TO  THE  UNTRAINED  EYE   ,
Trance Phenomena can appear to be unusual at least and spooky at most.   There are many people who clearly have an irrational fear of Hypnosis.
      Trance phenomena are powerful subjective experiences that we all are capable of creating by the virtue of our own natural gifts of mind and body.

      Hypnosis is not sleep!   In contrast to Sleep;  Hypnosis is a unique process of deep concentration and hightened awareness.   If one were not to have witnessed the induction procedure, the casual observer might well characterize a typically hypnotized individual as being asleep.   It was this sleeplike appearance that led Braid (1852) to coin the terms "Hypnosis" from the Greek hypnos [to sleep] and "Somnambulist" from the Latin somnus [sleep] and ambulae [walk], to describe the deeply hypnotized person.   According to Braid, hypnosis was an artificially induced state of somnambulism (or sleepwalking).

      There are many misconceptions about Hypnosis.   The most common of these arise from the Stage Hypnotist who displays his subject in a mesmerized state of catalepsy.   This entertaining use of Hypnosis has led to the mistaken ideas that, anyone who can be Hypnotized must have a weak mind.   Once you are Hypnotized, you can no longer resist it.   While in an Hypnotic Trance, you can be forced to do just about anything, which ultimately may be humiliating or even frightening.
   Also, some imagine that while in Hypnotic Trance, you may loose consciousness.   Further, that a person can become stuck in a Trance and runs the risk of remaining Hypnotized forever.   Those name only a few of such misconceptions which are the result of the Stage Hypnotist and his performances!