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag This would assist the morale and solidarity of soldiers as they marched to battle.

Mystics

As the mystical experience of mystics generally entails direct connection, communication and communion with Deity, Godhead, deity and/or god; trance and cognate experience are endemic. Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Refer: Yoga, Sufism, Shaman, Umbanda, Crazy Horse, etc. Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف Basic beliefs and practices The Umbanda creeds and practices are an eclectic mixture from three main sources from Catholicism Umbanda adopted the ideas of Crazy Horse ( Lakota: Thašuŋka Witko, literally "His-Horse-is-Crazy" (ca

Christian mystics

Many Christian mystics are documented as having experiences that may be considered as cognate with trance, such as: Hildegard of Bingen, John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart and Francis of Assisi. Not everyone listed here is Christian or a mystic, but all have contributed to the Christian understanding of connection to and/or direct experience of God. Hildegard of Bingen (Hildegard von Bingen Hildegardis Bingensis 1098 – 17 September 1179) also known as Blessed Hildegard and Saint Hildegard For another saint who lived around the same time and area see John of Avila. Meister Eckhart OP (c 1260–c 1328 is the most common formula used to refer to Eckhart von Hochheim, a German theologian For the opera by Olivier Messiaen see Saint-François d'Assise.

Mesmer and the origin of hypnotherapy

Trance in American Christianity

Taves (1999) charts the synonymic language of trance in the American Christian traditions: "power" or "presence" or "indwelling" of God, or Christ, or the Spirit, or spirits. Typical expressions include "the indwelling of the Spirit" (Jonathan Edwards), "the witness of the Spirit" (John Wesley), "the power of God" (early American Methodists), being "filled with the Spirit of the Lord" (early Adventists), "communing with spirits" (Spiritualists), "the Christ within" (New Thought), "streams of holy fire and power" (Methodist holiness), "a religion of the Spirit and Power" (the Emmanuel Movement), and "the baptism of the Holy Spirit" (early Pentecostals). This article is about the theologian (b 1703 for other uses of Jonathan Edwards see Jonathan Edwards. John Wesley (ˈwɛslɪ ( – March 2, 1791) was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian who was the founder of the (Evangelical The term Adventist generally refers to someone who believes in the Second Advent of Jesus (popularly known as the Second coming) in the tradition of the Millerites Spiritualism is a Religion founded in part on the writings of the Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772 The New Thought Movement or New Thought is a New religious movement developed in the United States during the late 19th century which emphasizes metaphysical The Holiness movement in Christianity is composed of people who believe and propagate the belief that the carnal nature of humanity can be cleansed through Faith Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism (Taves, 1999: 3)

Trance and Anglo-American Protestants

Taves (1999) well referenced book on trance charts the experience of Anglo-American Protestants and those who left the Protestant movement beginning with the transatlantic awakening in the early Eighteenth century and ending with the rise of the psychology of religion and the birth of Pentecostalism in the early Twentieth century. Psychology (from Greek grc ψῡχή psȳkhē, "breath life soul" and grc -λογία -logia) is an Academic and A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism This book focuses on a class of seemingly involuntary acts alternately explained in religious and secular terminology. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Secularity ( adjective form secular) is the state of being separate from Religion. These involuntary experiences include uncontrolled bodily movements (fits, bodily exercises, falling as dead, catalepsy, convulsions); spontaneous vocalizations (crying out, shouting, speaking in tongues); unusual sensory experiences (trances, visions, voices, clairvoyance, out-of-body experiences); and alterations of consciousness and/or memory (dreams, somnium, somnambulism, mesmeric trance, mediumistic trance, hypnotism, possession, alternating personality). This page is about the medical condition for the deathcore band see Catalepsy (band Catalepsy is a nervous condition characterized by muscular An epileptic seizure is caused by excessive and/or hypersynchronous electrical Neuronal activity and is usually self-limiting Glossolalia is commonly called "speaking in tongues" For other uses of "speaking in tongues" see Speaking in Tongues (disambiguation. VisiCorp 's VisiOn was a short-lived but influential Graphical user interface -based Operating environment program for IBM PC compatible Clairvoyance (from 17th century French with clair meaning "clear" and voyance meaning "visibility" is the apparent ability to gain An out-of-body experience ( OBE or sometimes OOBE) is an experience that typically involves a sensation of floating outside of one's body and in some cases perceiving Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the In Psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store retain and subsequently retrieve information Dreams are the images sounds thoughts and feelings experienced while Sleeping, particularly strongly associated with Rapid eye movement sleep. Sleepwalking (also called somnambulism or noctambulism) is a Parasomnia or Sleep disorder where the sufferer engages in Hypnosis is often thought to be a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility with diminished peripheral awareness (Taves, 1999: 3)

Current practice

Today hypnotherapists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, psychologists, sports psychologists and NLP practitioners, amongst others, use various forms of trances. Hypnotherapy is therapy that is undertaken with a subject in Hypnosis. A psychiatrist (also archaically called an alienist) is a Physician who specializes in Psychiatry and is certified in treating Mental disorders Psychotherapy is an Interpersonal, relational intervention used by trained psychotherapists to aid clients in problems of living Mental health professional A psychologist is a practitioner of Psychology, the systematic investigation of the mind including Behavior, Cognition, Sport psychology (or sports psychology) is the study of a people's behaviour in sport Neuro-linguistic programming (or NLP) is an Interpersonal communication model applied in Psychotherapy and other contexts of communication and change

Neurolinguistic Programming (or NLP) is a further development of Milton Erickson's hypnotherapy, for which, however, he did not provide an orthodox methodology. Neuro-linguistic programming (or NLP) is an Interpersonal communication model applied in Psychotherapy and other contexts of communication and change Milton Hyland Erickson, MD (born 5 December 1901 in Aurum Nevada, died 25 March 1980 in Phoenix Arizona) was an Erickson would put his patients in trance with short stories. While keeping the ego of his patients occupied, he would target his healing messages straight at their unconscious mind, which he believed to have considerable self-healing powers. Id, ego, and super-ego are the three parts of the " Psychic apparatus " defined in Sigmund Freud 's structural model of Many observers throughout history have argued that there are influences on Consciousness from other parts of the Mind. In this way he healed himself of the paralysis that affected him when young and to which he did finally succumb later in life. Paralysed redirects here For other uses see xx Paralysed (disambiguation Paralysis is the complete loss of Muscle function

Consciousness

Beta brain waves designate the general state of waking consciousness. As a consequence, this state has been 'normalized'. This normalization is a challengable value judgement. A value judgment is a Judgment of the Rightness or Wrongness of something or of the Usefulness of something based on a personal view This consciously awake beta state may still be considered as a trance because it involves the selective filtering of information and utilizes cognitive, awareness and mentation resources in specific ways. Beta wave, or beta rhythm is the term used to designate the Frequency range of Brain activity above 12 Hz (12 transitions or cycles per second Cognition is a concept used in different ways by different disciplines but is generally accepted to mean the process of awareness or thought In Biological psychology, awareness comprises a human's or an animal's perception and Cognitive reaction to a condition or event

William James (Neophytou, 1996):

“ Our normal waking consciousness is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it by the flimsiest screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different…. For other people named William James see William James (disambiguation William James (January 11 1842 – August 26 1910 was a pioneering No account of the universe in its totality can be final, which leaves these other forms of consciousness quite disregarded. ”

Gurdjieff (Neophytou, 1996):

“ Consciousness [normal waking] is a state of light Hypnosis and few people are ever truly awake. George Ivanovich Gurdjieff (Գեորգի Գյուրջիև Γιώργος Γεωργιάδης Георгий Иванович Гюрджиев (or Gurdjiev) January ”

Aldous Huxley (Neophytou, 1996):

“ Normal consciousness is a narrow segment of our potential consciousness. Aldous Leonard Huxley (26 July 1894 &ndash 22 November 1963 was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. He regarded the brain and sense organs as a kind of reducing valve thru [sic] which experience was funneled to protect us from being overwhelmed. ”

Trance induction and sensory modality

Trance-like states which are often interpreted as religious ecstasy or visions and can be deliberately induced using a variety of techniques, including prayer, religious rituals, meditation, pranayama (breathwork or breathing exercises), physical exercise, coitus (and/or sex), music, dancing, sweating (e. Religious ecstasy is an Altered state of consciousness characterized by greatly reduced external awareness and expanded interior mental and spiritual awareness which is frequently In Spirituality including Religion, visions comprise Inspirational renderings generally of a Future state and/or of a mythical Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness Pranayama (Sanskrit prāṇāyāma) is a Sanskrit word meaning "lengthening of the prana or breath" Breathwork refers to many forms of conscious alteration of breathing such as Hyperventilation or connecting the inhale and exhale when used within psychotherapy or meditation Sexual intercourse, in its biological sense is the act in which the male reproductive organ (in humans and other higher animals enters the female reproductive tract An organism's sex is defined by the gametes it produces males produce male gametes (spermatozoa or Sperm) while females produce female gametes (ova or Egg cells; individual Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic g. sweat lodge), fasting, thirsting, and the consumption of psychotropic drugs such as cannabis. The sweat lodge (also called sweat house, medicine lodge, or medicine house) is a ceremonial Sauna and an important ritual used by Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all Food, Drink, or both for a period of time A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a Chemical substance that acts primarily upon the Central nervous system where it alters Brain This article is about cannabis used as an Entheogenic drug in a spiritual or Religious context Sensory modality is the channel or conduit for the induction of the trance. Mediumship is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Louisiana Voodoo, and Sometimes an ecstatic experience takes place in occasion of contact with something or somebody perceived as extremely beautiful or holy. SACRED was a Cubesat built by the Student Satellite Program of the University of Arizona. It may also happen without any known reason. The particular technique that an individual uses to induce ecstasy is usually one that is associated with that individual's particular religious and cultural traditions. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem acc of traditio which means "a giving up delivering up surrendering" and is used in a number of As a result, an ecstatic experience is usually interpreted within the context of a particular individual's religious and cultural traditions. These interpretations often include statements about contact with supernatural or spiritual beings, about receiving new information as a revelation, also religion-related explanations of subsequent change of values, attitudes and behaviour (e. The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events The English word " spirit " comes from the Latin " spiritus " (breath Revelation is the act of revealing or disclosing (see etymology or in the theological perception making something obvious and clearly understood through active or passive communication A personal and cultural value is a Relative ethic value, an assumption upon which implementation can be extrapolated Behavior or behaviour (see spelling differences) refers to the actions or Reactions of an object or Organism, usually g. in case of religious conversion). Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religious identity or a change from one religious identity to another

Benevolent, neutral and malevolent trances may be induced (intentionally, spontaneously and/or accidentally) by different methods:

and

Auditory driving and auditory art

Charles Tart provides a useful working definition of auditory driving. Dr Charles T Tart (born 1937 is a American Psychologist and Parapsychologist known for his psychological work on the nature of consciousness (particularly It is the induction of trance through the sense of hearing. Auditory driving works through a process known as entrainment.

The phenomenon of auditory driving is culturally still clearly evident and may be found in electronic dance music culture, which in many ways may be considered a modern version of shamanism. The same effect is caused by many jam bands. Jam bands (or jambands) are musical groups whose albums and live performances relate to a fan culture which originated with the 1960s group Grateful Dead and continued Churches which chant their services may also induce the same effects resulting in a trance state through the use of odd inflections and off-kilter or polyrhythmic structures. Similarly, white noise has been scientifically documented to assist neural connectivity, creativity and problem-solving. White noise is a random signal (or process with a flat Power spectral density.

Rhythmic induction

The usage of repetitive rhythms to induce trance states is an ancient phenomenon. Rhythm (from Greek ῥυθμός - rhythmos, "any measured flow or movement symmetry" is the variation of the length and accentuation of Throughout the world, shamanistic practitioners have been employing this method for millennia. "The world " is a proper noun for the planet Earth envisioned from an Anthropocentric or Human Worldview, as a place A millennium (pl millennia) is a period of Time equal to one thousand Years (from Latin la mille, thousand and la annum Anthropologists and other researchers have documented the similarity of shamanistic auditory driving rituals among different cultures. A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions

Said simply, entrainment is the synchronization of different rhythmic cycles. Breathing and heart rate have been shown to be affected by auditory stimulus, along with brain wave activity. The ability of rhythmic sound to affect human brain wave activity, especially theta brain waves, is the essence of auditory driving, and is the cause of the altered states of consciousness that it can induce. Theta (uppercase Θ, lowercase θ or ϑ; Θήτα is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from the Phoenician letter Teth

Visual driving and visual art

Charles Tart provides a useful working definition of photic or visual driving. Dr Charles T Tart (born 1937 is a American Psychologist and Parapsychologist known for his psychological work on the nature of consciousness (particularly It is the induction of trance through the sense of sight. Senses are the physiological methods of Perception. The senses and their operation classification and theory are overlapping topics studied by a variety of fields Photic or visual driving works through a process known as entrainment.

Nowack and Feltman have recently published an article entitled "Eliciting the Photic Driving Response" which states that the EEG photic driving response is a sensitive neurophysiological measure which has been employed to assess chemical and drug effects, forms of epilepsy, neurological status of Alzheimer's patients, and physiological arousal. Photic driving also impacts upon the psychological climate of a person by producing increased visual imagery and decreased physiological and subjective arousal. In this research by Nowack and Feltman, all participants reported increased visual imagery during photic driving, as measured by their responses to an imagery questionnaire.

Dennis Wier (http://www.trance.edu/papers/theory.htm Accessed: 6 December 2006) states that over two millennia ago Ptolemy and Apuleius found that differing rates of flickering lights effected states of awareness and sometimes induced epilepsy. Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca Apuleius should not be confused with Lucius Appuleius Saturninus, a Roman demagogue or with Pseudo-Apuleius, an author Wier also asserts that it was discovered in the late 1920s that when light was shined on closed eyelids it resulted in an echoing production of brain wave frequencies. Wier also opined that in 1965 Grey employed a stroboscope to project rhythmic light flashes into the eyes at a rate of 10-25 Hz (cycles per second). A stroboscope, also known as a strobe, is an instrument used to make a cyclically moving object appear to be slow-moving or stationary Grey discovered that this stimulated similar brain wave activity.

Research by Thomas Budzynski, Oestrander et al. , in the use of brain machines suggest that photic driving via the Suprachiasmatic nucleus and direct electrical stimulation and driving via other mechanisms and modalities, may entrain processes of the brain facilitating rapid and enhanced learning, produce deep relaxation, euphoria, an increase in creativity, problem solving propensity and may be associated with enhanced concentration and accelerated learning. The suprachiasmatic nucleus ( SCN) is a bilateral region of the brain located in the Hypothalamus, that is responsible for controlling endogenous Circadian rhythms See Entrainment for other types Entrainment is the process whereby two interacting oscillating systems which have different periods In psychology and Education, a common definition of learning is a process that brings together cognitive emotional and enviromental influences and experiences Euphoria is a medically recognized emotional state related to Pleasure and Happiness. Creativity is a mental process involving the generation of new Ideas or Concepts, or new associations of the creative mind between existing ideas or concepts Problem solving forms part of thinking. Considered the most complex of all intellectual functions problem solving has been defined as higher-order Cognitive The theta range and the border area between alpha and theta has generated considerable research interest. Theta (uppercase Θ, lowercase θ or ϑ; Θήτα is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from the Phoenician letter Teth Theta (uppercase Θ, lowercase θ or ϑ; Θήτα is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from the Phoenician letter Teth

Kinesthetic driving

Charles Tart provides a useful working definition of kinesthetic driving. Dr Charles T Tart (born 1937 is a American Psychologist and Parapsychologist known for his psychological work on the nature of consciousness (particularly Proprioception (ˌproʊpriːəˈsɛpʃən PRO -pree-o-SEP-shun from Latin proprius, meaning "one's own" and perception is the Sense It is the induction of trance through the sense of touch, feeling or emotions. Senses are the physiological methods of Perception. The senses and their operation classification and theory are overlapping topics studied by a variety of fields The word feeling has several possible definitions The word was first used in the English language to describe the physical sensation of Touch either through experience An emotion is a mental and physiological state associated with a wide variety of feelings thoughts and behaviours Kinesthetic driving works through a process known as entrainment.

The rituals practiced by some athletes in preparing for contests are dismissed as superstition, but this is a device of sports psychologists to help them to attain an ecstasy-like state. A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions A sportsperson ( British and American English) or athlete (principally American English is any person who participates regularly in a Sport. Superstition ( Latin superstitio, literally "standing over" derived perhaps from standing in awe used in Latin as a unreasonable or excessive belief A broader definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other Sport psychology (or sports psychology) is the study of a people's behaviour in sport Interestingly, Joseph Campbell had a peak experience whilst running. Joseph John Campbell ( March 26, 1904 – October 30, 1987) was an American Mythology Professor, Writer Running is a means for an animal to move on Foot. It is defined in Sporting terms as a Gait in which at some point all feet are off the ground Roger Bannister on breaking the four-minute mile (Cameron, 1993: 185): "No longer conscious of my movement, I discovered a new unity with nature. Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister, CBE (born 23 March 1929 is an English former athlete best known as the first man to run the Mile in less than 4 I had found a new source of power and beauty, a source I never dreamt existed. " Roger Bannister later became a distinguished neurologist.

Mechanisms and disciplines may include kinesthetic driving may include: dancing, walking meditation, yoga and asana, mudra, juggling, poi (juggling), etc. In its most general sense discipline refers to systematic instruction given to a Disciple. Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic Kinhin (経行 Japanese: kinhin or kyōgyō, Chinese: jingxing) in Zen Buddhism, is the walking Meditation Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Asana ( Sanskrit आसन sitting down < आस to sit down) is a body position typically associated with the practice of Yoga, intended A mudrā ( Sanskrit: मुद्रा lit "seal" is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism. Juggling is a physical human skill involving the movement of objects usually through the air for entertainment (see Object manipulation) Poi is a form of Juggling or Object manipulation employing a ball depending from a length of rope which is held in hand and swung in circular patterns comparable

Sufism (the mystical branch of Islam) has theoretical and metaphoric texts regarding ecstasy as a state of connection with Allah. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The word theory has many distinct meanings in different fields of Knowledge, depending on their methodologies and the context of discussion. Metaphor (from the Greek: μεταφορά - metaphora, meaning "transfer" is language that directly compares seemingly unrelated subjects Religious ecstasy is an Altered state of consciousness characterized by greatly reduced external awareness and expanded interior mental and spiritual awareness which is frequently Allah ( Arabic: الله, ʔalˤːɑːh) is the standard Arabic word for ' Sufi practice rituals (dhikr, sema) using body movement and music to achieve the state. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions Dhikr ذکر Plural اذكار Adhkaar ( Zikir in Turkish and Malay, Zikr in Urdu, Jikir in Bengali and Zekr Specialty Equipment Market Association ( SEMA) of the Automobile aftermarket was formed in 1963 by Roy Richter, Ed Iskenderian Willie Garner Bob Hedman Idries Shah amongst others, have asserted that the source of G. I. Gurdjieff's teachings are the Naqshbandi Sufis. Idries Abutahir Shah ( 16 June, 1924 &ndash 23 November, 1996) ( ادریس شاه) also known as Idris Shah, né George Ivanovich Gurdjieff (Գեորգի Գյուրջիև Γιώργος Γεωργιάδης Георгий Иванович Гюрджиев (or Gurdjiev) January Naqshbandi ( Naqshbandiyya) is one of the major Tasawwuf orders ( Tariqa) of Islam. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف

Types and varieties

Play and learning

The activity and rite of play is endemic not only to the human species, but evident throughout nature. Play is a Rite and a quality of mind in engaging with one's worldview. Play often involves trance elements. Many notables in consciousness studies and trance have been engaged in research on play and its role in cognitive development and learning, namely: Jean Piaget, William James, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Lev Vygotsky, etc. The Theory of Cognitive Development (one of the most historically influential theories was developed by Jean Piaget, a Swiss Philosopher (1896–1980 Jean Piaget pjaʒɛ ( August 9, 1896 &ndash September 16, 1980) was a Swiss philosopher, natural scientist For other people named William James see William James (disambiguation William James (January 11 1842 – August 26 1910 was a pioneering Sigmund Freud (ˈziːkmʊnt ˈfʁɔʏt born Sigismund Shlomo Freud (May 6 1856 &ndash September 23 1939 was an Austrian Psychiatrist who founded Lev Semenovich Vygotsky (Russian Лев Семёнович Выготский ( November 17 ( November 5 Old Style) 1896 – June 11, 1934 Indeed, 'lila' (Sanskrit) is the 'play', 'sport' and 'pastime' of 'gods' or deva (Sanskrit). Lila (Sanskrit लीला or Leela is a concept within Hinduism literally meaning "pastime" "sport" or "play" Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity "

Shamanism

Trance states have also long been used by shamans, mystics, and fakirs in healing rituals, being particularly cultivated in some religions, such as Tibetan Buddhism. Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity A fakir or faqir is a Sufi, especially one who Performs feats of Endurance or apparent magic. Healing, assessed physically is the process by which the cells in the Body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions The world's principal Religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups or world religions'. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including

Some anthropologists and religion scholars define a shaman as an intermediary between the natural and spiritual world, who travels between worlds in a trance state. Once in the spirit world, the shaman would commune with the spirits for assistance in healing, hunting or weather management. Ripinsky-Naxon describes shamans as, “People who have a strong interest in their surrounding environment and the society of which they are a part. ”

Other anthropologists critique the term "shamanism", arguing that it is a culturally specific word and institution and that by expanding it to fit any healer from any traditional society it produces a false unity between these cultures and creates a false idea of an initial human religion predating all others. However, others say that these anthropologists simply fail to recognize the commonalities between otherwise diverse traditional societies.

Achieving ecstatic trances is a major activity of shamans, who use ecstasy for such purposes as traveling via the axis mundi to heaven or the underworld, guiding or otherwise interacting with spirits, clairvoyance, and healing. The axis mundi (also cosmic axis, world axis, world pillar and center of the world) is a ubiquitous symbol that crosses human cultures Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond In the study of Mythology and Religion, the underworld (gr κάτω κόσμος) is a generic term approximately equivalent to the lay term Afterlife The English word " spirit " comes from the Latin " spiritus " (breath Clairvoyance (from 17th century French with clair meaning "clear" and voyance meaning "visibility" is the apparent ability to gain Healing, assessed physically is the process by which the cells in the Body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area Some shamans use drugs from such plants as peyote and cannabis or certain mushrooms in their attempts to reach ecstasy, while others rely on such non-chemical means as ritual, music, dance, ascetic practices, or visual designs as aids to mental discipline. A drug, broadly speaking is any chemical substance that when absorbed into the body Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Lophophora williamsii (loʊˈfɒfərə wɪlˈjæmsiaɪ lō-fof′ŏ-ră will-yăm′sē-ī better known by its common name Peyote, (from the Cannabis ( Cán-na-bis) is a Genus of Flowering plants that includes three putative species Cannabis sativa subsp A mushroom is the fleshy Spore -bearing Fruiting body of a Fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic Ascetic redirects here You might also be looking for Acetic acid.

Australian shamanism

Lawlor (1991: p. 374) states that:

The supernormal, super sensory powers of Aboriginal wise woman and men of high degree, by their own accounts, comes directly from initiations administered by the ancestral sky heroes themselves and by the totemic spirits. Those who have gone through these initiations alone, in a deep trance that makes them lose their personal identities and confront manifestations of the ancestral powers, are held in the highest regard.

Lawlor (1991: p. 303) states that:

One such animal dance ceremony was observed and photographed by Gillen and Spencer. More than 30 naked men gathered in a large circle. One by one, each man performed the dance of the animal to be hunted while the others sang and slapped their buttocks to create a percussive beat for the dancer. The slapping sound was so loud that it could be heard for miles across the surrounding desert. The dance continued for hours, with each man dancing frenetically until he dropped from exhaustion. The eyes of the onlookers soon became glazed with entrancement; their penises were erect in a state of ecstatic arousal. Finally, after the last man had performed the animal dance and collapsed in exhaustion, the entire group leaped on him, emitting a loud abandoned cry. The next day the hunt began.

Divination

Divination is a cultural universal which anthropologists have observed as being present in many religions and cultures in all ages up to the present day (refer sibyl). Divination (from Latin divinare "to be inspired by a god" related to Divine, Diva and Deus) is the attempt of ascertaining The world's principal Religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups or world religions'. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic The word sibyl probably comes (via Latin) from the Greek word sibylla, meaning Prophetess (Other schools of thought suggest that the word Divination may be defined as a mechanism for ascertaining information by interpretation of omens or an alleged supernatural agency[1] and as divination often entails ritual as different to fortune-telling is often facilitated by trance. An omen (also called portent or presage) is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the Future, often signifying the advent of change A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions Fortune-telling is the practice of predicting the future usually of an individual through mystical or supernatural means and often for commercial gain

Nechung Oracle

In Tibet, oracles have played, and continue to play, an important part in religion and government. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European An oracle is a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinion an Infallible authority usually spiritual in nature A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The word "oracle" is used by Tibetans to refer to the spirit, deity or entity that enters those men and women who act as media between the natural and the spiritual realms. The English word " spirit " comes from the Latin " spiritus " (breath See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always An entity is something that has a distinct separate Existence, though it need not be a material existence Mediumship is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Louisiana Voodoo, and The media are, therefore, known as kuten, which literally means, "the physical basis".

The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in northern India, still consults an oracle known as the Nechung Oracle, which is considered the official state oracle of the government of Tibet. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. The Nechung Oracle is the State Oracle of Tibet. The medium of the State Oracle currently resides with the current Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, He gives a complete description of the process of trance and possession in his book Freedom in Exile. [2].

Edgar Cayce

Edgar Cayce (1877 – 1945) was an American psychic who claimed to channel answers to questions on subjects such as health, astrology, reincarnation, and Atlantis while in a kind of sleep trance. Edgar Cayce ( March 18, 1877 &ndash January 3, 1945) (ˈkeɪsiː was an American psychic. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The word psychic (ˈsaɪkɨk from the Greek psychikos—"of the soul mental" refers to the claimed ability to perceive things hidden from the normal senses Mediumship is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Louisiana Voodoo, and Health is a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity Astrology (from Greek grc ἄστρον astron, "constellation star" and grc -λογία -logia) is a group of Systems Atlantis (in Greek,, "island of Atlas " is the name of a Legendary Island, first mentioned in Plato 's dialogues Cayce's methods involved lying down and entering into what appeared to be a trance or sleep state, usually at the request of a subject who was seeking help with health or other issues (the subjects were not usually present). Sleep is a Natural state of bodily rest observed throughout the animal kingdom The subject's questions would then be given to Cayce, and Cayce would proceed with a "reading". At first these readings dealt primarily with the physical health of the individual ("physical readings"); later readings on past lives, business advice, dream interpretation, and mental or spiritual health were also given.

Health

Trance has been shown to be very psychologically beneficial, by helping to relieve built up stress, allowing one to reflect on life issues without censorship or guilt, and generally giving the psyche respite from operating at alpha or delta states. Alpha waves are Electromagnetic oscillations in the frequency range of 8–12 Hz arising from synchronous and coherent ( in phase A delta wave is a high Amplitude Brain wave with a frequency of 1-4 Hertz which can be recorded with an electroencephalogram (EEG and Trance forms though such as meditation may be contraindicated for certain individuals with a history of mental illness and people on certain psychotropic medications, for example. There have been studies published in defensible journal of peers (provide source) that grace and thanksgiving (for example) vocalised, enacted, thought and felt prior to consumption of meals may assist with digestion and nutrient uptake and utilization by the bodymind (refer Agape feast, eucharist, ganachakra, etc. Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American Holiday, which is a form of harvest festival. Bodymind is a compound conjunction of Body and Mind, which in scientific disciplines researchers have begun studying in order to move beyond the dualist The Agape feast, or love-feast was an Early Christian religious meal in close relation with the Eucharist. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those A ganachakra (Sanskrit gaṇacakra, or 'gathering circle' Tibetan tshogs kyi 'khor lo) is also known as tsog, ganapuja, chakrapuja ) Generally, one is only in a theta state for a period of minutes, right before going to sleep, and when waking up. Theta (uppercase Θ, lowercase θ or ϑ; Θήτα is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from the Phoenician letter Teth Being in a theta state for 15 minutes is considered to be an 'extended period'. With the use of auditory driving, or other meditative techniques, this time can be extended significantly.

Scientific disciplines

Convergent disciplines of neuroanthropology, ethnomusicology, electroencephalography, neurotheology and cognitive neuroscience, amongst others, are conducting research into the trance induction of altered states of consciousness resulting from neuron entrainment with the driving of sensory modalities. Neuroanthropology is the study of culture and the brain This field explores how new findings in the brain sciences help us understand the interactive effects of culture and biology on This article is about the concept For the society and academic journal see Society for Ethnomusicology. Neurotheology Cognitive neuroscience is an academic field concerned with the scientific study of biological substrate underlying Cognition, with a specific focus on the neural substrates An altered state of consciousness, (ASC also named altered state of mind is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking Beta wave state Neurons (ˈnjuːɹɒn also known as neurones and nerve cells) are responsive cells in the Nervous system that process and transmit information For example polyharmonics, multiphonics, and percussive polyrhythms through the channel of the auditory and kinesthetic modality. Multiphonics is an Extended technique in instrumental music in which a monophonic instrument (one which generally produces only one note at a time is made to produce Proprioception (ˌproʊpriːəˈsɛpʃən PRO -pree-o-SEP-shun from Latin proprius, meaning "one's own" and perception is the Sense

Neuroanthropology and cognitive neuroscience are conducting research into the trance induction of altered states of consciousness (possibly engendering higher consciousness} resulting from neuron firing entrainment with these polyharmonics and multiphonics. Neuroanthropology is the study of culture and the brain This field explores how new findings in the brain sciences help us understand the interactive effects of culture and biology on Cognitive neuroscience is an academic field concerned with the scientific study of biological substrate underlying Cognition, with a specific focus on the neural substrates An altered state of consciousness, (ASC also named altered state of mind is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking Beta wave state Higher consciousness, also called super consciousness ( Yoga) objective consciousness ( Gurdjieff) Buddhic consciousness ( Neurons (ˈnjuːɹɒn also known as neurones and nerve cells) are responsive cells in the Nervous system that process and transmit information Multiphonics is an Extended technique in instrumental music in which a monophonic instrument (one which generally produces only one note at a time is made to produce Related research has been conducted into neural entraining with percussive polyrhythms. The timbre of traditional singing bowls and their polyrhythms and multiphonics are considered meditative and calminative and the harmony inducing effects of this potentially consciousness alterning tool are being explored by scientists, medical professionals and therapists. In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different Multiphonics is an Extended technique in instrumental music in which a monophonic instrument (one which generally produces only one note at a time is made to produce Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the A broader definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other

Brain waves and brain rhythms

Scientific advancement and new technologies according to Wier such as computerized electroencephalography (EEG), EEG topographic brain mapping, positron emission tomography, regional cerebral blood flow, single photon emission computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, amongst others, are providing measurable tools to assist in understanding trance phenomena. Topography ( topo-, "place" and graphia, "writing" is the study of Earth 's Surface features or those of Planets Brain mapping is a set of Neuroscience techniques predicated on the Mapping of (biological quantities or properties onto spatial representations of the (human or Positron emission tomography ( PET) is a Nuclear medicine imaging technique which produces a three-dimensional image or map of functional processes in the All brain waves are analogous to different types of trance in that they utilise brain and consciousness resources differently and provide different input and information filters. Input is the term denoting either an entrance or changes which are inserted into a System and which activate/modify a Process. Information as a concept has a diversity of meanings from everyday usage to technical settings

Though a source of contention, there appear to be three current streams of inquiry: Neurophysiology, Social Psychology and Cognitive Behaviourism. Neurophysiology (from Greek grc νεῦρον neuron, "nerve" grc φύσις physis, "nature origin" and grc -λογία Social psychology is the study of how people and groups interact See also Cognitive Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT) is an umbrella-term for psychotherapeutic systems that deal with cognitions interpretations The neurophysiological approach is awaiting the development of a mechanism to map physiological measurements to human thought. Neurophysiology (from Greek grc νεῦρον neuron, "nerve" grc φύσις physis, "nature origin" and grc -λογία The social-psychological approach currently measures gross subjective and social effects of thoughts and some critique it for lack of precision. Cognitive behaviorialists employ systems theory concepts and analytical techniques. Systems theory is an Interdisciplinary field of Science and the study of the nature of Complex systems in Nature, Society, and

There are four principal brain wave states that range from high amplitude, low frequency delta through to the low amplitude, high frequency beta. These states range from deep dreamless sleep to a state of high arousal. These four brain wave states are common throughout humans. All levels of brain waves exist in everyone at all times, even though one is foregrounded depending on the activity level. When a person is in an aroused state and exhibiting a beta brain wave pattern, their brain also exhibits a component of alpha, theta and delta, even though only a trace may be present.

Upon waking from a deep sleep in preparation for arising, your brain wave frequencies increase through the different stages of brain wave activity, moving from delta to theta and then to alpha and into beta.

Gamma waves

Gamma waves have the highest range of frequencies (around 40 Hz) and are involved in higher mental activity. A gamma wave is a pattern of brain waves associated with Perception and Consciousness. They have also been detected during the process of awakening and during active rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Beta waves

Beta waves are the most common of the brain wave patterns that occur when awake. Beta wave, or beta rhythm is the term used to designate the Frequency range of Brain activity above 12 Hz (12 transitions or cycles per second These occur during period of intense concentration, problem solving, and focused analysis. The frequency of beta waves is between 13-30 Hz (cycles per second).

Alpha waves

Alpha waves are any of the electrical waves from the parietal and occipital regions of the brain, having frequencies from 8 to 12 hertz (cycles per second). Alpha waves are Electromagnetic oscillations in the frequency range of 8–12 Hz arising from synchronous and coherent ( in phase Some scientists consider the range 8 - 13 Hz and are most usual when we are mentally alert, calm and relaxed, or when day-dreaming. Alpha waves are a sign of relaxation, as they indicate a lack of sensory stimulation in a conscious person. Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the

Theta waves

Theta waves occur when we are mentally drowsy and unfocused, during deep calmness, most daydreaming, relaxation or tranquility, as for example we make the transitions from drowsiness to sleep or from sleep to the waking state. Theta rhythms are one of several characteristic electroencephalogram (EEG waveforms associated with various Sleep and wakefulness states of the Brain The frequency of theta waves is between 4-7 Hz (cycles per second) though some researchers regard theta to be 5 to 8 cps.

In brain wave frequencies, theta is the frequency range where drowsiness, unconsciousness, dreaming states and deep tranquility happen. Most daydreaming occurs while in the theta range. It is normally a very positive mental state and prolonged states of the theta brain wave frequency while conscious can be extremely productive and a time of very meaningful/creative mental activity.

With practice, meditation can also lower a person's brain wave frequency to theta while allowing the meditator to remain conscious.

Delta waves

Delta waves occur primarily during deep sleep or states of unconsciousness. A delta wave is a high Amplitude Brain wave with a frequency of 1-4 Hertz which can be recorded with an electroencephalogram (EEG and The frequency of delta waves is between 0. 5-4 Hz (cycles per second).

Spirituality

The Vaishnava Bhakti Schools of Yoga defines Samadhi as "complete absorption into the object of one's love (Krishna). Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Bhakti ( Devanāgarī: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion. Samadhi ( Sanskrit: sa समाधि is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation or Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism " Rather than thinking of "nothing," true samadhi is said to be achieved only when one has pure, unmotivated love of God. Thus samadhi can be entered into through meditation on the personal form of God, even while performing daily activities a practitioner can strive for full samadhi. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness

Notes

References

See also

External links

An altered state of consciousness, (ASC also named altered state of mind is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking Beta wave state Autohypnosis is a form of self-induced trance without the aid of a Psychiatrist or Hypnotist. Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the Contemplative education is a philosophy of Higher education that infuses learning with the experience of awareness insight and compassion for oneself and others through the Dhikr ذکر Plural اذكار Adhkaar ( Zikir in Turkish and Malay, Zikr in Urdu, Jikir in Bengali and Zekr Ecstasy is subjective experience of total involvement of the subject with an object of his or her awareness Ecstasy, (or ekstasis) from the Ancient Greek, έκ-στασις (ex-stasis" to be or stand outside oneself a removal to elsewhere (from ex- An entheogen, in the strictest sense is a Psychoactive substance used in a religious or shamanic (or entheogenic) context A Hallucination may occur in a person in a state of good mental and physical health even in the apparent absence of a transient trigger factor such as fatigue intoxication or Sensory Hesychasm ( Greek hesychasmos, from hesychia, "stillness rest quiet silence" is an Eremitic tradition of Prayer in Highway hypnosis is a mental state in which the person can drive an Automobile great distances responding to external events in the expected manner with no recollection of Huston Cummings Smith (born May 31, 1919) is among the preeminent Religious studies scholars in the Hypnagogia ( Greek ὕπνος húpnos "sleep" + the root found in ἄγω ágō "to lead away conduct convey" ἀγωγεύς Hypnosis is often thought to be a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility with diminished peripheral awareness Immanence, derived from the Latin in manere "to remain within" refers to philosophical and metaphysical theories of the divine as existing and acting within the mind The Jesus Prayer, also called the Prayer of the Heart, is a short formulaic prayer often uttered repeatedly Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness Milton Hyland Erickson, MD (born 5 December 1901 in Aurum Nevada, died 25 March 1980 in Phoenix Arizona) was an Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity In sramanic philosophy Nirvana (निर्वाण| Nirvāṇa; निब्बान Nibbāna; Prakrit: णिव्वाण Oneness is a spiritual term referring to the 'experience' of the absence of egoic identity boundaries and according to some traditions the perception of an absolute Religious Experience (also known as a spiritual, Sacred, or mystical experience is an altered state of consciousness where an Rigpa (Tibetan Sanskrit Vidya) is the primordial nondual awareness advocated by the Dzogchen and Mahamudra teachings Samadhi ( Sanskrit: sa समाधि is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation or Saccidānanda or Sat-cit-ānanda (Sanskrit सच्चिदानंद is a compound of three Sanskrit words Sat (सत् Cit (चित् Transpersonal psychology is a school of Psychology that studies the Transpersonal, self- transcendent or spiritual aspects of the human experience Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity Ecstasy is called Wajd by Sufis: it is especially cultivated among the Chishtis.

Dictionary

trance

-noun

  1. daze, unconscious condition
  2. (consciousness) a state of concentration, awareness and/or focus that filters information and experience; e.g. meditation, possession, etc.
  3. (psychology) state of low response to stimulus and diminished, narrow attention
  4. (psychology) such a state induced by hypnosis
  5. (uncountable) trance music, a genre of electronic dance music
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