Is it Monday Already?

How did that happen? I was just posting Sir Elton, so it seems.

Well, it is Monday and a bit hurried at that. Hopefully yours is more sane?

You have probably seen this week's poll. Still playing off the theme from this past weekend and yesterday. We sort of touched on this as a Sunday Question awhile ago with favorite inductions. This is under the realm of preferred prop, etc. to use during hypnosis (perhaps not just the induction). If you prefer multiple items or something not mentioned (or even want to go into depth more), feel free to post those under the comments on this posting.

And, if you are not a hypnotist, but a client of one and want to answer as to which you have enjoyed the most, well, that counts, too.

Embracing the Stereotype - The Sunday Question

My partner likes to say that there is a reason for stereotypes. Normally, I am the type of gal who prefers to defy such societal constraints (in the most adult way possible of course). But today I feel like embracing the stereotype.

Friday's conversation with Paul inspired today's question:

What would the ultimate prop be (look like, function, etc.) for a prop induction, such as watch or pendulum or what have you and why?

Personally, I rather like the little glow in the dark star I have placed on the wall of a dark corner of the office. It does not require any eye-hand-coordination from me and allows me to give my full attention to the client.

Last year at the NGH conference I attended a very cool seminar on gizmos for inductions (Lee, I think you went to that as well and the hypnotist who presents it is a friend of yours?). She had some great toys and I noticed it is on the schedule this year, so if you have not experienced it, you should check it out.

Esoteric Teenage Years

There is the greatest song ever written. Yep, one that has stayed with me since high school and one that never, ever grows old. Surely you have one of these? The one that when you hear it creates an almost unmentionable ache.

And quoting it for years (and butterflies are free), I wonder how much of this song has influenced my life, especially the hypnosis part...what I think my subconscious mind heard - hypnotize me, sweet freedom. The dark side of Ellie Blunt.




Many thanks to the person who posted this on youtube.com.

Here are the lyrics to Elton John's Someone Saved My Life Tonight:

When I think of those east end lights, muggy nights
The curtains drawn in the little room downstairs
Prima donna lord you really should have been there
Sitting like a princess perched in her electric chair
And its one more beer and I don't hear you anymore
We've all gone crazy lately
My friends out there rolling round the basement floor

And someone saved my life tonight sugar bear
You almost had your hooks in me didn't you dear
You nearly had me roped and tied
Altar-bound, hypnotized
Sweet freedom whispered in my ear
You're a butterfly
And butterflies are free to fly
Fly away, high away, bye bye

I never realised the passing hours of evening showers
A slip noose hanging in my darkest dreams
I'm strangled by your haunted social scene
Just a pawn out-played by a dominating queen
Its four o'clock in the morning
Damn it listen to me good
I'm sleeping with myself tonight
Saved in time, thank God my musics still alive

And I would have walked head on into the deep end of the river
Clinging to your stocks and bonds
Paying your h.p. demands forever
They're coming in the morning with a truck to take me home
Someone saved my life tonight, someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight, someone saved my life tonight
Someone saved my life tonight
So save your strength and run the field you play alone

Another Snippett

It was good to hear that Paul is still getting the old, "do you use a pocket watch?" question when he tells people of his interest in hypnosis.

I thought of another type of comment I have gotten a few times upon telling people about my involvement with hypnosis.

"That's very interesting. I already quit smoking so I don't really have a need for any hypnosis, but that's very interesting."

This is a fun response because it says so much. It says that they at least heard what you said. It says they know just a little about hypnosis. It says either you are coming off with a marketing pitch in your introductions (which I suppose is quite possible) or that that is how they network: looking for that balance of what can I do for you, what can you do for me. I suspect the answer is how that comment is delivered. It may also say, I would like to hear more or change the subject please. Gosh but I love social communication.

But, no matter what, it is still a great opening for, "Ah, true enough, but there is so much more that hypnosis is used for these days."

That keeps the dialogue flowing and voilà, instant education opportunity.

Perhaps this is arcane subject matter for me to bring up, but there was a time when such comments would end the conversation with me (I can be a little slow on the uptake), but I have gotten it enough that I finally understand it could make for an interesting conversation.

Conversation Snippets

The other night I dined with a few friends, and a few would-be friends (I had just met them). And as we had not met before, one inevitably asked what I do for a living (yes, I am in the states currently). So, I told them. One thought it was pretty cool. And then there was the biological studies major, who informed me he had spent some time studying hypnosis in a psychology class. They had dedicated something like eight hours (I think it may have been six, but I feel generous today) to discussion, theory, and perhaps practice? He told me in that reverent-I-am-in-college-so-I-know way, that the class came to the conclusion that hypnosis only works if you believe in it. Whenever I hear that I cannot help but think of Peter Pan and "clap your hands if you believe in fairies." And then he dismissed the subject and we were on to quantum psychics.

Now in reading that last paragraph you may think I am being condescending to college students, so let me get this straight. Having enough degrees myself, I find college students charming with fresh optimism (and gosh I hope they all keep it) and often self-confidence. When they are new to the world like that they show a wonderful worldliness of experience (their own or that surmised). I say all this is a fond reminiscent way.

This is where I really find people's reactions to hypnosis interesting. As a practitioner, it is so much a part of my life, perhaps I take it for granted. It is there when I need it for self-work, and it is there when clients need it, and seek it. But I find people who are not enmeshed in it a nice break from reality, especially the ones who know just enough to have a conversation.

Then dinner conversation continued on to topics such as future plans, curing cancer, and just as abruptly as changing the subject from hypnosis to quantum psychics, the conversation turned to say-I-think-they-have-bread-pudding-for-dessert.

The Widget

Okay, this is just so cool, I have to say something.

Yesterday I added the widget from iratemyday.com to monitor my moods. Today, I updated it, but at first it did not appear to change on my blog. I was a bit bummed. But when I checked a moment ago, indeed it did change to show my mood.

Fun, fun, fun.

The Command

Still on a parenting kick, as I have a few clients I am working with in this genre (coincident? Universal consciousness? After I posted about childing-birthing hypno, a client just came to me to help her lessen anxiety about an upcoming adoption). In finding resources to send her way, I stumbled across an interview on the New Millennium Series (I think they are not very recent) with Charles Thomas Cayce, a child psychologist.

During this interview on raising children intuitively, he mentioned a story about his own daughter. She was (is?) a teenager who had some insomnia issues. So Dr. Cayce created a suggestion tape for her to listen to at night so she would sleep better. It worked and it sounds like the issues have gone away.

It is all good up to this point. He suggest other parent try this route - remembering that this is not hypnosis. WHAT? The tape part is all good, but why is it not hypnosis? He goes on to explain this. It is not hypnosis because when giving the suggestions, you as the parent, do not use commands or a commanding voice. You give gentle suggestions.

Ummm.

So therefore, is the definition for hypnosis something to the effect of: Hypnosis is a command issued to another during a relaxed state?

It is interesting to hear what the psychology world thinks about hypnosis. The odd notions that are batted about and then you have people like Dr. Eimer and Dr. Peterson who utilize it in their practices in a very positive way, very worthy of a hurrah from those who only practice it.

Perhaps I am not being fair to Dr. Cayce. He is the grandson of Edgar Cayce. If you ever look at any of the Cayce Readings of which Edgar Cayce gave when in a state of hypnosis, his conductor (nice word) used commanding language. And I am not judging Dr. Cayce's utilization of hypnosis. I suspect if he does use it in his practice, he's probably brilliant. His use of suggestion with his daughter is a wonderful story, but a rose by any other name is still a rose.