Hypnotism is a very real thing. Ask anyone who has gone through it for theraputic reasons. Stage hypnotism teeters on the verge of nothing more than suggestion and a certain willingness of the participant. If you are going to be hypnotised by someone else, you have to want it to happen. You cannot hypnotise the unwilling. Remember too though, skeptics really do WANT to believe.

I would be willing to bet that almost everyone who plays guitar (or any instrument for that matter) has done self-hypnotism. We do it every single day. You know what I mean, you get going on that groove, that lick or that run and you're not thinking, you're not even really playing. Your fingers are doing something independently of your mind. Hypnotism or mediation is precisely what you're doing. The subconscious is working independently.

That's what hypnotism is. It's not magic. It's not a parlour trick. It's a valid form of therapy and developing self-discipline. There are tons of books on the subject. Look into self-hypnotism. Placing yourself in a minor trance is very, very simple. Have the suggestions you want to make to yourself at the ready and practice it every day.

You just may surprise yourself.