Freely printed from: https://learn.nimja.com/basics/likes_and_limits
They are your preferences. Things you (in general) like. Some of them vary over time, some of them do not.
Something you might enjoy doing. There are so many possibilities that it can be hard to think of something specific. See: List of Flavors, List of Suggestions and List of Suggestions for ideas, for example.
It helps to have a list of things you know you enjoy and update it as you find out more.
Just because you like something doesn't mean that you want that all the time, from everyone. How many days in a row would you enjoy pizza? From which place?
Do you like Brussel sprouts? Spinach? Pineapple on pizza? If not, that is a limit. Don't like staring at a screen? Also a limit. Life is full of things we would prefer not to have happen to us. It's completely normal and healthy to have limits.
The more comfortable you can share them, the more happy everyone involved will be.
Your limits are yours, it doesn't matter why something is a limit. If you don't want something, you don't want it. And saying that is important as someone else cannot read your mind.
That said, understanding the why can help in knowing exactly what to you want to avoid, which makes it worth discussing to make sure that a limit is understood as more than just the words.
Discussing what someone wants and does not want is essential in getting Informed Consent.
Most people struggle with coming up with a completely new list of ideas. Presenting someone with options can be very helpful in building up a clear understanding of what is wanted. In doing so it is also important to present it as a list of options instead of asking for each thing if they want it. Saying no can be hard.
For likes, you can see: List of Flavors, List of Suggestions and List of Suggestions for ideas.
For limits, there is a list at the bottom.
When discussing likes & limits, it can help to be very specific about what you want to do at that specific time. Relaxation? Sensation? Arousal? What kind? What is your plan?
The opt-in model will focus the discussion on the intentions of a trance for safety, especially with someone relatively new.
Would you like to have a nice relaxing session? With some mental and physical relaxation, no additional suggestions and no touching is needed.
Or
You said you like fractionation and confusion inductions.
What do you feel like today?
After you've discussed things, it's very helpful to repeat what you've heard to verify that you understand their limits (and they yours). Mutual respect makes everything nicer and being understood also creates a safe atmosphere for everyone.
Also remember that both hypnotist and subject have limits. Because the guidance usually comes from the hypnotist, they tend to naturally avoid their own limits. But it's still important to remember!
Alright, so you would like to experiment with amnesia play, limited only to the session and without any kind of sexual play, is that right?
While both Likes & Limits are very personal, there are a few that come up quite often. You might know/have only some or all of them. At the very least, any one of these should be explicitly discussed before veering in that direction.