37188174 Hypnosis and Beyond

8/8/2019 37188174 Hypnosis and Beyond

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Hypnosis2005UniversityOfMetaphysicalSciences 1

HypnosisAndBeyondWrittenbyBalthazarMizraimSeferiades

IntroductionHypnosisasacompletepractice seems toencompassawide rangeof techniquesdesigned toproduce

verydifferenteffectsorachieveparticularends.Theartofhypnosisblends intomediumshipand spiritism. It

bordersontheoccultcloselyenoughtobeusedincombinationwithsorceryandvoodoo,yetfindsitselfequally

athome in thedoctorsofficewhere itcan replacemorphineandpsychiatricdrugs.Hypnotic suggestionscan

cureapparentlyorganicdiseases,eliminateall socalledmentalor functional illnesses,andevenputa stop to

nastyhabits.Suggestionscanalsocauseacalculatedreactioninthesubjectatalatertime,causethehypnotic

subjecttohallucinate,andevenmakecertainsubjectsperformaseriesofautomaticactionsofwhichtheywillnot

beawareatthetimeandwillhavenomemoryofafterwards.

Hypnosisappearstoworkbyinducingatranceoralteredstateofconsciousnessinwhichlowfrequency

brainwavesbecome active in the subject, causing increased suggestibility.Mesmerism, theoriginal formof

hypnotism in themodernera,based itsmethodson thetheoryofAnimalMagnetism.This theoryholds that

humansgenerateamagneticcurrentthatcanbecultivatedanddirectedbythewill.Thefairlyrecentdiscoveryof

electricalbrainwaveshasturnedthescientificbeliefinthepowerofsuggestiononitsheadbylendingsupport

toMesmers longdiscredited theory ofmagnetism.Hypnotherapists andpsychichealersmustnow takebio

electricalandenergeticfactorsintoaccountwhenusingtechniquesofhypnosistotreatthemselvesorothers.Theuseofthewillinthedirectionofmagneticforcesforthepurposeofeffectingpsychicorhypnoticcuresmustalso

be reconsidered, since the ideaof suggestion remainsanentirelypassiveone inwhich thewillplaysnopart.

Brainwavefrequenciesseemcapableofmanipulationthroughimaginative(i.e.,throughvisualization),psychic,

andpossiblymagneticmeansaswell.When these frequenciesarebrought intobalanceandharmonywithone

another,many seemingly organic diseases and other ailments of amore subtle or functional nature tend to

disappearallbythemselves,orprovecapableofcurethroughpersistentvisualizationandsuggestion.

ReviewOfLiterature

(ExamquestionsarenotdrawnfromtheReviewOfLiteraturesection)

AuthorAnnaWisehaswrittenamostexcellentanddelightfulbookentitledAwakeningTheMind:AGuide

ToMasteringThePowerOfYour BrainWaves (2002).The editorsdescribe thisbook as, A powerful guide to

understanding

how

brain

waves

influence

mental

states

and

how

to

use

this

knowledge

to

heighten

mental

acuity

andawareness.ItcouldalsobeaddedthatAnnasworkshedsagreatdealoflightontheprocessofhypnosis,

andshowsushowtofinetuneourownconsciousnessforgeneralhealingpurposes.

BeyondHypnosis:AProgramForDevelopingYourPsychic&HealingPowers (1987),byWilliamW.Hewitt,

provides the selfhypnotistwith a complete course ofdevelopmentdesigned to awaken psychic powers and

potentialsforhealing.ThisbookcarriesthestampofapprovaloftheDeanoftheInternationalCollegeofSpiritual

andPsychicSciences,ProfessorMarilynZ.Rossner.Shestates,ManyofuswhoteachPSIandhumanpotential

havebeenwaitingforjustsuchabooktorecommendtoourstudents.Transpersonaltherapistsshouldalsofindit

ausefulmanualtogivetothosewhodesiretolearnhowto reprogramthesubconsciousforpositive,effective

andhealthyliving.

NewConceptsOfHypnosis:Theories,Techniques,AndPracticalApplications (1976),byBernardC.Gindes,

M.D.,approachesthesubjectfromapsychotherapeuticviewpointbasedonthenowsomewhatantiquatedtheory

of the power of suggestion. However, the author seems open to other points of view and even includes

instructionsforhypnosisthroughmesmericormagneticmethods.

SelfHypnosis:A Conditioned Response Technique (1969)by Laurence Sparks explains the principles of

conditioning,explainshowperceptioncanbealteredthroughhypnosis,andincludesminuteinstructionsforthe

practiceofposthypnoticsuggestion.Perhaps themost interestingchapterof thisbookdealswith thehypnotic

phenomena of timedistortion, inwhich ahypnotized subject canbemade to experiencevisualized scenesor

memoriesataccelerated speeds.Timedistortionenables the selfhypnotized subject to recall largeamountsof

written,recorded,orfilmedmaterial,reliveeventsfromchildhood,andmakemorerapidprogressinlearningto

playmusicalinstruments,allbyvisualizingatanacceleratedrate.Sparkshasagoodpsychologicalgraspofhis

subject,andhislengthycasehistoriestendtodispelmanycommonlyheldillusionsaboutthepowersofhypnosis.


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Hypnotism:AHistory (1999)byDerekForrest couldbe considered thedefinitivehistoricalwork in the

fieldofhypnosis.However,Forrestconcentratesontheacceptanceorrejectionofhypnotismbymodernscience.

Intheprocess,hetendstolosesightofthemetaphysicalaspectsofthepractice.NordoesForrestseemawareof

therecentbrainwavediscoveriesthatmakeancienttheoriesofmagnetismmoreplausible.

ThePracticeOfAutosuggestion:ByTheMethodOf EmileCoue (1922)byC.HarryBrooks has remained

valuabledue to itsbrevity, clarity of language, and clear instructions.ThoughBrooksbelieves that hypnosis

results frompure suggestion,hispsychologicalconceptionofThoughtasaForcecomesclose to the ideaof

electrical brain waves. Autosuggestion provides the selfhypnotist with a quick, easy method of effecting

hypnoticsuggestions.

HistoryAndHeroesOfHypnotherapyHypnosishasbeenusedforreligiousandmedicinalpurposesforthousandsofyears.InancientEgypt,

virginworshippersof Isisentereda trance inorder tobearmessages from theirgoddess.TheHighPriestsof

Egyptusedmasshypnosistocalmtheircongregationsbyputtingagroupofworshippersintoasleeplikestate

during sermons. In such a state of entranced semiawareness, theHigh Priests could instruct their followers

withoutbeing interruptedbythegrumblingsofunrulyindividualsamongtheirflock.TheEgyptiansmayhave

taughthypnosis to theGreeks, foranengravingdated from928B.C.showsChiron, thepatronofmedicine in

Greekmythology,puttinghisstudentAesculapiusintowhatappearstobeahypnotictrance.AccordingtoNew

ConceptsOfHypnosis (1976),by B.C.Gindes, the famedOracle atDelphi in ancientGreece, operated under

hypnosis,either

self

induced

or

assisted

by

drugs

or

volcanic

fumes.

Since

the

practice

of

hypnosis

originated

in

preChristiantimes,itlaterbecameassociatedwithpaganheresiesandfellunderthecensureoftheChurch.Such

disrepute effectively suppressed the practice of hypnosis in Europe until the 18th century, when it was

rediscoveredandrevivedbytheproponentsofwhatwasthenknownasnewscience.

TheAustrianphysicianFranzAntonMesmerbecamefamousinthelate1700sforhisabilitytohealthe

sickwithhypnosis.Seekingbothrecognitionandfortune,hetraveledtoParisin1778.Thoughofficialrecognition

eludedhim,Mesmerhadno lack ofpatients inParis and soonhadhimself establishedwith servants, ample

lodgings, and spacious grounds on which to practice his trade. Rich and poor alike flocked to Mesmer for

treatment,andhesoonacquireddisciplesaswell.ThesefollowerspaidhandsomelytojoinMesmersSocietyof

Harmonyandlearnhishypnotictechnique.WiththehelpofaFrenchphysicianofroyalreputenamedCharles

Deslon,Mesmerpublishedhistheoriesonhypnosis,whichheattributedtoaforcecalledAnimalMagnetism,

in1779.

Mesmers star continued to rise for the next five years, and Societies of Harmony began to form

throughoutFranceinimitationoftheParisianMesmerismmaniawhichhadevenseducedwealthymembersof

the aristocracy. The modern scientific establishment of the time, however, found Mesmers magnetic theory

unacceptable,andin1784theRoyalSocietyofMedicinepublisheddocumentsinParisthatridiculedMesmerism.

The Parisian Society of Harmony dissolved in 1785, and Mesmer lost his fortune as well as his hopes for

recognitionintheaftermathofthisdefeat.HeretiredinSwitzerlandwithamodestincomeandremainedthere

fortherestofhislifeinrelativeobscurity.Nevertheless,provincialSocietiesofHarmonycontinuedtoflourishin

Franceandwouldsoonbringhypnosistootherpartsoftheworld.

ThreebrothersbelongingtothewealthyandaristocraticPuysegurfamily inFrancebecamedisciplesof

Mesmer. Onebrother, the Comte AntoineHyacinte, founded a Society of Harmony on the Island of Saint

Domingue(nowHaiti)whileservingtherewiththeFrenchRoyalNavy.Theislandersdevelopedtheirownblend

ofMesmerismandvoodooism,aversionofwhichmaystillbepracticedinHaititothepresentday.The eldest of the three Puysegur brothers, Armand Marie Jacques de Chastenet, the Marquis de

Puysegur,becamefamousthroughhispracticeofMesmerismandhascometobereferredtosolelybythename

Puysegur,sofardidhisfameoutstripthatofhisbrothers.AccordingtoDerekForrestsbook,Hypnotism(1999),

Puysegurdevelopedahypnoticmethodinvolvingthedirectionofthepatientsmoodbytheverbalsuggestions

of the operator, a technique which differed markedly from the magnetic crises through which Mesmer

accomplishedhis cures.Thus,Puysegurmaybe considered themodern inventor ofposthypnotic suggestion.

(Thistechnicaltermwillbefullydefinedinalatersection.)Puysegursfirstpatient,VictorRace,provedcapable

offallingintoasomnambulistictrancewhenhypnotized.Inotherwords,Victorbecameasleepwalkerunder

hypnosis,capableofansweringPuysegursquestionsandrespondingtosuggestionsorcommands,butunableto


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initiateactionofhisownwill.Furthermore,Victorappeared todisplayparanormalabilitieswhilehypnotized,

including telepathy andprecognition.Puysegurused the term somnambulism todescribeVictors passive

magneticstate,astatewhichtodaywouldprobablybecalledadeeptrance.

Puyseguralso continuedMesmerspracticeof magnetizing trees inorder tomore easilyheal large

numbersofpeople.The famedMesmeristdescribesthis techniquehimself inaquotedpassage fromHypnotism

(1999):IcontinuetomakeuseofthehealingpowerIhavelearnedaboutfromMesmer.Iblesshimeveryday,for

Ihavethemeansofhealingallthesickintheneighborhood:theyflockaroundmytree.Thereweremorethan130

thismorning,aperpetualprocessionfromthecountryside.Ispendtwohoursthereeverymorning,mytreeisthe

bestbaquet

possibleevery

leaf

communicates

health.

Mesmer,

in

addition

to

using

trees

as

storehouses

of

healing magnetism, had also employed baquets of magnetized water to heal his patients in Paris and

elsewhere.Needlesstosay,theexactmethodofmagnetizingwaterandtreesforhealingpurposeshasbeenlostin

thepresentdayduetoitslackofacceptancebymodernscience.

Bytheyear1789,PuysegursSocietyofHarmonyinStrasbourghad200members,allofwhom,wecan

imagine, were practicing Mesmerists. Unlike other provincial Societies of its kind, the Strasbourg group

published yearly reports of the cures effectedby its members, along with case histories and signatures of

authenticity.PuysegurdispensedwithMesmerscomplicatedtheoriesofmagnetisminfavorofasimpleformula.

The conclusion to his lectures, quoted in Hypnotism (1999), summarizes the magnetic theory that Puysegur

espoused:TheentiredoctrineofAnimalMagnetismiscontainedinthetwowords:BelieveandWant.Ibelieve

thatIhavethepowertosetintoactionthevitalprincipleofmyfellowmen;Iwanttomakeuseofit;thisisallmy

scienceandallmymeans.Believeandwant,Sirs,andyouwilldoasmuchasI.Puysegurconsideredthoughtto

bea forcecapableofactingdirectlyon thevitalprinciplewhichanimates thehumanbody.His theory, like

Mesmers, did not find acceptance in the scientific community. However, Puysegurs methods of hypnosis

survived the FrenchRevolution andbeginning in 1815 his Society ofMagnetism published a periodical in

FrancethatspreadhisstyleofMesmerismasfarabroadasRussiaandHolland.

Though scientists continually attempted todisprove all of the varioushypnotic theories put forthby

Mesmerists, the healing effects of hypnosis could not be explained away. For this reason, the practice of

Mesmerismflourishedforcenturiesinspiteorperhapsevenpartlybecauseoftheridiculeheapeduponitbythe

scientificestablishment.After all,belief in superstitions and theocculthas alwaysbeenpopularamong those

willingtoopentheirmindstounorthodoxorforbiddenideas.However,thesheerweightofevidenceinfavorof

hypnosismadeallof thedebatesomewhat irrelevant.The termmagnetismeventuallydisplaced theoriginal

concept of animal magnetism put forth by Mesmer. French mesmeristJ.P.F. Deleuze published his own

methodsofmagnetizingpeopleandotherobjectsforhealingpurposesin1813.ItwasDeleuzewhofirstusedtheterm rapport to describe the emotional connection that often arisesbetween the hypnotic subject and the

hypnotist.Inpsychoanalysis,thisideaofrapportcametobecalledtransference.FamedpsychologistSigmund

Freud,whocoinedthetermtransference,apparentlybecamefrightenedwhenafemalesubjectunderhypnosis

displayed affectionate emotions toward him. Freud subsequently disavowed the practice of hypnosis during

psychoanalysis. Deleuze also urged hypnotists to be cautious of such occurrences, and to avoid immoral

situationsbykeepinghypnosisinthefamily.Mesmerseemstohavehadfewermoralqualmsabouthypnosis

thantheselaterfigures,sincemostofhispatientswereyoungwomen,manyofwhomhewouldMesmerizein

privaterooms.LikeMesmer,Deleuzebelievedthatmagnetismcouldbeused forhealingapatientthroughthe

mediumof touch.According toaquoteattributed tohim inHypnotism (1999),Deleuzeespoused the following

preceptinthisregard:Touchthediseasedattentively,withadesiretorelievethem;anddonotletyourdesirebe

distractedby

any

other

idea.

Deleuzebelievedthatthehealingpowersofmagnetismcouldbeattributedtoanemanationcontrolled

bythewilloftheMesmeristandcapableofactingonasubjectatanindefinitedistance.Thisemanation,calledthe

magnetic fluid, couldbe accumulated, directed, and communicatedbetweenboth people and objects. To

magnetizeatreeforhealingpurposes,DeleuzerecommendsthefollowinginaquotefromHypnotism(1999):A

tree ismagnetizedby first touching it,and then retiringa fewpacesoff;directing the fluidupon it, from the

branchesofthetrunk,andfromthetrunktowardstheroots.AccordingtoDeleuze,noteveryonehastheability

tomagnetize trees or todirect themagnetic fluid.This idea, if true, couldpartly account for the inability of

scientists to verify the existence ofmagnetism.Deleuzebelieved that a goodmagnetizermustbe healthy,

patient,strongwilled,calm,benevolent,andcapableofeffortlessconcentration.Tryfindingapersonwithallof


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advanceofscientificdiscovery.Wenowknowthatthehumanbrainemitselectricalimpulses,orbrainwaves.

Thefrequencyofthesebrainwavescanbemeasuredbymeansofamachineknownasanelectroencephalogram

(EEG).Suchelectrical impulsesemanating from thebrainmaybe identical to themagnetic forceswhichwere

thought tohavebeenmanipulatedbymesmeristsandmagnetists.Hypnotic trancesandotheralteredstatesof

consciousnesscannowbeclassifiedaccordingtothebrainwavepatternstowhichtheycorrespond.Trancesand

alteredstatescanalsobeinducedbyknownmethods.Thoughsuggestion,posthypnoticorotherwise,definitely

playsapartinthealteringofconsciousness,itcannolongerbeconsideredthesolecauseofhypnoticphenomena.

TypesOf

Hypnotherapy

There maybe as many different types of hypnotherapy as there are different healers who employ

hypnosis.However,somebroadcategoriesofhypnotherapycanbeoutlined,keepinginmindthatnoteveryones

techniquewillfitneatlyintooneofthesepigeonholes.Firstly,wecandividehypnotictechniquesgenerallyinto

twoclasses:selfhypnosis,andinducedhypnosis.

Through selfhypnosis a person puts themselves voluntary into a trance state where normally

unconsciouspartsofthemindcanbeaccessedforhealingorpsychicpurposes.Mediumspracticeselfhypnosis

forthepurposeofcontactingspiritentities,whichmeansthattheirtrancemustbedeepenoughtoallowthemto

accessthemosthiddenregionsofthecollectiveunconsciousmind.Therelativedepthoftranceswillbediscussed

later.However,sufficeittosaythatemotionalhealingandmentalsuggestionscanbeeffectedincorrespondingly

lightertrancesthanthosedemandedofmediums.Thetrickofselfhypnosisliesinremainingconsciouslyaware

whileat

the

same

time

attaining

the

necessary

depth

in

the

trance

state.

As

one

might

guess,

deeper

trances

can

oftenbe accompaniedby a complete loss of consciousness on thepart of the selfhypnotist. Selfhealing and

suggestionsmustbecarriedoutinanatleastpartiallyconsciousstateofawareness.Thisiswhymosthypnosis

hastraditionallyinvolvedbothahypnotistandasubject.

Inducedhypnosiscanbealternatelycalledsimplyhypnosis,withoutqualification.Mosthypnotherapy

requiresanoperator (hypnotist)aswellasa subjectorpatient.Theoperatorusesamethodofinduction to

hypnotizethesubject.Such inductionmethodscanbechangedandeven inventedtosuitthedispositionofthe

subject.Hypnosis canbe induced in some subjectswithout their consent, and sometimes can even takeplace

withoutthesubjecthavingbeenawarethattheyhavebeenhypnotized.Memorylosscanoccurinthesubject,so

thatsuggestionscanbegivenbytheoperatorthatthesubjectwillfollowonawakeningwithoutknowingwhy.

Thehypnotistwhocaninducedeepertrancesinthesubjectcangivecorrespondinglymorepowerfulsuggestions,

or effecthealing atdeeper levels of the subjects consciousness. Some subjects can resist thebestmethods of

trance inductionwhile others canbe hypnotized easily and instantly.Of those subjects susceptible to trance

induction,onlyasmallfractioncanbebroughttothedeeptranceofsomnambulism,thelevelatwhichmediums

operate.Furthermore,certainsubjectsproveresistanttosuggestionsofanykind,possiblybecausethehypnotist

cannotbringthemtothedeepertrancestatesinwhichthemindbecomesmoresusceptibletooutsideinfluence.

Suchuncertaintiesmayaccount for the inconsistentresultsofhealing throughhypnosis,withapparentmiracle

curesinsomecasesandlittleornoeffectinothers.

It can be seen from the preceding comments that selfhypnosis and induced hypnosis both have

advantagesanddisadvantagesrelativetooneanother.Selfhypnosistakesplacevoluntarily,andputsthesubject

firmly incontrol.However, theprocessof trance inductionmaybedifficult for the subject tocontrolwith the

necessarydegreeofprecision.Inducedhypnosishastheadvantageofanoperatorwhoretainsconsciousnessand

knowswhattodoinordertohealormakeabeneficialsuggestion,butthisalsogivesthehypnotistagreatdealof

responsibility.Hypnotic trancesmaybedifficultor impossible to induce in certain subjects,and caremustbetakenlestsuggestionsproveineffectiveor,worse,harmfultothesubject.

Hypnosisasawholecanbe furthersubdivided into threebasic types,eachofwhichcanbeeitherself

guidedoroutwardly induced.These three categoriesmaybenomore than arbitrarydivisions,but theymay

proveuseful to thehypnotherapist ingainingan initialgraspof the subject.The first typeofhypnosiscanbe

calledautosuggestion,orsuggestivetherapy.Itcanbeeffectedbymeansofalighttrance,orevenbythesimple

methodofmomentarydistraction.Thelattermethodoperatesonthepremisethatwhenthesubjectsconscious

mindbecomesdistractedbymeansofagestureorotherdevice,aninstantaneoussuggestioncanbeimplantedin

thesubconsciousmindbymeansofafewwordsorsymbols.Theformermethod,inwhichthesubjectfallsintoa

light trance, tends toblend into the second typeofhypnosis: conditioned response therapy.Theconditioned


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response refers toaposthypnoticsuggestion implanted in thesubjectssubconsciousorunconsciousmind.A

suggestion can change thebehavior of the subject after the hypnotic session has ended.This second type of

hypnosiscanalsoaltertheperceptionofmoresuggestiblesubjects,causingthemtoseetheworldinadifferent

and hopefully more adaptive way. The third type of hypnosis mightbe called meditative hypnotherapy or

guidedvisualization.This typeofhypnotherapy actuallyaccomplishes the same ends soughtby the first two

types,buthas theadvantagesofbeingeasier to controlandofbringing the subject intoadeep trancewitha

minimumofeffort.Meditativehypnotherapymayallowtheselfhypnotisttocontrolthetranceinductionprocess

andtochoosethe leveloftrance induced.Guidedvisualizationorpathworkingcanalso leadthesubjecttoan

awakeningof

previously

dormant

parts

of

the

mind

where

creativity

and

psychic

potentials

can

be

brought

into

the lightofconsciousawareness.A skilledpsychicor trainedhypnotistcanguide the subject throughhealing

sessionsandmakesuggestionsatdifferentlevelsofconsciousness.Solopathworkingofteninvolvestheuseofan

audiotape,butcanbeaccomplishedjustaseffectivelywiththehelpofpersistentpractice.

WhatProblemsCanBeSolvedWithHypnosis?AccordingtothetheoriesofEmileCoue,theinventorofautosuggestion,hypnosiscancureanycondition

thatdoesnotarisefromanorganiccause.Diseasesofanorganicnaturecannotbeeasilycuredthroughhypnosis,

if they canbe cured at all.Certain physical diseases not curableby hypnosis canbe successfully treatedby

medicalmeans.However,statisticsandstudiessuggestthatmostillnesseshavenoorganiccomponent,andcan

be considered altogetherpsychosomaticor functional innature.Allof the socalledmental illnesses canbe

classedas

functional

disorders,

and

all

such

conditions

can

therefore

potentially

be

cured

by

hypnosis.

In

speakingofCouesopiniononthispoint,authorC.H.,BrookstellsusinhisbookThePracticeOfAutosuggestion

(1922):Inallcasesoffunctionalandnervousdisorders,aswellasthe lessseriousonesofanorganicnature

autosuggestion,conscientiouslyapplied,wascapableofremovingthetroublecompletely.Inthecaseoforganic

illness,Brookshas this tosayaboutCouesviews:Notoncedidhereject thepossibilityofcure, thoughwith

severalpatientssuffering fromorganicdisease inanadvancedstage,headmitted itsunlikelihood.To thesehe

promised,however,acessationofpain,animprovementofmorale,andatleastaretardmentoftheprogressof

thedisease.

Notethatmanyillnesseswhichseemorganicmayactuallybeofpsychosomaticorigin,andcandisappear

completely under hypnotic treatment in spite of a contrarymedical diagnosis. ThusCoue reports successful

treatmentsofsuchailmentsasbreastcancer,thecureofwhichwouldprobablyindicateafaultydiagnosisonthe

partofaphysician.Beliefcanplayanimportantpartinthecuresofseeminglyorganicillnesses.AsCoueadvises

inThePracticeOfAutosuggestion(1922),Putyourtrust intheimagination,not inthewill.Thinkyouarebetter

andyouwillbecomeso.Unfortunately,asimplificationofthisideahasbecomesopopularinrecenttimesthat

manypeoplethinkanyillnesscanbecuredmerelybytheadoptionofabetterattitude.Apositiveattitudecan

help in many ways, but remember that hypnotic suggestions must be implanted in the subconscious or

unconsciouslevelsofthemindinordertobeeffectiveatall.Theconsciousmodificationofonesattitudedoesnot

evenscratchthesurfaceofthepowersavailabletothehypnotist.Furthermore,thepowersofhypnosisaremostly

ifnotentirelylimitedtotheresolutionofmental,emotional,andpsychicdisorders.

Nevertheless,itmustbeaffirmedagainthatmanyphysicalsymptomsarisefromamentaloremotional

dysfunctionwhichcanbecuredwithhypnosis.Insuchcases,thephysicalsymptomswilldisappearwhentheir

mental, emotional, or psychic cause hasbeen removed.Aswe read concerning functional diseases inNew

ConceptsOfHypnosis (1976)byBernardC.Gindes,If theemotionalconflictsat their rootsbedissolved, these

symptomsdisappearas swiftlyandmysteriouslyas theycame.There isno longerdoubt that strongemotion,statesofmind,andunconsciouspsychologicalconflictscananddocauseorganicsymptoms.Therefore,even

thoughapositiveattitudemightnotmakeyouwell,anegativeattitudecancertainlycauseyou tobecome ill.

Such attitudes, regardless of the level of consciousness fromwhich theymay originate, canbemanipulated

throughhypnosissothatanyillnessattachedtothemcanbemadetodisappear.

Purely functional ailments such as anxiety, insomnia, fears and phobias, lack of selfconfidence,

impotenceandfrigidity,poorselfimage,stagefright,andahostofotherimaginaryillscanbeeasilycuredwith

only a few sessions of hypnosis. Most of these maladies will disappear under the influence of simple

autosuggestion.Onlythemoredifficultcaseswillneedtobetreatedwithconditionedresponsetherapy.Again,

theremaybenoclear linebetweenthetwotypesofhypnosis,butgenerallyspeakingautosuggestionworksby


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meansofasimpleaffirmationimplantedatthesubconsciouslevelwhichthesubjectmightbeinclinedtobelieve

anyway.

The conditioned responsemethod,by contrast, implants a suggestion in the subjects subconsciousor

unconsciousmindwhichhas theeffectofanorder that the subjectmustobey.This somewhatdrastic formof

hypnotherapyhasbeenusedtotreatundesirablehabitssuchassmoking,drinking,andexcessiveeating.Though

highratesofsuccessmaybereportedforthehypnosisprogramswhichclaim toallowyoutoloseweightor

quit smoking, such claims shouldbe regardedwith skepticism.Laurence Sparks, in hisbook entitled Self

Hypnosis (1969), tellsus,Thereappears tobearatherwidespreadbelief that smokingandanumberofother

habitscan

be

quickly

and

easily

altered

by

using

hypnotic

techniques,

with

little

or

no

desire

or

effort

on

the

part

of thesubject...Such lackofappreciation for the truestateofaffairs isunderstandable inviewof thepublicity

giventodramaticcuresinvariouspublications.Unfortunatelyitisonlythesuccessfulcasesthataresoreported.

The fact that thesecasesmayrepresentonlyasmallnumberof the totalcases treatedor thatmanysuchcases

showarelapseatsomelaterdateisrarelyincludedinthereport.Thoughtheconditionedresponsemethodcan

change a personsbehavior temporarily, it cannot remove the psychological causewhich drives a person to

smokeordrinkexcessively.Negativeconditioningcannotovercomethepowerofapersonsownwill,andifthe

hypnoticsubjectdesiressubstancessuchastobacco,alcohol,orchocolatestronglyenough,thatsubjectwillreturn

totheundesirablehabitsassoonastheinvoluntaryresponseimplantedunderhypnosiscanbeovercome.

Abettertechniquewouldtaketheapproachofremovingthepsychologicaloremotionalimbalancewhich

causesapersontoabusesubstancesinthefirstplace.Forthispurpose,meditativehypnotherapywouldseemto

bethetoolofchoice.Guidedvisualizationprobablyalsohasabetterchanceofcuringtheorganicsymptomsthat

originateinthesubconsciousorunconsciousmind.Theactualremovaloforganicdiseases,asinthecaseoffaith

healing or psychic healing, most likely takes place only at the deepest levels of consciousness. Meditative

hypnotherapywouldonceagainbeindicatedinthesecasesifacurewastobeattempted,keepinginmindthat

evenpsychicpowershavetheirlimitsandthatsomeorganicdiseasesmaybedifficultifnotimpossibletocureby

hypnoticmethods.AspsychichealerWilliamW.HewitttellsusinhisbookBeyondHypnosis(1987),Ihavehad

severalpeopledieinspiteofmyhelp.Thesewerepeoplewhohadalreadybeendeclaredterminallyillwithno

hopeofsurvivalbeforeIgotinvolved.Iwasnottamperingwiththeirhealthorplayingdoctor.Iwasjusttrying

to do what the doctors said could notbe done. In those cases, the physicians were right. When you get

accustomed to dealing in the psychic realm, youbegin to think that you can always rectify anything in the

mannerthatyouchoose.Thisisnotso.Thereisamuchhigherintelligencethanours,andwemustdefertoit.As

practicinghypnotherapists,wemustnotallowourselvestobecomediscouragedbythosedifficultcaseswhichwe

cannotsuccessfullytreat.Instead,wemustconcentrateondoingourbestforthosewhomwecanhelp.Wemustalsomaintainakindandsympatheticattitudetoward thosewhocannotbehealedbysuggestionorbypsychic

means.Themysteriesoflifeanddeathwillalwaysbebeyondusasmortals.Loveandkindnessarestillthebest

toolsthatahealercanemploywhendealingwithillnessofanykind.

SelfHypnosis&TheImaginationSelfhypnosisandguidedhypnosisbothaccomplishtheireffectsbythesamepsychologicalprocess.The

activityof themindcanbedividedup intoconscious,subconscious,andunconscious thought.Alternately,we

might say that certain brainwave frequencies occur in combination with conscious thinking, while other

frequenciescanbedetectedwhensubconsciousthoughtsariseorunconsciousthoughtoccurs.Themindcanand

doesoperateonconscious,subconscious,andunconscious levelssimultaneously.Mostofus,however,remain

unawareofourunconsciousthinkingpatterns,andmanydistractedorcaughtuppeoplecannotevenheartheconstantchatterofthesubconscious,muchlesssilenceit.Hypnosisworksbysuppressingconsciousthoughtand

bringingthesubjectintoamostlyunconsciousstateofawareness,thenalteringtheunconsciousthoughtpatterns

bymeans of a verbal or symbolic suggestion. Self hypnosis oftenbeginswithmeditation, since the ordinary

waking state ofmindwillnot allow themind to receive a suggestion atdeeper levels of consciousness.The

unconsciousmind, contrary towhatonemight imagine, actson its own and cannotbe swayedby conscious

thoughtunderordinarycircumstances.Thisdeepermindmustbeactivatedandbrought to the surfacebefore

conscious thoughtcanalter itspattern. (Fortunately,wenowhave techniquesofactivatinganydesiredbrain

wavefrequency.Thesewillbediscussedlater.Oncetheunconsciousmindhasbeenactivated,theselfhypnotist

mustmakeasuggestionthattheunconsciouswillaccept.Sinceemotionsexistatadeeperlevelofthemindthan


8/37


doconscious thoughts, thesuggestionmustbe inharmonywithourownemotions.Otherwise, thesuggestion

willhavelittleornoeffect.Wecouldcallthislackofacceptancebytheunconsciousresistance,whilepositive

unconsciousacceptancewouldindicateastateofsuggestibility.

ApassagefromThePracticeOfAutosuggestion(1922)illustratesthisdichotomy:Sofaraswecansee,the

acceptationorrejectionofan ideaby theUnconsciousdependson theassociationswithwhich it isconnected.

Thus,an idea isacceptedwhen itevokessimilar ideaschargedwithemotionof thesamequality. It isrejected

when it isassociatedwithcontrary ideas,whichare, therefore,contrary in theiremotionalcharge.In the latter

case,theoriginalideaisneutralizedbyitsassociations,somewhatinthesamewayasanacidisneutralizedbyan

alkali.This

emotional

charge

might

also

be

called

ablock

if

we

consider

it

as

negative

or

counter

adaptive.

Suchblocks canbe healed through psychic means in some cases. However, it makes more sense to make

suggestionsthatourunconsciousmindalreadywantstoaccept.Inotherwords,weshouldgiveourselveswhat

wereallywant,rather thanfightingagainstourselves internally.Whenoursuggestionsreflectthewaythatwe

trulyfeelandreinforceourdeepestdesires,theywillhavefarmorepowertoinfluencetheunconsciousmindand

changeourlivesforthebetter.

Thoughsuggestionscanconsistofwordsintowhichagreatdealofconsciousthoughthasbeenput,no

amountofverbalthinkingbyitselfcaneveraccomplishahypnoticsuggestion.Inordertotrulyalterunconscious

thoughtpatterns,wemustharnessthepowerof the imagination.Thispointmustbeunderstood, lesthypnosis

prove entirelyuseless to the student.Thewill, contrary towhatwemight think, cannot change the thought

patterns of the unconsciousmind.An effort ofwill awakens the consciousmind to the task at hand and

immediatelysuppressesanyunconsciousthoughtprocessesotherthantheactofwillingitself.Furthermore,the

consciousmindcanmistakenlypititselfagainsttheunconsciousdrives.Consciousthoughtcanneverwininadirect

strugglewiththeunconsciouswill.AswereadinThePracticeOfAutosuggestion(1922),Fortworeasons,then,effort

mustneverbeallowedtointrudeduringthepractice:firstbecauseitwakesusupandsosuppressesthetideof

theUnconscious,secondlybecauseitcausesconflictbetweenThoughtandtheWill.Ourpowersofvolitionmust

bedirectedbytheimagination,forthewillcannotdoourthinkingforus,andneithercanitbeswayedbyverbal

thoughts.AswereadfurtherinThePracticeOfAutosuggestion(1922),WhentheImaginationandtheWillarein

conflict,theImaginationinvariablygainstheday.

Theunconsciousmindcanbethoughtofasanengine,withtheimaginationservingasthetiller,andthe

mindasawholecanbeseenasashipontheseaofcollectiveconsciousness.Attempting todirectthemindby

meansofthewillwouldequatetosteeringwiththethrottleinthismetaphor.Theharderyoutrytochangeyour

unconsciousthoughtpatterns,themoretheywilltendtobereinforced.Insomniacsexperiencethiseffectwhen,

nomatter howmuch theywant and need rest, theyjust cant fall asleep. Thewill actually arises from theunconsciousmindrather than from thewakingmind,and thereforewillalonecannotbe trusted toguideour

actions,aswereadinThePracticeOfAutosuggestion(1922):Thusthewillturnsouttobe,notthecommanding

monarchoflife,asmanypeoplewouldhaveit,butablindSamson,capableeitherofturningthemillorpulling

down thepillars.Thewillmusthaveagoal, and thisgoal canbe contained inan idea that the imagination

illustratestotheunconsciousbymeansofsymbolicvisualizations.Tocontinueourmetaphor,consciousthought

couldbeseenasamapandcompasswhichmustinformtheimaginationofwhichwaytosteer.Thosewhotryto

movetheunconsciousmindwithwordsalonemightbelikenedtothenavigatorwhoforgetstotellthehelmsman

where to steer. The imagination, left unchecked, can play havoc with our emotions as well as with our

unconsciousdrives,asanyonewhohaseverfalleninlovecanattest.Thereforewemustconsciouslyconstructthe

ideasthatwewishtoguideusandthenmaketheseideassubjectivelyrealbymeansoftheimagination.

Whenwe

enter

the

daydream

state,

in

which

the

imagination

holds

sway

over

the

conscious

mind,

we

make it possible for suggestions to reach deep into the unconscious mind and find acceptance there. The

unconscious canbe compared to a tide that rises as the consciousmind recedes.Daydreaming represents an

intermediatestate.Hightidefortheunconsciousmeanssleep,whilewakingactivitiesputtheunconsciousatlow

tide. Suggestionsworkbestwhen the tide is rising,butbefore the sands of conscious awareness havebeen

coveredbythewavesoftheunconscioussea.Adescriptionofthismostsuggestiblestateofmindcanbefound

inThePracticeOfAutosuggestion(1922):Weallknowwhathappensduringadaydreamorbrownstudy,when

theUnconscious tide is high.A succession ofbright images glides smoothly through themind.The original

thoughtspinsitselfonandon;noobstaclesseemtostopit,noquestionsofprobabilityarise;wearecutofffrom

theactualconditionsoflifeandliveinaworldwhereallthingsarepossible.Thesedaydreamscauseverypotent


9/37


autosuggestions,andoneshouldtakecarethattheyarewholesomeandinnocent;buttheimportantpointisthat

in this levelofconsciousnessassociationseems tooperatebysimilarity,andemotion iscomparatively intense.

These conditionsarehighly favorable toacceptation. Inotherwords, thedaydreamallowsus toactivate the

brainwavefrequencieswhichmustbepresentinorderforhypnoticsuggestionstotakeeffect.Suchbrainactivity

oftenoccurs incombinationwithmental imageryand intenseemotionalstates.Again,thebestsuggestionswill

takeadvantageoftheemotionalchargealreadyassociatedwithideassimilartothesuggestionitself.

Incasesoftraumaticexperience,certainideasoractionscanhaveanextremelynegativeemotionalcharge

associatedwith them.However,ouraversionsexistmostlyon theconscious levelandcanbebypassed in the

daydreamstate.

Thus,

through

auto

suggestive

self

hypnosis,

fears

and

phobias

can

be

erased,

and

the

mind

can

be opened to new possibilities of action that seemed scary or impossiblebefore. Fantasies can lead us to an

awarenessofpotentialsinlifethatweneverknewexisted,orneverdaredtothinkofasrealforus.Performers,

athletes,andotherhighlytalentedindividualshavelearnedtocombinetheliberatedimagination,intheformof

theirownfondestdreamsandambitions,withthetremendousforcesoftheirownunconsciousdrives.Thisstate

ofconsciousnessallowsthemtoachievegoalsandperformfeatsthatseemaltogetherbeyondthepowersofthe

ordinaryperson,andtodosowithseeminglyeffortlessease.Actually,thisstateofoptimumperformancemaybe

availabletoallofusthroughselfhypnosis.

Suggestive daydreaming can build emotional energy that can be used to break through negative

associationsandmakeourfantasiespossiblethroughthepowerofbeliefanddesire.Thefollowingpassagefrom

ThePracticeOfAutosuggestion(1922)describestheprocessofdaydreamingforsuggestivepurposes:If,ongetting

intobedatnight,weassumeacomfortableposture,relaxourmusclesandcloseoureyes,wefallnaturallyintoa

stageofsemiconsciousnessakintothatofdaydreaming.Ifwenowintroduceintothemindanydesiredidea,itis

freedfromtheinhibitingassociationsofdailylife,associatesitselfbysimilarity,andattractsemotionofthesame

quality as its own charge. The Unconscious is thus caused to accept it, and inevitably it is turned into an

autosuggestion.Every timewerepeat thisprocess, theassociativepowerof the idea is increased, itsemotional

valuegrowsgreater,andtheautosuggestionresultingfromitismorepowerful.Bythismeanswecaninducethe

Unconscioustoacceptanidea,thenormalassociationsofwhicharecontraryandunfavorable.Suchintroduction

of ideasduring thedaydreamstatecan takeplacebymeansofasimpleaffirmationormantra,or through the

mediumofataperecorderinthecaseofmorecomplexsuggestions.Alternately,theselfhypnotistcanvisualize

imageryofa suggestivenature,orhavea friendguide them through thispathworkingprocessby reading

aloudfromascriptpreparedforthehypnoticsession.Thesesessionsoughttoberepeatednightlyupongoingto

sleepaswellasbeforegettingoutofbedinthemorning,sincethemindbecomesmoresuggestibleatthesetimes.

Also, repetition allows the suggestion to gain emotional momentum each timewe expose ourselves to it.Eventuallytheideawilltakerootintheunconsciousandbegintomakeitselfpresentinourwakingmind.

ThePowerOfSuggestionIntheabovesectionwehavealreadybeguntoexplorethetheoreticalaspectshowsuggestionworks in

relationtoselfhypnosis.In thepresentsectionwellbegettingabitmoretechnical.Herewewill learnhowto

classifydifferentstatesofconsciousnessaccordingtobrainwavefrequency,andtoidentifythedifferenttypesof

suggestion.

SuggestionRevisited&ExpandedTo reviewbriefly, letsgooverhow the suggestionprocessworks.First, the consciousmindbecomes

suppressedorisdistractedbyoneofmanypossiblemeans.Thisallowsotherpartsofthemindtobecomeactive,

orinotherwordsencouragestheunconscioustidetorise.Thiscanhappengradually,asinthecaseofmeditation,

or suddenly, asmay occurwhenwe are surprisedby a loud noise.Alternately, the consciousmind canbe

distractedbyapullononeoftheunconsciousdrives.Thiscanoccurwhenweseeabillboardfeaturingascantily

clad youngwoman or a larger than life illustration of ahamburger, to give a couple of examples.Whatever

method is used to distract the conscious mind and bring the unconscious to the forefront, the process of

suggestionremainsthesame.Asubliminalmessageintheformofacommandmustaccompanythedistractionor

suppression of the conscious mind, and this message must find acceptance at the emotional level of the

unconsciousmind in order for suggestion to take place.More powerful suggestions canbe effected through

trance induction than by the distraction method, which makes hypnosis a more powerful tool than mere

advertising.However, radio and television can induce relatively deep levels of trance that allow subliminal


10/37


commands tobe implanted in themindsofviewersor listenerswhosecritical thinking facultieshavegone to

sleep. Indeed, televisionandradiohave thepower toeffectmasshypnosisandmasssuggestionswhichhave

dramaticeffectsonthebehaviorofwholesocieties.

Fortunately, the effects of involuntary hypnosis can be counteracted and even eliminated by the

voluntaryuseofselfhypnosis.Wecandeprogramourselvesfromtheanxieties,fears,andfalsedesiresthathave

been implanted inourminds.Furthermore,wecancreatepositive, lifeaffirming,andadaptivesuggestions for

ourselves thatwillmakeusmoreable toenjoyandget themostoutofour lives.Wecanevenchoosehow to

perceivetheworld,andtailorourperceptions tosuittherealitywewishto inhabit.Therearemanywaysof

seeingthe

world

we

live

in,

and

each

one

of

these

ways

corresponds

to

adifferent

reality.

As

we

read

in

The

PracticeOfAutosuggestion(1922),Itmustbeevidentthatifwefillourconsciousmindswithideasofhealth,joy,

goodness,efficiency,andcanensuretheiracceptationbytheUnconscious,these ideastoowillbecomerealities,

capableofliftingusontoanewplaneofbeing.Whatweexperiencedoesdependtoagreatextentonwhatwe

choose topayattention to,andhowwe interpret the things thatweperceive.Newpossibilitiescannotpresent

themselveswhennegativeemotionsandselfdefeatingthoughtsgetinthewayofouractionsandperceptions.

Fears can also skew our view of the world, making even the street outside our doors seem like a

menacingjungle.Concerning fear and its effects,we read inThePracticeOfAutosuggestion (1922), Of all the

destructivesuggestionswemustlearntoshun,noneismoredangerousthanfear.Infearingsomethingthemind

isnotonlydwellingonanegativeidea,butitisestablishingtheclosestpersonalconnectionbetweentheideaand

ourselves.Moreover,theideaissurroundedbyanauraofemotion,whichconsiderablyintensifiesitseffect.Fear

combines every element necessary to give an autosuggestion its maximum power. But happily fear, too, is

susceptibletothecontrollingpowerofautosuggestion.Itisoneofthefirstthingswhichapersoncognizantofthe

meanstobeappliedshouldseektoeradicatefromhismind.Wemustbeextremelyvigilantagainstthefearful

suggestionswithwhichwearebombardeddaily in the formof frontpagenewshype, televisedhysteria,and

advertising scares designed to sell more products through widespread panic. Letting go of fears through

hypnosisallowsustoactinamoreadaptivewayandexperiencelifemorefully.

Finally, negative suggestions in the form ofwords can act like virulent strains of a deadly disease,

passingfrommindtomindbymeansofseeminglyharmlessconversation.Suchnegativesuggestionscancause

allsortsofsocialproblemsandevenphysicalailments in thosesusceptible to theireffects.Thiseffecthasbeen

describedratherpointedlyinThePracticeOfAutosuggestion(1922):Oneoftenmeetspeoplewhotakeadelightin

describingwithawealthofdetailthedisorderswithwhichtheyortheirfriendsareafflicted.Asensitivepersonis

condemnedbysocialusagetolistentoaharrowingaccountofsomegravemalady.Asdetailsucceedsdetailthe

listenerfeelsachillydiscomfortstealingoverhim.Heturnspale,breaksintoacoldperspiration,andisawareofan unpleasant sensation at the pit of his stomach. Sometimes, generally when the listener is a child, actual

vomitingor faintingmayoccur.Theseeffectsareundeniablyphysical; toproduce them theorganicprocesses

musthavebeensensiblydisturbed.Yettheircauseliesentirelyintheideaofillness,which,ruthlesslyimpressed

upon themind, realizes itself in the unconscious. Some people canbemore sensitive or suggestible than

others due to a greater amount of subconscious or unconscious brainwave activity on their part. Such

sensitivesoftenseemlikesomewhatdreamyorspacedout individuals.Othersneverseemtobeaffected

byspontaneoussuggestions,sincetheydonotproducelowerfrequencybrainwavesintheordinarywakingstate

ofconsciousness.Withthepropermethods,wecanlearntoenterandexitthemoresuggestiblestatesofmindat

will. Hypnosis can remove negative suggestions from all parts of the mind. Most importantly, a better

understanding of the hypnotic process can also increase our resistance to harmful messages and subliminal

commandsin

the

future.

BrainWaves&SuggestibilityIn theabovepageswehaveused somemoreor lessvaguepsychological terms suchasunconscious

mind,subconsciousmind,consciousmind,andsoontodescribevariousstatesofconsciousnessorpartsof

themind.However,ourunderstandingofthesetermscanbemademorepreciseifweequatethesestatesofmind

with differentbrainwave patterns that canbe recognizedby subjective clues, or landmarks.Alternatively,

thesebrainwavepatternscouldbemeasuredwithanEEG, thoughonly themosthardened skepticwouldbe

likely to need such adevice for verifyingwhether or not a certain level of consciousness hadbeen reached.

Author Anna Wise, in her groundbreaking work entitled Awakening The Mind (2002), divides meditative

consciousnessintosevensuccessivelydeeperlevels.Annaalsoidentifiesthefourmaincategoriesofbrainwaves,


11/37


thepresenceorabsenceofwhichdeterminesthelevelofconsciousnessatwhichapersonisoperating.Thesefour

kindsofbrainwavesarecalledbeta,alpha,theta,anddeltawaves.

Beta waves accompany conscious thoughts that often relate to tasks in the outside world. Critical

thinkingandcreativecognition takeplaceon thiswavelength.Makingbetawaves isanecessarypartofmost

conscious activities, including the generation of ideas and their expression inwords orworks of art.Higher

frequencybeta waves canbe found in anxiety ridden individuals who can never seem to relax andwhose

subconsciousmindsneverceasetochatter.Thesemoreextremebetastatestendtosuppressothertypesofbrain

waves,makinghypnoticsuggestiondifficultifnotimpossible.

Alphawaves

operate

on

abit

lower

frequency

than

beta

waves.

Alpha

states

include

daydreaming

and

reverie,relaxedthinking,andcreativevisualization.Brainwavesinthealphafrequencycreatealinkbetweenthe

consciousandsubconsciousmind,allowingustorememberourdreamsandget intouchwithdeeperstatesof

mind.

Thenextlowestfrequencyofbrainwavescanbeclassedastheta,andthisfrequencycanbeequatedwith

theactivityof the subconsciousmind.Long termmemories,dreams,and suppressedemotionsoperateon the

theta frequency.The consciousmindorbeta frequency skims the surface of consciousnesswhile thetawaves

surfaceintoconsciousawarenesswithalmostimperceptibleinfrequency.Thisexplainswhywecantturnour

feelingsonandoff likea faucet: thetaandbetawavesworkatvastlydifferent speeds,making itdifficult for

themto interactwithoneanother.Alphawavesmovewitharhythmthatcan interactwithbothbetaandtheta

activity,andtherebybringthetwolevelsofconsciousnessintoharmony.Whentheta,alpha,andbetawavesall

worktogetherharmoniously,weexperienceasensationofhappinessorpeaceofmind.Turningonthealpha

waves canalsohelpus toget in touchwith thedreamworldexperienced in sleep,and to explore childhood

memoriesthatmayhavestrongemotionalcontent.Inordertobeeffective,suggestionsmustbeinharmonywith

theemotionsstoredinthesubconsciousmind.Thismeansthattheemotionalchargeofthetawavescaninterfere

with contrary suggestionsandprevent them from reaching theunconsciousmind,whichoperates atan even

lowerfrequency.

Theunconsciousmindproducesdeltawaves,which continueevenduring sleep,whenallotherbrain

activityhasceased.Thepresenceofdeltawaves inwakingstatesofmind indicates theconsciousawarenessof

often latentabilities suchas intuition,empathy,and instinctive reflexes.ESPandpsychichealingpowersalso

operateonthedeltafrequency,whichexplainswhythosewhoseinstinctshavebeenforcefullyawakenedbynear

deathexperiences,orprolongedexposuretodangeroussituations,oftendevelopPSIabilities,oratleasthavethe

psychicpotentialtodoso.Thoughtsonthedeltafrequencycanprovideadoorwaythroughwhichwecanaccess

thecollectiveunconscious,whereracialandgeneticmemories(i.e.theakashicrecords),Jungianarchetypes,andevenmoreprimevalentitiescanbefound.Thus,theconsciousactivationofdeltawavescanconceivably

leadtoexperiencesthatcouldbedescribedascommunionwithspiritentitiessuchasdeadrelatives,angels,or

evengodsandgoddesses.Suggestionsthatreachtothedeepestlevelsoftheunconsciousmind,orinotherwords

whichaffect theslowestdelta frequencybrainwaves,mightevenbeconsideredonaparwithpleas fordivine

intercessionsuchasthosesometimesmadebyapriest.Acceptanceofsuchsuggestionsbythedeepunconscious

couldaccountformiraclecuresandfaithhealing.

Ordinary suggestions, once they have passed through the emotional screening process at the

subconscious level, tend toacton theunconsciousmindautomatically.Though theexactprocesshasnotbeen

sufficientlyanalyzed,itwouldseemasthoughsuggestionsorcommandsacceptedbytheunconsciousmindact

directlyon thepartsof thebrainthatcontrolreflexiveactions,making themverydifficulttoresist.Inhisbook

NewConcepts

Of

Hypnosis

(1976),

medical

doctor

Bernard

C.

Gindes

tells

us

concerning

the

unconscious

mind

that

Itisanimpersonalcontrivancewhichputsitselfbeneaththedirectionofanyonewhowillcommandit.Itdoes

not have the discriminative faculty to discernby reason who its master shouldbe. It enacts every decree

commandedbytheconsciousmindwithutterservility,whetherthatmindbetheoneofitsoriginalmaster,orof

onewho interposes.Wewoulddowell,then, tobevigilantoverwhichsuggestionsweallow intoourminds.

Takentoitslogicalextremes,thegameofhypnoticsuggestionleadstotheheadyrealmsofdeprogramming(or

metaprogramming),mindcontrol throughmasshypnosis,andpsychicwarfare.Healing throughhypnosis

takesonamuchgreatersignificanceinlightofthedifficultstraitsintowhichirresponsiblemasssuggestionshave

plungedhumanityasawhole.Undoing thedamagedone to individuals (and to thehuman race)bynegative

suggestionscouldtakeconcentrationeffort,sowehadbestgetonwiththework.


12/37


Scientificallyminded readersmay gain amoreprecise theoreticalunderstanding of the role ofbrain

waves in hypnosisby readingWilliamW.Hewitts description of the fourmentalwavelengths in hisbook,

BeyondHypnosis(1987):

Beta.Whenweareawakeandperformingourdailychores,ourbrainoperates in thebeta frequency

range.Thisisfromabout14cyclespersecondonup,withmostofouractivitybeingatabout20to22cyclesper

second.Thisisourconsciousmind.Atthislevel,wereason,rationalize,andexecutewhateverchoresweneedto

do.Ifyourbrainfrequencygetstoohigh,sayaround60cyclespersecond,youwouldbeinacutehysteria.Much

higherthanthatwouldprobablybringdisastrousresults,perhapsdeath.

Alpha.Between

about

7and

14

cycles

per

second

is

the

alpha

range

of

brain

activity.

Here

is

where

daydreamingandnocturnaldreamingtakeplace.Hypnosisalsotakesplacehere.

Theta.Between4and7cyclespersecondisthethetastate.Allouremotionalexperiencesarerecorded

here.Thisalsoistherangefromwhichyoucanlaunchintopsychicexperience.

Delta. Frequencies less than 4 cyclesper second are encountered in totalunconsciousness, thedelta

state.

Note that the disastrous resultsmentioned in connectionwithbrain frequencies of higher than 60

cyclespersecondwouldseemtoprovideanexplanationforcasesofdeathduetofright.Fearkills,whateverits

cause.Afaultydoctorsdiagnosiscancauseapersontodieofpureanxiety,ascanthemagicalsentenceofdeath

deliveredbyavoodoopriest.Slightlylowerfrequencybetaactivitymightbelinkedtoanxietybasedconditions

likeinsomnia,phobias,andstagefright.Ifwelearntolowerourbrainfrequencyatwill,wecanbecomeimmune

tofearsandanxieties,aswellastotheveryrealphysicaleffectsthataccompanythem.Furthermore,fearbased

suggestionssuchasthosepurveyedsoofteninthemassmediawillnolongergainacceptanceinourunconscious

mindsoncewehave trainedourselvesoutof thehabitofbeinganxiousandafraid.Thecultivationofpositive

emotions, and the recording of such emotional experiences at the theta level, can also make us immune to

negativesuggestionsofallkindssincethesubconsciousthetawavesinterferewithsuggestionsontheemotional

level.Thisqualityofresistance tosuggestion throughpositiveemotionsmightbeequated tomoralcourageor

integrity.Meditation onwhatAnnaWise calls the Qualities ofMastery canbe away to cultivate positive

emotionsat the theta levelof themind.Anna identifies thesequalitiesas: compassion;detachment;nonjudgment;

clarity;equanimity;service;andlove.

MethodsOfHypnosisWarrensDictionaryOfPsychology,quoted inNewConceptsOfHypnosis (1976),defineshypnosisas:An

artificiallyinducedstate,usually(thoughnotalways)resemblingsleep,butphysiologicallydistinctfromit,which

is characterized by heightened suggestibility, as a result of which certain sensory, motor, and memory

abnormalities may be induced more readily than in the normal state. Hypnosis consists of two basic

components:induction,andsuggestion.First,wewilllookatdifferenttypesofhypnoticinduction.Then,wewill

gooverafewofthetypesofsuggestionthatarepossibleoncethehypnotictrancehasbeeninducedinthesubject

bywhatevermeans.

In lightofwhatwenowknow aboutbrainwavesand statesof consciousness,manyof the induction

methodsformerlyemployedtohypnotizesubjectsseemsillyoraltogethersuperfluous.Thechoiceof induction

methoddependsmostlyonthebeliefsofthehypnotist,themindsetofthesubject,andthenatureoftheparticular

circumstances inwhichhypnosiswillbeattempted.Thebesttimestoattempthypnosisoccurwhenthesubject

(selforotherwise)hasalmostfallenasleepatnight,orjustbeforethesubjectgetsoutofbedinthemorning.The

NancymethodemployedbyEmileCouemightbe compared to themantrayogaof Indianmysticism.Thismethod counsels the repetition of a simple phrase such as Everyday, in everyway, Im gettingbetter and

better.Thephraseshouldberepeatedwhilefallingasleepatnight,andjustafterwakinginthemorning.Amore

complexsuggestioncanbesubstitutedforthemantraifonewishestocureaspecificailmentsuchasasthmaor

chronicanxiety.

BernardC.Gindes, inNewConceptsOfHypnosis(1976),recommendstailoringinductionmethodstothe

expectationsofthesubject.SinceGindeswrotehisbookbeforethediscoveryandclassificationofbrainwaves,he

adherestothetheorythatallhypnoticphenomenacanbeattributedtotheimaginationofthesubject,whichcan

bemanipulated throughsuggestion.However,since the imaginationdoessend instructions to theunconscious

mind,andsincesuggestionscanexertsomeinfluenceovertheimagination,thistheoryholdssomewaterinspite


13/37


ofbeingantiquated.Gindes suggestsvarious tricksof induction suchas suddennoisesordistractinggestures

accompaniedbythecommandtosleep,aswellastheemploymentofpropssuchaswatches,brassdoorknobs,

andbrightlights.Hypnosiscanalsobeinducedinasleepingsubjectbypartiallywakingthem,getttingthemto

makeautomaticresponsestoqueries,andfinallyofferingsuggestionstothesomnambulisticsubject.

Even more antiquated but nevertheless effective induction methods include the magnetic passes

employedbymesmerists.Tomesmerizeasubject,theoperatorproducesamagneticchargeinthehandsbyanact

ofwillorsomeotherexpedient,andthemagnetizedhandsarethenpassedthroughouttheauraofthesubject

fromthetopoftheheadtothefeet,atadistanceofafewinchesfromthesubjectsbody.Ideally,thesubjectwill

belying

down

during

this

process.

Posthypnotic

suggestions

can

be

effected

while

the

subject

lies

in

the

mesmeric trance, thedepthofwhichmayvary.Mesmericsessionscan takeup to fifteenminutesormoreas

theytendtolowerbrainwavefrequenciessomewhatslowly.However,thismethodseemstoworkexceptionally

wellonsubjectssufferingfromacutehysteriaoranxiety.

Guidedvisualizationorpathworkingoffersanidealmethodoftranceinduction,andcanbeeffectedsolo

bymeansofataperecordedscriptthatguidesthesubjectintosuccessivelydeepertrancestates.Furthermore,a

seriesofimaginativesuggestionscaninduceanydesiredstateofmindorlevelofconsciousnessinthehypnotized

subject, allowing the hypnotist (or selfhypnotist) to make suggestions directly to the unconscious and

subconsciousmindsthroughthemediumoftheimagination.Intechnicalterms,thismeansthatthehypnotistor

selfhypnotist can use guided visualization to activate a combination of alpha, theta, and deltabrainwaves,

makingacompletebridgebetweenthedaydreamingmindandtheunconsciousmindalongwhichsuggestions

canfreelypass,solongasnocontraryemotioninthesubconsciousblocksthem.

Asa final consideration concerningmethodsofhypnosis, it shouldbenoted thatallmethods tend to

producethesameeffect ifproperlyperformed:thesubjectfallsintoatranceduringwhichasuggestionmaybe

givenoravisualprogramcommunicatedtotheunconsciousmindthroughthemediumoftheimagination.The

suggestion, command, or symbolic set of instructionswill take effect if the subject proves suggestible, and if

contrary emotions in the subconscious do not interfere with the content of the suggested course of action.

Differentmethods of inductionwill provemore effectivewithdifferent subjects, orwith the same subject at

differenttimes.

Careshouldbetakenthatsuggestionsandvisualizationscontainmaterialbeneficialtothewelfareofthe

hypnotizedsubject.Impossiblethingsshouldnotbesuggested.Nordoeshypnosisimpartsuperhumanpowersto

thesubject, inspiteofthepsychicactivityassociatedwiththetaanddeltawaves.Ifwesuggesttoahypnotized

subjectwho cannot swim, Tomorrowyouwill findyourselfable to swimeasily, forexample,wemay find

ourselvesresponsibleforthetragicdrowningofthisindividual.Suggestionsdonotchangethephysicalnatureofthings,thoughouralteredperceptionsmaytellusotherwiseundertheinfluenceofposthypnoticsuggestion.The

powerofsuggestiontoalteranindividualsperceptioncanevenmakeapersonhallucinateobjectsorpeoplethat

donotexist.AswereadinNewConceptsOfHypnosis(1976),Oneofthemostinterestingphenomenanoticedin

hypnosisisthecontrolofthetherapistoverthesensoriumofhissubject.Hecanpersuadethesubjectthatheis

perceiving an object that is not actually there, and can produce many other illusions and hallucinations.

Hypnosiscannot,however,causethesehallucinationstotakeontangiblesubstanceforthosewhohavenotbeen

giventhesamesuggestion.Hypnoticsuggestionsdonotalterreality.Rather,theyalterourperceptionsofreality.

In lightof thisrevelation, itmightbewise formetaphysicians toreplace theclichphraseYoucreate

your own realitywith themore accurate andmodest assertion that You can create your own perception

throughselfhypnosis.Note,however,thatfalseperceptionscanbecreatedthroughhypnosisjustaseasilyascan

moreadaptive

perceptions

that

allow

us

to

approximate

the

mysterious

fullness

of

reality.

The

unconscious

minddoesnotemploy logic,butonlyseeswhat the imaginationhas told it to see. Inorder tocreateourown

perceptions,wemust firstgain controloverour imaginations andbegin to integrateour consciousness intoa

seamlesswholeinwhichallfourbrainfrequenciescanactinharmony.Selfhypnosisprovidesuswiththetoolsto

turntheideaofharmonizedconsciousnessintoareality.


14/37


InstructionsForSelfHypnosisTheremaybeasmanywaystohypnotizeyourselfasyoucanimagine.Allmethodsofselfhypnosiswork

onthesameprinciples,andaccomplishthesameends.Forthesakeofconvenience,wellcontinuetoclassifyself

hypnosis methods into three distinct categories: autosuggestion, conditioned response, and meditative

hypnotherapy.

A simple set of instructions for auto suggestive selfhypnosis can be found in The Practice Of

Autosuggestion (1922):Inorder to formulateparticularsuggestions,go toaroomwhereyouwillbe free from

interruption, sitdown inacomfortable chair,closeyoureyes,and letyourmuscles relax. Inotherwords,act

preciselyasifyouweregoingtotakeasiesta.IndoingsoyouallowtheUnconscioustidetorisetoasufficientheight tomake your particular suggestions effective.Now call up the desired ideas through themedium of

speech.Tellyourself that suchand suchameliorationsaregoing tooccur.Autosuggestionsought tobekept

withincertain limits.Youshouldnot try to suggest the impossible, sinceasuccessful suggestion thatcounsels

youtodefyknownphysicallawsoractbeyondyourabilitiescanresultinharmfulconsequences.Also,keepin

mindtheideathatsuggestionswhichseemverydifficulttocarryoutmayberejectedbythesubconsciousmind

onemotionalgrounds.Asuggestionmustbebackedupbysufficientemotionalmotivationtogainunconscious

acceptance,anditmustdelineateapracticalcourseofactionthatyouarecapableofcarryingoutonsomelevel.

Thecuringofpsychological,emotional,andpsychosomaticailments isentirelywithinyourpower.Youshould

nothesitatetocreateandtryoutsuggestionsthatwillbringyourelieffromsuchconditionsasasthma,fearsand

forebodings,lossofmemory,lossofconcentration,irritability,andinsomnia.Evenseeminglyorganicconditions

suchas

nearsightedness,

deafness,

chronic

fatigue,

digestive

troubles,

impotence,

and

frigidity

all

may

prove

susceptibletotheinfluenceofautosuggestion.Finally,selfhypnosisshouldbeconsideredthefirstoptionincases

ofpossible faultydiagnosisbyaphysician,especiallywhen themedicaldiagnosis indicatesaneed forsurgical

interventionordrugs.Supposed indicatorsofbreastcancer,heartpalpitations, fainting,epileptic fits,venereal

disease, andmany other organic symptoms canbe successfully eliminatedby autosuggestion in some cases.

Thereisplentyofevidenceintheworldthatorganicdiseasessuchascancerandotherterminalillnessescanbe

reversedthruselfhypnosis andthesuggestionofhealthandwellbeing.

Whenformulatingspecificsuggestions,remembertocultivatepositiveconditionsrather thanopposing

negativeones.Forexample,youshouldtellyourselfIwillbeconfidentonstage,ratherthansayingIwontbe

nervousnexttimeIperform.Theunconsciousmindcannotdistinguishbetweenasuggestionanditscontrary.If

we allow the imagination to dwell on problems, these problems will take the form of a suggestion in the

unconsciousmindandcontinue toplagueus. Instead,wemustgive the imaginationpositive imagesofhealth

andwellbeing to focus on, so that thesebeneficial affirmationswill take root in the unconsciousmind. In

wordingyoursuggestions,usephrasesthatleavenodoubtabouttheoutcomeofhypnotherapy.Taketheattitude

thatIam improvingrapidlyorIfeelbetteralready.Suchconfidentaffirmationshaveafarbetterchanceof

changingunconsciousthinkingpatternsthandoweakoruncertainsuggestions.

Successful autosuggestions canbe constructed using a simple threepart formula. First, suggest that

healing or improvement will start immediately. Second, indicate that such healing and improvements will

proceedrapidly.Third,affirmthatthecureeffectedbythesuggestionwillbebothcompleteandpermanent.The

PracticeOfAutosuggestion (1922)providesuswithseveralexamplesofhow towordspecificsuggestions,sowe

willquoteonehere,designedforthosesufferingfromirritability,thatwillserveasamodelforconstructingyour

own autosuggestions: Henceforth I shalldaily growmore goodhumored.Equanimity and cheerfulnesswill

becomemynormalstatesofmind,andinashorttimeallthelittlehappeningsoflifewillbereceivedinthisspirit.

Ishallbeacenterofcheerandhelpfulnesstothoseaboutme,infectingthemwithmyowngoodhumor,andthischeerfulmoodwillbecomesohabitualthatnothingcanrobmeofit.Similarsuggestionscanbeconstructedfor

anyoftheailmentsmentionedabove,keepinginmindtheprinciplesofpositiveaffirmationandperfectcertainty

oftheoutcome.Onceyouhaveenteredthehypnotictrancestate,whichwillbeindicatedbycompleterelaxation

ofthebodyandanincreaseofvisualizationactivityormentalimagery,youcanrepeatthesuggestiontoyourself

inyourmind.Alternately,youcanhaveafriendreadthesuggestion,orrecord itontapeandstartplayingthe

recordingatthebeginningofyourmeditationsession.Remembertoleaveenoughspaceonthetapetogiveyou

timetorelaxbeforethesuggestionbeginstoplay.

LaurenceSparksdevotesanentirefifteenpagechaptertothetechniqueofselfhypnosisinhiswork,Self

Hypnosis(1969).Thisauthorintroducessomenewelementsnotpresentinthesomewhatmoreantiquatedbutstill


15/37


practicalmethodofspontaneousautosuggestion.Sparkstellsustoformulateoursuggestionsandrepeatthemto

ourselvesatthebeginningofthehypnoticsession,whileweunwindandrelax.Then,hehasusvisualizecertain

symbolsthatrepresentdeeperlevelsoftrance.Thevisualizationofthesesymbolscanbeaccompaniedbyasortof

pathworking, suchas themental imageofwalkingdown successive flightsof stairsandopeningdoorswith

symbolspaintedon them.Thedownstairsmovement symbolizesdeepening levelsof consciousnessor slower

brainwavefrequencies.Thedoorwayscanbeequatedtothesevenlevelsofmeditativeconsciousnessidentified

byAnnaWise,whichwillbedescribed later in this section.This technique,modified for thepurposesofour

course,canbesummarizedinninebasicsteps:

1. Whilesittinginacomfortableposition,thinkofthetimethatyouwishtoawakenfromyourtrance.Setyourclockbeforehandifnecessary.2. Call tomind thesuggestion thatyouwish touseduringthehypnoticsession,andrepeat it toyourself

silentlyoroutloud.

3. Closeyoureyesandvisualize thenumber00.Thisnumber symbolizes theordinary stateof relaxedconsciousness,where thebrain emitsmostlybetawaves of a low frequency, say 15 to 20 cycles per

second.

4. Now visualize a doorwith the number 00marked on it.Visualize yourself opening the door andwalkingthroughit.Youdescendaflightofstairsandfindyourselfstandingbeforeanotherdoorwiththe

number01markedonit.Thisnumbersymbolizesthesecondlevelofmeditativeconsciousness,where

alphawavesbegintosurfaceinaregularpatternwhilebetawavesbecomesuppressed.

5. Openthedoormarked01andproceeddownthestairsbeyondituntilyoucometothedoormarked02.Thisnumbersymbolizesthenextlowestlevelofthemind,withcontinuousalphawaveemanation

andintermittentthetawaves.

6. Openthedoormarked02anddescendthenextflightofstairstothedoormarked03.Youmayfindthat thestairsseem longeratthis level.Thenumber03symbolizes thenext lowestlevelofthemind.

Alphaandthetawavesshouldbemoreorlesscontinuousatthislevel.

7. Openthedoormarked03anddescendthenextflightofstairsuntilyoucometothedoormarked04.Duringthisdescentyoumayfinditdifficulttocontinueyourmeditation,orwillfeelasthoughyouhave

slippedoutofthemeditationstate.Concentrateoncontinuingtogodeeper.Thenumber04represents

astateofmindwithverylittlebetaactivity,continuousalphawaves,andstrongthetawaves.

8. Openthedoormarked04andwalkdown thenextflightofstairs tothedoormarked05.Youwillfinditeasiertostayawakeonthislevel,sincethecontinuousrhythmofalphaandthetawaveswillallow

thebetawavestoridemerrilyoverthesurfaceofthesubconscious.Thenumber05symbolizesastateoflucidmeditation.

9. Walk through the doormarked 05,walk down the next flight of stairs and standbefore the doormarked06.Thisnumbersymbolizes thespirituallyawakenedstateofmindwhereyoucanaccessall

levelsofconsciousnessandharmonizeallfourbrainwavefrequenciesforoptimumawareness.Beyond

thedoormarked06youwillfindyourownpersonalmeditationroomortemple.Insidethisroomyou

willfindatablewithanopenbookonitssurfaceandachairinfrontofit.Sitdowninthechairandlook

atthebook.Ontheopenpageyouwillseeyoursuggestionwrittendown inflowingcalligraphy.Read

thesuggestiontoyourself,andallowittoringinyourmind.Then,closeyourmentaleyesandallow

yourselftoreturntoanordinarystateofconsciousnesswhenthetimesetasideforyourhypnoticsession

hasended.

Certaininternal

experiences,

which

Anna

Wise

calls

subjective

landmarks,

can

help

us

to

recognize

when we have successfully achieved the states of consciousness symbolizedby the numbers in the above

meditation.Atlevel00wemayfeelsomewhatrelaxed,butstillfindthatthoughtsinterferewiththemeditation.

At level01webegin to feel sleepyordizzy, though themindmay continue to chatterawayautomatically.

Level02bringsafeelingofcalmnessorcenterdness,withimageryflashingbeforetheinnereyeandmemories

surfacingintoconsciousawareness.Atlevel03ourvisualizationsshouldtakeonasharperfocusandbecome

more clearly defined as we experience a sensation of weightlessness or floating. Level 04 brings the

breathing,heartbeat,andflowofbloodintothefieldofourperception.Thelimbsmaygonumb,andsensations

fromtheouterworldmaynolongerreachus.Herethetrickliesinstayinginthemeditativestate.Atlevel05

weenteranaltered stateofconsciousness. Imagerybecomes farmorevividanddetailedat this level.We feel


16/37


calm,lucid,satisfied,andyetsomehowdetachedandalertatthesametime.Outofbodyexperiencescanoccurat

this level. Finally, at level 06webegin to experiencemystical states ofmindwhere observer andobserved

blendintoone.Wemayfeelatonewiththeuniverse,andhavespiritualrevelationsorpersonalepiphanies.Delta

activityatthislevelallowsustotaplatentcreativityandpsychicpotentials.

Theprecedinginstructionshavebeensynthesizedfromseveralsourcesandabridgedforthesakeofthe

length of the course. Complete instructions for meditative selfhypnosis have now become so intricately

developed thatanyseriousattempt topresentthem intheirentiretywouldbebeyondthescopeofthepresent

course.TheNineStepSelfHypnosisMethoddevelopedbyLaurenceSparkscanbestudiedinmoredetailinhis

book,Self

Hypnosis

(1976).

Students

interested

in

exploring

self

hypnosis

for

the

purpose

of

becoming

psychic

healersmightwish to follow the 30 session courseofpsychicdevelopment through selfhypnosisoutlined in

WilliamH.Hewittsbook, BeyondHypnosis (1987). Finally, thoughAnnaWise does notwrite strictly on the

subjectofhypnosis,hertechniquesofbrainwavemasterythroughmeditationmakeselfhypnosismucheasierto

perform,andhersystemsofclassificationmakedifferentstatesofmindeasytoidentify.Annasbook,Awakening

TheMind(2002),oughttobeconsideredamustreadforallseriousstudentsofselfhypnosis.Though itshould

notbeconsideredacompletesynopsisofAnnasmethod,thefollowingstepscanbeusedasaroughguidelinefor

chartingyourowncoursethroughtheseasofmeditativeselfhypnosis:

1. Stillthemind.2. Becomeawareofyourthoughts.3. Relaxyourtongue.4. Liedownifnecessary.5. Slowyourbreathingdown.6. Countyourbreaths(upto5,thenstartover.)7. Withdrawfromoutsidestimuli.8. Begintovisualize.9. Eventuallyyouwillwanttocreateaninnerlandscapeinwhichtodevelopallofyourimaginarysenses,

notjustthatofsight.

Feelfreetousethevariouspathworkingsandguidedmeditationsthatyoumayencounterinyourstudies,or

createyourownvisualizationscriptstosuityourneeds.Thelandmarkexperiencesthatyounoticeduringyour

hypnoticsessionsshouldbewrittendownsothatyouwillbeabletoreachthesealteredstatesofconsciousness

moreeasilyaspracticecontinues.Onceyouhavelearnedtoturnon thedesiredcombinationofbrainwaves,

youwillbebetterabletoperformhypnotherapueticworkonthepartofyourmindthatneedstobebroughtback

intobalance.Abalancedstateofmind,whereallofthebrainwavefrequenciesworkinharmony,willmakeyourconsciousness into a smoothly functioningmechanism thatwill require littleorno interventiononyourpart.

Eventually,youmay findyourselfmeditatingatall times,andyoullbeable to shift intodifferent statesof

consciousness atwill.Flashesof intuitionor synchronicitiesmaybegin tooccur asyouturnon thedelta

waves andbecome attuned to yourpsychic radar.Follow your innerpromptings, and thesephenomenawill

becomemorefrequent.Youmightalsonoticeanincreaseofcompassionorempathyatthepsychiclevel.Thiscan

beapowerfultoolforhealingthroughvisualization.Becareful,however,nottobecomesoempatheticthatyou

cannolongerdistinguishbetweenyourownthoughtsandemotionsandthoseofothers.

WhyShouldHypnotistsBecomeCertified?Studentswishingtopracticehypnotherapyonthemselvesalonemaynotneedtoseekcertification.After

all,youareultimatelyresponsibleforthesuggestionsthatyougivetoyourself.Thosewhohaveadesiretohealothersthroughhypnotherapy,however,maywishtobecomecertifiedforseveralcompellingreasons.Asstated

before, you will incur a great responsibilityby deciding to hypnotize a willing subject. Your posthypnotic

suggestionsmayhavesurprisinglypowerfuleffectsonsuggestiblesubjects.Forexample,yoursuggestionsmay

removeasubjectsinhibitionsinsuchawayastoprecipitatesomerashactionontheirpartforwhichyoumight

be held legally responsible.A suggestion can circumvent inhibitions ifwe can convince the subject that the

inhibitingconditiondoesnotexist,ordoesnotapplytothepresentsituation.Suggestionsthattaxtheabilitiesof

thesubjectcanproveharmful inmanyunforeseenways.Youmayunwittinglydevelopadeeprapportwitha

subjectthatresultsinanemotionaltransference,inwhichcasethesubjectmayfallinlovewithyouorbecome

psychologicallydependent on thehypnotic sessions thatyouhave initiated.Such subjectsmaybedifficult to


17/37


dissuadefromtheirhypnoticallyinducedfeelings.OnthispointwereadinNewConceptsOfHypnosis(1976)by

Bernard Gindes that, The enrapport spoken ofby hypnotists resembles psychoanalytic transference inmany

respects,thattransferencewherethepatientidentifiesthepsychotherapistwithsomementorofhispasttowhom

hecouldcomewithhisproblems father,brother,etc.Wemightfillintheblankoccupiedbytheetceterain

the above quote with such mentors as sister, mother, or lover. Transference of emotions from subject to

therapistcanbeveryawkwardandembarrassingforbothparties.

The phenomenon of hypnotic amnesia also gives the wouldbe hypnotist reason to pause for

considerationbeforeentering intopractice.Amnesiaoccursatadeep trance levelofconsciousnesswherebeta

wavesbecome

almost

entirely

suppressed

in

the

subjects

brain

activity.

Other

parts

of

the

mind

such

as

the

subconsciousandunconsciouscanstillbeaccessedbythehypnotistwithout thesubjectsconsciousawareness.

Norwillthesubjectrememberanythingthathappenedduringthehypnotictrance.Furthermore,theamnesiacor

somnambulistwhohasbeenhypnotized correctly canbemade toperform automatic actions as if theywere

actuallyawake,andwithout thebenefitof furtherhypnosis theywill remembernothinguponawakening.To

supportthisratherboldandperhapsdisturbingstatementIquoteBernardGindesfromNewConceptsOfHypnosis

(1976): The phenomenon of amnesia is one of the conclusive tests for evaluating the height of suggestive

susceptibilityofthesubject.Thepatientinhypnosiscanrisefromhischair,walkinthestreetsfortwohours,even

see a movie,but upon return to normal waking, will remember nothing that occurred during the state of

hypnosis.Ifthesubjectcannotrememberwhathappenedduringasessionofhypnosis,then thetherapisthad

bettermakesure to invitea trustedwitness toviewanyattempts tohypnotizeastranger.Otherwise, it seems

possiblethatapersonwouldbeabletomakeanysortofridiculousaccusation.Mentallydisturbedpatientsmust

especiallybeguardedagainstinthisrespect.

A licensedorcertifiedhypnotistwouldprobablyhaveabetterchanceofdefendingthemselvesincourt

againstallegationsthattheirposthypnoticsuggestionshadcausedsomeonetocommitacrime.Tosupport this

point, let us relate a relevant case history fromNewConceptsOfHypnosis (1976): Bjornstrom cites awidely

reported experiment, having its initial appearance in the French journals, which was based upon an idea

borrowed fromClaretiesnovel,JeanMornas. In this instancesuggestionsucceeds inpersuadingagirl through

hypnosis to stealabraceletand lateraccuseamanofhavingcommitted thecrime.Bjornstromalsoreportsan

experimentbyLiegois inwhichagirlunderhypnosis ismade to confess to thehideousmurderofher friend

beforeajusticeofthepeace,thoughshehadbeeninformedoftheconsequencesofherconfession.Needlessto

say,hypnotized subjects canbemade to rememberdoing things that theyactuallydidnotdo,or toadmit to

doingthingsthattheydidnotdo.Theycanalsobemadetodothings,throughposthypnoticsuggestion,thatthey

ordinarilywouldneverdo.However,suchreactionsoftenreflectanunconsciousdesireordriveonthesubjectspart that has been freed by the suggestion. Nevertheless, such caveats will not necessarily mitigate the

consequencesdevolvingupon theheadof the therapistwhounwittinglyhypnotizes thewrongsubject,orwho

givesasuggestionthatturnsouttohaveharmfuleffectsofsomekind.

DISCLAIMER:In lightoftheseweightyconcerns,youMUSTbecertifiedtopracticehypnotherapy ifyou

decideyouwanttodothisforaliving.Playingwithhypnotherapywithyourfriendsandfamilywhodontpayyou

is one thing, but being a professional hypnotherapist is quite another. This course is an introduction to

hypnotherapyandhowitworks,anddoesnotreplacethenecessityforcertificationifyoudesiretomarketyourself

asahypnotherapist.Youcannotpracticehypnotherapyonothersinanofficialcircumstance ifyouhavenotbeen

certified,althoughworkingwithafriendorfamilymemberinasituationwhereyouarenotbeingpaidisfine.This

isveryimportantthatyouunderstandthis,andthatthiscourseisnotasubstituteforcertificationinthemethodsof

hypnotherapy.

ExaminationOfCaseHistoriesHypnosiscanalsobeusefulforreducingtheeffectsofchronicpain.

Canpainfromatrulyorganiccause,suchasthelossofalimb,bealleviatedormitigatedthroughselfhypnosis?

Permanently injuredreadersmightbeskepticalenough to forego trying tohypnotizethemselvesoutof feeling

thepainofanoldwoundunlesssomeevidencecouldbeprovidedtobackapositiveassertion.Hence,letusread

acasehistoryfromSelfHypnosis(1969):

AboutayearagoIreceivedarequest fromaphysician tocallonapatientwhohad losthis leg inan

accident.Themanwasfortyyearsold,hadawifeandthreechildrenandwasreasonablywellofffinancially.He


18/37


hadnot,asyet,beenabletomakeanysignificantemotionaladjustmenttothetraumaticeffectoftheamputation.

Hehad tried togo through theprocedureofbeing fitted foraprosthesis,orartificial leg,but thepainofany

pressureonthestumpwasmorethanhecouldendure.Hewasonmassivedosesofmorphinederivativeswhich

werehavingdiminishingeffectivenessagainsthispainand itchiness.Tohim thesensationswerecoming from

the limb he no longer had! This is a condition known as a phantomlimb sensation. It is very common in

amputationsand alsooccurs invarious typesofparalysis.Thisparticularpainwasoccurringwith increasing

frequencyandintensity,andeachtimeitcamehiswholebodywouldbecomerigidwithagony.Theitchinesswas

drivinghimfranticandwasseriouslyinterferingwithhissleep.Theusualprocedures...wereusedsuccessfully,

anddirect

suggestions

were

made

that

he

would

feel

fine

in

every

way

from

then

on.

He

was

told

that

he

could

easily induceselfhypnosisanduse it tomakesuggestionsofrelaxation,deepsleepandcontinuedwellbeing.

Whenhewokeup,hesmiledandsaidhefeltrelaxed,freeofpainandhappy.Aftersomefurtherdiscussionand

explanationhewas able toput himself into a trance andwake up at a precise, predeterminedmoment.The

followingweekhereportedthattheeffecthadwornoffalittle.Thepainhadnotreturned,buttheitchinessand

insomniahadtosomeextentcomeback.Itrequiredthreeadditionalsessionstoestablishthepatterntothepoint

whereitappearedtobepermanent.Closecontacthasbeenkeptwiththispatientforoveroneyear,andhehas

hadnorelapsewhatsoever.Neitherhasherequiredanyfurtherhelp.Heusesselfhypnosisonceaweek.Henow

has his prosthesis and gets around as if he had no problems at all. His adjustment,both physiologic and

psychologic,isexcellent.Hefeelsratherdeeplyandhassaidthatwiththeaidofselfhypnosishehasrecovered

hispleasureinliving.

Whatmorecouldanyoneaskfor?Thoughpainoftheordinarysortcaneasilyberemovedwithhypnosis,

wedonot advise the removalofpainbyposthypnotic suggestion in the caseofan injury that couldbecome

worse.Numbness inducedbysuggestion, say in the injured lowerbackofaconstructionworker,couldeasily

allowtheworkertoparalyzehimselfbygoingbackonthejobprematurely.Remember,thealteredperceptions

produced by hypnotic suggestion do not necessarily reflect the actual state of things. Nor does hypnotic

anesthesia causeahypnotized subject tobecome invulnerable.Aneedle stuck into thehandof subjectwhose

handhadbeenanesthetizedbyhypnosiswouldstilldrawblood,andthesubjectwouldfeelthepainoftheneedle

wound upon awakening from hypnosis. The same principle applies to burns, so dont try convincing a

somnambulisttoholdontoalitcigarette:theywillgetburned,andyouwillberesponsible.Herewecanseesome

clearly delineated limits to the convince yourself that its so and it willbe so theory so popular among

proponentsofpuresuggestionandpositivethinkingascuresforjustaboutanything.

Incasesofextremechronicpainfromanorganicsource,thebestcoursewouldseemtobeseekingrelief

fromthesideeffectsofpain,andadjustingtothepainitselfthroughapsychologicalprocesssothatitwouldnolongerdisturbthemindofthedamagedsubject.Thus,separatehypnoticsessionsmightbearranged todeal in

turnwiththeproblemsofinsomnia,anxiety,andirritabilityassociatedwiththepain.Thenwouldcomesessions

suggesting a new way of thinking, and eliminate the repetition of such subconscious phrases as it hurts,

replacing thesephraseswithpositiveones likeI feel fine. Itmight stillhurt,butyouwillbegin to feel fine

anyway.Thisway,yournerveswillstillwarnyouwhenyouareabouttoinjureyourself,butchronicpainswont

botheryouasmuch.Hypnoticanesthesiamightbe triedduringhealingexercisessuchashathayogawherea

certainamountofpainmustbeworkedthroughforthesakeofhealthandrelaxationafterwards.Selfhypnosis

can alsobeusedby amother tomakeherselfunawareofpain in childbirthwhile allowingher to retain full

consciousness.CompleteinstructionsforthoseinterestedcanbefoundinNewConceptsOfHypnosis(1976),where

weread,Hypnosishasbeenusedinobstetricsforalongtimeandshouldbeemployedmoreoftenthanitisat

present.Even

if

complete

hypnosis

is

not

desired,

physicians

should

remember

that

repeated

suggestion,

with

or

withouttheaidofmedication,canaccomplishagreatdealinlabor,particularlyforthereliefoffearaswellasthe

painsoflabor.Hypnosishastheaddedadvantageofbeingentirelysafeforbothmotherandchild,unlikemost

commonlyusedanesthetics.

SelfHypnosis (1969)byLaurenceSparks contains several lengthy casehistories inwhichpatientshave

beencuredofsuchailmentsasallergies, impotence, frigidity, transvestitism,enuresis (bedwetting),stuttering,

tics,andnailbiting.Regardingcasesofalcoholismwefindinthisbook,Onlythreeoutofthetwentymostrecent

casesofalcoholism referred to thiswriter showed significant, longterm improvementeven thoughall twenty

patientsgaveevery indicationofbeinggoodhypnoticsubjects.Thethreepatientswhorecoveredfromtheir

alcoholictendencieswereamongthefewwhodecidedtoactuallygothroughwiththefullcourseoftreatment,


19/37


which involves a negatively conditioned response. The subject acquires an aversion to alcohol through a

hypnotically induced state of nausea thatbecomes associatedwith alcoholby suggestion. Similar negative

responsescanalsobehypnoticallyinducedinassociationwithcertainfoods,orinconnectionwithcigarettes.In

suchcases,thesubjectsdesiretonolongersmokeoreatexcessivelyseemstobethedecidingfactorthatleadsto

successorfailureofthenegativeresponseprocedure.

DiscussionShouldhypnosisbeusedinpoliceinvestigations?Shouldconfessionsorevidencegivenunderhypnosis

beadmissible incourt?Closeexaminationofthefacts leadsustoconcludethattheanswertothefirstquestionmightbeacautiousaffirmative,whiletheanswertothesecondquestionmustbeanunequivocalno.Onthis

pointwe find inMindWars (1984)byRonMcRae that, Likemilitary research,police interest in thepsychic

rangesfromthemundanetothebizarre.Forexample,hypnosisiswidelyusedtoenhancewitnessrecallandis

so commonly accepted that fewwould characterize it as a psychicphenomenon. In fact,however, scientists

arentsurewhathypnosisis;mostoftheearlyscientificstudieswerecarriedoutbyparapsychologyinvestigators

and spiritualistswhobelieved entranced persons have heightened psychic powers. The tinge of spiritualism

remains,andconventionalpsychologistsoftenstillfeeluncomfortablewiththeconceptofhypnosisandpreferto

ignoreit.Policearemoreenthusiasticinusinghypnosis,perhapsdangerouslyso,accordingtorecentresearchby

University of PennsylvaniapsychiatristMartinT.Orne. Hypnotized persons, saysDr.Orne, tend tohave

diminished critical judgment and are highly responsive to even unconscious suggestions furnished by the

hypnotist.If

the

hypnotist

has

beliefs

about

what

the

witness

or

victim

might

have

seen

or

about

who

the

guilty

personmightbe, it isall tooeasy for thesebeliefs tobe transferred into thememoriesof responsivehypnotic

subjects.Likewise,thesubjectsownbeliefsaboutthecrimemaybeconvertedintopseudomemories,whichthe

witnesswillbelieveandswear tobe true.Courtsallowpolice to interrogatewitnessesunderhypnosis,butare

beginning toputrestrictionson thepractice.Due to theirhighlyunreliablenature, therefore,confessionsand

other informationobtainedunderhypnosisought tobeusedonlyas clues requiring further investigation.No

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