The sympathetic nervous system is the “fight or flight” responses of the body. This is what keeps us alert, looking for dangers, and motivated to accomplish tasks. This is absolutely necessary for survival, and necessary for many tasks in life such as work, running errands, and so on.
However, almost everyone is in this state too much and are unable to switch it off. This has been observed by both science and holistic practices. This is what causes anxiety, burnout, metabolic disorders, chronic stress, difficulty getting a restful sleep, and many other problems.
We need to switch into the parasympathetic nervous system at appropriate times through the day. These are the “rest and digest” responses. And this state is necessary for trance to happen. You can’t trance if your mind and body are chronically stuck in fight or flight reaction.
The way to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and thereby allow for trance, is by focusing on something repetitive: breath, mantra, or movement, combined with an attempt to clear the mind from all other thoughts.
Have you heard of people who enter “the zone”, where they perform at their best in a higher level of awareness? This happens when they become in tune with their right brain hemisphere. This state of “in the zone” is noticed among athletes, craftspeople, musicians, artists; anyone who is skilled in something and doing repetitive movement while focusing solely on the task. Their brain and body act in perfect harmony in accordance to what they have been training to do. When reflecting upon this state they report feeling completely relaxed, unaware of the passage of time, not aware of physical pain or effort, and experiencing a sense of bliss. They have entered the parasympathetic nervous system state via physical movement, and further enter into a type of trance without even intending to do so.
Repetitive movement makes the left brain hemisphere tune out and allow the right brain hemisphere to engage, and brainwaves slow down. This enables trance to happen.
If you have a difficult time entering trance, try one of these proven methods. Try practicing music first, or working on a craft, or walking or running while continuously trying to clear all other thoughts; then when you sense the relaxation happening, calmly find a safe place to try trance.
Another good method is to use a mala with a mantra, one to attune your mind. Find a mantra to recite daily, or even twice daily. If it raises too much energy and you are not accustomed to it, then don’t vibrate it; sing it, whisper it, or state it mentally. Focus on the repetition, keep bringing your mind to the sound, and the movement of your fingers on the mala. Any time a thought comes into your mind, allow it to float away and bring your attention back to the mantra and your mala.
The basic method that we have stressed for years in the ToZ is to focus on your breath. Breathe in, breathe out; your focus is solely on the breath, try to clear your thoughts. To focus on the breath, you decide: focus on the air coming in then going out of your nose; or focus on your torso filling up then emptying; or any other way that works for you.
While breathing, you can count to a number, or combine it with a mantra stated mentally, such as SaTaNaMa on the inhale, again on the hold, again on the exhale, and again on the hold. If you cannot yet hold your breath, then just state that mantra mentally on the inhale and exhale. Keep repeating this method for 3-10 minutes, or as long as you would like to. And keep practicing every day, it can take a while to reset your nervous system.
With SaTaNaMa are mudras, one for each syllable; you can find this online and in youtube videos. This is repetitive physical movement which will help you enter a trance, as long as you are trying to remove all other thoughts and focus on the mantra and the mudras. You don’t have to vibrate out loud, you can simply do the mudras as you mentally chant the mantra. You can even sing the mantra if you prefer this, do whatever helps you enter a healing state of relaxation. The point here isn’t to raise energy; it’s to engage the parasympathetic nervous system and relax the mind and body.
Fun fact: even just trying to clear your thoughts and enter trance, will give immediate benefits. Keep trying, and soon you will be adept. If you notice your body and mind are always worn down, chronic exhaustion, anxiety, then consider trying these methods for at least 5 minutes multiple times a day. The effects are cumulative; they add up over the days, over the months, over the years.
Allow your mind to breathe fresh clarity. Focus on your breath, mantra, or repetitive movement and allow yourself to temporarily let go of the constant stress and burdens.
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