The Transparent Hypnotist

The Tetons and Snake River
by Ansel Adams source Wikimedia license Public Domain

Ah, the pleasure of an old friend - Constant Comment tea. I lived on it during my university years. But, it too has aged a bit. It taste different than it does in my memory. It is more bitter now. Maybe it is just me. Sigh.

I must indulge my pleasures another way, but before you become too creative in helping me move that thought along, I shall not linger here for long. Rather, I shall infuse my sight sense with beautiful imagery. There is something so satisfying about beautiful art and photography. When you find something that causes pause and you want to look at it longer than it takes to click off a web site, well…it is a true pleasure. And there are so many wonderful things out there to discover. I equate it to shopping. We browse through the racks, seeing this fabric, that texture. We go quickly until something seems worthy of a longer look, and there is joy in that find.

I write about indulging the sight sense today because I get a fair amount of email from people who enjoy the images I choose for my various posts. There is something so pleasing about hearing from people who may not have no interest in hypnosis, but the images lured them into my web enough to read a few lines of the post, and some even read the entire paragraph sets. Then they return. Is that hypnosis? Maybe. The images act as an induction that allows the conscious mind to focus on something else, while the subconscious mind takes in the suggestion (to keep reading).

Many people ask me where I find the images, especially those new to blogging. I would love to take credit for them all, but the only notice I deserve in the matter is having good taste. LOL. I use a variety of sources to locate public domain or creative commons imagery, meaning that both allow me to share other people’s images with you here. I wish I could afford to pay photographers and artists for their work, but hopefully the link to their work is something. The main thing that one needs to remember though, is that the work remains the intellectual property of the artist, therefore it is never really a good thing to chose a random image off of a site that either says “All right’s Reserved” or has the good old copy write symbol. If you become so enamored of an image that has such things, best to write to the artist and ask for permission.

So, I have found a new site that allows bloggers to freely use the photography on the site. Acobox has a collection of blog pictures. To use them, you must sign up for an account. Then you can either scan through their collection or you can search using key words. Currently their image bank is somewhat small, but classy. The image above was found on their site, meaning that they have found some excellent public domain work from the big daddys of photography, such as Ansel Adams. It is a clean site (both in design and in content for those who are concerned about such things) and pretty easy to use.

If you are a photographer and care to share your work, thus getting more exposure, you can also register to do so. I believe unlike some of the other photo sharing sites, this one may be more monitored. Not sure what that means in real terms. They may screen for quality and content (one can hope).

So, feel free to join me as I peruse my pleasure. Also, if you have any sources for images that you enjoy, please consider sharing them.

The hypnotist looms before you. Maybe you are lucky and you have been given a few pointers on how to relax or maybe you are still a bit jittery with nervous energy. Maybe you are even wondering why you are here. You have been given instructions to hold your head straight and level. You are then asked to move only your eyes so that they are looking up toward your eyebrows. Now take it a step farther and roll your eyes up even more, as though you are looking up into the crown of your head. Perhaps your eyes are now feeling tired, maybe even slightly strained, but you must keep your eyes in that position for a few more moments and there is one last thing you must do before this hypnotic eye torture is over. With your eyes in that same position, begin to close your eyes. No, do not lower your eye balls. They must remain looking up as you close your eyes.

Okay, take a break for a moment. This little exercise is one that some hypnotist use to get an idea about your hypnotizability. My own training did not cover this approach, but it appears in various hypnosis text and is apparently still used by a few people. I was reminded of it several Monday’s ago when reading an interview about another hypnotist who uses it. So, it seemed like a good idea to really look at it.

This hypnosis susceptibility test was created by Herbert Spiegel, MD, a clinical professor at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. Basically, a hypnotist will look at the white area (sclera) of the eye between the lower eyelid and the cornea that can be seen at the end of the process described above. According to Spiegel, the more white space, judged on a scale between one and four (if there is a squint involved this is evaluated and the points added to the score), the more susceptible a person is to hypnosis. This method works 75% of the time, he said in an article in Time Magazine (1977).

I am not sure why I did not learn this little bit of historic hypnosis susceptibility (does anyone teach it now?), but I suspect there were some issues to it. There is the whole you-cannot-be-hypnotized-if-you-do-not-want-to-be thing, so even if you do well with the eye test and do not want to be hypnotized, well, this test is meaningless. And even if you do not do well on the eye roll test, but want to be hypnotized you will still get positive results.

Whether you use this tool as a hypnotist, it does show up in various inductions (very clever). There is a particularly nice one mentioned in Kaplan and Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry. Hypnotists, you should check it out.

So, have you just asked someone in your vicinity to watch you do this and look at the white space? What are the results?

Shivering and sleepless, last night I added an extra blanket to the bed and finally feel asleep under its added warmth. How did this happen, this coldness? How did winter weather sneak up upon me when I had barely hung up the white, linen suit? How? Oh heat and sweat, how I miss you!

And was it not just Halloween? Granted, I know many stores put out their Christmas must-haves in deep summer, but what about the rest of humanity? At a peer meeting the other night, I sat sipping free-trade coffee and the background music began to flirt with my consciousness. I found myself humming alone to the sounds of fiddle and guitar. Odd that I could hum along with such a thing and then I realized for the past hour, we had been listening to Christmas carols.

Then on the entrecard forum, a conversation was born asking what we want for Christmas (Pecan pie and peace, please). And I realize I cannot fight this. I cannot push Christmas thoughts away until Thanksgiving. No, I find even in my grumpy self, I want to to have a bout at Harrods again. I want a Carmello. I want home. But that is not to be, either. Home is here and it is up to me to change my mind set and be in this moment, this now.

So, with sponsors all aglow with Christmas posting needs, who am I stop the momentum of we-need-a-little-Christmas? In considering this post for Sears Layaway, I am to chose three of my nearest and dearest, what I would by for them (preferably using their layaway plan of $15 down) and why. Frankly, I would buy The Oxford Handbook of Hypnosis ($110) for my most nearest and dearest - ME. But, this is not about me, nor does it focus on apparel, kitchen and tools.

So in moving away from ego-gratification, I would buy my mum a new coat, something vibrantly loud in the sea of UK grey and black, maybe a Harve Benard Boiled Wool Jacket (in Olympian blue) so that she could give her old one to charity (and help her feel better about wanting a new coat when her old one is perfectly fine). My Da, now that is funny - even thinking about buying his bookish self some sort of tool (he would call me a tool for even thinking this way) - I would buy him the Craftsman Toolbox Cooler. Now food is something my Da enjoys immensely. A nice manly bag to take with him in the warmer days when he gets an inkling to grab a book, sit under a tree and read. No more paper sacks for you, Da. Then there is my nephew. He would receive a Euro-Cuisine Electric Beverage Mixer (Hot Chocolate Maker) because he is a chocolate fiend and is is still young enough to indulge a bit without it appearing on the body in most unflattering ways.

So there. I have started trying to get in the spirit of the holidays. It is not quite self-hypnosis, but it does get the juices flowing. Thanks for indulging me. Any one else have any creative ideas about gifts they are giving?

I am completely flattered. I apparently was a muse to friend and wonderful hypnotist Adam Eason. After my post last week called You Cannot Hypnotize Me, Adam also waxed poetically about the same subject on his video blog (I hope he does not mind me sharing this). Which brings me to another request, hypnotists or others, please feel free to share your “You cannot hypnotize me” stories here - or if you would like to guest blog about the subject, I would love to post those as well.

The Good

Are you stressed out about the current state of world economic affairs? Hypnosis may be just the thing to help you relinquish the anxiety, become more productive, and enjoy a side order of positivity. Wall Street Journal

Curious about what hypnosis can produced when used for creative exploits? Check out Matt Mullican: A Drawing Translates the Way of Thinking at the Drawing Center in SoHo. Apparently they even show videos of him drawing while under hypnosis (New York Times).

India seems to be embracing hypnobirthing (and yes, I am using it correctly in regrades to trademarks and such). Divya Deswal had a story publishing in the Times of India about her gynecology and hypnosis practice that involves hypnobirthing.

Good Articles that Mention or are about Hypnotists

How about weight loss, coached by a behavioral therapist who uses hypnosis for success? This interview is all about Dr. Steven Rosenberg of Elkins Park, PA (cbs3.com).

Julie Geigle of Eau Claire’s Heaven Sent Hypnotherapy of Holistic Healing, Chippewa Valley, WI, in the Spectator - Student Newspaper for the U of WI.

Bob Pargament of the Westchester Hypnosis Center in Harrison, NY (The Lewisboro Ledger)

Shane St James has upcoming hypnoshows in Australia. (parramatta.yourguide.com.au)

Interesting Articles Published by Other Hypnotists

Dr. Benveniste, inspired by the New York Times article about hypnosis - www.poststar.com

The Ugly

Sometimes I wonder if I should even bother with putting anything under this section. They say any publicity is good publicity and on my cynical days, I know it just drives traffic to those whom I think are ugly (or when my opinion says these people are terribly misguided). But, alas, I think it is good to address somethings just to remain an advocate for my profession. My partner jokes about my various “crack pot remedies,” but I know he is kidding because he uses them too and finds positive results. But when someone I do not know uses such terminology in ways that are unevolved and malicious, well, that is another thing all together. Someone on Gawker (look it up yourself - no link love here) wrote an article called Financial Crisis a Boon to the Quack Professions. It is a poorly defended article about how during this economic crisis (see the Wall Street Journal Article aforementioned above), people are seeking ways of dealing with stress. She equates hypnosis with voodoo and such. What a shame for this poor, mean-spirited soul. Her loss. A little hypnosis and her attitude would be totally different.

Photograph by mr.beaver

There is a part of me that could on just tiptoeing past today’s subject, pretending to be oblivious to it, and go about my posting in my everyday sort of fashion – pouring a cup of coffee, munching a granola bar, writing, and letting the atmosphere of Sunday envelope me in its safety net of peacefulness. But, no, not today – no more.

I have a question for this Sunday, one that has itched at me for a few months, and I can no longer remain silent. To preface it, for about a year on most Friday’s you can visit the transparent hypnotist and learn about other practitioners who indulge in hypnosis either full-time, part-time, or as a hobby. We have met many fascinating people who have answered my 10 Questions ranging from clinical hypnotists, psychologist, performers, and even one who engages in Femdom. Yet, if you look at the demographics, most are from the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. There are large sections of the world missing. I have heard about a few hypnotists in India, have written to them to see if they too would participate, but have yet to hear back. So what about hypnotists in Asia, the Middle East, Central or South America, Africa, or Russia? I am sure there must some hypnotists in those areas.

Or how about this…minding my politically correctness (especially now that we will have a multicultural president in the White House), where are the African-Americans? Surely, there are a few brilliant souls out there in the hypnoworld that go beyond my lily-white demographics?

So, my Sunday Question is about multi-cultural or racially different hypnotists. Are you out there? Or, do you know of any? I would love to broaden the horizons of the 10 Questions. If so, please let me know by either commenting here or emailing me at ellie.blunt@gmail.com.

Get a Voki now!
For those who read this blog regularly, you already know that one of my passions is video gaming. There is something truly wonderful about being in a two-dimensional environment and submersing yourself in it. Sure it is escapism, but one could do worse.

So, I have decided to try to present myself in 2D and am trying out avatars. This is the first one. The voice is deeper then mine, but it is a start. Maybe in 2D, the voice deepens? I thought it would be fun to do a short primer on hypnosis with it, but it would only allow me to say as much as what it currently says.

Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Cyber Location: www.colemanshypnotherapyclinic.com

1. Are you a full time hypnotist, part-time or hobbyist?

Full time Hypnotherapist.

2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnosis?

Behavior Modification, Pain Control and Sports Performance.

3. Is there any type of hypnosis you do not do?

My practice is health orientated only. I’m not involved in stage hypnosis though I enjoy the respectable stage hypnotist.

Why?

Trained in medical clinical hypnotherapy as a young child for psycho-anesthetics due to a serious jaw injury, behavior modification and pain removal became my passion.

4. Do you use self-hypnosis regularly in your life? If so, how?

Yes. Creative Imagination for relaxation, confidence, focus and pain removal for my jaw.

5. Describe your hypnosis office or work setting.

My office is located at the Quailbrook Plaza inside Quailbrook Dental Care an upscale North West Oklahoma City medical community. The inside is a relaxed comfortable environment.

6. Describe a typical day in your life.

Monday through Thursday I’m on call for Dr. Cunningham’s patients. For fear removal, pain control, gag reflex, hemorrhage control and a mindset for rapid healing. I take one private session at 6:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday. Friday, Sat, and Sun, I work from 10:00 to 10:00. Sessions last an average of 2 hours.

7. Where did you get your training in hypnosis and are you certified?

Practically 24 hours a day training for 29 years by my father Richard Coleman a full time Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and an Approved Hypnotherapy Instructor of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners founded the year I was . Yes I’m Certified through the A.C.H.E. and have participated regularly in many continuing education programs for over 20 years. I’m also an Approved Hypnotherapy Instructor and Designated Examiner of the A.C.H.E.

8. Most fabulous hypnosis technique you use?

Instant induction The Gil Boyne style.

9. Worse moment ever in a hypnosis setting that ended up being a valuable learning experience.

So far every hypnotic experience in my life is positive. Intentions are valuable.

10. Any words of advice to potential clients or other hypnotist.

Take it Easy.

Photograph by filipe ferreira

“But Ellie, you cannot hypnotize me.” It is inevitable. There is one in every crowd.

The hypnotist sighs, maybe even sighs again. She shifts a bit in her chair, not as though she has suddenly become uncomfortable and must physically find relief. No, she shifts in her chair as though settling in for a long winter of explanation. Then she smiles, not a happy smile, but one might swear it is the same smile Divinci favored on his painted lady. The words are bubbling up, effervescent, even.

“True. True.” Those are the only words she says for what seems like along while. Now the person sitting opposite her shifts, more out of a sudden feeling like discomfort, the loudness of the silence, saying it all. Affirmations and questions burble loudly without the help of words. Thoughts like, “I knew it” travel between them and the one-sided thought “why are you wasting my time” also lingers, but is quickly hidden with a verbal phrase.

“It would be pointless for me to continue with you if you already have it in your mind that I cannot hypnotize you.” She mask away the sarcastic urge to add “So, good day.” Instead, she paints herself in patience.

“But, you said anyone can be hypnotized.”

“Anyone who wants to be hypnotized. You have to be open to it, but coming here and declaring that you cannot be hypnotized is pretty much an assurance that you will not be hypnotized.” The hypnotist is long past the time when she would even find it partially amusing to rise to such a challenge. Time has softened that edge of need.

“But don’t you guarantee that you can hypnotize anyone?”

“No. I cannot hypnotize anyone who does not want to be hypnotized.” She takes a sip of her tea, which is becoming irritating luke warm. This person across from her is just curious about hypnosis, she surmises pushing away the thoughts about con-jobs and free hypnosis. It is always darkly interesting to her, that after speaking with someone on the phone and explaining the basics about hypnosis, how every so often someone like this person, squeaks past to the point of consultation.

“Humor me,” she says, her tone changing subtly, “Clasp your fingers together like you are about to play ‘This is the church, this is the steeple.’ Open the steeple so the fingers are not touching. Now put them up in front of your eyes and look into the space between them.” Then she walks silently over, talking in a calm voice, not quite the hypnotic one she uses in sessions, but close. There person looks up at her, wondering at the silent movements she just made.

“Look at the space between,” she says again. And she begins her little hypnosis parlor trick, without the aid of a real rubber band, she tells her bait to imagine that she does indeed have one and she has put it around the two fingers that were the steeple. She tightens the rubber band and the fingers gradually begin to go together.

“Whoa.” She gilds back to her seat and her tea, sits, and smiles.

“What was that?”

“Hypnosis,” she says and takes a sip.

Art by Eddi 07

During my early university years, one of my roommates was a Irish Setter. She was ultimately a good roommate. Though she took up a lot space, the space was random and she more than happy to not have her own bed (our flat was small) and share one of ours. She did not leave bits of make-up refuge on the sink in the bathroom. One of the interesting things about Nina is that she had a strong neurosis about the air conditioner. Every summer, we girls would eventually feel the need to use our window unit and cool down. When this occurrence happened and the outside roar of the machine came on, Nina would get up from a seemingly deep dog sleep and begin to walk in circles around the backyard. She would do this ten times and there was no distracting her. Even her favorite snack (popcorn) failed to arouse her attention away from the ritual. Once she completed the tenth lap, she would come out of her trance walk and be the same old, reliable, fun Nina she normally was…until the air-conditioner clicked off and revved up again.

It always makes me smile inside to remember Nina like that and when I hear about people doing patterned behavior as Nina did. Yes, true enough, I would smile at someone who did ten circles around the permitter of a backyard whenever the air-conditioning came to life, but I digress. One of my fellow cronies in a networking group called me last night to discuss the patterned behavior of her spouse and as she was telling me her story, all I could see was the red hair of Nina flashing past the windows of my memory.

Rather than stalking air-conditioning units in the summer, this fellow’s thing is the upcoming holidays (yeah, I know, we all have patterned behavior about holidays). Ever since seeing Real Genius (oh so many years ago), this guy has fancied himself a computer genius (in reality he is a county clerk or some such desk-type-civil-servant). During the holidays, he decides to build his own computer (to date he has not finished one). He goes through the newspaper and internet looking for discounts on various parts and pieces (never using the defunct pieces from the year before - imagine their garage). He orders some and in come the parts. As his wife and children bake holiday goodies, put up the tree and watch Christmas specials on the tele, he works himself into a frenzy of frustration over the non-working artificial intelligence before him. The tension in the house is always at a low boil as his behavior slowly becomes more savage and paranoid. Then Christmas arrives, overlooked mostly by him (we know who the real Santa Claus is) and a deep depression sets in as he feels his failure.

Wow. I think about pouring a Jack and Ginger just listening to my friend’s woes. But his holiday “tradition” started long before she was part of his life and she has come to grips that this is just the way it is, so she wants to modify her behavior to be more tolerant before the temperature of madness escalates this year. Well, good for her for working on herself rather than trying to change that which cannot be changed (unless it wants to be).

However, she has an interesting idea as well this year (hence the need for more patience and tolerance). The other night when he pulled up the ZipZoomFly.com site, she decided to get involved - being the supportive wife. With budget issues facing everyone, she decided that she could help him find ZipZoomFly coupons for a greater discount, allowing a little financial room for the various things that will need to be ordered later. I am a huge component of this, even when the economy is doing well - couponing, I mean.

Her next plan is to ask him if she could participate in his project (he complains during the process that she has no interest in what he does). Hopefully he will be deterred a bit off his collision course, unlike Nina and the air conditioner, and the element of her desire to spend time with him and his project will change the dynamic of the holidays. Her plan is to act as his assistant (not take over).

So, what this really means is that the holidays are indeed upon us. Good grief, I have barely pulled out the winter clothes. How did this happen?

Photography by springm

Here I was, all happy and ready to go on with this post, gunpowder tea (living it large today with a teaspoon of honey in it) beside me, and I discovered that I had made a terrible error. Yesterday I mentioned that Blogger’s Unite Day was today. How nice that would be if true, but I am a day late. It was on November 10 and according to my calendar, today is November 11. However, I am going to pretend I do not know that yet and blog about it just the same - you know, worthy cause and all that.

The theme chosen for this particular Blogger’s Unite Day is Refugees United. This is a non-profit that helps refugees stay in touch with their loved ones via the internet. There is no cost involved and one can look or post messages on the site without having to give location or identity information. People can be identified through various markers - nicknames, scars, and so forth. I have to admit, I was not familiar of the site until yesterday, but what an amazing thing. Imagine if you were exiled from your loved ones and there was no safe way to let people know that you are okay - no phone calls, no emails, no blog post, no Twitter…that disconnect would be horrifying.

When I think about the concept of what a refugee is, I see images in my mind that conjure up homeless encampments in Darfur and places I have never personally experienced. Words like poverty also come to mind. Then I had to wonder if I really understood the true definition of refugee. According to the dictionary on my computer, a refugee is:

a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

This definition is much more encompassing than I had given it credit. Salman Rushdie was a refugee (if you do not know who he is, look him up). The Dali Lama was a refugee. All those people whose homes were destroyed by Katrina (well, not so sure you can blame a little ol’ Hurricane as opposed to corrupting and antiquated systems) - those people were refugees.

And then it becomes even more personal. Many of my clients are refugees, not in the strict definition sense, but they are people often looking for a refuge. Refuge is defined as:

a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.

In many cases it is not a physical thing or condition that causes them to be a refugee, but instead their pursuant is a mental thing - be it a block, a bad habit, or a disturbing thought pattern. They come to me in search of a more peaceful place to exist internally. And whether we do traditional hypnosis and suggestion work or a more client-centered form of hypnosis, that which brings them to me - the trouble - exist in the same place they seek shelter. Only by facing and dealing with the trouble can they be truly free. The refuge is within themselves.

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

Dali Lama

I have known both refugees who flee from themselves and from some physical, political, or tragic source. Both may parish in their journey or in the end the journey becomes a legacy to move forward, no matter what conditions.

For those on that journey, may you find the peace within to make yet another step forward.