Product reviews for Generative Trance

As the book takes a reader on a journey many things can be new and renewing-¦particularly when one can call it a journey of life for renewal and accessing a field of resources not limited to the individual constructed reality.

Part one prepares the reader with information on a theory of mind, concepts as -˜pure consciousness', -˜the creative unconscious or quantum field', and the classical world of the -˜conscious mind' where time, space and matter reign.

Reality filters constructing the border between the conscious mind and the creative unconscious can be rigid with neuromuscular locks and stagnation. Generative trance, to create something new, is based on an opening to the field to stimulate a creative flow and a generative living.

Step-by-step the reader is guided on his journey by many reformulations of the concepts, illustrations, references to work from Jung, Reich, Gestalt, Eastern practices to become familiar with the author's view of the mind, creative flow, field connections.

Generative trance is a third generation hypnosis approach: it rejects old-fashioned views of hypnosis, and emphasizes “a creative consciousness that emerges from a cooperative relationship of mutual influence and respect between the conscious and unconscious minds, one that can either occur intra-or interpersonally”(p. 31).

In generative trance a creative flow between the three minds (somatic, field and cognitive) promotes change, solutions, creating possibilities instead of being stuck. The 4 steps in generative trance - preparation (positive intention, centering and resources), welcoming and weaving identity parts into generative trance, integration and transformation, and transfer of learning into real life - are clearly described and serve as a compass that forms the basis for further work and chapters.

Part II -˜The methods of generative trance' gives a detailed outline about how to creatively work, respecting some structure -” not free floating, but entering a structured flow with clear goals and outcome. Isn't it inviting to -˜drop into center' as a way to start from somatic attunement to reach the higher state of consciousness and practice different methods of centering as somatic attunement, accessing positive memories or negative experiences, and to learn about the -˜somatic mixer' model with self-scaling? Readers find how well different Eastern and Western practices are brought together in “Open Beyond” and elevate field consciousness to a generative level. One can feel invited to work with the energy ball, and discover how deeper change to the core issues of a problem can find solutions in an easy going way, and further elaborate the method by adding archetypal resources. A second skin as a generative field, and the Celtic Cross are further ways to work integrative with access to as many forces as possible. The guiding principle for bringing the cognitive mind to a generative level is by creative acceptance.

Chapter 8 on the principle of complementarity reaches the heart of common therapeutic work that often has to deal with inner conflicts. Reviewing and accessing these in a generative state bring surprising resolutions at a deeper level. A suggestion loop, mutual trance, working with “good self/bad self” and reconciling opposites initiate creative solutions as one can find more inspiration from a meta-position and get support in/ from the generative trance. Those who go with the flow of the book and are open-minded can even fully enjoy and discover how to integrate somatic trance dance or somatic modeling of problem patterns into daily work and bring that as well to another level!

Although at first sight some clinicians may feel reluctant to some concepts, progressively they can discover how some exercises are familiar for seasoned therapists working in/with hypnosis and can be integrated in their practice. Those who want to transcend the limitations of the classical world of reality can find ways to help clients access fields of unlimited possibilities, naming it the creative unconscious or -˜quantum field' or -˜archetypes' promoting intrapersonal as well as interpersonal work. Talking about generative trance can sound renewing, stimulating curiosity and prevent or circumvent misconceptions associated to the word “hypnosis”.

The whole book demonstrates how with deep respect the author talks about his teacher Milton Erickson, and how from there he continued his own development to serve clients and humanity with the best from different worlds of experience. Many examples of how to work with clients and participants in workshops speak for themselves on the efficiency and changes generated by the offered methods.



I can highly recommend the book for advanced therapists familiar with hypnosis and trance-work to enrich their work with clients, to practice some of the exercises in training in trance-work or hypnosis, to use it as a self-help book and renew and enrich them self for the daily, hopefully not -˜routine' practice. The way methods are poetically described is helping to upgrade trance work to an art, aesthetically balanced, with a touch of some musicality, integrating aspects from different sources and fields.