| Stage Hypnotism to Hypnotherapy, it’s ALL | | | | I question a society that doesn’t question its |
| Hypnosis – So who’s really in control? | | | | own sub conscious belief system and instead points |
| It seems many are confused about the difference | | | | the finger at external stimuli in order to renounce |
| between Stage Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis | | | | responsibility of the Self. Both the teller and the robber |
| as a practice, and then who is really in control. Even us | | | | played great roles in illustrating the room that is |
| in the profession seem hazy on the difference | | | | available for improvement in the ways of society. |
| between what a Stage Hypnotist and a | | | | We, as individuals, groups, communities, nations, |
| Hypnotherapist does, and even behind what Hypnosis | | | | countries and the world in general create our own |
| implies as compared to Hypnotherapy. Then throw in | | | | reality through our collective consciousness. WE are in |
| the question, Who’s in Control anyway, and it | | | | control – no one else is out there to create |
| gets a little sticky. Add to this the sliding scale of the | | | | Utopia for us. And we cannot attribute blame or |
| practitioners’ level of growth and development, | | | | applause for our reality upon external, “he or |
| and their ability to take on ever evolving perspectives, | | | | she made me do it” circumstances. The |
| and we have an intricate array of outcomes available | | | | concept of Enlightenment or Oblivion is up to the |
| to us. | | | | Collectiveness for its creation. |
| So from my personal perspective I’d like to | | | | To say that the Hypnotist/Hypnotherapist had the |
| clear this up a little. This is only how I see it so what | | | | power and control to make them do it is blatant |
| I’m about to tell you is exactly true, unless of | | | | misunderstanding in interpretation of the mind, and, an |
| course it’s not. You can decide for yourself. | | | | under educated perception of humanity in general. The |
| Lets start with the word Hypnosis, a term initially | | | | subject instead does not want to admit that that |
| coined by Dr James Braid in the early 1840’s. It | | | | tendency, whatever it was, lives within their own |
| comes from the Greek word hypnos which means | | | | psyche and they were looking for license to act out in |
| “Sleep.” Braid originally understood the | | | | a way that their judgement, or societal programming, |
| process of hypnosis to be about the fixation of | | | | would not normally allow them to. In this context |
| attention to bring upon a trance like/slower brainwave | | | | hypnosis becomes the scapegoat due to the |
| state of mind that also relaxed the body into some | | | | underutilized intellect of an imperceptive society. This |
| form of sleep. This was a great discovery and used in | | | | society is in fact hypnotized by their belief systems |
| the 1940’s in places like India, where Scotsman | | | | which have been handed down from one misinformed |
| James Esdaile was practicing hypnosis for painless | | | | generation to the next. It’s time we looked |
| operations where ether was not available. Later, Braid | | | | inside ourselves as a stepping stone to higher |
| recognized it was not sleep that the client experienced | | | | consciousness, instead of this continual pointing of the |
| but a preoccupation with one idea or subject, to which | | | | finger externally. |
| the client was more open to suggestion through an | | | | I find it curious too, that many reject the notion that |
| increased degree of expectation. He attempted to | | | | something good came from within us. We seem to |
| change the name to “Monoideism,” but | | | | have to attribute that to some external Force/God |
| by then the term Hypnosis, which referred to the use | | | | also. Again; we create our own reality. WE are in |
| of “suggestion,” had stuck. | | | | control. We are all ONE. We create our own light and |
| Hypnosis today is therefore a part of the broader | | | | dark, our own good and bad, our own love and fear, |
| category of Hypnotherapy and is also the tool | | | | our own positive and negative, even male and |
| employed by the Stage Hypnotist. Here is where the | | | | female… and it’s not until we can |
| Hypnotherapist and Stage Hypnotist have something in | | | | transcend this duality that we will know this to be true. |
| common; Both a ‘Hypnotist’ and a | | | | The Sub Conscious operates based on some basic |
| ‘Hypnotherapist’ use Hypnosis. In other | | | | rules, which once understood, anyone can use to pitch |
| words, both a Hypnotist and a Hypnotherapist have | | | | a better marketing scheme, run a more convincing |
| the ability and skill to enable a willing participant to | | | | faith sermon, reprogram dysfunctional behavioural |
| unlock the subconscious mind and implant suggestions | | | | patterns or simply suggest a child’s graze to be |
| towards the creation of a specific outcome. Imperative | | | | better because it got Mommy’s kiss and a |
| are the words “willing” and | | | | Bandaid. As with everything in this world, it is the |
| “participant,” for without consent and | | | | INTENTION behind the delivery that carries the |
| participation from the client/subject the suggestions are | | | | meaning. Couple loving intention with intelligence and |
| futile. The only real difference in the process is the | | | | we find ourselves a part of the evolution of a far |
| motive behind using hypnosis in the first place. | | | | more clever and beautiful, peaceful, society. |
| A hypnotist and a hypnotherapist are therefore looking | | | | So in summary, Hypnosis is the art and skill of |
| for different people. In actual fact, neither hypnotist, nor | | | | unlocking the sub conscious mind and typically involves |
| hypnotherapist, look for people. People come seeking | | | | Suggestion. A long weekend of Hypnosis alone does |
| them, and for different reasons. Someone looking for a | | | | not a "Diploma of Hypnotherapy" make (one also |
| stage hypnotist is looking for entertainment. They either | | | | needs the ability to navigate the mind, deal with |
| want to be entertained or do the entertaining. Those | | | | abreaction/cathartic release and many other |
| that are the Stage Hypnotists friend, and make for a | | | | cavernous pitfalls the mind may tangle its intricate web |
| great show, are the ones that have extroverted | | | | within). |
| personalities, as few a morals and ethics as possible | | | | Hypnotherapy is the art and skill of using hypnosis to |
| and are looking for license to act out in ways their | | | | unlock the subconscious mind to explore the |
| personality, or society, wouldn’t normally allow. | | | | perspectives of programming that are running within, |
| Those seeking a hypnotherapist have recognised a | | | | and beyond, the psyche of the individual. It involves two |
| behaviour, feeling or thought pattern that is not serving | | | | way communication between Hypnotherapist and |
| them in a healthy manner and have become conscious | | | | client, a deep understanding of Gestalt Dialogue and |
| enough to ask for help to change it. | | | | Parts Therapy (to name just two process skills |
| I feel the Hypnotherapist has a more challenging job | | | | required), the ability to regress, as well as some |
| than the Stage Hypnotist in guiding a participant to the | | | | psychotherapy skills, and, to be relevant in |
| alpha/theta brain wave state required for hypnosis. As | | | | today’s energy, a deep understanding of |
| a generalization, people who find the hypnotist WANT | | | | evolutionary and spiritual growth and development. |
| to be hypnotized and they want the Ego boost gained | | | | From the perspective of a client, I would seek a |
| from being the centre of attention. Those that find the | | | | hypnotherapists who’s development was |
| hypnotherapist want to be HEALED. They | | | | horizontally and vertically more advanced in |
| don’t necessarily want to be hypnotized in | | | | comparison to my level of perception in the areas in |
| order to find their health and wellbeing but suspect it | | | | which I wanted to work. This is imperative if I seek |
| may work as a last resort. On top of that they are | | | | evolutional growth and development from this |
| typically lacking in self confidence. The exception are | | | | interaction. |
| those practised in meditation and seeking the | | | | To engage in therapy to feel better is easy. To evolve |
| experience of evolutionary growth and development, | | | | and grow is challenging. So when you are seeking |
| however, within this exception other challenges arise | | | | someone with whom to use the art of hypnosis be |
| regarding the navigational skills of the Hypnotherapist. | | | | sure within yourself what it is you are looking for. |
| Those seeking the experience of stage hypnotism are | | | | If you want to laugh and entertain, or laugh and be |
| more likely of extroverted tendency and have an | | | | entertained, seek a Stage Hypnotist Show. Laughing |
| aspiring actor persona inherent within their psyche. This | | | | therapy is certainly one of the more |
| paints a more self confident nature more susceptible | | | | ‘fun’ therapies to engage in. |
| to the hypnotic state. | | | | If you want to have someone implant suggestions for |
| In other respects however, the Stage Hypnotist has a | | | | a healthier way of being, one in which you are |
| more challenging time in keeping track of those that s | | | | prepared to put at least some of your own effort into, |
| he has on stage. A more experienced Stage Hypnotist | | | | then seek someone skilled in hypnosis with at least |
| will have a dozen and more participants at one time to | | | | Suggestion Therapy. |
| keep an eye on. And I could perhaps go so far as to | | | | If you want to grow and evolve and transcend the |
| say that these people are likely to be more ego | | | | behavioural patterns that have you stumbling over the |
| centric, therefore less spiritually developed or evolved, | | | | same old ground in repetitive cycles, then seek out a |
| and so potentially less novel and more unpredictable, | | | | Hypnotherapist who has a training in Analytical |
| while those seeking the Hypnotherapist are typically | | | | Hypnosis, someone who has way more than just |
| conscious of 'pot-holes' and are seeking to remedy | | | | Suggestion Therapy and NLP in the their tool box, and |
| them. | | | | preferably someone who has a more evolved |
| I say the above, not with the intent to judge, but with | | | | perspective than where you’re currently at. |
| the intent to paint a point of difference in the general | | | | If you want to transcend a whole dimension and set |
| characteristics that seek the Hypnotherapist and the | | | | up residence in the “I-Am-ness” of |
| Stage Hypnotist in my personal experience as a | | | | eternal, ever present, Cosmic Consciousness, then |
| Hypnotherapist (bearing in mind I tend to work with | | | | seek out someone with an Integral approach. |
| deep analytical hypnosis for the purposes of spiritual | | | | Someone who can enlighten your mind to the |
| growth and development). | | | | possibilities of what lies beyond that which you see in |
| Neither a Hypnotist nor a Hypnotherapist can make | | | | the mirror. This kind of Hypnotherapist will have a deep |
| anyone do anything they do not consent to. Your sub | | | | understanding of the intricacies of Oneness, will |
| conscious mind is not a push over and has very strict | | | | understand you’re loneliness in finding this, can |
| morals, ethics, beliefs and judgements. It is in fact highly | | | | see anxiety as spiritual-crisis as opposed to a situation |
| discriminatory and will only direct you to do what it | | | | requiring medication, and will take a holistic approach |
| perceives will drive you away from danger and pain | | | | that integrates the dynamics of mind, body, heart and |
| and towards safety and pleasure. (Note that this is | | | | soul. This kind of Hypnotherapist will help guide you |
| based upon the current level of growth and | | | | through the pain to that place where you connect with |
| development experienced by its conscious mind). | | | | the ever-present, all-knowing Self. Here there are no |
| “Who’s in control?” is a question | | | | questions, only Consciousness. |
| that has been, and will continue to be, deliberated for | | | | The key I believe, is to look into the intricate array of |
| some time yet. And in the world of mesmerism, the | | | | possibility and select the scenario that best suits your |
| question of who is in control also poses a consensus | | | | needs from an informed, educated and intuitive |
| of misconception. When I was living in America several | | | | perspective. In order for hypnosis to be of positive and |
| years ago some bank teller in some State | | | | effective value at any level, the practitioner must |
| somewhere said the reason she gave all the money | | | | resonate with the client. Without that report, the |
| to the robber was because he hypnotized her… | | | | session needn’t go ahead. With that report, and |
| Apparently that stuck in court and hypnosis got the | | | | the appropriate level of growth and development for |
| rap, not the robber. | | | | the issue at hand, anything is possible. |