Even though a subject put under hypnosis does appear to retain the features of somebody sleeping, they are in reality quite alert. Hypnosis is exceedingly difficult to depict, as nobody truly knows what is going on inside the brain of a subject under hypnosis. What we do know is that while in trance state the subject becomes pretty suggestible. A subject`s attention, whilst they are going into hypnosis, is narrowed down steadily. Firstly, the sense of sight is lost as the hypnotic subject is asked to close their eyes. After a little while it is not surprising for the subject to lose full consciousness of their body. Although one by one the senses are gently slipping away, one sense is seriously enhanced by the induction process. This is the sense of hearing. A hypnotized subject can regularly hear distant sounds that they would not be able to hear in the usual waking state. This, unquestionably, means that through the whole process the subject is able to hear everything that the hypnotist may suggest. When you start inducing trance state in people you will repeatedly find that after awakening the hypnotic subject, they will suppose they could not have been put under hypnosis as they could still hear your voice. The mistaken belief that they will not be able to hear your voice frequently comes from those subjects who think hypnosis to be like sleep.

A person in the state of hypnosis is truly suggestible. One of the main reasons for this is that, whilst in the trance, you are only able to concentrate on one thing at a time. For example, if I were to tell you that you are a delicate ballerina, you would instantly compare this hypnosis suggestion with what you already know to be genuine, and, unless of course you are a ballerina, you would tell me I am talking nonsense. The hypnotised subject though is not able to entertain the thought that they might not be what I have suggested, as their inadequate focus is taken up by the thought that they are essentially a dainty ballerina. The outcome, as desired, ends in the hypnotic subject leaping to their feet to execute a series of pirouettes across the stage.

The human mind is divided into two very diverse sections. The conscious mind, which is responsible for all our conscious thoughts and decisions, and the subconscious mind, which monitors our autonomous activity. The mind can be best marked as a computer, the subconscious as the processor and the conscious as the monitor and keyboard. Our subconscious mind is a form of protector; it protects our body and helps us to survive.

Even though our subconscious can do lots of tasks that consciously would be unmanageable, it also has one extremely principal characteristic. Somewhere between our two minds is what we call the critical factor. This is almost certainly best illustrated as a door, at which is a guardian. Our subconscious mind will process anything that enters it no matter how weird. So, as long as you can put a suggestion through the door it will be adhered to. This is exactly the reason why hypnosis works. The guardian's door can be hastily opened while we are under hypnosis.