Trance 1, Requirement 6

Describe three ways that trance is helpful in personal ritual. (min. 100 words each)

Flow Experience

Flow experience is the feeling of "connectedness" with the universe/deity/others, and the deep sense of focus that comes with this connectedness. There is a feeling of the numinous that comes from flow experience, of deep knowledge. Trace is one way to achieve this experience, and through the flow, the ritualist can find themselves participating more fully in the cosmos, often in a series of macrocosm/microcosm unities, or even in a unity of centers, where the cosmos is centered on the ritual space, the ritual space is centered on the three Gates, and the three Gates are centered within the ritualist herself.

Establishing the Group Mind

Creating a singular purpose for ritual is complicated if there is more than one person involved. While this question asks about "personal" ritual, that designation can also apply to domestic cult practice. The usage of trance techniques can simplify this process and help solidify intent and focus into a single, actionable item. A variety of trancework techniques can be used for this, from hypnosis to sonic driving to chanting. If I may be excused for the usage of the word "egregore," trancework can be used to create that sort of group mind entity and help to drive ritual through its own existance.

Divinitory Trance

It is well known that the relationship between the symbols used in divination and the seer is a complicated one. The symbols are not concrete and exact: there is more to fehu than cattle and wealth, and the meaning may change to generosity or guarding against enemies depending on circumstance. As a result, entering a trance while divining may allow for a deeper connection to the symbol set and the meanings that lie in the shadows behind the symbols themselves. When seeking answers in personal ritual, trance can be the bridge between the seer and the hidden meanings of the symbols.

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