And so I find myself engaged on a road trip. This may mean posts may be a little short and the schedule off a bit.
But in honor of Mum’s Day, here is a question to ponder: in what positive way has your mother influnced you?
We smile at one another before departing to wilds unknown and separate.
As I am about to walk out the door, my brother stops me, “Hey Ellie.” I turn back to look at him. He is standing there, holding up his hand, fingers splayed in the familiar V of the Vulcans. I laugh and give him back the signal. When we were younger and it was not the thing for older brothers to be seen fraternizing with younger sisters, my brother would always acknowledge me by that quick gesture. I would do the same (though probably at bit more enthusiastic than the nonchalant subtly my brother showed).
My nephew who is watching this looks back and forth between the two of us, suddenly intrigued that these adults have some odd code between them…or perhaps this is another bit of strangeness that come from being older than 30. It suddenly dawns on us that my nephew has no frame of awareness for what has transpired.
“It’s Vulcan,” my brother says to his son.
My nephew is even more puzzled and some old memories of geography lessons run through his mind, “Vulcan?”
My brother grins at me, “Why yes, it is Vulcan. It is from the greatest hypnotist of them all (save your aunt) - Mr. Spock.” I laugh and realize that I never thought of this myself.
This memory I have shared with you is not very new, but has surfaced again with the release of Star Trek: Origins. I was hoping to see the movie last night, but alas, other obligations interfered. I am pleased and excited about the movie because it is keeping the Federation alive for current generations. There will be no more secret code between my brother and I, but at least my nephew in his young adulthood, will be privy to our symbology (if he choose to be).
But the memory has brought up the whole idea of Vulcan hypnosis. Granted it has been awhile since I explored the mental Vulcan landscape, so I have gone in search of references. And sure enough, there are a few.
Did you know that Vulcans employ what is called the Art of Suggestion? Though it would seem to be more telepathic in nature, with suggestions being implanted by thought or finger direction, I think it qualifies (the induction is just a little different than using words).
Self-hypnosis or meditation is also part of their way towards relaxation. They use this to lessen the functioning of the body, slowing down both body and mind. They do this through a self-induced trance.
They also use self-hypnosis for fast healing.
Ah, the mental discipline. An interesting vehicle of literary whimsey? I think not. I am not sure I agree with my brother that Spock was the greatest hypnotist ever, but I think some of this mental prowess added to his mystique, like those citations I just mentioned, are a reality in this here and now. There is a form of non-verbal hypnotism. Relaxation is a big part of the hypnotism experience (though not required). And there are several studies (especially in regards to cancer) that show that hypnosis creates faster healing in people who utilize it.
The Vulcans know their stuff (or at least the writers do). We can all take a page from their mental discipline training.
Sources:
Location: Bracknell Forest, UK
Cyber Location: www.golf-hypnotist.com/blog
1. Are you a full time hypnotist, a part-time hypnotist, a professional who incorporates hypnotism occasionally in your other practice, or are you a hobbyist?
I’m a full-time hypnotist focussing on building my golf psychology business. I just love applying hypnosis, NLP, EFT and other mind techniques to help my clients get the most success, pleasure and enjoyment from the wonderful game of golf.
In addition to the golf psychology, I practice with a wide range of clients as a clinical hypnotherapist and NLP Master Practitioner.
2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnotism?
I generally use a mixture of hypnosis and NLP techniques to match the emerging needs of my clients. In many cases I teach my clients to use basic self-hypnosis between sessions, as I believe that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. To that end, I’m also licensed to teach Adam Eason’s two-day Secrets of Self Hypnosis seminar.
Although interactive hypnosis sessions are my preferred working method, I also recognise that great value can be achieved using golf hypnosis recordings. I am currently developing a number of these recordings to accompany my forthcoming book. “The Secrets of Hypnotic Golf” and the first golf hypnosis audio recordings, “Your Own Virtual Caddy” is available free when you sign up for my Golf Hypnotist Ezine.
3. Is there any form of hypnotism that you do not practice and why (i.e. entertainment, past-life regression, pain management)?
I’m not comfortable doing past life regression with clients as it’s an area I haven’t made up my mind about yet. If I’m not comfortable, then it wouldn’t be professional or congruent for me to do it with a client.
4. Do you use self-hypnosis regularly in your life? If so, how?
All the time! I believe trance is a powerful tool in my life and provides access to all my unconscious resources. I’m a firm believer that a good hypnotist leads the client into trance by going into trance first. I find that my unconscious mind comes up with the best and most appropriate techniques to help the client find the solution to their problems or desires.
I also use self-hypnosis as a tool to help me through many difficult situations and to get the best out of some of the better ones. I just count to seven and I’m there… thanks Adam.
5. Describe your hypnotism office or work setting.
As a golf hypnotist, I work wherever it’s most appropriate to the clients needs. This can include playing golf with the client, working with them during a practice round, on the putting green, on the driving range or in a quiet corner of a golf clubhouse. I also work from consulting rooms, at the client’s home or on the telephone.
6. Describe a typical day in your life.
Currently, I’m a one-man band, so I do everything from hypnosis, which I like, through writing blogs, newsletters, books and making recordings, which I sort of like, to running the business side which I like least. The good thing is that I like them all to some degree, the difficulty is striking the balance.
7. Where did you get your training in hypnotism and are you certified by any organization?
I first got interested in NLP as a means of becoming more consistent in the most important areas of my life: my family interactions, my golf performance and my work – in that order! I did my NLP Practitioner and Hypnotic Practitioner training with Richard Bandler and Paul McKenna. As I got more interested in helping other people with these wonderful tools, I completed my NLP Master Practitioner certification with the same team.
Even with all the NLP training, I didn’t feel that I had the full complement of skills to work with clients and found the solution in the Hypnotherapy Diploma Course run by Adam Eason, the world renowned hypnotherapist, trainer and best-selling author.
8. What is the most fabulous hypnotism technique you use or prefer?
Now this is a difficult one. I think that the hypnosis technique that works best for the client in front of me is the most fabulous technique of the moment and I don’t consciously know why I chose it.
If you really pushed me, I’d have to go for a combination of the “As If “ or “Pretend” Frame with a bit of timeline work. I get the client to vividly imagine what their desired future would be like, then get them travel back down their timeline to the present time unconsciously remembering how they achieved their imagined future. I don’t want their conscious mind to remember, otherwise it’ll say, “I could never do that.” This has helped clients achieve unbelievable results.
9. What was the worse moment you ever experienced in a hypnotism setting that ended up being a valuable learning experience?
One of my Diploma Course case study clients wanted me to help him become a non-smoker and I spent hours preparing a lengthy hypnosis script that I proceeded to read to him. Half way through I realised that I had written the script on the assumption he had started smoking as a teenager when in fact he started in his mid 20’s to help him focus on his studies. I had to dump the script and trust my unconscious to get me through. It did, it worked and I haven’t used a script since.
10. Do you have any words of advice to potential clients or other hypnotists that you would like to share?
The most important thing for any client is to find a hypnotist you feel comfortable with and can trust. I’d also recommend avoiding hypnotists that use prepared scripts for their work or start out saying they know just what you need. These people are unlikely to have the flexibility to help you to get to the root of your issue quickly and easily.
I’m still learning so much about hypnosis that I’m hesitant to advise other hypnotists. However, the key thing would be to lead your client into hypnosis and let your unconscious guide you.
Photograph by Joel Mann (cc)
Let’s see, this week my blog has been “cracked” (or hacked if you must). The headaches have returned (but do settle down after a fashion). And I awoke this morning, put the loose Earl Grey green tea in it’s little pouch, poured in the hot water right before the boil and sat down to read email. I have been awake for at least a half an hour, and just now it has dawned upon me that something is missing – my teaspoon of honey. I have been drinking my first cup of tea with a teaspoon of local honey for at least the last six months, but today I totally forgot to put it in? I apparently need a vacation.
So bear with me as I do a little self-hypnosis with this post and indulge in my vacation game - where I plan a trip and do it mentally in my mind. Join me if you will. I cannot think of a better mental travel companion than you!
Our destination is Kissimmee, Florida (I have never been) and we leave right now, for what better time to take a trip to Florida. The temperature should be most pleasant (I like it hot). We travel by plane (I think). This is one of those rare journeys where everything goes smoothly at the airport, with the airline, and soon we are sitting back in a reclined positions. Maybe you even put on your ear phones and listen to a guided meditation for the short journey. I do.
Arriving at the airport, again things are calm, our baggage arrives with us, and there is a car waiting to take us to our hotel, the Mona Lisa Suite Hotel in Orlando. I chose this because it might be a little more adult friendly (quiet, calm, peaceful, all those lovely relaxing words). I also chose it because I simply must spend a little time at SeaWorld and riding the Manta (in my mental vacation, the ride is open) and I think this is relatively close. We relax poolside for awhile to lose our traveler weariness.
More toward the afternoon, we head out for Silver Springs in Ocala, where we go in search of the infamous “white alligator.” The truth is, we are really there to just settle back and enjoy a peaceful ride in a glass bottomed boat. Natural meditation.
The next day finds us at the Bok Tower Gardens on Iron Mountain. It is home to 250 acres of gardens (did I mention you should have brought comfortable walking shoes - oh right, just imagine a pair for yourself). We meander through nature’s splendor and before we know it the day has passed in it languid trance-like way.
Manta, manta, manta, chants my inner mantra when morning arrives again. And just like that we are at the gates of SeaWorld. We are in awe at the many aquariums, relax with sea life and finally, there it is - the coaster of my current dreams. There is no line, no screaming children, just pure intensity and joy with the freedom of release only coasters can provide.
On the last day of our holiday, we drive to the beach in a classic convertible. I leave that detail to you (choosing the car and such, I mean). The beach is marvelous, the sun warm and relaxing (yes, we have loads of sunscreen), the sand exfoliating, and we return from our mental journey a tad bit wind kissed, but feeling the better for it.
If you have enjoyed this mental break with me, you should know that you can make it a reality. Kissimmee is giving away several vacation packages similar to what I described during our mental break. The last drawing will be on June 1, so visit my sponsor, enter their sweepstakes and maybe you will win the actual holiday.
Photograph by unrelaxeddad(cc)
The morning greeted me harshly. Cat yowled a little too loudly, eye felt scratchy from allergies, and the headaches have returned. Yes, I know, I know, the latter means I am probably not handling my stress as well as I should and so I am working on relieving it. After I finish writing this, I will take my own advice and work on a little self-hypnosis to relieve the pressure.
With all that and an already empty coffee pot, I am thinking about the word snarky. Do I feel snarky or perhaps frowsy? Do I feel the effects of someone else’s snarkiness (leaving me with an empty coffee pot and no refill)? Is it because I am visiting a topic today that some might view as snarky?
The topic? Embedded commands in hypnotism. Jake Shannon mentioned this technique in his answers to the 10 Questions, so I though it would be something else to add to the tool box. Jake – I am not saying you are snarky in the least (unless you want me to ;)), but embedded commands, at least in my mind, are often the black sheep in the NLP world. These are the hidden words in a sentence that make you want to do something you might not normally think about doing. They are often used in sales to influence you to buy something you might not otherwise buy.
However, in the hypnotic realm, they can be especially powerful and helpful. Embedded commands are instructions that bypass the conscious mind and go straight to the subconscious. The interesting thing is to utilize the commands, the person you are trying to influence does not have to be induced into a state of hypnosis. It is used conversationally.
How does it work and how do you use it?
Let’s just go with this for now. There is more, but I will save that for part two.
I must go and relax and will leave you with this for now.
Sources:
Photograph by gutter (cc)
There it was before me – my web site on one screen, this blog on another. Normally, this would not seem particularly strange, but it was not the blog as you see it (I hope). Both were opened to my admin. panels - my private admin. panels. It looked as though I had logged on and was getting ready to either make some changes or write a post. My brain hastened to justify this. During a previous late night session had I left myself logged on to both and forgotten to log out? Sure, that was it. I breathed deeply. No, wait, the night before, my nephew and I had gone out for a late dinner. We had come home and I had gone off to bed. No, there was no blogging at all.
My nephew handed me a cup of coffee, “Still blurry, eh, Aunt Ellie?” I took the coffee and sat down at the laptop, still feeling even more hazy. Perhaps this was just a bad dream?
“Why are my web site and blog open to the admin. panels?” is all that I could manage for a good morning greeting.
He looked snarky, yes, that is the word – snarky, “Last night you didn’t seem to believe that I am a hacker, did you?”
The conversation from the night before came back in a dribble of memory. I had more or less passed by his comment, supposing it to be youthful bravado. My lack of belief now was apparently catching up to me.
Remaining calm and hoping that my original, life-long assertion that my nephew was not malevolent was still correct, I asked, “Did you do anything to my sites?”
He looked theatrically stunned, “Aunt Ellie, I am hurt. Do you believe I would do anything to your sites?” Visions of stop watches, swirls and such danced through my mind. I merely glanced at him with raised eyebrows (some times I can act like the elder I am supposed to be). He then hit a few keystrokes and the presentation part of the blog and web site took the screens. They looked normal. They looked like I had left them.
“It is what I do, Aunt Ellie, ” he told me with what seemed like sincerity.
“Great. Just great. My own nephew, is a cyber rogue. Hasn’t you father taught you better than this?” I asked feeling incredulous. Would my humble home suddenly become a haven of hackers, degenerates, and perhaps an infiltrating cyber cop?
He actually looked hurt, “You have it all wrong. Being a hacker now days does not mean I am going to wipe out people’s sites, leaving cryptic messages that will lead to my eventual demise. It does not mean spreading viruses. It means just the opposite. I am all about IT Security. I am the good guy.”
I did what I always do – I took a long, slow sip of coffee, using the pause to collect my thoughts. Nope. I was still puzzled. Hackers are the good guys now? My nephew continued to explain. Like everything, there is the bad side (the one which got the rise out of me) and the good side. He has learned how to hack into various cyber systems (apparently one of his preparatory teachers showed him how to do this - great). Instead of doing damage, he freelances himself out to various companies to hack into their systems so that that the companies know their security weaknesses. My nephew is what is termed as an “ethical hacker.” Apparently it is a new career field (or an old one and I am just a bit out of it).
He stilled snarky, “You out of all people should understand,” he tells me, “you are into behavior modification. You just need to modify your thoughts on hacking. And like you are a certified hypnotist, I am a Certified Ethical Hacker” Perfect. My own nephew preaches the good book of hypnosis at me.
Needless to say, I felt great relief from all this – but then my curiosity also became involved. Is this not the same thing as hiring robbers to rob your bank to see what happens? Maybe this is not a bad idea. As he showered, I looked up The International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants (EC-Council). They deal with teaching students to understand hacking cycles, offer an interesting training modality (online e-courses), and provide subjects like security fundamentals, ethical hacking, penetration testing, computer forensics, disaster recovery and secure programming. Sounds more Batman than the Joker.
But the points remains - he still hacked my web sites. Was that ethical?
His response? “Sure it is. This is what ethical hacking is all about. Now you know you know your site weakness.” Hmmm.
Photograph by Sebastian Niedlich (Grabthar)
Quote of the Week
A lot of people have only seen hypnosis demonstrated on TV. Now they can see this unique phenomenon in person. It‘s like the ultimate reality show – from an article about hypnotist Rick Allen’s hypno show (thebeacon.net).
Scientifically Good
Ah, the literary opportunity to speak about the value of learning from children. Alas, I shall let it go and just say that we all can take a page from 19 children who were diagnosed with cancer and used self-hypnosis to deal with the side effects of certain treatments. The study, done at the Minneapolis Children`s Health Center, involved 25 children, of which 21 decided to try self-hypnosis. Out of this, 19 of those children experienced large relief by using self-hypnosis (Natural News).
Good
I have mentioned it before and I will mention it again - using hypnotism in the birthing processes. Need more validation for it? Check out the article called St Albans mother’s praise for alternative birthing techniques in the St. Albans and Harpenden Review.
The Bad (is this really cool?)
Did you know Justin Timberlake is a hypnotist? Interestingly enough he taught Ciara all about it (The Press Assoication).
Ugly
Entrecard
It is the begining of a new month and also time to thank those entrecarders who have faithfully dropped their cards here. I did things a little differently this motnh and gave credits to 20 top droppers rather than people who were here everyday for the month. I did this because of the new system bumps and glitches that people experienced. Change can be difficult for some.
Here are a few special thank yous, though. Please click on the image above and visit the blog ik.my. They have visited here faithfully for three months. Also check out Septagon Studios who has been a vistor here most everyday for four months (and is on my blog roll this month). You guys rock!
Photograph by daveelmore(cc)
Mum is horrified. She says for a person who is invested in healing others, I have single-handedly caused her recent bout with high-blood pressure.
How have I done this (so you do not make the same mistake when dealing with your mother)?
I announced my ten-year goal to the family – I plan to take several months off and hike the Appalachian Trail. Please note - this is my ten-year plan, so I am no where ready to just leave comfortable society behind, shut down the practice and go. I understand that it will take a lot of planning and my success will be in the fine details.
I am sure Mum envisions me, heavy pack, blistered-feet, shivering in the cold, and all alone on this journey. She may have a point even. There are several legends along the trail that involve single matrons making their way across it all alone. But, I shall not be one of them. No, my partner plans to do this with me and several others are thinking about doing it too, or at least doing various parts of the trail with us. So much for solitude.
My ultimate goal with it? I plan to incorporate it into my career. I need to do it once for experience sake, but then I want to lead groups, incorporating hypnotism, positive thinking, and making it an even greater personal transformative process for those who travel with me. Yes, this may play into my abused people program (that has sadly been put on the back burner), but I think it would be wonderful to help those who have related fears (creepy crawlers, height, etc.). And not to mention, I think it would be a wonderful way to start a weight-loss program. It would totally reset old-habits. Anyway, these are just some thought bumping about in my mind.
All this also depends on the state of the Appalachian Trail, though. That is why, on this Sunday Question post, I am taking a moment to tout The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), caretakers of the trail. It is a volunteer organization that does trail maintenance and is a general trail advocate. They have offices and visitor centers spaced out along the trail and provide trail updates to hikers, among other safety concepts.
Here is the thing, CommuniCause.com is sponsoring a charity contest. You can vote for your favorite charity and the winning one will receive a $25,000 social make-over. I of course, am supporting the ATC and encourage you to vote for them, but it does not matter as long as you do vote for whatever charity you feel passionate about. In the case of the ATC, they are already pretty suave with their web site, but I can imagine with the help of $25,00 in the social marketing context, they can provide more hiker services (sounds crazy and insane, but I plan to use an iPhone up there or whatever the current technology provides in ten years) like twittering about the trail in various locations. It can also help them fundraise, which is an important element for a volunteer non-profit.
Anyway, now that I have spoken (written) my peace, what charity are you supporting? Here is your chance to provide even more awareness for your cause.
Photograph provided by di_the_huntress (cc)
She sweated. Seriously, she actually sweated as she read through the induction for the first time. It was a simple progressive relaxation and a pre-created suggestions for forgetting my name. As she lurched about in a halting voicing, I could not help but open my eyes and see what she was doing. She was so stressed out, I wondered why she was taking a course in hypnotism. So, I stopped her, gave her a pep talk and then asked her why she was taking the class. It turns out, she was a nurse and wanted to find ways to potentially sooth and help some of her patients. Very noble. We continued on and for a moment I forgot that my name was Ellie Blunt.
She and I still talk. Depending on the circumstances one of us ultimately becomes a cheerleader for the other. It is one of my most satisfying relationships, and one in which I find myself always learning something new.
Recently, her world has been somewhat revolving around swine flue phobia (I was wondering if that topic would make its way to these post). She says the phobia is so much worse and rampant that the actual manifestation of symptoms. I asked her how she was handling that - are people seeking her out for hypnosis to deal with the flu? Not exactly, but she is doing a community program on being prepared for the actuality of it, and yes, there is a group hypnotism aspect to it. Brilliant! As she reminded me, most people are afraid of catching it, so it is not really a deep set phobia. With a few behavior modifications, people can protect themselves against it (wash your hands, you!).
That really started me thinking about the fact that prevention seems very doable, but I also realized I do not know that much about swine flu and the like. So, I looked up nursing resources on the web and found Scrubs, the nurse’s guide to good living. Its audience targets nurses and is a not-so-sterile-or-clinical resource. Instead it is the lighter-side, like the Real Simple of the nursing world. It is upbeat and seems like it would apply to any level of nurses no matter how long they have been in the field. Interestingly enough, the first header is “mind” (YES!), directly followed by the headings health, beauty and style, not to be left in the cold but the other headers of work, love, money, and news and entertainment.
You know, I might have once brushed sites like this away with the mental broom of “it is not relevant to me.” But the truth is, all things can be fairly relevant to a hypnotist. Everything can be a source of inspiration or a site of learning. I have my nurse colleague to thank for this and helping me be more open, realizing that things that affect the nursing industry are often the same in clinical hypnotism. For instance, there is an article on swine flu prevention called What Nurses Can Tell Patients About Swine Flu. Very apt and very timely. And the things is, the articles are written in an informative, easy to understand way, instead of filed with esoteric medical terms that one can get lost in reading (if you are not a medical professional). In other words it skips scholarly and goes for the meat and potatoes of the subjects. Some of my professional colleagues would probably be appalled at my words here, but there are only so many hours in a day. Reading with a dictionary as a reference tool can get really old.
My friend agrees. From our swine flu conversation, the conversation moved to actual scrubs - do I think institution green goes with her eyes?
Location: Salt Lake City and Park City, UT
Cyber Location: www.scientificmindcontrol.com
1. Are you a full time hypnotist, a part-time hypnotist, a professional who incorporates hypnotism occasionally in your other practice, or are you a hobbyist?
I am a full time hypnotist.
2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnotism?
I specialize in conversational hypnotism (Eriksonian) but I am comfortable with more traditional methods too.
3. Is there any form of hypnotism that you do not practice and why (i.e. entertainment, past-life regression, pain management)?
I stay away from past-life regression, mostly because I am not convinced it is real. I am pretty much a “skeptic” philosophically speaking.
4. Do you use self-hypnosis regularly in your life? If so, how?
Absolutely. In fact, I believe everyone does without necessarily knowing it. Our “identity” is the biggest trance of them all!
5. Describe your hypnotism office or work setting.
My practice is in a professional medical building between Salt Lake City and Park City in Utah. The offices do have rather stark walls but we do have comfortable chairs!
6. Describe a typical day in your life.
Hm, a lot of reading, writing, working with clients, and enjoying time with my wife and daughter. Of course, I make some time for fitness and fun as well.
7. Where did you get your training in hypnotism and are you certified by any organization?
I am an auto-didact mostly. I had dabbled in hypnosis since being introduced to visualization as a teenage oncology patient but I didn’t begin serious, deliberate study until a few years later in 1993. By 1997 I was creating mischief and adventure for myself with hypnotism every single day in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
However, I did finally get certified by the International Association of Professional Conversational Hypnotists once I decided to begin a practice. As a prank, I didn’t tell the others at the certification about my past experience with hypnosis so they were all quite amazed when I was fully hypnotizing strangers later that night at the bar after just day one. A creative hypnotist with a sense of humor can be quite fun.
8. What is the most fabulous hypnotism technique you use or prefer?
I am a huge fan of embedded commands.
9. What was the worse moment you ever experienced in a hypnotism setting that ended up being a valuable learning experience?
Any abreaction is horrible, luckily I’ve learned how to navigate the minefields (or “mindfields” as the case may be) deftly in my many years of play and experiment. Perhaps one of the most akward was when a girl I had done hypnotic work with experienced “transference” post-hypnotically…
10. Do you have any words of advice to potential clients or other hypnotists that you would like to share?
Have fun, be sincere, and be honest. The rest will take care of itself!
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