Traditionally, hypnosis has been used primarily for silly sitcom plots and to help people quit smoking. But thanks to the Internet, hypnosis can now be used in the bedroom as well.

A little cyber-digging turns up Inraptured, a social networking site for erotic hypnotists and their admirers. It is both a meeting ground for those with a fetish for "hypno sex" and an online advertising hub for "hypnodommes."

That last term refers to specialists who are essentially traditional dominatrices, but with a twist -- they hypnotize their subjects and guide them through visualizations of scripted or improvisational fantasy experiences.

One of those advertised is Kasha Shakti (pictured), a Hoosier-state hypnodomme hailing from Bloomington, who makes a living hypnotizing men through the erotic mp3s and videos she sells.

She defines femdom erotic hypnosis as "a form of dominant/submissive play that focuses on mental, rather than physical, domination."

Carmen De Jesus, on the other hand, is a certified hypnotherapist and creativity coach "specializing in unconventional means of inspiration and motivation for adventurous adults."

In an interview with Asylum, De Jesus is careful to differentiate between erotic hypnosis and erotic hypnotherapy, which she practices. While some of her clients may just want to get off, she says that many people really benefit from hypnosis to set them free from mental barriers or sexual fears.

Of course, quite a few of the fantasies swapped in communities online feature an alluring female seducing a male into a trance for everything from sexual entertainment to financial advantage.

"I almost never buy anything for myself anymore that someone could buy me off of Amazon," admits Shakti. "Chances are, if I make it clear that I'm having a spoiled- goddess craving for something, it will be delivered before I would have made time to get it for myself."

So, is Shakti guilty of luring unsuspecting men into her web and forcing them to act against their nature?

Maybe, but De Jesus insists the cinematic notion of mind control through hypnosis is a myth.

"You can lead someone into a light, hypnotic, trance-like state without their knowledge, much like a person can get distracted or focused on a TV show, book, or movie," says De Jesus. "However, you cannot hypnotize people to do things against their will."

In other words, if a guy goes into a trance and ships Shakti a dishwasher, he has only himself to blame.