October 30, 2022 • 20 mins
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(00:00):
Chapter nine, techniques for reaching thesomnambolistic state. As indicated in the last
chapter, the attainment of the somnambolisticstage of hypnosis can represent an extremely intricate
procedure. Because of certain inherent characteristicsof this stage, it is easier to
attain by hetero hypnosis. However,this does not preclude the fact that it
(00:24):
can be reached without the aid ofa hypnotist. More important than the testing
and deepening procedures that I shall outlinefor you in this chapter are an understanding
and an awareness of some of thecomplexities involved first in achieving the hypnotic state,
then deepening, and finally reaching somnambolism. There are no absolute or final
(00:47):
answers to the many problems that canarise. You can become entangled with rationalization
so easily when you want the factsto fit a particular theory. I point
this out to the reader because asthe subject goes deeper, the procedure can
become more complicated. There are manyinteresting phenomena which can be elicited in the
(01:08):
somnambalistic state. They are of interest, for the most part to students of
abnormal behavior and are pertinent from anacademic viewpoint, they do not fall within
the province of this book or ofhypnosis for therapeutic purposes, and might lead
the reader astray. Should readers beinterested in further hypnotic phenomena, I refer
(01:32):
them to Modern hypnosis by Leslie Coonand Salvador Russo, PhD. Experimental Hypnosis
by Leslie Lacron, Time distortion inHypnosis by Milton Ericsson, m d.
And Lynn F. Cooper, md. And Hypnotism and Objective Study of
(01:53):
Suggestibility by Andre M. Weitzenhoffer,pH d. As discuss previous some individuals
experience difficulty in attaining the deeper hypnoticstates. My advice is to be patient
and to continue working with yourself.It is not imperative or vital to reach
the somnambalistic stage for therapeutic results.It is a misconception on the part of
(02:19):
many students that they must go intothe deepest state possible to obtain results.
Dramatic changes can come about at alllevels of hypnosis. The somnambalistic stage is
necessary in hypnotherapy when there is aneed for the patient to relieve some dramatic
episode. It is also useful whenthe patient is reluctant to consciously discuss certain
(02:42):
aspects of his problem. Many hypnotherapeutictechniques, such as amnesia, hypernesia,
progression, paranesia, automatic writing,dream induction, regression, production of experimental
conflicts, and crystal or mirror gazingrequire a somnambilistic state. For those of
(03:05):
you interested in hypnotherapy, I canrecommend no finer book than Hypnotherapy of war
Neurosis by John G. Watkins,pH d. In this book, the
theory of hypnotherapy has been diagrammomatically presentedfor easy comprehension, and shown to be
an amalgamation of concepts and practices fromvarious schools of thought. Most students of
(03:30):
hypnosis equate the phenomenon of amnesia withthe sombolistic state. The mistake they make
is in trying to achieve amnesia.It's similar to the dog trying to catch
his tail. It is impossible forthe subject to effectively suggest amnesia to himself.
If he remembers what he was supposedto forget, he has failed.
(03:53):
If he truly doesn't remember what hewas supposed to forget, he doesn't even
remember the amnesia's suggestion. And cantake no satisfaction from his success because he
is not aware that he has accomplishedthe post hypnotic suggestion. Unless an elaborate
set of post hypnotic suggestions are workedout, it is an impossible test for
(04:14):
self hypnosis. I know the readeris anxious to begin his conditioning for the
somnambalistic state, but there are stilla few pertinent remarks which should be remembered
before proceeding further. The reader shouldnot memorize verbatim any of the tests involved
in proving the somnambalistic state. Allthat is necessary to remember is the general
(04:35):
form and the goal you seek.The goal is to increase your suggestibility,
which in turn means deepening of thehypnotic state. After each step, you
are to give yourself suggestions that youwill go still deeper the next time.
You should also designate a specific lengthof time to work with self hypnosis.
(04:58):
The suggestions are as follows. Ishall work with self hypnosis for fifteen minutes.
At the end of that time,I shall open my eyes and wake
up feeling wonderfully well. I'll bewide awake and refreshed. In case of
any danger, I'll be able toawaken immediately and act accordingly. Some hypnotists
(05:19):
tell their subjects to make your minda blank. I suppose that what they
really mean is that you must tryto think of only what the hypnotistas sang.
Have you ever tried to make yourmind a blank? Try it for
a moment. It's an impossibility.Should the hypnotist persist along these lines,
(05:39):
he'll never be successful. It isthe wrong approach. The subject, because
of his inability to comply with thissuggestion, is fighting a losing battle.
It is also almost impossible for thesubject to concentrate only on what the hypnotistas
sang. Any word the hypnotists sayscan start anous as well as an unconscious
(06:00):
train of thought. Therefore, inreality, this too is impossible. However,
it really isn't necessary that the subjectkeep his thoughts concentrated solely on what
is being said, so long asthey are kept in the general area.
At times, the more you tryto concentrate, the more your thoughts become
(06:21):
scattered. Suppose I say to you, forget the address eighty seven twenty one
Sunset Boulevard. What happens the moreyou try to forget it, the more
you remember it. Therefore, don'tbe concerned if you experience stray thoughts during
the induction and deepening of hypnosis.You are now ready to continue with further
(06:45):
tests. The first five tests shouldbe mastered before continuing. Test number six
is referred to as the fly test. In this test, once under hypnosis,
you picture that a fly is crawlingon the back of your right or
left hand. Once you feel thefly, you know you are deeply hypnotized.
You might even get an urge tomove your hand and flick the fly
(07:09):
off your hand. When this happens, you know, of course that you
are deeply hypnotized. Here is asample of the type of suggestions to give.
As I count to ten, andeven before I reach the count of
ten, I shall feel a flycrawling on the back of my right hand.
This illusion will seem very real tome. One my right hand is
(07:32):
completely relaxed. Two, I feelcompletely at ease. Three I am beginning
to feel a pleasant, tingling feelingon the back of my right hand.
Four this feeling is becoming strong.Five it feels as though a fly is
(07:55):
moving on the back of my hand. Six I have had at this same
feeling before. Seven I can feelthe fly. Eight, the feeling is
very definite. Nine as I flickmy hand, the fly will disappear.
(08:16):
If you have felt the fly moveyour hand, ten it is gone.
Test number seven is known as thecigarette test, and naturally is only for
those of you who smoke. Inthis test, you give yourself post hypnotic
suggestions during the hypnotic state. Awakenyourself and then note the effects of the
(08:39):
post hypnotic suggestions. If the cigarettetaste bitter or has a repugnant taste or
odor, and if you furthermore findit impossible to smoke more than three puffs
necessitating you're putting out the cigarette,you know the post hypnotic suggestions are working
perfectly and that you are an excellenthypnotic subject. Here are the suggestions to
(09:00):
give yourself while under hypnosis. AsI count to three, I shall feel
the warm, pleasant rays of thesun on my face and hands. One
the cloud is moving and I canbegin to feel the warm, pleasant rays
of the sun. Two the cloudis moving more and more, exposing more
(09:22):
and more of the sun. Ican feel the warmth of the sun's rays.
Three the cloud has moved away fromthe sun and I can feel the
full warm strength of the sun.It is a pleasant feeling, but as
I continue to count to five,the warm feeling will dissipate. Four the
(09:43):
warm feeling is leaving. Five thewarm feeling has left, and I feel
perfectly normal in every respect. Avariation of this test is to see yourself
lying comfortably in front of a fireplace. In this instance, you imagine some
one is adding wood to the fire. As this is done, you feel
(10:05):
the warm glow of the fire.More and more should you use the fireplace
technique, try to incorporate the soundof rain into the picture. If you
hear a rain, you have createda positive auditory hallucination and consider yourself an
excellent subject. You can also visualizea situation where you would be cold.
(10:30):
This is not as pleasant as thepicture that one can conjure up about a
fireplace, and thus creates a bitmore resistance, since an old one wants
to feel uncomfortable. Test number nineis the breeze test. It can be
combined with the previous test. Afteryou attain the feeling of warmth, you
give yourself a count of three orwhatever number you want, suggesting that you
(10:54):
will feel the cool ocean breeze.If you are at the beach on your
face and hand. You can evencarry this step further, suggesting that you'll
even smell the odor of the saltwater. This is known as an olfactory
illusion, and should you be ableto create this effect, you can be
sure that you are a somnimbalistic subject. Here are suggestions you can use.
(11:20):
As I count to three, Ishall gradually feel the cool ocean breeze coming
over the waves. It will bea very pleasant feeling. One. I
am beginning to feel the cool oceanbreeze, especially on my face and hands.
Two the breeze is becoming stronger andstronger. Three. I can definitely
(11:43):
feel the cool ocean breeze. AsI continue to count to five, I
shall smell the pleasant, healthy aromaof the salt water. Four I am
beginning to smell the salt water.Five I can definitely smell the salt water.
Now you give yourself appropriate suggestions thatthe feeling illusion will vanish as you
(12:07):
awaken or at a specific count.It can be as simple as this.
As I count to three, Ishall open my eyes and awaken, feeling
very refreshed. The feeling of thecool ocean breeze and smell of the salt
air will have vanished completely. Atthis point, you count to three and
(12:28):
open your eyes. Test number tenis the hand clasp test. This is
used frequently to test the depth ofhypnosis. You fold your hands with your
fingers tightly interlocked, and place yourpalms together. You then give yourself a
hypnotic suggestion that at the count ofthree, it will be impossible for you
(12:50):
to unlock your hands. After youtry and are unable to unlock your hands,
you continue counting to five, suggestingthat you will be able to do
when you reach the count of five. Incidentally, you should remove any ring
you may be wearing before trying thistest. Here are a few suggestions that
you can follow. As I completethe count of three, I shall try
(13:13):
to unlock my hands, but willbe unable to do so until I count
to five. One my hands arelocked tightly together. Two my fingers are
locked tighter and tighter. Three itis impossible for me to unlock my hands
(13:35):
until I count to five. Four. As I reach the count of five,
I shall be able to unlock myhands very easily. Five I can
now unlock my hands very easily.Test Number eleven is the arm test.
Here is another test used frequently totest the receptiveness to hypnosis. May take
(14:00):
a tight fist and extend your armin front of you as far as possible.
Visualize your arm as one solid mass, as stiff and rigid as a
bar of steel. After your armis extended, give yourself a hypnotic suggestion
that you will be able to bendyour arm when you complete the count of
(14:20):
three. As you continue to countto five, you will be able to
bend your arm very easily. Hereis a form of suggestion you can use.
As I reach the count of three, I shall try to bend my
arm, but it will be impossibleto do so until I count to five.
No matter how hard I try,it will be absolutely impossible. One
(14:46):
my arm is stiff and rigid asa bar of steel. Two, I
can feel the rigidity in my arm. Three, it is impossible for me
to bend my arm. Howll Icount to five. Four I can feel
the stiffness. Slowly leaving five,I can now bend my arm easily,
(15:11):
and it feels normal in every respect. Test number twelve is the eye test.
This is probably the most widely usedtest in hypnosis. Many subjects equate
the inability to open the eyes withhypnosis. Many assume that if they can
open their eyes, they have notbeen hypnotized. I must emphatically point out
(15:33):
that this is not true. Thesubject can fail the eye test and yet
have been under hypnosis. In thedeep somnimbalistic state, the subject can open
his eyes without affecting the depth ofthe hypnotic state. In fact, this
has done many times in getting thesubject to do automatic writing, crystal gazing,
(15:54):
mirror gazing, hypnodrama and revivification,and carrying out post hypnotic suggestions.
In any state, the subject isfrequently told that he will open his eyes
and carry out the suggestion. Ihave found that there is more anxiety connected
with the eye test than any othertest. I feel that it is a
(16:15):
normal reaction and one that must beanticipated by the hypnotist as well as the
subject. Occasionally, while hypnotizing anew subject, he will open his eyes.
This can happen when the subject feelshe is losing consciousness. His ability
to open his eyes proves to himthat he is in control. One of
(16:37):
the main fears that the subject hasis his belief that he will lose voluntary
control of himself. The fact thathe can open his eyes lessens his anxiety.
If there seems to be too muchthreat to the individual, I use
a method that you can follow.Instead of suggesting that the subject will be
unable to open his eyes at aspecific count, I suggest that he will
(17:00):
be so relaxed that it will betoo much effort to open his eyes until
a further count is given. Actually, what could take less effort? Here
are suggestions you can use. AsI count to three, I shall try
to open my eyes, but Ishall be unable to do so because I
(17:22):
feel so relaxed. It will justtake too much effort to open my eyes
until I reach the count of five. Or tell myself to awaken. One
my eyes are closed and I amin a very deep state of hypnosis.
Two my eyelids are stuck tightly together. Three it is now impossible for me
(17:47):
to open my eyes. I shallbe able to open them though at the
count of five. Four. Ishall be able to open my eyes very
easily. At the count of fivefive, I can now open my eyes
and wake up feeling alert and fullyrefreshed. In accomplishing the eye test,
(18:08):
you try to create a vivid pictureof yourself being completely and fully relaxed.
If you really exerted a great dealof effort, you can open your eyes,
but because of the pleasantness of thecompletely relaxed state, you prefer not
to do so. It can belikened to your enduring the cold winter air
when you are half asleep in bed, instead of getting up to close the
(18:32):
window which has been left open toomuch. You can, of course get
up and close the window, butit becomes a matter of expending too much
energy. Instead, you choose toendure the discomfort or suggest that your spouse
close the window. For the followingthree tests, you give yourself the suggestions
as outlined in the previous tests.It should be pointed out again that at
(18:56):
the conclusion of the test you giveyourself a suggestion that you will feel normal
in every respect. Test number thirteenis the music test. This involves creating
an auditory hallucination. Give yourself thesuggestion that at a specific count you will
hear your favorite song. It willlast for one minute and then fade out.
(19:19):
Test number fourteen is the dream test. It is incorporated in a great
deal of hypnotherapy. The subject istold that as the hypnotist counts to three,
the subject will have a dream lastingfor several minutes which he will remember.
The dream furthermore, will call hisattention to an important incident that he
(19:40):
has long forgotten yet which will berelevant to his problem. In self hypnosis,
you suggest to yourself that at aspecific count you will have a very
pleasant dream, lasting for several minutes, at the end of which time you
will awaken feeling refreshed. For thosereaders further interested in producing dreams, I
(20:00):
can highly recommend a very fascinating bookcalled The Experimental Production of Dreams during Hypnosis
by Professor David Bowen Kline. Testnumber fifteen is the anesthesia test. This
is conducted by telling yourself that youwill not feel the pain associated with the
act of pinching yourself. You suggestthat you will feel the pressure of your
(20:25):
fingers, but will not feel thepain involved. I urge the reader not
to stick pins in himself to testthe anesthesia. This can be dangerous,
lead to infection, and cause otherharmful results. You should also not dig
your nails into your skin to makesure that you don't feel pain. End
(20:45):
of chapter nine
Chapter nine, techniques for reaching thesomnambolistic state. As indicated in the last
chapter, the attainment of the somnambolisticstage of hypnosis can represent an extremely intricate
procedure. Because of certain inherent characteristicsof this stage, it is easier to
attain by hetero hypnosis. However,this does not preclude the fact that it
(00:24):
can be reached without the aid ofa hypnotist. More important than the testing
and deepening procedures that I shall outlinefor you in this chapter are an understanding
and an awareness of some of thecomplexities involved first in achieving the hypnotic state,
then deepening, and finally reaching somnambolism. There are no absolute or final
(00:47):
answers to the many problems that canarise. You can become entangled with rationalization
so easily when you want the factsto fit a particular theory. I point
this out to the reader because asthe subject goes deeper, the procedure can
become more complicated. There are manyinteresting phenomena which can be elicited in the
(01:08):
somnambalistic state. They are of interest, for the most part to students of
abnormal behavior and are pertinent from anacademic viewpoint, they do not fall within
the province of this book or ofhypnosis for therapeutic purposes, and might lead
the reader astray. Should readers beinterested in further hypnotic phenomena, I refer
(01:32):
them to Modern hypnosis by Leslie Coonand Salvador Russo, PhD. Experimental Hypnosis
by Leslie Lacron, Time distortion inHypnosis by Milton Ericsson, m d.
And Lynn F. Cooper, md. And Hypnotism and Objective Study of
(01:53):
Suggestibility by Andre M. Weitzenhoffer,pH d. As discuss previous some individuals
experience difficulty in attaining the deeper hypnoticstates. My advice is to be patient
and to continue working with yourself.It is not imperative or vital to reach
the somnambalistic stage for therapeutic results.It is a misconception on the part of
(02:19):
many students that they must go intothe deepest state possible to obtain results.
Dramatic changes can come about at alllevels of hypnosis. The somnambalistic stage is
necessary in hypnotherapy when there is aneed for the patient to relieve some dramatic
episode. It is also useful whenthe patient is reluctant to consciously discuss certain
(02:42):
aspects of his problem. Many hypnotherapeutictechniques, such as amnesia, hypernesia,
progression, paranesia, automatic writing,dream induction, regression, production of experimental
conflicts, and crystal or mirror gazingrequire a somnambilistic state. For those of
(03:05):
you interested in hypnotherapy, I canrecommend no finer book than Hypnotherapy of war
Neurosis by John G. Watkins,pH d. In this book, the
theory of hypnotherapy has been diagrammomatically presentedfor easy comprehension, and shown to be
an amalgamation of concepts and practices fromvarious schools of thought. Most students of
(03:30):
hypnosis equate the phenomenon of amnesia withthe sombolistic state. The mistake they make
is in trying to achieve amnesia.It's similar to the dog trying to catch
his tail. It is impossible forthe subject to effectively suggest amnesia to himself.
If he remembers what he was supposedto forget, he has failed.
(03:53):
If he truly doesn't remember what hewas supposed to forget, he doesn't even
remember the amnesia's suggestion. And cantake no satisfaction from his success because he
is not aware that he has accomplishedthe post hypnotic suggestion. Unless an elaborate
set of post hypnotic suggestions are workedout, it is an impossible test for
(04:14):
self hypnosis. I know the readeris anxious to begin his conditioning for the
somnambalistic state, but there are stilla few pertinent remarks which should be remembered
before proceeding further. The reader shouldnot memorize verbatim any of the tests involved
in proving the somnambalistic state. Allthat is necessary to remember is the general
(04:35):
form and the goal you seek.The goal is to increase your suggestibility,
which in turn means deepening of thehypnotic state. After each step, you
are to give yourself suggestions that youwill go still deeper the next time.
You should also designate a specific lengthof time to work with self hypnosis.
(04:58):
The suggestions are as follows. Ishall work with self hypnosis for fifteen minutes.
At the end of that time,I shall open my eyes and wake
up feeling wonderfully well. I'll bewide awake and refreshed. In case of
any danger, I'll be able toawaken immediately and act accordingly. Some hypnotists
(05:19):
tell their subjects to make your minda blank. I suppose that what they
really mean is that you must tryto think of only what the hypnotistas sang.
Have you ever tried to make yourmind a blank? Try it for
a moment. It's an impossibility.Should the hypnotist persist along these lines,
(05:39):
he'll never be successful. It isthe wrong approach. The subject, because
of his inability to comply with thissuggestion, is fighting a losing battle.
It is also almost impossible for thesubject to concentrate only on what the hypnotistas
sang. Any word the hypnotists sayscan start anous as well as an unconscious
(06:00):
train of thought. Therefore, inreality, this too is impossible. However,
it really isn't necessary that the subjectkeep his thoughts concentrated solely on what
is being said, so long asthey are kept in the general area.
At times, the more you tryto concentrate, the more your thoughts become
(06:21):
scattered. Suppose I say to you, forget the address eighty seven twenty one
Sunset Boulevard. What happens the moreyou try to forget it, the more
you remember it. Therefore, don'tbe concerned if you experience stray thoughts during
the induction and deepening of hypnosis.You are now ready to continue with further
(06:45):
tests. The first five tests shouldbe mastered before continuing. Test number six
is referred to as the fly test. In this test, once under hypnosis,
you picture that a fly is crawlingon the back of your right or
left hand. Once you feel thefly, you know you are deeply hypnotized.
You might even get an urge tomove your hand and flick the fly
(07:09):
off your hand. When this happens, you know, of course that you
are deeply hypnotized. Here is asample of the type of suggestions to give.
As I count to ten, andeven before I reach the count of
ten, I shall feel a flycrawling on the back of my right hand.
This illusion will seem very real tome. One my right hand is
(07:32):
completely relaxed. Two, I feelcompletely at ease. Three I am beginning
to feel a pleasant, tingling feelingon the back of my right hand.
Four this feeling is becoming strong.Five it feels as though a fly is
(07:55):
moving on the back of my hand. Six I have had at this same
feeling before. Seven I can feelthe fly. Eight, the feeling is
very definite. Nine as I flickmy hand, the fly will disappear.
(08:16):
If you have felt the fly moveyour hand, ten it is gone.
Test number seven is known as thecigarette test, and naturally is only for
those of you who smoke. Inthis test, you give yourself post hypnotic
suggestions during the hypnotic state. Awakenyourself and then note the effects of the
(08:39):
post hypnotic suggestions. If the cigarettetaste bitter or has a repugnant taste or
odor, and if you furthermore findit impossible to smoke more than three puffs
necessitating you're putting out the cigarette,you know the post hypnotic suggestions are working
perfectly and that you are an excellenthypnotic subject. Here are the suggestions to
(09:00):
give yourself while under hypnosis. AsI count to three, I shall feel
the warm, pleasant rays of thesun on my face and hands. One
the cloud is moving and I canbegin to feel the warm, pleasant rays
of the sun. Two the cloudis moving more and more, exposing more
(09:22):
and more of the sun. Ican feel the warmth of the sun's rays.
Three the cloud has moved away fromthe sun and I can feel the
full warm strength of the sun.It is a pleasant feeling, but as
I continue to count to five,the warm feeling will dissipate. Four the
(09:43):
warm feeling is leaving. Five thewarm feeling has left, and I feel
perfectly normal in every respect. Avariation of this test is to see yourself
lying comfortably in front of a fireplace. In this instance, you imagine some
one is adding wood to the fire. As this is done, you feel
(10:05):
the warm glow of the fire.More and more should you use the fireplace
technique, try to incorporate the soundof rain into the picture. If you
hear a rain, you have createda positive auditory hallucination and consider yourself an
excellent subject. You can also visualizea situation where you would be cold.
(10:30):
This is not as pleasant as thepicture that one can conjure up about a
fireplace, and thus creates a bitmore resistance, since an old one wants
to feel uncomfortable. Test number nineis the breeze test. It can be
combined with the previous test. Afteryou attain the feeling of warmth, you
give yourself a count of three orwhatever number you want, suggesting that you
(10:54):
will feel the cool ocean breeze.If you are at the beach on your
face and hand. You can evencarry this step further, suggesting that you'll
even smell the odor of the saltwater. This is known as an olfactory
illusion, and should you be ableto create this effect, you can be
sure that you are a somnimbalistic subject. Here are suggestions you can use.
(11:20):
As I count to three, Ishall gradually feel the cool ocean breeze coming
over the waves. It will bea very pleasant feeling. One. I
am beginning to feel the cool oceanbreeze, especially on my face and hands.
Two the breeze is becoming stronger andstronger. Three. I can definitely
(11:43):
feel the cool ocean breeze. AsI continue to count to five, I
shall smell the pleasant, healthy aromaof the salt water. Four I am
beginning to smell the salt water.Five I can definitely smell the salt water.
Now you give yourself appropriate suggestions thatthe feeling illusion will vanish as you
(12:07):
awaken or at a specific count.It can be as simple as this.
As I count to three, Ishall open my eyes and awaken, feeling
very refreshed. The feeling of thecool ocean breeze and smell of the salt
air will have vanished completely. Atthis point, you count to three and
(12:28):
open your eyes. Test number tenis the hand clasp test. This is
used frequently to test the depth ofhypnosis. You fold your hands with your
fingers tightly interlocked, and place yourpalms together. You then give yourself a
hypnotic suggestion that at the count ofthree, it will be impossible for you
(12:50):
to unlock your hands. After youtry and are unable to unlock your hands,
you continue counting to five, suggestingthat you will be able to do
when you reach the count of five. Incidentally, you should remove any ring
you may be wearing before trying thistest. Here are a few suggestions that
you can follow. As I completethe count of three, I shall try
(13:13):
to unlock my hands, but willbe unable to do so until I count
to five. One my hands arelocked tightly together. Two my fingers are
locked tighter and tighter. Three itis impossible for me to unlock my hands
(13:35):
until I count to five. Four. As I reach the count of five,
I shall be able to unlock myhands very easily. Five I can
now unlock my hands very easily.Test Number eleven is the arm test.
Here is another test used frequently totest the receptiveness to hypnosis. May take
(14:00):
a tight fist and extend your armin front of you as far as possible.
Visualize your arm as one solid mass, as stiff and rigid as a
bar of steel. After your armis extended, give yourself a hypnotic suggestion
that you will be able to bendyour arm when you complete the count of
(14:20):
three. As you continue to countto five, you will be able to
bend your arm very easily. Hereis a form of suggestion you can use.
As I reach the count of three, I shall try to bend my
arm, but it will be impossibleto do so until I count to five.
No matter how hard I try,it will be absolutely impossible. One
(14:46):
my arm is stiff and rigid asa bar of steel. Two, I
can feel the rigidity in my arm. Three, it is impossible for me
to bend my arm. Howll Icount to five. Four I can feel
the stiffness. Slowly leaving five,I can now bend my arm easily,
(15:11):
and it feels normal in every respect. Test number twelve is the eye test.
This is probably the most widely usedtest in hypnosis. Many subjects equate
the inability to open the eyes withhypnosis. Many assume that if they can
open their eyes, they have notbeen hypnotized. I must emphatically point out
(15:33):
that this is not true. Thesubject can fail the eye test and yet
have been under hypnosis. In thedeep somnimbalistic state, the subject can open
his eyes without affecting the depth ofthe hypnotic state. In fact, this
has done many times in getting thesubject to do automatic writing, crystal gazing,
(15:54):
mirror gazing, hypnodrama and revivification,and carrying out post hypnotic suggestions.
In any state, the subject isfrequently told that he will open his eyes
and carry out the suggestion. Ihave found that there is more anxiety connected
with the eye test than any othertest. I feel that it is a
(16:15):
normal reaction and one that must beanticipated by the hypnotist as well as the
subject. Occasionally, while hypnotizing anew subject, he will open his eyes.
This can happen when the subject feelshe is losing consciousness. His ability
to open his eyes proves to himthat he is in control. One of
(16:37):
the main fears that the subject hasis his belief that he will lose voluntary
control of himself. The fact thathe can open his eyes lessens his anxiety.
If there seems to be too muchthreat to the individual, I use
a method that you can follow.Instead of suggesting that the subject will be
unable to open his eyes at aspecific count, I suggest that he will
(17:00):
be so relaxed that it will betoo much effort to open his eyes until
a further count is given. Actually, what could take less effort? Here
are suggestions you can use. AsI count to three, I shall try
to open my eyes, but Ishall be unable to do so because I
(17:22):
feel so relaxed. It will justtake too much effort to open my eyes
until I reach the count of five. Or tell myself to awaken. One
my eyes are closed and I amin a very deep state of hypnosis.
Two my eyelids are stuck tightly together. Three it is now impossible for me
(17:47):
to open my eyes. I shallbe able to open them though at the
count of five. Four. Ishall be able to open my eyes very
easily. At the count of fivefive, I can now open my eyes
and wake up feeling alert and fullyrefreshed. In accomplishing the eye test,
(18:08):
you try to create a vivid pictureof yourself being completely and fully relaxed.
If you really exerted a great dealof effort, you can open your eyes,
but because of the pleasantness of thecompletely relaxed state, you prefer not
to do so. It can belikened to your enduring the cold winter air
when you are half asleep in bed, instead of getting up to close the
(18:32):
window which has been left open toomuch. You can, of course get
up and close the window, butit becomes a matter of expending too much
energy. Instead, you choose toendure the discomfort or suggest that your spouse
close the window. For the followingthree tests, you give yourself the suggestions
as outlined in the previous tests.It should be pointed out again that at
(18:56):
the conclusion of the test you giveyourself a suggestion that you will feel normal
in every respect. Test number thirteenis the music test. This involves creating
an auditory hallucination. Give yourself thesuggestion that at a specific count you will
hear your favorite song. It willlast for one minute and then fade out.
(19:19):
Test number fourteen is the dream test. It is incorporated in a great
deal of hypnotherapy. The subject istold that as the hypnotist counts to three,
the subject will have a dream lastingfor several minutes which he will remember.
The dream furthermore, will call hisattention to an important incident that he
(19:40):
has long forgotten yet which will berelevant to his problem. In self hypnosis,
you suggest to yourself that at aspecific count you will have a very
pleasant dream, lasting for several minutes, at the end of which time you
will awaken feeling refreshed. For thosereaders further interested in producing dreams, I
(20:00):
can highly recommend a very fascinating bookcalled The Experimental Production of Dreams during Hypnosis
by Professor David Bowen Kline. Testnumber fifteen is the anesthesia test. This
is conducted by telling yourself that youwill not feel the pain associated with the
act of pinching yourself. You suggestthat you will feel the pressure of your
(20:25):
fingers, but will not feel thepain involved. I urge the reader not
to stick pins in himself to testthe anesthesia. This can be dangerous,
lead to infection, and cause otherharmful results. You should also not dig
your nails into your skin to makesure that you don't feel pain. End
(20:45):
of chapter nine
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