The Transparent Hypnotist

Stronger than a Great White Shark

Faster than an eel

More powerful than a Humpback Whale

Able to backflip more than a trained seal

Look in the water

It’s a power boat

No, it’s a dolphin

It’s the Mesmerizing Manta Maiden

Its a quiet day at the hypnotist’s office. She drinks her tea, welcomes clients, and does her part to save the world - one mind, one change at a time. But just under the surface of this pleasant facade – the business attire, the heels, the soothing voice, and the red lipstick, this hypnotist has a secret. When roller-coasters call, all new and shiny, ready to be tamed, off comes the serious professional garb, and out comes The Mesmerizing Manta Maiden. But with this superhero depiction also comes great responsibility – the ability to embrace one’s inner child, the leaving behind of adult worries, and the necessary abandonment of a workaholic lifestyle are all part of MMM’s powers. No roller-coaster ride goes undesired.

Okay, maybe this is being a little cheese ball (okay quite a bit cheesy), but today the urge is strong to just put aside all the day to day normalness and routine and embrace my inner Manatee. As you may recall, I have been blogging about SeaWorld’s soon-to-open coaster Manta. Well, it just so happens that opening day is not so far away – May 22. I am so ready to be there.  

I have never been privy enough to be one of the first to ever try out a coaster, but SeaWorld is having a ”Front-of-the-line” contest to celebrate the opening of Manta. With this you can join my League of Extraordinary Roller-coaster Riders and embrace your own manta persona. There are a series of six tasks you must accomplish to be considered for a front-of-the-line spot. First, you must prove your extraordinary knowledge of the Manta coaster by taking a brief quiz about it (the answers are all found on the site). Then you must follow the mighty, @RealShamu on twitter.com (you also have to tweet about the contest). From there you choose three others to be your partners in fun, or at least be your seat mates (providing their email…would any of you like to be my seat mates?). Show your allegiance by creating a short youtube.com video thus proving your dedication and excitement of being among the first to experience the Manta power. Take this a step farther, using the words “I heart Manta” create a photo and upload it to flickr.com. But the biggest test, that which will make you worthy of the Manta, is to print out the manta mask and take a picture of yourself in it. Every superhero needs a disguise afterall.

The question is - are you worthy to go to-the-front-of-the-line of Manta?

*Quick note to the great powers of SeaWorld or Izea.com: the Mesmerizing Manta Maiden would love to come to your headquarters and do a stress-relief session to help your associates be super ready to open this attraction. She would even probably do so for coverage of her expenses (and a ride on the Manta)…email her at ellie.blunt@gmail.com.

The prophecy read:

You will teach people how to have fun during a time when fun is a commodity. You are the voice of the people. You are connected.

There were no big words of cataclysmic proportion, nothing about worlds shattering, just the southern lilt in the voice of the astrologer. But before you go and think, “Ellie is about to get all New Agey on me,” not quite. Hang on for just a little while longer. First let me say that I have never been much for knowing the future. I would rather not. I would rather face it as it comes. But…alas…the astrology session was a gift from a friend, who, feeling the waves of stormy sea beneath my calm exterior, thought it might help. Who was I to refuse?

Trying to take the above words with a grain of salt, I have instead pondered them. They pop up in the middle of the night when least expected. Now as a hypnotist, it is not hard to make a connection - I have always been in this business to help people have a better sense of themselves, to find inner peace, achieve a goal, to find some sort of happiness. But fun? I never really looked at anything from a “fun” perspective.

But it is true - personally. If it is not fun, I want no part of it. I will go to great lengths, expending much energy to have fun myself. But what of others? What can I do to “teach” others how to have fun? I reel the idea in like a trout on a fishing line. Then I release it (how I wish there was no hook involved) back into the waters of the unconscious. And I wait. I wait for some sort of synchronistic event to happen that will provide guidance that resonates.

Just maybe something has resonated - a bit.

I saw a commercial (okay, I occasionally like commercials, I find them entertaining sometimes) the other day. It was a very tranquil, transpersonal, and a hopeful spot that featured children. The phrase that stuck out was “Fun as a Renewable Resource.” The synchronistic flow began. Was this an ad for a green campaign? No. It was a commercial for SeaWorld and now every time I see it, I find myself deeply touched by its message. It is not blatant advertising. It is just a nice thought.

Then I noticed Ted Murphy of Izea blogging about spending time at Orlando’s Sea World. Apparently a few select bloggers were able to get a hard hat tour of a new roller-coaster called Manta. The concept of Manta is that you are riding with a manta (laying down and attached to its belly). It involves aquariums and who knows what else. Gosh, I love a good coaster (my favorite is the Areosmith coaster at another theme park in Orlando). Yes, this says fun to me and I believe it says the same to many others. Now how can I spread, if not teach, the fun?

Well, I can begin with news of Izea’s and Seaworld’s contest. You can win a trip for four (that includes airfare, accommodations, park passes and priority access to the Manta. You can visit www.ted.me/manta to learn more about how you can win this trip.

I may not be able to “teach” you how to have fun, but I can let you know about this opportunity. In addition, here is the deal, if I win, I will have two extra tickets. I will invite two of my readers, two who are in terrible need of having fun, to accompany me. This would partially be a way of fulling the prophecy. Stay tuned.

Note: The contest has ended as of March 10, 2009.