We talk a lot about Dr. George King having received messages while in a positive samadhic yogic trance state — but what is a trance?

While there are many different types of trance, they can be broken into two main types: positive and negative. 

A negative form of trance is when the person in trance has no control over what is happening to them. In a positive form of trance, the person does have that control. 

Both of these types of trance can happen consciously or unconsciously. 

So how do you know what kind of trance someone is using? 

Dr. George King said in his lecture, “Trance – Its Various Types”:

“How do you judge between one and the other? Well, this is very easy if you had some experience, but if you haven’t had some experience, it’s just…it’s quite possible to judge. But there is only one real way to do it, and that is: ‘by their fruits shall you know them.’”

Because there are so many different types of trance, and so many people have different experiences, it is difficult to ascertain if someone is in a negative or positive type of trance state. 

But if a person has control of what is happening, and if the trance brings about a positive outcome, this would be a positive type of trance state. 

Dr. King also described the type of trance that we should strive to bring about:

“The unconscious but positive form of trance, is something which results in much metaphysical experience, either in this life or previous lives, and generally years and years of practice of yoga—in one form or another; even though, by the way, it may not be called “yoga”, however—years of practice of set of balanced mystic exercises will gradually give to one, through lives, the ability to adopt a positive form of trance.”

Something you can try

In his lecture, Dr. King advised on how we can develop trance:

“How do you develop trance? … There isn’t an easy way. There are short ways—in which you risk death, idiocy, paralysis. There are long, long ways, but the best and surest way I know is to work in spiritual service so that you will evolve up to that point where you are ready to meet your Master, who will then give you the correct guidance. And that is the surest way and the safest way. In that way, you can’t do yourself any harm or damage.”

Learn more about this from Dr. King’s lecture on Aetherius Cloud.