This is an excerpt from Brandon’s latest book, “Cancer, Stress & Mindset: Focusing the Mind to Empower Healing and Resilience,”  Hypnosis is a state of consciousness marked by increased awareness and suggestibility. Despite being a favored technique of magicians, illusionists, and mentalists, hypnosis isn’t all that mysterious. A captivating book or movie drives attention to the exclusion of other outside stimuli, and the reader/viewer may experience emotions associated with the characters. That is suggestibility we allow into our experience as an observer. Research into the physiological influence of hypnosis has experienced a renaissance with the advent of psychoneuroimmunology. Reduction in cancer-related pain, immune regulation, and lowered stress are all benefits attributed to hypnotic interventions.1,2,3 My first time seeing hypnosis in action was at the Meadowlands Fair in north New Jersey, where I grew up. One summer we attended the performance of stage hypnotist Steve Bayner. What followed would amaze my …