WHY IS SELF HYPNOSIS SUCH AN IDEAL VEHICLE INTO MEDITATION

As you can see from other posts, self hypnosis helps us to focus inward, on ourselves.  As we gain a greater self understanding, we can more easily improve.  Meditation is generally used for spiritual elevation and awareness.  If we believe that the very essence of one's self is God, there is clearly a relationship between the two.  Hypnosis accesses the subconscious mind, which is connected to our ego identified self as well as our inner or Higher Self, the universal spark that is within us and that permeates through all of reality.  I believe that is why there is such great power with these relatively simple techniques.  This is not something one can measure with brain wave studies or any other objective quantification.  It is something, once experienced, you know is very real.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF HYPNOSIS AND MEDITATION?

If you were to get into self hypnosis and meditation in depth, you will find the answer to this question has many levels.  I will answer the question here in a way that is relevant for most of us.  When brain wave studies were done with people who were in several levels of hypnosis and meditation, the results look the same.  Both allow the practitioner to relax and focus his or her mind.  Self hypnosis is generally used for self improvement while meditation is generally used for spiritual connection.  While there are definitely exceptions to this distinction, this is usually true.  It is also true that while meditating you may get insight into a personal issue and sometimes when you do self hypnosis you may have a spiritual experience.  Most instructions for meditation are fairly general while instructions for self hypnosis are very specific.