GateKeeper Alternative Guidance

Article reprinted from the MetaPhysicalTimes - Spring 2010:

When someone living in Ancient Egypt had a health issue (in body or mind) they could go to a sleep or dream temple.  In Egypt the tradition of healing or sleeping temples date back some 4,000 years to the time of Imhotep, who served as High Priest of the sun god, Ra. The treatment generally included chanting, placing the patient into a trance (we would call it hypnotic) state, and then analyze their dreams in order to determine the right treatment, which would have been sent to the patient from Imhotep while they slept.

These kinds of sleep or dream temples could be found throughout the ancient world, in places like Turkey, Rome and Greece.  In Greece, sleep temples were dedicated to the healing god Asclepios, the god of medicine, and his temples were known as Asclepieion. Asclepios had two daughters, Hygea and Panacea. A Klínè was a sacred spot or a sacred blanket set outside on the ground near the temple, where the sick person would go to enter the dream state. From these names we get the words, Panacea, Hygiene and Clinic. The people who came to these temples were known as Seekers. The Priests/Priestesses of the temple put the patient into a trance state.  It was believed that Asclepios came to them while in this state and the dreams of the seeker contained the seeds of their own healing. The healing work was called incubation (we call it hypnotism). Through incubation, the seeker was to awaken to his real self and in so doing regenerate himself physically, mentally and spiritually. The ancient Romans also had their sleep temples and carried this tradition into some of their colonies, such as England.  In 1928 Sir Mortimer Wheeler unearthed a Roman Sleep temple at Lydney Park, aided a young J.R.R. Tolkien.  Some say that the image of the temple and its surroundings influenced much of the scenery and landscapes in his books – The Lord of the Rings.

In India self-hypnosis techniques are still used during meditation to calm the body and the mind. The Indian equivalent of hypnosis is sammohan.  It has been practiced in India since Vedic times – thousands of years ago. No yoga and meditation is possible without self-hypnosis. The aboriginal people of Australia have used hypnosis for thousands of years; it is thought hypnosis is one explanation for the aboriginal "Dream Time" altered states of consciousness. In Chinese medicine there is a healing system based on hypnotic trance called Qigong (Chi-gong), or exorcise of vital energy. Practitioners believe it increases mental and physical energy. Fire-walkers and hands on healers bring about the necessary catatonic state in themselves or others by use of self-hypnosis and rapid induction techniques that create the all-important altered state of consciousness for their work.

Hypnosis in Modern History - Mesmer and Braid

Some say that the father of modern hypnotism was Dr. Franz Mesmer, who was born in Germany and practiced medicine in Vienna and Paris.  Mesmer believed hypnosis to be a mystical force flowing from the hypnotist into the subject.  He called it animal magnetism. The magical element of his theory was quickly dismissed, but Mesmer's assumption, that the power behind hypnosis came from the hypnotist and was transferred to the subject, took hold for some time. Hypnosis was originally known as mesmerism, after Mesmer, and its derivative, "mesmerize," is still used today.

However, there are many others who insist that the title of Father of modern hypnotism rightfully belongs to James Braid.  James was born in Scotland in 1795 and became a physician and surgeon.  In 1843 he first coined the term hypnotism as an abbreviation for "neuro-hypnotism" or nervous sleep (that is, sleep of the nerves), and it is from his influential work that others derived the term "hypnosis". Braid completely rejected Franz Mesmer's idea that a magnetic fluid caused hypnotic phenomena, because anyone could produce them in himself with the proper guidance. He believed it was an intense abstraction or concentration of attention that would bring about the trance state, by causing the subject to fix their thoughts and sight on an object, and slow down their respiration.

It is thought that the researches of Dr. James Braid placed hypnosis on a more modern and scientific basis.  He also preferred to use the term hypnotism rather than mesmerism to move the phenomenon even further away from the past doctor’s work, thus aiding its acceptance into the medical profession.

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is an altered mental state or a condition (trance state) in which, from the outside, they may seem to be asleep but in fact they are very aware and even more conscious than in normal waking state.  In many medical and psychological texts it is defined as a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility, with diminished peripheral awareness, where the subject experiences physical relaxation accompanied and induced by mental concentration.

There are many ways to move into this altered state of consciousness; either on one’s own or guided by some form of procedure known as hypnotic induction given by a person  beside you or from a recording of the induction. No matter how hypnosis is introduced, all forms of hypnosis are, in truth, self-hypnosis.  It is the Self that leaves behind the critical mind of the ego consciousness (conscious mind) and it is Self who goes into the altered state or trance state, thus opening to the subconscious mind and inner realms.

There are many myths and misconceptions about hypnosis. The most important one to keep in mind is about control.  Many people fear hypnosis because they are afraid they will loose control, that the hypnotist will be in control of them, make them do things they don’t want to do. That could not be further from the truth. No one can make you do anything you do not want or do not choose to do.  You are always in control.  Unless the subject is in a very deep level of trance, they will hear everything that is said while they are in the altered state, and they will remember their experience when they have returned to their conscious mind.  Another common misconception is that only people with weak minds can go into hypnosis. The truth is that the more intelligent a person is the better hypnosis will work for them.  If a person has an IQ of less than 70 they will not be able to concentrate or focus their mind enough to move into the altered or trance state. 

Hypnosis is a state of mind that is very familiar and common to each of us.  Most people are in some form of trance state or hypnosis 5 or more times in a given day.  We experience hypnotic trances on a daily basis when we are driving on automatic, daydreaming, riveted on a movie or TV program, reading a book, painting, listening to music, in fact anything where your natural sense of time and place are suspended and you are oblivious to the activities or chaos around you.  Self-hypnosis techniques for relaxation or concentration can be used to bring about many health and well-being benefits, including reducing stress and tension, relieving headaches, managing chronic pain, insomnia, improve skills in sports or study, or overcome fears and phobias.  Hypnosis can use it to quit smoking, improve memory, control weight, or many other avenues to bring an improvement to the quality of life. 

I would highly recommend that anyone who is seeking this modality, no matter what the reasons or goals, find a trained professional.  Find someone who is certified through a professionally managed organization such as the National Guild of Hypnotists (www.ngh.org), who offer a referral service on their website for their members.  Any hypnotist on that list is going to be professional, reliable, and maintains the high standards and ethics of their organization.  In other words, ask for their credentials and be a well-informed consumer.  This kind of work is for our health and well-being and it is important to have confidence in your hypnotist. 

Stage Hypnosis

I am not trained in this art, although I did take a one day seminar just to understand what this is and how it is different from what I do.  Stage Hypnosis is for entertainment purposes only.  It uses what we call rapid induction techniques that put the volunteer into a light trance state almost instantly (I’ve done it, it works, oddly enough).  The hypnotist will screen each person that comes up on stage to judge their suggestibility (how easily they will take suggestion and follow directives); the ones in which there appears to be any form of resistance are quickly sent back to their seats.  The rest remain and are part of the show.  They have volunteered; they have given permission just by stepping up on the stage.  Remember, no one can make you do anything you do not want to do – that being said, some people enjoy clucking like a chicken in front of an audience of strangers!

The one Hypnosis show I have seen was done beautifully, was truly funny, and no one was injured or hugely embarrassed in the process.  The hypnotist knew his art and his audience and it was a very enjoyable event.  But, I have heard horror stories and I doubt I would ever be one of those volunteers, even though I know myself to be highly suggestible and very hypnotizable.

        Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

                    - Mark Twain

Hypnosis is an ancient art of self-healing that has been around for thousands of years. Many cultures, ancient and modern, have used hypnosis in various forms and methods. Hypnosis has many names, including meditation, trance, creative inspiration, guided imagery, or simply daydreaming. It is also described as suspending disbelief. Whatever name it is given, hypnosis is a very real experience that can be applied to all levels of healing and growth. Today many doctors and other health professionals recognize the benefits and assistance that hypnosis can provide.

The dictionary defines hypnosis as a state of sleep-like consciousness deliberately induced, and characterized by a greatly heightened suggestibility. However, being in hypnosis is nothing like being asleep. Henry Bolduc, who teaches self-hypnosis and regression therapy, and has written many books about it, writes that while a person in hypnosis may appear to be asleep to an outside observer, they are not asleep. A person in hypnosis is fully aware of everything that is going on around them, they are in control, and they can accept or to reject anything said or suggested to them. Being in hypnosis is a very personal experience that cannot be duplicated. It can be very helpful for personal growth and exploration, for spiritual journeys and quests, as well as self-healing on many levels.

There are many myths and misunderstandings about hypnosis, based on misconception and misrepresentation from the media, incorrect information, and superstition. For example, there are no gender or intelligence requirements for a good experience with hypnosis. A hypnotist cannot make you do anything that goes against your own values and moral code. Being in hypnosis is not dangerous. It is like being absorbed in something, or being so totally focused on one thought that everything else fades into the background, something we all do every day. The best source for the truth about hypnosis is a professionally trained hypnotist.

According to hypnosis experts such as Michael Talbot, Henry Bolduc, and Brian Weiss, all forms of hypnosis are basically self-hypnosis. The hypnotist is there to act as a guide and translator on this journey of growth and self-realization. These techniques promote healthy choices in daily life, and help create a balanced sense of self. They help the client to create a cooperative relationship between their mind and their body, between the conscious self and the subconscious or higher mind. They guide the client towards their goals and objectives, promoting a greater sense of their own inner wisdom and truth. Working with hypnosis techniques can help the client release limiting beliefs, control stress and tension, stop smoking, overcome fears, heal the inner child, promote healing from within. It can also help improve existing skills and talents, connect with others, explore their own past, and create a better future.

Being in hypnosis is to be an altered state of consciousness, much like the state of mind when one is drifting off to sleep or just waking up. It is like being very aware and relaxed at the same time. The brain waves of a person who is in an altered state of consciousness strongly resemble those of a person who is extremely aware and conscious. It is while in this altered state of consciousness that unconscious material is can be lifted to the conscious level. There it can be examined and explored, and suggestions can be made for guidance, healing and growth.

Hypnosis uses post hypnotic suggestion to re-program the conscious mind and processes in order to aid in changing behaviors such as negative self-talk and limiting beliefs, as well as releasing self-destructive habits like smoking, stress and weight management.  Also helpful for improving quality of life when dealing with chronic pain and health disorders such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraines & headaches and back pain.   

Edgar Cayce once said self-healing is the best help. These techniques enable you to manage and control obstacles or objectives you have, including stress, relationship issues, etc. A person's thoughts and feelings can influence actions, beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes which help determine our future circumstances. Attitudes and beliefs begin in the mind. When you build better thoughts, you automatically build a better life for yourself. Hypnosis and regression work can help improve the quality of life, in terms of daily experiences, and on a larger scale, in terms of the obstacles and challenges each individual must face. 

Hypnosis  is a powerful modality for healing, allowing the client to live their life as they were intended to do, thus empowering and enabling each client to be the best they can be. The intention for hypnosis, as with any alternative healing modality, is as complimentary to regular medical therapies. If you have a medical health condition or issue, please be sure to consult your own professional health practitioners and follow their guidance.  Always tell your doctor if you are using an alternative therapy or if you are thinking about combining an alternative therapy with your conventional medical treatment. 

“…today it's considered a respected therapeutic tool, a well-established method of reaching the subconscious mind. Many patients have tried it and successfully cut back on smoking or overeating…”Connie Chung,-Eye-to-Eye, 12/94