Esoteric Imperius

Yes, yes, yes. Of course I have read Harry Potter, up to book four at this point. If you are scratching your head and wondering if you missed something about hypnosis in the text, you would be both right and wrong.

There is no hypnosis such as it is called. However, there is an unforgivable curse that rears its ugly head. It is called The Imperius Curse. It causes people to do things against there will, much like mind control. But, interestingly enough in the description of what it feels like to have this spell cast upon you, it sounds much like a hypnotic experience. Even how Harry begins to fight of the curse, bares the signature of one not ready for suggestion work.

Any thoughts?

By the way this is in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I am not sure of the page, but it is chapter four.

Esoteric Path

Today I am blogging away from home and have been trying to do so on my iPod Touch. Does not seem to like Blogger. Hmmm. So, my partner has taken pity for me and the coffee shop and is letting me post this on his laptop.

You will note the moving figure on the left (though I am not sure it moves if you are looking at this in Safari). You can find out more about it and its functions at theunwindingpath.com. What I think is interesting about this particular moving thing is that it changes directions depending on your mode of consciousness. You can make it move through concentration or just thinking about it. My thoughts are that this would make a potentially wonderfully visual eye fixation for a hypnotic induction. One could use suggestions such as "when the figure changes directions, you go deeper into a state of pleasant hypnosis."

Any thoughts?

Finally Esoteric HQ

Two aspirin, a glass of orange juice, and a heck of a lot of water and I am fine. Wondering if I am taking a cold or remedying a hangover? If you choose the latter, that would be correct. Please realize that I am neither promoting nor condemning alcohol, but push has come to shove and it was time to try HQ Hpnotiq for myself. My partner and I indulged in splitting a 375ml bottle last night so I could finally give a rundown on it for Esoteric Saturday. I mentioned it this past summer, but had not been able to experience it till now.

And the verdict? Why, it makes for a mighty fine aperitif. A little tart in its blend of vodka, cognac, and fruit juices. The liquid is indeed nuclear blue and the bottle is frosted glass. So what you see is what you drink.

Being a little excited, we decided to try some of the recipes on hpnotiq.com. The first was Lemon-TIQ, which involves mixing HQ with some Lemoncello. It is served over ice. Personally, I prefer plain HQ. So that led to the Hpno-Grand Shot of HQ, comprised of grenadine, HQ and vodka. Not at all pleasant in my book. Needing to remove the taste, the last recipe we tried was by far the best - Hpnotiq Sangria. This recipe called for HQ, red wine and orange juice. Very nice and refreshing.

So, children do not try this at home. LOL. Well try it (if you are of legal drinking age), but maybe not indulging in such a variety of mixed drinks.

Esoteric Probuditi!

Since our past Esoteric Saturday's were a bit heavy, thought we would hit today with something a little more fun. A children's book. That's right folks, hypnosis has made it into the picture book world for children with Probuditi! Written and illustrated by Caldecott winner Chris Van Allsburg, this is an interesting little foray into our favorite subject.

Not to spoil it for you (it is a super, quick read), it is about a little boy who gets it into his head to hypnotize his pesky, little sister and mayhem ensues. At first, my feathers were ruffled because it seemed to embrace one of the awful myths about hypnosis, but the end shows that it might not be as it seems. It is a subtle ending and it's rather charming. Point taken.

Interestingly enough, when you read the reviews for it in Amazon, no one really mentions the hypnosis angle (which is a major theme). Instead people take the racial topic, which I personally think has nothing to do with the book. But people will read into what they want, I guess. However, last year it was voted one of the 25 best children's books by Time Magazine.

Anyway, if you have read this, let me know your thoughts.

Some Historic, Some Hysteric Esoterica

Maybe you saw this coming, maybe you did not, but I am not completely done with The Napoleon of the Neuroses, Jean-Martin Charcot, who by the way, was given this nickname for his public hypnosis sessions. Apparently a man of decent charisma and demeanor, the nickname stuck.

And so, we enter this Saturday's esoteric bout with
Some Historic, Some Hysteric. How fitting for a Napoleonic character to have a play written about the going-ons in one's practice. This particular play, taken from some of Charcot's transcripts of his famous "Tuesday Lectures," Invention of Hysteria: Charcot and the Photographic Iconography of the Salpetriere, The Diaries of Hannah Cullwick, Victorian Maidservant (Douglass Series on Women's Lives & the Meaning of Gender), and quotes by Freud, portrays the hysterics that Charcot induced hypnotically and observed at the Salpêtrière Hospital, the largest hospital in the world at that time. In this production he is called "The Caesar of the Salpêtrière." His lectures were open to the public. I really think Charcot may have been the beginning of stage hypnosis.

Though this play has closed, hopefully someone will revive it again.

Sources:
New Stage Theatre Company
TheaterMania.com

Esoteric Freud

In the somewhat recent past, Freud has been a topic of conversation. And though Freud is not so esoteric in terms of hypnosis, books the reference him and hypnosis in the same volume seem perfect.

In a recent Sunday Book Review in the New York Times,George Prochnik reviewed George Makari's Revolution In Mind: The Creation of Psychoanalysis. According to Prochnik (I have to rely on him as I have yet to read this, but it is now on the list), there is discussion about Freud's background in hypnosis. Apparently one of Freud's mentors, Jean-Martin Charcot who apparently believed that the affects of hypnosis "depended upon the abnormal nervous condition of the hypnotized." Apparently, though, Charcot was diagnosed by Hippolyte Bernheim as having moments of hysteria, too. Bernheim's theory of hypnosis was that hypnosis worked with "exaggerated human credulity" or the idea of suggestibility rather than genetic hysteria. It was with this idea that Freud became the man we all know and love - the psycho analytic theorist. He utilized Bernheims ideas about hypnosis, but changed it a bit with the idea that the mind is more susceptible to suggestions made within rather than form outside sources.

There is a lot more to Procnik's review, so do check it out, but it is always interesting to see anything about those who helped make hypnosis the tool it is now.

A Little More Esoteric Lily

Lily Allen has made it back into our hypnotic consciousness. A while ago, she was featured here for using weight loss hypnosis successfully. She is doing it again and effectively becoming the poster child of celebrity hypnosis stories. Go Lily!

The young British songwriter/performer sowed a few wild oats, but is settling down into pregnancy nicely. So, hypnosis for child birth here? Not quite (but I hope so). No, she is getting all healthy on us and quitting the old ciggy habit, no more cancer sticks for her or her unborn child.

Lily is using hypnotist Susan Hepburn for this, the hypnotist who helped her lose weight. Maybe Ms. Hepburn will grace us by answering the 10 questions one week.

Source:
Thaindian News

More Esoteric Hypnosis Theatre

Often in movies and theatre, hypnosis is considered "spell binding" or at the very least, mysterious. For those of us who practice it or enjoy it, it is something completely different. That is not to say the mystique and romance are gone, more it is just the difference between a crush and a true relationship. With a crush, traits are often idealized, where as in a long-term relationships reality sets in and the relationship deepens or dies.

Perhaps that is why playwright and clinical psychologist Bob Clyman's new play called Tranced may be most interesting for us. Currently running in Laguna Beach at the Laguna Playhouse, one can hope that it embraces the reality of hypnosis and is more truthful in its interpretation. Sadly, I am no where near by to see the show, so if any of you do, please report back on your impressions.

Clyman did offer a very poignant quote in the OC register that impressed me:

"A lot of the time, people assume that I get these great story ideas from my patients...But a lot of the most interesting things that your patients tell you aren't really the point of why they're there. Anecdotes and colorful stories are often a distraction. As a therapist you can be seduced and entertained by them, but that's often not the story they need to tell, not the problem you need to look at."

The basic plot is about a graduate student who suffers from panic attacks. The good doctor helps her using hypnotherapy to uncover repressed memories. These memories ultimately are based on past torture created by political powers.

Though hypnosis is the mechanism for the story, the play is considered more of a political drama.

Source:
The O.C. Register
The Laguna Playhouse

The Esoteric Dilbert

A Late Saturday Night Change: Sorry all, I had to remove the strip from the blog. Scott could not grant me permission to use it. Anyway it was cute and funny, but alas is not be be seen on the Transparent Hypnotist. Feel free to do an internet search for it, you might just find it.

This has to be one of my favorite esoteric Saturdays! Is there anyone out there who does not just love Dilbert? Scott Adams is a true genius! But, did you know he too has a hypnosis background? Yep. His mother used child-birth hypnosis when his sister was born. turns out his family physician used hypnosis in his practice. This influenced Scott and he learned the fine art of the trade.

An Esoteric Saturday Away

Hello all. Let's hope that you are reading this. I am not at my desk nor computer, so it is up to the time cave to see that this gets posted.

I did not want to leave you without an Esoteric Saturday, so here it is - Wax Taylor's hypnotic montage:

You know, this seems quite on the mark to some degree. Do you agree or disagree?

P.S.
Okay...time cave doesn't quite have html down yet, so I edited this. Thanks for your patience.

Esoteric Chocolate Hypnosis

Perhaps it is a hot chocolate sort of morning. Ever since getting the new mixer, my taste buds are going a bit insane, so when I saw a review for the Dessert Studio at Chocolate Michel Cluizel in New York, I had to talk about it on an Esoteric Saturday.

Now a lot of the men who read this site might be rolling their eyes - woman and chocolate, but I would dare say this is so much more than your variety suburbanite chocolate. How sad, I am salivating and my passion has been inflamed.

Okay, it maybe more the review than the place(though I some how doubt it), but Ryan Sutton from Bloomberg.com wrote this most tantalizing review, and related his experience with a chocolate and spirits tasting to hypnosis. It is brilliant. And I figure, if I can relate to it, those of you reading this would as well.

Yes, I am ready to buy chocolate. And for those of you out there who are tsk-tsking me for daring to talk about this chocolate and spirits urge of mine in relation to a hypnosis blog, I might be tempted to say that I think it is important to stress that we are all human. Moderation is good. But pleasure is also important. Perhaps it is earthly, but here we are...on earth...and denial gets you no where.

So, now if you are ready, off you go to the wild world of chocolate hypnosis.

An Esoteric Chance to Help

Ah, breathing time. Coffee time. Life is good.

And as promised, I am back for an Esoteric Saturday. The topic of today's post is one of hope and mind set. It also heralds from the news, but really is not trivial.

Today's topic is the story about PC Hilario Riviero, a police officer. His is a positive story (hopefully) about self-healing. When responding to an incident in Buen Intento, Princes Town, he was badly beaten and is now at the San Fernando General Hospital. He has been there for a month with spinal and renal injuries after attempting to intervene in an attack on a woman and instead was beaten himself by a father and son team.

Because his injured leg has gone numb, surgery seems a likely consequence. However Riviero is working on self-healing through having a positive mind set and using hypnosis techniques. He has been reading books about the subject. Both he and others believe they see improvement. Where he was not able to move, there is some movement now.

When I read stories like this, I have the huge urge to locate the person involved and voluntarily offer my services to help them. But in this case, it is huge urge with no funds to do so. But...but...maybe just maybe...one of you might be in a position to help? If you are in the Trinidad area, perhaps this is an opportunity to provide a random act of kindness...The hospital's phone number is 1-868-652-3581.

Source:
The Trinidad and Tobago Express

The Schedule

Happy weekend, All!

Just wanted to post quickly and let you know that I am heading out spontaneously this evening and will not be around to post to Esoteric Saturday.

Come back for the Sunday Question, though!

The Esoteric Swirl

There is nothing more fabulously fun in imagery for hypnosis than the cliche of the swirl. But I feel we should pay homage to it. There are questions all over the web about whether you can become hypnotized by watching these nifty animations. The answers are all over the place depending on if you are a devotee to the hypnotic arts or between that and a wet blanket. But do they work? You tell me.

This swirl was created by Conal Elliott at conal.net. He has several wonderful graphics similar to this.

Simple Minded Esoteric Saturday

I was all prepared to present a little Hypnosis death metal on this fine Saturday, but frankly, today, it just had no appeal. The only thing about the band that is hypnotic is their name. So instead, I shall show my age and share with you another 80s song by Simple Minds, called Hypnotized.




Personally, I think this is just a beautiful video. Interesting imagery. Great photography. Though when I experience hypnosis, I do not have an Opium Den like play I travel too, but why not? That would be interesting guided imagery to do...not that the transparent hypnotist recommends opium or illegal substances. Children: Do not try this at home.

Happy weekend!

Esoteric Theatre Regression

Though today's esoteric media could also be an "In the News" item, it seems more apt here. I am a total sucker for theatre and a good musical. Hence, I must mention On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Ever see the movie with Barbara Streisand? This comes to mind as the Barnstable Comedy Club in Cape Cod is currently in the throws of this production. It runs through November.

If you are not familiar with the plot, basically it is about a young woman who goes to a psychiatrist for smoking cessation. In the process he regresses her back to a past life as a British heiress. The problems begin when he falls for this heiress.

Fun, Fun, Fun.

The real question is, do psychiatrists still engage in hypnotic procedures? Does anyone in modern society go to psychiatrists for hypnosis? Seriously? And the whole falling in love thing - granted love between psychiatrists and clients is an over romanticized thing, so I guess this would be fairly common. But is it not usually the client that falls for the doctor?

Volunteers Needed

Slowly but surely, I am beginning to pack it in - for today. I am heading out late this afternoon for a meditative weekend in the mountains. Just want to celebrate the Fall before winter weather officially sets in and it will be good to quiet the mind for a while.

So, that means there will be no Esoteric Saturday or the Sunday Question. Here is my question to you, as I tend to get restless periodically and head out, it leaves a blank in the blog. Would any of you like to post an Esoteric Saturday or Sunday Question on the occasions when I am gone? This would mean that you would have to come up with references or the questions. If so, let me know by either commenting on this post or emailing me at ellie.blunt@gmail.com.

The Esoteric Therapist

Last weekend's Esoteric Saturday subliminal software really caught on in my mind. LOL. Actually, I have been playing that software in the background of my machine since then. Not sure if it is doing any good, but there have been times when I wonder if it makes me a tad bit more aggressive - just a tad. But there are several other factors that could be contributing to that as well. I would need a therapist to help me decipher it all.

hypnotist (which we may go into at some point), she was a base-line for Speaking of therapist (do you like the segway?), I thought we would go into a blast from the past and bring out Eliza. Remember Eliza, the cyber-Rogerian psychotherapist? She was a computer program created in 1966 by Joseph Weizenbaum. Though she is not a cyberartificial intelligence. The program is rather simple in that she more or less just rephrases your comments into questions. She has been called a "parody."

Here is a short conversation:

Ellie: What do you think of hypnosis?

Eliza: Does that question interest you?

Ellie: Very much.

Eliza: Please go on.

Ellie: It is the most fascinating therapy ever.

Eliza: Please go on.

Ellie: Do you have any thoughts about hypnosis?

Eliza: Oh, i have any thoughts about hypnosis.

Anyway, thought she was something fun to explore. You can visit her here.

Esoteric Subliminals

So which camp do you follow - subliminals work or subliminals do not work? Perhaps you have read the information that audible subliminals are a fallacy? Perhaps you believe visual one's work?

There are many who believe subliminals a wonderful tool for creating change.

Therefore it seems most appropriate to feature a subliminal computer program in an esoteric Saturday posting. This becomes a little more difficult because I am a Mac person, so it seems essential to feature one that would work for regular PCs and Macs. I persevered, though.

The software is called Subliminal Message from Custom Solutions of Maryland and it is a free program. I downloaded it before writing this just to get a feel for it. On the Mac, it runs in the background...even as I type this, every now and them I perceived a bit of a flash. I see the flash because it has a user interface that allows one to set the darkness level and the speed of which it flashes. So I have it where I can see it at the moment. The interesting thing is that it lets you set your own suggestions as text or images.



To learn more about this or to download it, visit customsolutionsofmaryland.50megs.com. Please keep in mind that this is freeware, which means that the creator is giving it away just for the sake of it. To encourage these kind souls continue their work, please consider making a donation to the software creator.

If anyone tries this on a PC operating system and would like to comment on how it works with that, it would be appreciated, as would any comments!

Esoteric Celebrity Weight Loss

Good morning! Coffee, coffee, coffee. So, let's see. I think today we will address the trivial news side of hypnosis. That is not really being fair, it is not trivial to the person involved, and its been a nice thumbs up for hypnosis.

I am talking about Lily Allen's recent jaunt from a size 12 to size eight using hypnosis. Not familiar with the creative compositions of Ms. Allen? Well, I cannot leave you wondering...




According to the DailyRecord.co.uk in their article How Stars Turn To Hypnosis And Other Diet Techniques Lily paid £300 an hour for hypnotic suggestions to increase her desire to exercise. If she does not exercise, she feels bad.

So, kudos to Lily!

The article also features some other ways in which celebrities engage in weight loss. The purple diet...hmmm....