The Transparent Hypnotist

Photograph by hegarty_david

I am slow. Really. Here it is December and I am just now planning January events at my office. But, in my own defense (take that psyche), ideas just began to gel about this new project. Well, new may “new” is not the word for it - maybe “continuation” would be more suitable. When I started thinking about writing yesterday’s post about how photographs can be misleading when it comes to seeing weight loss final results (based on the photographer, lighting, angles and lens), I went back through comments and email from my weight loss clients.

Over a year ago, I blogged a bit about a hypnosis weight loss group I formed. We had a lot of fun, and the synchronicity of ideas that made the experience enjoyable was more than I had ever hoped. Beyond the hypnosis work we did weekly, we also walked together, had a healthy meal a week together, and danced together. So, what has happened to that original group? Did they reach their weight goals and maintain their goals? Well, mostly. Most made the lifestyle changes needed to keep their healthy weight and their families also received the benefits (one family lost a total of a hundred some pounds just based on food choices). But there was some slippage, as well. There were a few that succumbed to bad eating habits due to stress (one blames the economy). One could not get her support system in balance and her husband gave her such a hard time about changing the family diet, she felt completely sabotaged. Talk about a self-esteem buster.

Most of the group has more or less stayed in touch and have asked if I would hold a monthly meeting for all my weight loss clients.They feel they can really help one another and even just hypnosis for relaxation would help them continue on their healthy path. The idea that they became a support system for one another was fairly important and when the group stopped meeting, in some case (see above paragraph), the results fluctuated a bit.

So, maintaing a support group is my next endeavor for January.

Photograph by zeon7

The flash of the camera is barely blinding and goes off so frequently that it is almost unnoticeable. What would seem like obnoxious, invading paparazzi is otherwise, is accepted because it is your friends and family that control the trigger (whoops - Freudian slip - I meant to say shutter). Some still insist on using film, so you forget about those latent images until they surface at another gathering. You make appreciative sounds as you look at the pictures of the wonderful memory. And for those using digital cameras, they show you the pictures right then and there, before the image becomes digital air.

The truth is, with the digital air, you may find yourself somewhat relieved that you may never see that photograph of you again with eyes half closed in a blink, exposed in some unflattering pose, or with huge hips because of the evils of the wide angle (it is the camera really - my hips cannot be that big). And the next truth is that maybe you dread looking at those images because they are completely unflattering and remind you that your body is not remotely as you would wish.

These are some of the things weight loss clients have shared with me in their journey toward their weight goals. The kicker is that even after these people lost their weight, in some cases toned their bodies through exercise, they look at random photos taken by others and are still unhappy with themselves, no matter what positive messages their clothing sizes or scales send them.

Here is the rub, people. Just because someone has a camera, does not mean that they will be able to take fabulous pictures of you. Odd camera angles, wrong lens, bad lighting and other factors can distort your actual image. The camera can, in fact, lie. One thing I am doing for my recent weight loss group is having a professional portrait photographer come in and do both the before and after picture of my clients. Their before pictures do not need to be hideous because I would rather the client see themselves in the same conditions before and after, so they can get a better comparison.

The other thing my clients did was their own weekly photographic journal of images. For this, the same photographer gave them a self portrait workshop. This proved really handy. The first thing he suggested was buying an inexpensive tripod, rather than just holding the camera out at arms length (bad angles for most people).

I started thinking about this recently when I saw a new product that might be better than a typical tripod that I think would be helpful for these photo diaries. It is called the xshot. Basically it is an extension rod that the camera can be attached to for a handheld pictures in a way that allows optimized self-portraits. It gives one flexibility with more angles and the option of a more flattering camera lens distance. Also, it is compact. It collapses to just nine inches for easy (and light ) carrying.

So the gist is that you attach your compact camera via a quick spin knob (no quick release adapters to lose). Then you chose your angle (the adapter rotates 180 degrees), extended the extension (37 inches), set your self-timer and hold out the rod with the camera attached at your height level (camera facing you of course).

Here is the truly fun aspect of this. When you are at gathering where other people bring out the cameras, just pull out the xshot, along with your own camera and take control of the situation. Put yourself in the festive pictures with your friends and family and shoot away. The best thing is that you get to pick the angle and the lens, perhaps receiving happier results. Then when it comes time to share the images, you will have your own memories where maybe, just maybe you like the way you are preserved in the moment.

The world, dark as it still is as I write this, is cranking along. In the hypnosis world, not much has pinged into my inbox since I did an update last Wednesday. There was one really good interview with hypnotist Kathryn L. Maxham, from Westminster, MA, in the Worcester Telegram.

So to start our week, let us center our attention on another Blogger’s Unite Day. If you are wondering why I have been posting a few posts in the last few months about Blogger’s Unite Day, it is because the program has gone monthly. Today’s topic is World Aids Day. How odd it is to think about the progression of HIV through time and how the younger generations, waiting in line for their own maturity, have not known a world without AIDS. I do remember a world without its threatening tentacles destroying homosexuals and now the drug-user populace, and other loved ones. But, life has adapted. We have adapted and it is just a part of how we think - some of us protecting ourselves, others choosing Russian Roulette.

To learn more about AIDS prevention, treatment, and research, visit these links:

• Learn the Link - from the NIDA
• blog.aids.gov

On another tangent, I would really like to make a mention of Mike Golch and his blog Rambling Stuff. He is a fellow entrecarder and has faithfully stopped by here everyday for the past two months, even though he is not a hypnotist (as far as I know). A few months ago, I actually began to pay attention to my entrecard statistics. Rather than just listing my top droppers, I have begun sending tokens of credits to those who drop everyday for a month (I know what a big commitment that is). I wanted to do something extra nice for those who do it for consistently for longer periods, so this is how I am beginning that process. Thanks again, Mike.

Photograph by mikebaird

There are no birds chirping outside my window, in fact the only real noticeable sound is the hum of the heating system. I guess the birds have migrated and have left me here alone (for the time being) to contemplate artificial tweets. Yes, I am talking about the chirp, chirp, chirp of the busy internet nest known as Twitter.

Last month when I was busy with my journey of apple fasting, I thought it would be fun to give Twitter a go, thus letting people know in a short succinct way what was happening with the fast. As the week progressed I began to lag on my tweets and have not really gone back to it (until today when I began writing this post).

I am apparently missing something. I notice lots of short one-liner repartee that goes on between people. Is that the draw? The idea of being connected and only having to write short amounts in volley to what someone else writes?

Debbie Lane, a few months ago mentioned she had gone to a seminar on blogging and they suggested Twitter as a must. I know she is busy Twittering now as I write this (Debbie did you leave entrecard?), but I am not sure I get this whole phenomenon. I read about it constantly. It seems to always be somewhere in the internet news. So what is the deal?

My question for the day is what purpose does Twitter serve for you? Why do you or do you not Twitter? How has it benefitted you?

P.S.

If you are looking for me on Twitter, I am ellieblunt.

Now that there are turkey sandwiches in the making and Black Friday’s malay is over (let’s say a prayer for the gentleman who was trampled to death at a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, NY), we can look forward to Cyber Monday. Personally, I managed to avoid the darkness of Black Friday, its blatant commercialism and materialism (though I understand that good deal is a good deal), and am now indulging in my own cup of capitalism.

I have spent the early morning playing with CEIVA’s Sit on Santa’s Lap Experience. Basically it is a kitsch sort of thing, selling CEIVA’s digital frames, which are pretty interesting in themselves. They offer a picture plan so that people can send images to the frame (family and friends) no matter where in the world they live. Pretty unique. The Experience is also advertising their Got a Wish Sweeepstakes. You can upload your photo (I used my avatar from a past Esoteric Saturday) and the premise is that you get to sit on Santa’s lap (supposing that you did such things when you were a child) and tell him your Christmas wish. But it makes a nice technological switch because basically your picture shows up in a frame at Santa’s workshop and he discovers your you wish by looking it up in a book. At the end of the Experience, you have an opportunity to win your wish - or rather $500. For several days, leading up to Christmas, Santa will pick a name daily and award the prize to that person.

So, the question is - what is the Transparent Hypnotist’s Christmas Wish? Sure I can go all out and wish for a new video system for the office or how about those chairs by Martha Stewart, but that seems so selfish for some reason. It is all always “me, me, me, me, me.” Yuck. So, I could wish for the overachievement and cliche of world peace (good luck with that, Santa). Okay, as you can read, I have given this a bit of a thought.

Here is my Christmas Wish. It is still a bit self-serving, but it also fills that philanthropic need I have just now. My Christmas Wish is to help women who have suffered from years of abuse, gain some self-esteem and make positive changes in their life. This is a cause very near and dear to me. And perhaps, with a bit of Santa help in the form of $500, I could embark on a not-for-profit venture to work with those in battered women shelters here locally. This way, as a hypnotist, I can pay for the fundamentals needed in beginning such a campaign.

There, that’s my esoteric Christmas wish. What is yours?

Location: Wilmington, DE
Cyber Location: www.delawarehypnosis.com

1. Are you a full time hypnotist, part-time or hobbyist?

I am a full time hypnotist and have been for the last four and a half years. Before that I worked one and a half years part-time as a hypnotist and 18 years as a registered nurse.

2. Do you specialize in any type of hypnosis?

My training is as a 5PATH™ hypnotist, having trained with Calvin Banyan. 5PATH™ is the primary modality I use when I work with clients and is very effective for addressing the majority of reasons people who come to see me. I am also a HypnoBirthing™ —The Mongan Method practitioner and 7th Path-Transformation Self-hypnosis teacher.

3. Is there any type of hypnosis you do not do? Why?

I am not trained in conducting Past Life Regression sessions.

4. Do you use self-hypnosis regularly in your life? If so, how?

Yes, I regularly practice 7th Path™ - Transformation Self-Hypnosis. I was taught 7th Path™ by Calvin Banyan during my training. I am also a 7th Path™ teacher, incorporating it into individual sessions and as a stand alone course. To witness the benefits clients receive and not do so for myself would be sad and a disservice to my clients and myself. I also found hypnosis is wonderful when getting a tattoo.

5. Describe your hypnosis office or work setting.

Let me first say I love my office. Delaware Hypnosis Partners is located below ground which creates a safe, womb-like environment (I’m an OB nurse, hence the analogy). The outer office is where new clients view DVDs on “The Truth About Hypnosis” and “The Secret Language of Feelings”. It is also where I teach classes. The inner office is where individual sessions are conducted. To the right are two chairs where new clients and I talk before doing hypnosis together for the first time. We review their paperwork, go over the benefits of the change they’re coming to see me for, and answer any questions they have. Once we’ve done that I ask them if they want to do hypnosis with me and we go over to the area on the left where there’s a large, comfortable recliner for them to sit on. I sit on a chair next to them. Oh, and there’s a desk in the left corner of the room. To see my office click on the MTV icon on the home page of my web site at www.delawarehypnosis.com

6. Describe a typical day in your life.

I am in the office four days a week and see up to 3 clients per day (9am-2:30pm). I would see more clients but I have school aged children at home who need me to pick them up at the end of school. Mondays I work from home tending to the business aspects of running a business—marketing, advertising, call backs, making CDs, writing proposals for conferences, networking, etc.. I teach 7th Path™ and HypnoBirthing—The Mongan Method classes quarterly either in the evening or on Saturdays.

7. Where did you get your training in hypnosis and are you certified?

I was certified by the National Guild of Hypnotists along with advanced training as a 5PATH™ hypnotist November, 2002.

8. Most fabulous hypnosis technique you use?

I have to name two techniques: Age Regression and Forgiveness techniques. Age Regression allows a client to get to the root cause of why they’re doing what they’re doing with clarity and understanding unlike they’ve ever experienced before. Forgiveness provides a process that frees them from the emotional baggage they’ve been carrying so they are able to move into their future anew.

9. Worse moment ever in a hypnosis setting that ended up being valuable learning experience.

A client rapidly and abruptly emerged herself from a very deep level of hypnosis that created disorientation such that she couldn’t remember where she was or why she was there. Then and there I witnessed how the integration of information needs a slower, more deliberate emerging process. I realized she hadn’t completely emerged and regressed her back to the beginning of her day. She opened her eyes again, more aware of where she was but still left with questions. I answered her questions in a reassuring manner, and over the course of five minutes she was fully oriented. She described the experience as if she was in a disruption of the “time space continuum” (she is a Star Trek fan and so am I) and just needed to get back in sync.

10. Any words of advice to potential clients or other hypnotist.

Advice to potential clients: If you’re wanting or needing change in your life, hypnosis is an incredible tool to make it happen. I’m biased to going to the root of why you do what you do, clearing out a cow pie versus putting frosting on it. Interview a prospective hypnotist on the phone so you can get a real feel for them and have all your questions answered. Learn more about hypnosis by going to www.ngh.net

Advice to other hypnotists: Do what you love and do it well. Always be open to learn.

The sun is shining brightly. There is the Macy’s parade (is it the Christmas Parade or the Thanksgiving parade or both?). There is 8 o’clock coffee and a warm cat sleeping beside the computer. There is hope for good food and a time to just be grateful we are alive, sheltered, and that there are good friends and family. Even if you are an isolated type, hermited with your blogging activities, you too are not alone, but cherished in this cyber realm.

These are the things for which I am grateful. But there are so many amazing places to visit on this day of giving thanks that say gratitude in meaningful ways, I am going to share my current favorite five with you.

1. The Gratitude Campaign. Scott Truitt has devised a wonderful way, using gesture, to say thank you to our service men and women.
2. The Gratitude Experiment. This begins with a beautiful, visual meditation about gratitude. If you enjoy it, you can join the experiment for a 42 day process. For each of the 42 days, you will receive via email, more short meditations to help you increase the gratitude and positive energy in your life (I may under take this on The Unwinding Path. Care to join me? It is free.).
3. Paul Gaston’s NPR Gratitude List MP3. Paul does a quick segment on all the things he is grateful for in Ohio.
4. The Gratitude List. Pick the top 10 things you are grateful for and add it to the list.
5. Natalie Merchant-Kind And Generous. It think this says it all, my faithful (and new) readers. Thank you for your generosity and honesty that you gave me (and give me) in the day-to-day processes of this blog.

Photograph by katmere

Though it is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and all in the house are prepared to feast tomorrow (a hypnotist, her partner, and a cat), I am pretending that today is Monday. I have been remiss in my scheduled blogging posts, but some would say being too predictable is not a positive. LOL. So, here is what has transpired in the world of hypnosis since I last blogged about it.

Good

Everyday there seems to be a proliferation of people who mention that they have Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Crohn’s Disease (sometimes I wonder if these are not fad diseases similar to the likes of ADD - I am not saying people do not suffer from them, but sometimes I think there is a rut and its easy enough to foist people into categories for quick, cross-your-fingers-and hope-it-works treatment, but I digress). Like so many things out there, there are various ways to treat the problems. One can do medication, diet changes, and of course, hypnosis. For those of you reading this that suffer from the symptoms of IBS or Crohn’ (or are just curious), US News and World Report did a wonderful article on using hypnosis for treating both IBS and Crohn’s.

How odd our preconceived notions can be. They tell so much about a person - for instance how little I know about hypnosis in Iran. According to Presstv.ir, rather than having a mother-to-be use hypnosis in the birthing process, Iran now has had two successful cesarians under its belt using hypnosis for anesthesia. Bravo!

But, let’s not forget about using hypnosis to help with non-cesarian births. We have mentioned using hypnosis for birthing practices many times, but there seems to be momentum gaining on this particular hypnotic genre. NBC Augusta

And we can also talk more about the trademarked hypnobirthing with Lasi Leavy, a certified doula, and a childbirth hypnosis instructor with Hypnobabies. Learn more about this program by reading the www.readingeagle.com article.

Congrats go to Daniel Araoz, a practicing psychoanalyst and internationally known author who helped shape the “New Hypnosis,” a treatment model using both psychoanalysis and hypnosis, who just received the title of Senior Professor at at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.

The Bad (as in super cool)

This category is usually reserved for news about celebrities using hypnosis for smoking cessation, weight loss, or even in creative pursuits. Now the tables are turning, and I find myself writing about a celebrity who has become a hypnotist. Catherine Hickland of One Life to Live has been studying the art of hypnosis and has just done her first comedy hypnosis show. Very cool, Catherine! (media.www.asuherald.com).

Odd or Controversial

Let’s go back in time a bit, perhaps to February 1980. We are at the University of Alabama. There are two young, female college students. One shoots the other in the back of the head, twice. Now we have one dead college freshman, and another who has not been convicted in those 20 years. Now 47, Jamie Kellam Letson has been arrested for the murder. For years police have pointed at her with suspicion, until now when they finally arrested her. But that is not what has caught my attention. Instead it is a reference to hypnosis - that the detective tried to have Letson hypnotized because:

“A lot of times under hypnosis people will tell you something they wouldn’t tell you otherwise,” he said. “I wanted her to go under.”

So, he had her hypnotized by a doctor, who ended the session abruptly without giving a reason for the conclusion. Interesting statements all in all. This is another myth that seems to float around out there - that hypnosis can be used as a lie detective sort of test. In reality, when people are in a hypnotic state, they can lie very convincingly. Sure in some cases (not many any more), some people use hypnosis to remember details, but that is different than trying to get someone to “tell you something they wouldn’t tell you otherwise.” I suspect the doctor in the case had many reasons to stop the hypnotic process (al.com).

Abortion - the USA’s dirty little dark side, something still not to be talked about in good company. However, a certain study done in Canada found that hypnosis helps reduce the pain of having an abortion. The ramifications for this are substantial, but in a good way. If hypnosis helps reduce the pain in this procedure, it may help reduce the pain involved with other gynecological procedures that are extraordinarily painful (doctor.ndtv.com).

Good Interviews with Hypnotists

Lisa Cairns, hypnotist for Newcastle’s St Oswald’s Hospice in Tyneside, is currently working on her PhD, which involves a study on using hypnosis to help control symptoms in patients with motor neurone disease (www.chroniclelive.co.uk).

Rona French of HArmony Hypnosis in Hilton Head, SC (www.islandpacket.com). She discusses waking hypnosis.

Peter Mabbutt, Director of Studies at the London College of Clinical Hypnosis (www.brudirect.com.)

So, here it is - night. There was no morning tea. There was no quiet sunrise and you. There was just a quick shower, coffee-to-go and the blurry morning of pure change. I have been writing a bit about the upcoming holidays, never really internalizing it. Sure I can write it, but living it, breathing it - that is a whole different deal. Today I came face to face with it all.

Morning arrived much like it always does (though I switched mattresses and no longer feel like a need a hip replacement). I fed the cats. I stumbled around, nearsightedly looking for my house shoes. I peered under the bed. I checked the laundry hamper, the bathroom, the kitchen, and finally the area where my coats reside in the winter. Ah, yes,there they were - warm comfy Uggs just waiting for my cold feet to slide into their promised warmth. Only, they were not on the floor. They were hovering in the air, held by human hands - familiar human hands. As my focus left the sinewy digits in custody of my prized shoes, and slowly levitated upwards, there was a face - a familiar face. As I squinted to bring facial feature detail into sight, I realized there were two faces - familiar faces.

“Ellie, march back in there and get your walking shoes. We are going out,” said one of my dearest friends, whom I had not seen since …well, the memory falters here in a most unflattering way…let’s just say, in a long while. She and another friend of mine are in town, visiting relatives for Thanksgiving. My partner had apparently let them in while I was showering and had conveniently neglected to tell me we had company.

In the whirl wind that accompanied those first words of my friend, I found myself dragged bodily away from my computer, the blogging realm, and into a hubbub (humbug) of pre-holiday shopping and warm cinnamon rolls, ah the blessed cinnamon rolls. I have finally stumbled back to the quietness of this tranquil cyber space.

I hope your day has been pleasant…and I hope you missed me.

Well, the morning is rapidly disappearing and I feel the need to change things up. Today is busy and crazy, so I am not sure when I will be able to catch things up in the hypnosis world. But for now, I leave you with this quote to ponder:

“We are all in a post-hypnotic trance induced in early infancy.”
R. D. Laing