Trance Induction

Take a deep breath, one that will completely fill your lungs and stomach. Hold this
breath for 2 counts, then exhale completely. Do this two more times.

Begin by understanding that this is based on trust and that you are about to enter
into a very deep, very comfortable state of mind where you will be perfectly safe and perfectly protected.

You will be aware of any danger in the outer world and will be able to awaken
immediately, if needed, and be able to be alert and able to act and function.

You will remain lucid and aware of consciousness at al times, able to concentrate and communicate fully.

Your memories of this trance will be available if you are able to deal with them. If what you encounter is too much for you to comprehend or handle the memory will remain with you but be hidden until you are able to cope with the information.

When you awaken you will feel refreshed, renewed and filled with energy.

Make yourself comfortable, your limbs should be straight, and close your eyes when
you are ready to begin.

Imagine that you are lying on a beach, a golden tide is sweeping up and covers your
feet. As the water washes over you, your feet become relaxed, as if you are ice and are melting. The tide washes over you again, this time reaching up to your calves… the water laps up to your knees… now your legs from the knees down are relaxed and relieved of tension. The warm water washes up to your thighs now, relaxing them. You are melting into the sand; you are becoming completely relaxed. The water comes up to your waist now… your hips are relaxed. As the water washes out again, it pulls any renewed tension from your legs and feet. The tide comes up to your belly now; your stomach is relaxing like the rest of your body. The water flows up to your diaphragm now, releasing any tension that might be there, you are melting into the ground below you. The water comes up to your chest now, removing all knots, relaxing you completely. As the water rushes back out to sea it pulls any renewed tension from your lower body. Now the tide comes up to your neck. Your hands and arms are relaxed. Your shoulders are melting into the sand. The next wave completely envelopes your body, draining all tension from your body. The skin on your face is relaxing, you are warm and safe and relaxed.

Your body has melted into the sand, you are completely relaxed.

Breathe deep, your body is floating down… down… on a red cloud… your whole
body glows red… your root chakra is open… you drift down… floating… deeper down… floating deeper…

Your cloud now glows orange… you continue to drift down… your body glows
orange and your belly chakra opens… you float down… drifting… relaxed… rocking deeper…

The orange glow pales into a bright yellow… your cloud is now yellow… as you
continue to float down… your body glows yellow… you are going deeper… drifting further… your solar chakra is open now… you continue to float down… drifting…

Your cloud becomes green… as your go deeper… your body glows green… you are
still drifting down… your heart chakra is open… you go down… floating…

The green deepens into blue… your cloud is a dark glowing blue… as you go
deeper… drifting… your body glows blue as well… as you continue to float down… completely relaxed… your throat chakra opens… and you go deeper down…

Your cloud becomes darker… it is indigo now… you go deeper… your body glows
indigo… as you drift down… your brow chakra opens… deeper down… drifting…

Your cloud lifts slightly, becoming violet… you are still drifting down… your body
glows violet now… Your crown chakra is open as well… you are still going down… going deeper….

Your cloud is landing… very gently… very softly… touching down… you are in the
center of a pearl… a white pearl… see it glowing, softly, gently…. You cloud has disappeared…. You are standing in your pearl… now turn and face the East… turn and face the South…. Now turn to the West… finally…. Turn to face the North. Allow your inner senses to open… you are safe here… this is your place… the seat of your power… you are perfectly safe and encapsulated here.

Take a moment to ground and center… when you are centered the pearls walls will
become translucent… you will see through them and four paths will emerge… you must choose one of these paths… To walk them you must find the symbol that will open your pearl… See the symbol glow in front of you in bright blue flame…

Know that you can always return here, to your place of power, by willing it. Wherever you may be, whatever state of consciousness you may be in… you can return here… you will be safe and protected. When you wish to come back, simply say so.

Face the direction that calls to you… see what lies beyond the pearl’s walls…
envision your symbol and a door will appear…

Step through the door…

Phaedra's Notes:

I find that trancework is useful, but sometimes it is too hard to control so that the subject undergoing the trance can remain comfortable enough to remain verbal.

A series of three dots (...) indicate a pause. If you are going to use this, read through it several times and try to find a good rhythm, that will help to induce the trance and get the person used to your voice.

While the original idea is Starhawk's I have liberally added portions to it and made it a bit more repetive and hypnotic. I have had very good success with this, and find that at times I change bits without really realizing what I'm doing. That doesn't seem to change it's effectiveness. The general idea is that you perform this and then at the end you continue on into the guided meditation or trance work.

The end is left open ended so that you can either guide the person through a meditation or you can allow them to investigate their own inner realm. To bring them out use the 'Emerging from Trance' exercise.