I am working on defining trance more concretely.
I contrast this particular type of altered state from enchantment, glamour, mystification, and illusion.
In a simplified representation, trance is related to matter as: enchantment is related to body, glamour is related to mind, and illusion is related to spirit.
Mystification is a "central" position related to
"emotion" as *emotion* is represented by the
inconsistencies between the 4 perspectives of
mind, matter, spirit, and body.
Spirit might be described as a "this-for-that" representation, or a "symbolic projection". For example: If the group is a collection of individuals, then the *symbolic projection* of the individual logic is the *group-as-individual* ("this-for-that"). In this example, the "spirit" of patriotism (for example) is the necessary result, or logical continuance, of an individual's self-love which can only be "SYMBOLICALLY" demonstrated by a group-- but which can circularly be validated by the individual, nonetheless. The group stands FOR the individual; and through the system represented by the group, the *symbol* of this self-love is established whose validation BY the individual is a true occurrence which is accomplished by way of indirectly perceiving the altered spiritual manifestation of selflove- as- patriotism... such that *patriotism* is an *illusion*.
The altered state of consciousness demonstrated by illusion (through spirit) might also be understood as "idealism". And, enchantment (by way of body) operates in a state similar to what might be termed "instinctual". Thus, the mechanism by which this model operates is stipulated to be that of instinct which is guided by an ideal purpose (or body as circularly controlled through environment-- environment being the symbolic representative of body that group is to the individual in the above example, such that *purpose* might also be understood as symbolic-- or symbolized-- necessity): As such, *instinct* is defined "the encoding of environmental contingencies into into the behaviors of a body".
[Here, "meme" may be substituted for "instinct"
and as such, memetic encoding is also defiend as
"the encoding of environmental contingencies into
the behaviors of a body... according to a symbolic
necessity".]
This encoding is done by way of mystification. The interaction of body, spirit, mind, and matter into a central amorphous mass dissolves these distinctions allowing for them to further become symbolized as an ideal formulation (shown as a generalization of instincts to their specific representations in the material and mental environment and/or as the specification of the overall environment to the relatively generic individually subjective "environment" represented by what is perceived through the material and what is objectively resolved to the physical constitution of mind). Thus we might say that the enchantment of the body leads to the illusion of the spirit by way of a mystification of the emotions.
SO: TRANCE is an acting-out of what is emotionally encoded as this is accomplished instinctually with regards to an illusion-- said illusion being subjectively specified to what is materially evident according to the physical actions of a mind which attempts to make conscious-- or objectify-- a body that is subjugated to environmental controls (thus rendering the mind impervious to perceiving its OWN physical manifestations)*.
*another way of saying this, "trance" is a state of deterministic material gratification
----Original Message Follows----
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 1999 23:45:15 -0800
From: KMO <kmo@c-realm.com>
To: Virus <virus@lucifer.com>
Subject: virus: Definition/Demonstration
Reply-To: virus@lucifer.com
There is no hard and fast definition for a
hypnotic experience or
"trance." The best that we can do is to say that a
trance state is an
altered state of consciousness, one that
represents a shift from
"ordinary" waking consciousness. Some emphasis has
been given to the
ideas that a trance state represents a more
internalized experience, a
narrowing of focus, "dissociation," increased
suggestibility, or
automatism. While any of these can come into play
in a hypnotic
experience, none of them are either necessary or
universal. Perhaps one
of the most useful definitions of hypnosis is "a
goal-directed striving
which takes place in an altered psychological
state." (Ronald E. Shor,
Amer. J. Psychology, Vol. 13, 1959, pp. 582-602).
Speaking of hypnosis
in the context of a therapeutic setting, another
writer said, "Trance
permits the operator to evoke in a controlled
manner the same mental
mechanisms that are operative spontaneously in
everyday life." (Milton
Erickson)
With this in mind, it may be easier to understand
that our minds have
the ability to shift from one state of
consciousness to another very
easily. We have all experienced trance-like states
while daydreaming,
while bored in a lecture or class, while driving
along a long highway,
getting a massage, sitting in a hot tub, when we
shift our attention in
order to read an article or book, to watch
television, or to go inside
our own minds to think about something. You may
even be in a kind of
trance state right now!
http://www.bestweb.net/%7Ekali93/hypno.htm
Brett Lane Robertson, MindRecreation Metaphysical Assn. (c)1998,1999
LIST: mindrec-subscribe@makelist.com
WEB: http://www.window.to/mindrec
BIO:
http://members.theglobe.com/bretthay
...
PUT YOUR ITEM UP FOR AUCTION! BID ON HOT OPPORTUNITIES! CHECK OUT
GREAT DEALS! CLICK HERE:
http://www.utrade.com/index.htm?MID=59876