Adrenaline of Anticipation

Magic. There is magic in the form of the unknown - in packages to be opened, letters unread, and oyster shells. Call it a combination of potential and hope. It is in the adrenaline of anticipation.

This is a bit of free form posting here, but I have been working on potential guided imagery to enhance the idea of hope and the positive energy (I realize the potential of expectation can also happen but that is a problem to be worked around). Hope can really propel something forward. So, I am in search of a metaphor for things that "open," and hence I come back to the oyster shell idea. There is romance in the concept of finding an unopened oyster shell and opening it up to find a pearl (or at least the beginnings of a tasty treat), but what one is really opening up is an oyster shell of hope or anticipation. There is something to this, glimmering and almost ready to come forth.

And I know this is potentially an awkward sort of thing for some because oysters may signify a health risk. However, if one is educated, Gulf oysters and such, can be a positive experience. The Be Oyster Aware web site provides a lot of information about oysters, oyster processing, and addresses health concerns.

Now I realize not everyone who hears my guided visualization will have access to this web site, but it gives me a place to direct those who are concerned. And yes, I am concerned with those who might find oyster imagery stressful. The visualization would have an opposite affect upon these types of people. It is not fear I want to perpetuate but hope.

A Question of Accomplishment

Since we talked about fire walking earlier in the week and using self-hypnosis to get past the fear of taking the first steps, it seems like this Sunday is a good time to contemplate something related to this. No, it is not a simple question of "would you walk over hot coals," but think on a larger scale.

So here is the question:
What sort of task would you use hypnosis to help you accomplish that you might normally not be able to do otherwise?

Sure this is the basis for using hypnosis, what it all boils down too, but in applications such as fire walking or dealing with fear, it is particularly interesting.

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.

No 10 Question Friday

Alas, it is a Friday without our 10 Questions. On the positive side, it means that it has been a busy week for hypnotists. I now extend this invitation out, if you would like to participate in our 10 Questions (you must be involved in hypnosis somehow) or know someone who would be a good candidate for it, please let me know and I will consider it. You can comment here or drop me an email. Even if you are a hobbyist, it still counts.

If you just check in on Friday's, check back next Friday when there will be another 10 Questions. Otherwise, you never know, there might be something more today...

On the Scent of Memory

Morning came again and I got naked. LOL. Actually, I just stepped out of the shower (needed to clear the lungs and there is nothing like the steam from a hot shower to do just that). And as I stood there, eyes closed, water beating down, and hands creating the beginning of a lather on the scalp, I took the first deep breath of the morning. Nan. Maybe that sounds odd, but the smell of lavender from the shampoo immediately brought forth the memory of my grandmother.

And suddenly, I was no longer a tired adult, but a little girl. As I revivified the moment, memories of cool nights on lavender scented sheets seemed real. Transporting time, I sat upon her bed, while she brushed my hair. When she finished I would sniff it (yes, I had long hair as a child) and breath in a subtle lavender scent, as she had scented the hairbrush with lavender water.

Of course, as the hot water ran out, I returned to the current moments and finished up. Now here I sit, rather contented and peaceful with that memory.

In hypnosis and NLP, revivified moments are often a part of what we do. How much stronger the past seems in our mind when in a hypnotic state. But, I have never given much credence to the idea of using scents to perhaps deepen a hypnotic state. I suppose ultimately this would be an adjunct with aromatherapy. Do any of you use it and if so, do the two go together well?



Any how - if you are curious about my hair experience, here's the run down:

Naked Naturals is an all natural shampoo. The one I used was Awapuhi (I have no idea what that is) and Lavender for color-treated hair. The shampoo does not lather up much beyond the scalp area, but so it seems the way of such products. The smell is subtle. The conditioner is nice and does leave hair feeling fairly soft. It boast a list of positive components such as there are no Lauryl or Laureth Sulfates, no DEA or TEA, no artificial colors, no synthetic fragrances, and no harsh chemicals. All good things in my book. As I am a want-to-be vegetarian, I am particularly glad there are no animal by-products. It is all about being naked naturals.

Fire Walking!

Today, I think I want to try fire walking. Anyone else?

Normally, it is quiet here when I sit down with my cup of tea (Assam) and begin the word flow. But today, my morning was filled with the chaotic (if not happy) sounds of Good Morning America. Did you watch it? Well, if not, maybe you should have.

Diane Sawyer and a team of six or seven took a dare to walk across hot coals using self-hypnosis. To do this, they prepped themselves by individually meeting with Dr. David Spiegel, a psychiatrist at Stanford University. He used a 10 point scale to determine their hypnotize ability. Then as a group he worked with them, teaching them a form of NLP and self-hypnosis (I say NLP because that is what it looked like to me, they do not mention it on the show). After a group session, even the most cynical person said it affected them by making the day a little better. You cannot beat that!

And this morning, they actually walked across the hot coals (a few times actually). Diane Sawyer said she did not even feel the heat from the coals until the third step.

All in all, I think it was a great series about hypnosis.

So, if you are reading this - organizers of Hypnoticon - think about offering it at next year's convention. That would be a sure fire way to totally get Ellie Blunt to commit to joining in the fun. LOL.

Have any of you, my beloved readers, ever fire walked before? If so, what was it like?

And for those who missed this morning show, here are a few clips from the whole series:

GMA and Self-hypnosis
GMA and Fire Walking

Source:
ABC News

A Brief Hiatus

Good morning. The Irish Breakfast tea is barely cutting through the slime of waking up today. My condition (whatever that is) appears to have gotten worse than better from my weekend retreat. So, anyone who was jealous, I have gotten my just desserts. I am off to the doctor (which I was hoping to avoid with my insurance woes).

Hang tight, though. If I am back with the daylight hours, I shall try to post something with more substance.

Until then...