Trances People Live

by Stephen H. Wolinsky, Margaret O. Ryan

At last, the missing piece of the dysfunctional puzzle. It is not enough to understand or even relive our childhood traumas. Dr. Wolinsky shows us how we continue to recreate those traumas in our adult lives and how to stop creating them. Every uncomfortable emotional state, and many psychosomatic symptoms, are also states of trance. Trance is the "glue" that holds the problem in the present moment. Learning to identify the kind of trance state beneath a problem or symptom gives us the tool that finally dissolves the glue. This book offers a gold-mine of resources for those who suffer from dysfunctional patterns of behavior or for anyone who feels stuck in an undesirable emotional or addictive state. Learning to step out of the trance states that create our problems and symptoms is to learn to step into the present moment at last free of the baggage from our past.

Genres: Psychology, Spirituality, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Stephen H. Wolinsky is a founder of Quantum Psychology, integrating Western Psychology, Advaita-Vedanta’s Non-duality, Quantum Physics, Neuro-Science, and Buddhism. He is the author of fourteen books, audio tapes and a DVD series, I Am That I Am.
Wolinsky has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and began his psychotherapy practice in 1974. From 1975 to 1985 he met over thirty different Gurus, Teachers, Rinpoches, and Meditation Masters.
Wolinsky presently resides in Aptos, California.

Reviews

[Philip Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is well written and worth reading. Wolinsky has an interesting habit of publishing books that are works in progress, and this one seems like a more complete work than others of his. His other less complete works are also worth reading, but are often full of annoying typos and inadequately expressed thoughts.

The basic premise is that most ordinary states of consciousness for most people are trance states (times when attention is narrowed and fixated out of present time experience). In this book, Wolinsky expounds on this premise; catalogues various ordinary trance states; describes therapeutic uses of trance; and more.

And in the end we learn from Wolinsky that the goal is to de-hypnotize ourselves so that we are free from the limitations of these ordinary trance states.

[H. Aitoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. If you are a practitioner of hypnosis or a lover of the field then this book is a must add to the collection. I couldn't put this book down. I absolutely loved it. Stephen Wolinsky's premise that we need to de-trance from the limited trance states in which we find ourselves everyday is a whole new way of thinking about human behaviour and hypnosis. I felt a moment of clarity and much needed insights into how to create more meaningful change in my life and the lives of others from this book. I recommend it.

[David Chard · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, there was the time before I discovered Stephen Wolinksy and the time after. I especially love this book because it illuminates the fact that we are literally dreaming our way through this life, based on a variety of trances we are in. As any hypnotist will tell you, it is never a problem to induce a trance in a subject...the challenge is helping them get out of the trances they brought with them. In this book, Wolinksy explains how this works and what you can do about. He provides many case studies and examples and even offers tips and methods you can use to discard trances that do not serve who you really are. Once understanding that everyone lives from trances it completely changes the way you look at human life and adds new meaning to the notion of 'waking up.' I highly recommend this book for anyone that is ready to go beyond superficial understandings of human consciousness. I keep a copy next to my bed so I can re-read any time I wish. Enjoy!

[Pcg PCG · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books explaining the dysfunction in children/family relationships. We all are hypnotised by our parents and then continue in those childhood trances and repeat the dramas through our own replaying of those hypnotic scenes. Very enlightening. I have read very widely and this is one of the best.

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very solid little book on the trances people live and I enjoyed reading it. I know it has to be a re-read in the future though because I went into the wrong type of trance. I also feel this would be better to experience if you are teamed up with another hypnotist then you can perform the exercises on each other. I find them harder to do in self hypnosis.

[Duncan MacIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful. Heavy sledding.

[Jaime Gacitua · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful model to for self exploration and for understanding our personal patterns and where they come from.

[Mica]

excellent book

[Marianne Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recognize I lean toward the self isolation trance, definitely my comfort zone.