Some people are struggling in regards to having a successful regression (whether with a practitioner or using YouTube regressions).
Hypnosis is the theta state. It's the state of deep relaxation with heightened focus. You go in and out of it all through the day (like when you're just waking up or falling asleep; when you're driving and realize that you haven't been paying attention, yet you made it home, etc). The more relaxed you are, the easier it is to go into a hypnotic state.
Here are a few things you can do to have a more successful regression:
Limit your caffeine beforehand. Caffeine keeps us alert, which is the opposite of what we want when trying to get into a hypnotic state.
Change up the time of day. Early morning after waking up can be a great time for a regression, as well as close to bedtime (as long as you don't fall asleep).
If you're using YouTube videos to regress, try changing up the videos. Some people respond better to a female rather than a male, and vice versa. Does the sound of their voice seem soothing? Maybe you like certain accents. Maybe a shorter video works better for you, or you find the longer ones seem to take you deeper.
If you're working with a practitioner, take the time to vet them. Do they seem kind and caring? Do you feel uplifted when you look at their website or social media? Trust your gut, but do try to look for reviews.
Ensure you have privacy. It's hard to let go and relax when you think you're going to be interrupted. Try to keep pets out of the room if you can. They will sometimes jump onto you or make noise in the room. Turn off your cell phone so that notifications don't startle you.
Try having a hot bath or shower, doing some yoga, or be out in nature before a session. Again, very relaxing.
Change up your body position. Most people like to lie down for a session, as it's more relaxing. I find that I'll go too deep when I do that, and may fall asleep, so I like to sit up.
Keep your room dim, either by turning down the lights or putting or using an eye mask. When we're in hypnosis, a light that normally doesn't bother us can suddenly feel too bright and distract us.
Wear soft, comfortable clothing and have a blanket nearby. Many people get chilly when they are in a deep hypnotic state. Use the bathroom before a regression so that you don't feel like you need to go halfway through.
Pay attention to your breath. Take nice deep slow breaths, in through your nose, with a longer exhale out your mouth. This signals to your nervous system that you are safe. You don't have to try to breathe this way throughout the regression, but definitely try to at the beginning. As you relax, your breath will then just do it on it's own.
Set an intention before a session. Maybe you want healing or change in a certain area of your life. When I work with clients I'll often state before the session, "This session will be healing and illuminating for both my client and myself. My client will relax and regress easily and will get the most benefit possible."
Some people have subconscious parts of themselves that may be resistant to doing regression work. If you feel that this is the case, you can try talking to that part of you. I'll usually just ask the person if they feel there's a resistant part (you'll know because you'll feel a tightness in your body, or stress, worry, doubt). It's actually really easy to notice it. I'll ask my client how old that part is and they can usually tell. Then, we'll spend a few minutes asking the part what their fears or resistances are, and reassuring them that they are safe.
Try to take the pressure off of having a 'successful' regression. The more you want it, the more resistant you are to it not being what you expect it to be. When we try to be in control of things, that is the opposite of being relaxed. Often, when we give up 'trying' or 'efforting' it just seems to happen more naturally.
Many people think they'll see a past life as if it's a movie playing across their eyelids. They're expecting to see everything outside of themselves. Everything occurs inside your brain, just like when you're day dreaming or imagining, which is why many people think they made their regression up! Images can be very fleeting or hazy.
Sometimes we might not see much, but we'll have a 'knowing' of what's happening. We may hear (again, in our head in the same way as when we talk to ourselves) words or names.
Some people feel very detached from the past life, leading them again to think they 'made it up'. Others will get very emotional, or even recognize others as being in their present lives.
How we perceive things is different for everyone. Perception can also change from one regression to another. We can have 'off days', where maybe we had work stress, or something else is bothering us. This can dramatically affect a regression.
I consider every regression (or attempt at one) to be successful. The more we do it, the better we get at it. In fact, the more you practice hypnosis, the healthier your immune system will be. You're going into a state of rest and digest, which is when your body is able focus on healing and regeneration. During this state, blood flow is redirected to vital organs and tissues, allowing immune cells to better detect and respond to infections.
Good luck to everyone on their journey. We're all so blessed to have the ability to explore our consciousness in this way!
