The Transparent Hypnotist

One of the questions I always ask clients is, “What suggestions would you like to include in your session?” I do this to get the phrasing for the suggestions I will use later in the session. After several years of doing this practice, the responses are always interesting in how the clients will interpret the question. A majority of the time, the answer is a restatement of the reason they have come to me in the first place. Then there are those that use the question as an opportunity to see if I can add in some magical wording to do something completely alien to the original reason they are there. For example, if one may come to me for help with exercise motivation and answers the question as they would like me to suggest that their subconscious mind could grow some hair where hair has not grown in 20 years, that would be good.

Then there are the responses that touch me and get to the core. A recent client came in for weight loss. When we came to the question of suggestions to be incorporated, she responded, “be able to find a new relationship.” How telling. How telling on many levels. But my heart ached for her for a moment. There was the my own inner judge rallying to say something like “you do not need to be thin to find a relationship, after all you want someone to like you for the inner you, not just the outer you.” But, I kept my mouth shut and tried to push those thoughts away.

Perhaps she picked up on them because she continued, “If I lose the weight and accomplish this goal, I’ll feel better about myself - then maybe I can have a healthy relationship. Plus, it will give me more options.” Indeed. What a telling and wise statement.

So, we did the session for weight loss, but at the end she asked me, “How does one even begin to find a good relationship?” Now there is a question. “I don’t even know what sort of person I would want to be with?” I had her list qualities she likes in the men she knows. She actually found it easier to list qualities she does not like, so we turned those into positive statements. The I-don’t-like-men-who-have-no-interst-in-what-I-say became I-like-men-who-listen-and-want-to-hear-what-I-have-to-say. This idea evolved into the shorter phrase “good listener” and the list went on from there.

Then to really wet her whistle, I suggested during her weight loss period that she go to a web site like True.com, where one can sign up for free and do a personal search for free to help narrow down the choices of potential types of companions that are out there. It is a great tool - like looking in a catalog for the right fit. And then there is always the whole if-you-actually-find-what-you-are-looking-for, try it on. Start the conversation. In her case (and all really), I suggested she be upfront about the concept that she is in a time of transformation. Perhaps the contacts she makes on the site, Mr. Right or Mr. Not-quite, may still provide positive feed back and help cheer on her own personal victories.

The exercise I just explained is a little esoteric in the realm of true hypnosis practice and more in the realm of window shopping, but what better way to know what is out there. The next window might have the perfect thing.

So this is what it is like to be an evening blogger, trading the coffee cup for a glass of wine and watching the sun setting rather than rising. Interesting (it has been a long time since I did this).

Well, my life is not right if I do not try to keep up with the self-imposed rituals I have set in motion. Esoteric Saturday is a must for my mental health. So, here goes:

My company arrived unexpectedly, family stopping by on their way to another location. As I shuffled to the door in my Uggs and bathrobe, wondering who could have traversed my driveway this early on a Saturday, I saw an unfamiliar car in the driveway. The car was a silhouette in the rising sun, both awesome and ominous.

As I squinted at it (fumbling for my glasses), I heard the familiar sound of my brother’s voice outside my door, “Hey Ellie, I know you are awake and I know you have coffee on, come out and see my new car.”

Coffee mug in hand, I unlocked the door and stepped out into the semi-darkness of pre-morning (my family members are also morning people so this is not so unusual). Half hugging me, half dragging me, we went closer to the mysterious vehicle. Sure enough, my eyes were not deceiving me - there it was all ecco-green goodness - a brand new hybrid. Wow.

And here is the esoteric hypnosis part of today’s post - I was totally, utterly, completely mesmerized. This car was amazing. I stood in awe of it, frozen in time, no real thoughts, just taken completely in by the concept. Normally, I am not a car person (though I have wondered about how my current car reflects my professionalism - maybe you remember that?). I am not one to go in for much materialism. But gosh darn it (is this political vernacular now?), that car was so clean and beautiful…that I suspect my brother must have realized my trance and slipped in a suggestion that this was a way to to contribute to saving the earth. Talk about your instant hypnotic inductions.

That was this morning. It is now evening. I have been for a ride in the car and was deposited back to my day to day. I have found myself looking up hybrids, knowing full well that I do not have the funds at the moment for such whimsey. I will not give into insane jealousy (I am happy that my brother picked a hybrid - he has not had a new car in years and so deserves a good one) and let it rule me, but I can cross my fingers and try to manifest my wants.

Fingers are crossed and look, there it is - a contest to win a Honda Civic Hybrid from Charter. Granted I have already established television, high speed, and telephone service, but heck, if I win the car (which one can enter without having their service), I would more than consider the change - or if I were to need new service I would definitely give it a thought (if available in my area). It is a great idea for a contest - giving away some green - save money with your technology services and save the world, one mile at at time (or something like that).

Call it coincidence, call it what you will. I have been hypnotized by a car.

For those of you who came here expecting an Esoteric Saturday - my apologies for not having it up and ready for you. I had unexpected guests this morning and found myself completely unready. I hope to post later today…

Imagine this: a comfy futon, a cup of hot, steaming cider, popcorn, and Nanny McPhee. No, not a real Nanny McPhee- not like Emma Thompson standing before you, but the movie on your TV. Some of you are probably nodding to yourself, remembering that it was on TV this past week. Sadly, I do not remember the network, I just happened upon it and got absorbed fairly quickly. This is all rather different for me because I rarely watch movies twice, but I even persevered through too many commercial breaks.

I had totally forgotten there was a little mention of the hypnotic arts. Remember? It was right before the children fake a certain illness so they would be allowed to remain in bed for the day. They are already in a bit of trepidation over Nanny McPhee’s abilities to make them do tasks they had no desire to fulfill.

One child proclaims:

I worked it out.
She’s a trained hypnotist.
That’s how she made us do those things.
Don’t look directly at her
and she can’t hypnotize us.

The scene moves on, and sure enough there is phenomena that causes the children to regret their choice to feign an illness.

Hypnosis, eh? Bang goes that theory.

Cute. Totally silly, but cute. I have been thinking about these little bits of ideas and at first my sometimes over-sensitivity to misguided thoughts about hypnosis began to feel the itch of irritation. But it faded as quickly as it stung. And I realized it might be a better portrayal of the hypnosis phenomena then I credited it.

With the idea that in hypnosis, you do not do anything that goes against your being, the children did not experience hypnosis. Therefore because Nanny McPhee used something other than hypnosis on the children to exert her will and teach the children needed lessons, it was not hypnosis as all.

Bang goes that theory.

I am alone - truly alone.

I sit here in this purgatory of silence, drinking my coffee, a lone survivor of the night. Everyone around me is sleeping the sleep of the dead. Last night the vampires came out and lingered on the porch of the neighboring townhouse (I am visiting a friend), lingering and allowing their wild, unadulterated (college kids with no adult supervision) nature echo in the nonexistent wind. The sound crashed heavily in the darkness. And so, here I am on this Esoteric Saturday feeling drained (and bitter about the loss of hours of sleep that I will never get back) of that vital life force that will allow me talk of being mesmerized, hypnotized…

Maybe the vampire idea runs through my mind because of the recent other Esoteric Saturdays that were laden with blood-sucking hypnotic fun. After last night, those who live in the night seem less inspired to me. So, to get my romantic notion back, I sought more vampire company, but alas the sun is out and again…I am alone, alone in the Vampire Chat. The cyber room echos with the sunlight of morning, all must be back safely behind their coffin-lined firewalls.

And yet, in this cyber world, the world where light can be blocked out, are there no insomniac vampires to discuss the hypnotic vampire eye lock induction that will pacify my lack of sleep? The format of the chat room seems easy enough to navigate even for those of us running on something other than the normal night’s rest. Even the interface is quiet and not offensive to eyes such as mine…and yet…I am alone.

Maybe they do only come out at night…

Photograph by h.koppdelaney

I am guilty. I have emerged myself so much into the world of hypnotics, that every now and then I lose touch with the world that has nothing to do with hypnotics. I forget about the myths. I forget about the close mindedness. I forget about the non-believers. And I forget that hypnosis is sometimes mistaken for mind control. There are past times when we have seriously discussed the subject here (see the list at the end of you are interested), but now I find myself on this Esoteric Saturday returning to the subject.

Note here that I do distinguish between mind-control and hypnosis - they are completely separate entities (even if there are sites that would tell you different). But people often end up here looking for the magic concoction of ideas to control someone else (sorry people, you won’t find it here -nope, don’t even bother searching the site for it). What I can do is point you in another direction - to a more scholarly venue on the subject of governmental mind control programs. Don’t shake your head and click off assuming I’m about to talk about conspiracy theories. I’m not.

Check out columnist Timothy K. Perry’s article Real-Life Mind Control Assassins? on nolanchart.com. Hypnosis is mentioned, but read the article for the conclusions.

Past Postings that Relate to Mind Control:

• A Question of Mind Control
• Hypnosis is not Mind Control
• Hypnosis in the Mind Control Process

There was a time in my life, many (many manys) when I wanted to be a vampire. At the time it was not so much the immortality thing that got me (I don’t really want to live for ever - that would be so tiring), but it was the supernatural, super powers with which they were endowed that really appealed to my gawky teenage life. Sure, I could have wished for a super power and been a super hero, but it was the suave, sophisticated darkness of the vampire that appealed to me. I also had a hard time grappling with the whole drinking blood thing, though. That always made me a bit queasy. So, had I become a vampire, I think I would not have been particularly brilliant.

A few month’s ago, when Terry O’Brien did an Esoteric Saturday here at the Transparent Hypnotist, he wrote about hypnotic vampires. His post was fabulous, so I do not need to do a repeat of it. Instead, I offer a slight tangent to it.

Last night, I anticipated a sequel (I know, I know….sequel, grumble, grumble, grumble) to one of my favorite childhood movies, The Lost Boys (go figure). The sequel, The Lost Boys: The Tribe spun in my DVD player and began playing. I thrilled to the pre-movie music. I longed for my youth and craziness. I awaited the seduction of the vampire. And I received in-you-face gore. I am old. I am old. Alas, I watched the movie in a slightly mordant state of mind and went to bed. No seduction there.

But, BUT, there was one scene (just one) that caught my fancy. It was an almost hypnotic moment, when the subconscious mind shines through. In it, the main vampire hands a dead rose to the heroine. Here’s where I wish I had the script (or the patience to find the scene), so my synopsis of it will have to do.

He asks her, “Do you believe that with sheer willpower of the mind that one can change reality?”

She says, “I thinks so.”

“Do you know so?”

“I know so.”

He has her cover the rose with her other hand, close her eyes and visualize the rose as vibrant and alive.

“Do you feel it?”

“Yes.”

And then he has her uncover her hand, and wouldn’t you know, the rose is a freshly cut bud.

It’s not really hypnosis, probably more of a magic trick (I would love to learn how to do this one, I am sure an illusionist could give me some pointers). However, the way the vampire phrased it, it was a wonderful example of a guided visualization. Very nice. Very positive.

And so, with that bud of something good, I leave you on this beautiful Saturday. No more vampire dreams.

A few weeks ago, the blogisphere buzzed about an odd, little movie called the Tracey Fragments. Upon looking up its synopsis, I noticed hypnosis played a small role in it and so I added it to my list of “must sees.” When I finally got a hold of it, I happily sat down to watch it, expecting a “nice movie” (like Lars and the Real Girl). Well, this was not a “nice, little movie.” It was something quite different.

In some ways it is rather brilliant - like the David Hockney Polaroid collages - more psychological than esthetic. The movie is literally fragments. Each scene is comprised of several fragment films that equal a whole. One literally has to piece it all together.

Basically, it is the story of a person who has disassociated herself from something terrible. This is where hypnosis comes in - Tracey (a teenager) hypnotized her little brother into believing he was a dog. Unlike the children’s book Probuditi!, this movie gives it a much more sinister connotation. The brother, thinking he is a dog, wanders off into the cold winter.

Maybe this movie embraces the myth that a person will get “stuck” in hypnosis. Though with all the fragments, the time line is a little rough, but it seems as though the dog effect last a long time. Unless the child was inclined to want to be a dog, he would not have stayed “believing” he was a dog - especially since Tracey’s father was rather frustrated by the fact that his son only responded by barking. Maybe they were ineffectual parents, but I am quite sure, in most situations a parent would tell there daughter to bring the kid out of hypnosis.

Any thoughts?

As for this funky bit of film history - it is one of the few movies I wish I had not seen. I can appreciate the effect of the fragments, but only intellectually. I cannot embrace the hypnotic part. And as the character came to grips with the tragedy, I think less fragments might have been helpful. But then again, I am a hypnotist, not a critic.

Sorry friends, the transaprent hypnotist has to make a hasty retreat from the blogging world today.  If I told you why, I’d have to hypnotize you to forget it.  LOL.  For those of you at the NGH conference, I hope you are having a marvelous time!!!

See you tommorrow!!!

It has been awhile since I have subjected you to one of my home grown “shorts.” That means that today for an Esoteric Saturday, though rather late (I am not the fastest movie short producer in the world), I thought it would be fun to participate in FutureResume.com’s dream job competition.

Are you scratching your head in wonder that I might just consider doing something other than hypnosis? Well, dear friend, please watch on…

And, if you are of a mind to help me get my ideal day job…please vote for me.