elf
accomplishing the "hand levitation" test--No. 5. In other words, you use
each step to enhance a greater receptivity for the following progressive
test. As you couple this approach with posthypnotic suggestions that you
will go deeper and deeper into the hypnotic state at a given stimulus,
you set into motion a conditioned response mechanism which must
ultimately guide you into a profound state of hypnosis.

The foot test can be accomplished while sitting or lying down. The idea
of this test is to imagine that your feet are stuck to the floor or that
your legs are so heavy that they are impossible to raise until you reach
a certain count. It is best to begin this test by trying to capture a
heavy, relaxed feeling in your legs. You give yourself specific
suggestions along these lines: "As I count to five, I shall notice a
very heavy, relaxed, pleasant feeling in both legs. It will be a very
comfortable feeling; a feeling of complete relaxation." You then begin
the count of ten, following out the idea of the other tests you have
successfully accomplished. You should remember that there is no time
limit and you take as much time as you need in order to get the relaxed,
heavy feeling. Once you get the relaxed, heavy feeling, you use the
visual-imagery technique to try to picture your legs stuck to the floor.
If you are lying down, imagine you are covered by a heavy blanket which
is tightly tucked under the mattress, making it impossible for you to
raise your legs. If sitting up, I tell the subject to imagine that his
shoes are stuck to the floor with "iron glue," and since his feet are in
the shoes, it is impossible to lift them until the specific count which
will enable him to do so.

Here are the suggestions you can use for the second part of this test.
"As I continue to count to ten, I shall find that it will be impossible
for me to raise my legs. I shall try at the count of ten, but it will be
absolutely impossible to raise my legs until I count to 15. At that
time, I shall be able to raise my legs easily, and the heavy feeling
will leave as well." You then continue with the count, giving yourself
appropriate suggestions. Once this test is accomplished, you use the
visual-imagery technique to see yourself accomplishing the hand
levitation test--No. 5. Be sure you give yourself the posthypnotic
suggestion that the next time you hypnotize yourself, you will fall into
a deeper and sounder state.

I'll assume that you