The States of Non-Verbal Hypnosis: Fascination, Catalepsy, Somnambulism, Lethargy, Ecstasy
Is there only one trance? Or, behind that word, do radically different inner worlds lie hidden, each with its own physiology and purpose?
These states have something magical about them, because they allow you to achieve concrete results. As Prof. Dr. Marco Paret reminds us, catalepsy charges energy: think of someone who must face a decisive meeting or an exam after a sleepless night, regaining alertness and clarity. Somnambulism, on the other hand, allows one to find creative solutions and to see another reality: useful for those who are stuck on a work or relationship problem, because it opens up unprecedented perspectives. Lethargy is a deep reconstitution, comparable to restorative sleep in a few minutes, ideal after intense stress. Finally, ecstasy brings about changes in behavior upon return, helping to overcome ingrained habits such as procrastination or social anxiety.
These abilities are not innate, but are learned through a structured method: the courses at the Université Européenne offer a clear and progressive path. Even practicing alone, results are seen immediately, but a live course gives in a few days what would otherwise take years of trial and error. After training, just 10-15 minutes a day of practice is enough to maintain and refine skills. Everyone, with constancy and application, achieves excellent results, integrating these states into their routine to better manage energy, creativity, and recovery. These are not therapies, but practical tools for self-improvement, accessible to anyone who wants to invest in themselves.
Research today distinguishes several states of consciousness, each with its own physiological signature. The nervous system alternates between states of alertness, connection, and deep recovery. What one experiences in a deep state leaves traces in subsequent behaviors.
When someone walks into the studio and says “I want to go deep,” the school’s response is another question: into which state do you want to go deep? Because hypnosis has various dimensions.
«When someone comes in and says “I want to go deep,” I would say: into which state do you want to go deep? Because hypnosis has various dimensions.»
— Prof. Dr. Paret
Five states, not a single trance
Common hypnosis speaks of light, medium, and deep trance. The school of Prof. Dr. Paret, instead, distinguishes five qualitatively different states, each with precise neurophysiological correspondences. It is the most original map of the non-verbal tradition.
Here they are, in summary:
- Fascination — the power of the eye. Particular activation of the dorsal system, that of silent mobilization. The subject is slightly more rigid.
- Catalepsy — activation of the dorsal system in an even broader manner. It charges energy, like a battery recharging.
- Somnambulism — mixed activation of sympathetic and parasympathetic. The mind opens, as in a dream. It can be one of surrender (ventral vagal) or externalized (with movement).
- Lethargy — deep dorsal, also called deep collapse. A state of reconstitution.
- Ecstasy — activation of all three states together. The highest level.
To these are added two particular phenomena: lucid somnambulism (almost telepathic sensitivity) and the crisis (a very strong reaction of release).
The question no one else asks — “into which state do you want to go deep?” — opens a door: it is about choosing where to go, rather than going further down.
Fascination: the power of the eye
“The exact word we use is fascination, because fascination is a technical term meaning the power of the eye” — explains Prof. Dr. Paret. It is the first state, the gateway to all non-verbal hypnosis.
In this state, the operator’s gaze guides the subject’s attention naturally, without words. The controlling mind remains calm: nothing is announced, everything happens. It is a silent concentration, a recovery of energy. As in catalepsy, but with a lighter signature.
The subject appears slightly more rigid, especially in hypnotic fascinations. In the magnetic one, the sign is more subtle. But the effect is always the same: attention focuses, the body calms, the mind opens.
Catalepsy: the state that charges energy
Catalepsy is an activation of the dorsal system in an even broader manner than fascination. But its distinguishing feature is another: it charges energy.
Few know this: there is a similarity between catalepsy and a bone marrow strengthening technique used in Chinese alchemy. There, what matures over years of practice; here, what surfaces rapidly in an induced state. It is as if the system charges up, and afterwards the person has a great deal of internal energy.
From a polyvagal standpoint, catalepsy probably derives from reactions that occur when a person enters readiness for action. The body prepares, charges, and then releases. It is a state of silent power.
Somnambulism: like stepping into a film
Somnambulism is the state in which the mind activates. “It is like stepping into a film: you are in the film and you see it” — says Prof. Dr. Paret. You can be more or less associated, but the further you go, the more somnambulism is fostered, and the person increasingly lives their sensations.
Think of the last time a film made you lose track of time. Well: somnambulism is that, but without a screen. The scenes the person sees resolve the problem they have in life. It is a waking dream that liberates.
Somnambulism can be one of surrender — and then we have an activation of the ventral vagal, the person bends forward — or simultaneously with activation of the sympathetic, when the person moves: then they act and do. In both cases, the mind opens and finds solutions.
Regressions belong to somnambulism. With regressions, people can go into their own life or into past lives. On this point, Prof. Dr. Paret maintains a cautious position: “Let us say it is an experience the person lives, which is interesting, and that everything that comes out of the person is meaningful for the person.”
Lucid somnambulism and the crisis
In lucid somnambulism, the person has almost a capacity for telepathy, for reading and sensing the sensations of others in an incredible way. This also truly happened in the state of fascination. Prof. Dr. Paret recounts an episode:
«Sometimes in states of somnambulism the subject feels what you say. It happened to me once, without speaking, with a subject with closed eyes: I thought “raise your right arm” — he raised his right arm; “raise your left arm” — he raised his left arm. And I had not said a word. There were other people there too, who were astonished. Sometimes there is a hypersensitivity.»
— Prof. Dr. Paret
The crisis, on the other hand, is a very strong reaction of release. It is explained by polyvagal theory: it is the system discharging. It can be very useful in very difficult cases — abuse, trauma — which are better addressed with non-verbal work, because with words one risks amplifying the problem. In non-verbal work, the person lets go and gradually liberates themselves.
Lethargy and ecstasy: reconstitution and transformation
Lethargy is a very deep state of reconstitution. Prof. Dr. Paret describes it as a “almost quantum” level: the body touches bottom and regenerates itself. It is the deep collapse of the dorsal system, but as absolute rest, not as pathological collapse.
Ecstasy is an even higher level. “In a certain sense, it is as if we touched infinite love” — says Prof. Dr. Paret. There can be various types of ecstasy, and it is certainly a state that everyone should experience. Upon returning from ecstasy, certain behaviors change, there can be an even global transformation, a transmutation.
What one experiences in a deep state leaves traces in subsequent behaviors. In ecstasy, those traces are indelible.
How to recognize them by looking at the person
Being states linked to specific neurologies, they are easily distinguishable. Here are the visible signs:
- In fascination, the subject is slightly more rigid, especially in hypnotic fascinations. In the magnetic one, the sign is more subtle.
- In ventral somnambulism (of surrender), the person bends forward.
- In lethargy, they are deeply relaxed, almost absent.
- In ecstasy, they may have catalepsy, especially at the level of the back.
The trained eye recognizes the state in a few seconds. It is a skill that is refined with practice.
How they are conducted (publishable procedure)
Somnambulism is created by progressively activating the solar plexus, and for this reason the magnetic passes are the best tool if we want to use non-verbal hypnosis. It is a gentle, progressive procedure that brings the nervous system to a state of openness.
Or one can achieve somnambulistic effects differently: if someone in fascination closes their eyes, they enter directly into somnambulism. It is the fastest route, almost instantaneous.
Non-verbal work allows the subject great freedom to let anything come out. Just do the induction, then ask directly — even without telling them to go into the past, they are already in the past. Using fascination, we look the person in the eyes and after a few moments we can ask them where they are: and it is as if they arrived directly in the past. The eye becomes a means to bring the person into the past, to bring them back to ancient periods, and this happens in an instant: “this is the most astonishing thing” — says Prof. Dr. Paret.
A documented tradition
This map of states is not new. It is a tradition rooted in the nineteenth century, when animal magnetism was practiced without words. From the school’s historical library, three testimonies:
«Par magnétisme l’on ne doit pas entendre autre chose qu’une sorte d’équilibre de chaleur vitale que l’on cherche à établir entre deux individus.»
— Nineteenth-century pamphlet on magnetism, historical collection of the Library
Transl: By magnetism one should understand nothing other than a sort of equilibrium of vital heat that one seeks to establish between two individuals.
«On a prétendu que je n’avais pas assez expliqué les moyens que j’employais pour procurer aux malades le somnambulisme magnétique.»
— Memoirs of a nineteenth-century magnetizer, historical collection of the Library
Transl: I have been reproached for having explained too little the means I employed to procure magnetic somnambulism for patients. The reticence of the old masters about procedures is itself a historical fact.
«Il y a d’autres sommeils dont nous parlerons, comme dans la catalepsie, le coma et la léthargie.»
— Nineteenth-century medical treatise, historical collection of the Library
Transl: There are other sleeps of which we shall speak, such as in catalepsy, coma, and lethargy.
Knowledge of these states is therefore an ancient heritage, rediscovered and systematized by the school of Prof. Dr. Paret. To delve deeper into the theoretical framework, one can consult the encyclopedic entry Non-verbal hypnosis.
Safety
“Hypnotic states are all absolutely safe” — states Prof. Dr. Paret. And he cites a source: Barber’s book, Hypnosis: A Scientific Approach, which researched whether there were any risks with hypnosis, and never found any.
One can think of hypnosis as a state of natural healing: a state in which the body can recover naturally. It allows one to draw out resources and solve problems naturally. As always, hypnosis does not replace medical care, but it can be a valuable complement.
FAQ
Can one get stuck in a state?
No. Hypnotic states are natural and transient. The nervous system always returns to a state of equilibrium. The feeling of being stuck is a memory, not a condition.
Does everyone get there?
Yes, because the body responds before words. Special talent matters less than one might think: the operator’s only task is to remain calm.
How long does a state last?
It depends. Fascination can last a few moments; lethargy can extend for minutes. The operator accompanies the return with the same gentleness as the entry.
Is talent needed?
No. Practice is needed. The ability to induce these states is learned, just as one learns to play an instrument.
What is the difference from verbal hypnosis?
Verbal hypnosis is complementary. Some things are done with words; for others, one can go deeper, or arrive just the same, without using words. Knowing both paths makes the operator complete.
Over thirty years of research
The school of Prof. Dr. Paret has been working on these states for over thirty years. It is a matter of practicing and feeling. It is rare, concrete, and verifiable knowledge.
For those who feel that words are not enough, for those seeking a more direct path, for those who wish to complete their training: the door is open. Entry to the courses goes through a brief interview, to select serious researchers.
Silence, rhythm, presence: silence and rhythm are the tools. The hands, the sensory pathway: the so-called fluid and the hands. And the historical framework, Mesmerismus®.
No formula to memorize: the process is natural and passes beneath words.
