The Transparent Hypnotist

As you may know, I have just read The Celestine Prophecy (finished it last night) during my latest retreat. For the record, I really enjoyed it and think the message, though fiction, is profound.

After reading the section about certain areas having more energy than others, my thoughts began to harbor around the first “floater” migraine I experienced. I had been hiking through a virgin forest at the time and noticed floating amoebas inhibiting my sight. Amazingly enough I made it off the trail safely (miraculously avoiding stepping on a snake on the trail). And yes, for all those concerned, I did see a doctor and had a brain scan. They found nothing and diagnosed me with hormonal migraines.

But after reading the section about places having more energy, especially virgin forest, it made me wonder if there might be a correlation between my headaches and the energy. I also used to get headaches when I coming back to normal consciousness from experiencing hypnosis. Since then I have learned to ask for suggestions at the end for returning to normal consciousness with no head pain. That seems to help. I also used to get headaches when I would facilitate hypnosis in various people (usually those who had greater amounts of success with the hypnosis process). For this, before I go into a session I meditate and do self-hypnosis to keep my mind free of pain during the session. Has anyone else experienced this?

So, I have begun to wonder if my head pains have anything to do with Energy. Perhaps I am sensitive to it in a way that causes the pain? I have been told by energy workers that I need to not give so much of my energy to others or let it be taken from me.

Anyway, these are the thoughts of the day.

Part of today’s work will involve working on the creation of a deepener that does not involve numbers what so ever. I guess I have fallen into the rut of using countdowns (stairways, elevators, steps forward) when deepening. So this is a challenge for me. I have a particular client who sees me monthly for relaxation. He is visual in the sense that he has a photographic memory. However, visualizing descriptions I give him is not his strong point (he’s more toward the end of analytic). He was doing well with countdowns and eye fixation, but now he tells me he has tired of all that. He works with numbers all day in his job and says that now when I utilize numbers at all, it just makes him think about his work.

Any thoughts out there on other deepeners?

It’s a peaceful morning here in my coffee cyberville. Suitcases and such still adorn the floor as the reality of this time and place seep into consciousness.

Have you all had a good week? I had a very enjoyable one that I will probably talk about later. Today I believe I will continue the Sunday tradition of asking a question (looks the the Google hypnosis forum needs something new to talk about).

When I was here last, Bhumi had asked about post hypnotic suggestions, so I’ll pick up there. Here’s the question:

What was the first post hypnotic suggestion you utilized with someone and how did it work out?

Mine was the usual “take the number six away.” The person I was working with was an accountant, and sure enough while in the midst of our session, she “lost” the number six when counting down and back. The suggestion I gave was that her counting would remain without the six until I snapped my fingers twice. Well, the session concluded and I forgot about the post hypnotic suggestion until she was about to leave. Her car was pulling out of the driveway and I went racing after her.

When she stopped, I asked her to count down for me. Not only did she “lose the six” but she counted in the same rhythm pattern and voice inflections I had used. I snapped my fingers twice and she looked startled. Then I had her count again and she realized what had happened - and laughed.

So, your turn. Please share.

Well, I’m off again into the wild, blue yonder. Yes, I know, it seems as though I just got back from the last retreat, but call it a restlessness of the soul that keeps me wandering. LOL. I’m hoping to continue morning coffee or tea with you, but again, I’m not sure about what sort of internet access I will have. But, I’m sure I will check in when I can (after all the laptop does make for a good companion), so please continue to post and I’ll moderate when I can. Plus, I will miss you terribly if you don’t.

And to leave you with a few thoughts, and a potential ‘nother book discussion as I just started The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield (I know, I know I’m behind the times on best sellers), I found a quote from his introduction that speaks volumes to something about which I have been thinking. It’s the idea that emotions may be contagious, mental germs that spread like illness. It’s all over the forums, and I don’t know about you, but when I go through a spell of reading negative post, after negative post, well, it can really bring a person down (or inspire retaliation, rebuttals, and so on). I notice this happens in civic groups in which I belong. But then to not completely focus on negatives, good emotions do the same. On said forums, they inspire thought and camaraderie. So, before I digress even more, I’ll just give you the quote:

If it touches you, if it crystallizes something that you perceive in life, then pass on what you see to another - for I think our new awareness of the spiritual is expanding in exactly this way, no longer through hype nor fad, but personally, through a kind of positive psychological contagion among people.

A friend, who is learning about hypnosis and has started a dialogue with me, has asked me to explain how to give a post hypnotic suggestion when hypnotizing someone and asks what the results would be when finished with hypnosis session. This is a wonderful question that I thought was worth putting on the blog because all of you who read this and respond do so in a such an understandable way that I figure between all of us, we could answer this question.

There are several ways to answer this question depending on one’s views about post hypnotic suggestion. There is the direct route of traditional hypnosis and then there are differing opinions on that such as the Milton Model (which is what NLP is based upon). In clinical hypnosis, they are suggestions to help modify certain behaviors over a long period of time. There are also suggestions that are meant to be “triggered” with a certain word or action. The direct route is basically when you as the hypnotist believe the person you are hypnotizing is ready to receive the post hypnotic suggestion (after the induction and a deepener, perhaps some level testing), you give the post hypnotic suggestion. So, the question of “How” is not such a simple question.

Post hypnotic suggestions are usually fairly short and simple, have a time element involved (whenever I say the word “home,” you stomp your right foot once), and a trigger (”home”). Many people also put in wording that will bring the person being hypnotized out of the reaction. You may tell them that you will snap your fingers twice and they no longer stamp their foot when you say “home.”

Depending in the person you are hypnotizing, this post hypnotic suggestion may be accepted and you can trigger it after the session. This suggestion may last a long time or it may fade in a few hours.

Okay, there’s more to it, so if any of you other hypnotist wants to add or explain something more, please do. And if anyone has anymore questions or seeks clarityon this, post those as well.

Every now and then, it feels as though negativity abounds and we all can use a charge of something positive.

Today I received Marilyn Gordon’s newsletter and decided to quote from it:

If you have old pictures (in) your mind of someone doing something to you, take another look, and if you like, you may want to travel to the core of love in everything in the universe. Let the picture melt away, and come back to the love. This is how you can have a happy mind and happy life, and you can go beyond all you thought was real - into the true reality of ultimate wisdom and love.

Only 12 people can read this

Body: cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.

The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs rpsoet it.

OLNY RSEPOT IF YOU CAN RAED TIHS. CNAHGE THE NMUERBR AT TOP TGOHUH, “ONLY __ PEOPLE CAN READ THIS…CAN YOU?” go up a nmuber if you can raed

A few weeks ago, I blogged a post by Frank Munkle about a regression he did. Micheal and I had an on going email about it, of which I thought might be interesting to post (with his permission).

He wrote:

The regression story was interesting but I found it a little unsettling
and wondered what your view might be. Admittedly, I’m in the camp that
really does not believe in the whole past life thing but I’m willing to
suspend that and use the concept if a client brings it with them. K’s
story of being drowned and eaten by fish pretty much has to be an
invention of her subconscious because in nature, fish are not
experimental gourmands. A sinking human body is an obstacle to avoid,
or a piece of flotsam to ignore, or just maybe a potential predator to
flee from — anything but lunch. Even the scavengers will tend to stay
away until it sinks to the bottom and is obviously helpless. But if the
image allows K to get past her aversion to fish and makes her happier,
it’s harmless. Right?

Or is it? In that same story, we find out, the local official who had K
murdered is now reincarnated as her brother. What does that mean for
K’s current relationship with that brother? Is the brother’s role in
the story a reflection of an existing problem, or has K now invented a
reason to distance herself from a family member? That’s the kind of
thing that worries me about PLR.

My response:

When I took a certification course with NGH, part of it was about regression, of which, yes, I am very interested. It amazes me what the mind can recall when regressed (and I have found a lot of missing car keys, books, and jewelry with it). The interesting thing about this course was that it gave one formula for past life regression, with no regard of giving the participant anything more than a window-shopping experience. It also could very much offend one’s sense of beliefs (needing to meet a spirit guide for protection, etc.). I had several clients early on who wanted to experience past life regression, so I would modify the technique, avoiding the spirit guide. The thing is they seemed most unsatisfied. It answered nothing really….and I think those who want it done are looking for a lot more. I say all this because I think a lot hypnotists offer this sort of thing, a window-shopping experience, when the client really has a notion to purchase something.

So, I began reading Brian Weiss and studied with Henry Bolduc, among others. What I learned from them was how to help people connect the dots, find patterns within themselves, and most importantly guided them in realms of acceptance and forgiveness (self and otherwise). It’s amazing what this can do.

And yes, this is a long winded answer to your inquiry (perhaps I should post this on the blog?) but I’m not sure exactly what past life regression is…I chose to not take a stance other than it seems a great way for someone to get to know their mind better. Whether it is past life or the mind telling something important about one’s self, well, it doesn’t seem to matter.

In regards to Frank’s story, K may have hit on some fear or idea about the fish nibbling at her and resolved it. Also, I think the idea about her brother being the town official and causing her demise was where forgiveness comes in. Past life regression teaches that you have life lessons to learn and people are with you from life to life so that you may grow (thus they play many roles). A regressionist with no experience other than taking people window shopping might allow for K to destroy her relationship with her brother; a more experience one will guide her to work through it, knowing this is a new life and one cannot move forward by holding onto the negatives. Does this make sense? I’m still on my first cup of coffee.

I can speak for Frank as being a regressionist who does guide people in forgiveness and learning. He is a Unity minister (the relgion that believe in past lives) and has much training in hypnosis, counseling, and regression. Perhaps I should make that clearer? I put it on the blog for such dialog as this (so thank you!) because I do think, if done well, regression can be really useful.

For those who read the comments from yesterday’s post, I was asked to post a picture of my desktop for Canary’s blog on the subject. Interesting blog. It’s at http://pcdesktops.blogspot.com. So, I thought, why not and am also posting it here. This is my desk at home. Usually there is a cat sitting in the window, but today she is camera shy.

So fellow blog enthusiast, feel free to post your desktop as well. Perhaps Canary will find yours enticing for the desktop blog.

Happy Monday.

The Sunday question of the day is: what is your favorite hypnotic process. Is it regression, straight script work, ideometric responses, parts therapy, reframing or anything else?

You know, I always seem to ask about “favorites” and then I feel like swatting myself. The idea of a favorite is like categorizing oneself, and I am often loath to do so. One day I like one thing, another day I like something completely different.

So, not to total cop out of answering my own question, I’ll say I like any process that is interactive between hypnotist and client. Response is good. And I think most hypnosis is this way, a constant intuitive process for the hypnotist that does engage the client.

And in my childish way, I think regression is my current favorite. I love the stories that come up. There is often a sense of wonder in the client as they tell their memory, and I always feel so honored to be the one hearing it. And when connections are made - that is so amazing to witness.