And so to the long overdue subject of the importance of language, as in words, the choice, patter, spacing, etc. all of which creates a hypnotic language. Silence is part of that language, for it is in the moments of silence that the words have a chance to resonate, even echo within the hearing (not just a matter of the outer ear) of the recipient.

Words are outrageously powerful sound capsules. Wars have erupted over words and by the same token Peace has been brought about via words. They can heal or destroy, delight or depress, inform or disinform, reveal or hide, attack or protect, lose or find, dictate or guide, create dischord or harmony.

In the beginning was the word "ma", but that is another discource for another time. This is a really huge subject I've wanted to broach before, but have quite honestly been too lazy to do so....so here goes, I'll try to get the ball rolling...

So, as far as using language to hypnotise (or hypnotize, depending on how you like to spell it)....it's of course, not just the words, but also the way in which they are spoken that creates the hypnotic state.

Creating a state of expectancy of trance helps tip the mind in that direction, so suggesting to a person that they may, or will be or can wonder about when they will go into trance, already sets the stage for the state to take place for you have the person already imagining what that could or will be like (depending on whether they are familar with this state or not).

Tone of voice is equally important to the choice of words and ought to support the meaning and intention of the words spoken. If ones intention is to be of positive support and/or influence, then of course, every single word must support this intention. A basic rule of thumb, is that it is best not to use any word that could directly re-ignite an unpleasant associative memory. For example, if you are wanting to help someone release stress, then do not use the word stress in your suggestion. Instead suggest, for example, that all unecessary energies or feelings that no longer belong there can be given permission (or allowed) to be released, breathed out on the next exhale. Suggestions such as these still address the stress without calling it by that name which is such a loaded word, that it could re-introduce or compound the stress by it's reminder.

With regard to word usage, it is good to understand the suggestability of the person to whom you are speaking. If to a group, then cover all the bases and use all the modes of suggestion. To those of you who are not familiar with suggestability, what this means is the way your particular subconscious mind is impressioned by messages, both verbal and non-verbal.

Some people like to be given lots of room to figure things out based on their logic and/or experiences and come to their own conclusions, while others are more comfortable with being given as much information in as literal a way as possible. Some people are an even blend of these preferences and filter it all through a more complex system of weighing one position against the other in equal measure with perhaps more emphasis upon how they feel, while others, need to be given the reason why before anything would be accepted. All of these types also have other factors playing into their receptivity, such as whether they are in a stable or unstable place in themselves and on their kinesthetic, visual, auditory or conceptual propensities and ratios.

There is a science to assessing these receptivity factors, known in hypnotherapy as suggestability and it is something that is not static for people's suggestabilty also changes according to what they go through in life. Life changing events can radically alter ones suggestabilty.
One can use clinical approaches to assessing suggestability as well as intuitive. The latter is something that one can have inherantly but which definately develops over time the more one works with people with their suggestability in mind.

But I digress a bit....the point is, that if you are zeroing in on a person, to help them for example, it is important to speak their suggestability language in order for them to receive what you say to the highest degree.

Hypnotic induction is employed in a wonderfully colorful variety of ways by most religious and sacred traditions, without calling it as such. The use of rhythmic verse, intonation, eye fascination or gazing (a central focus point whether outward or inward) repetition, call and response, spinning in circles, chanting, candle gazing, singing monocromatic prayers, group singing, etc. are all excellent trance inducers. Usually, there is a central image of authority to whom the gathered pay respectful attention, the leader, priest, guide, teacher, shaman, etc. or, one could also say.....hypnotist. They are the belief worker....the instrument through which the shape of the ceremony, ritual, practice, etc is formed or sounded against, depending upon the style of the tradition. Some sacred rituals, as in shamanism can be more listening based, rather than oratory in nature.

Back to words. Therapeutically structured phrases are words joined together with the awareness of their meaning clothed in form, born of intention with dexterity in selection. Having a sensibility of euphonically effective words and anomanapias is very helpful too, as comes naturally to a poetically inclined use of language. Much of the most loved poetry and verse exhibits this and is thus very hypnotic and at the same time securing of emotional attention. Shakespeare (AKA Bacon) was a master of this, as were many of the greatest poets, especially of the romantic era and writers, in particular those of children's storybooks, Lewis Carrol being the one who most famously and geniusly perhaps exemplified the art of trancelogic, rhythmic and euphonic verse and storytelling in the most playful yet clever ways. Being a logician with a mathematical mind, words were treated by him aswonderful tools with which to inspire delight and wonderment, all in the most pleasant of trance states.

We can all learn from Mr. Dodgson when speaking to the subconscious mind, which has within it everyone's child self. The child self, responds to rhythm, to play and the ability to imagine. Nursery rhymes are spoken in a sing song way to lull the child into the dream of the story. In the same way, when I am speaking to a client who is in very deep, (in trance that is), this sing song lulling, almost maternal voice often is called forth from me in response to the child-like way that people can reveal and allow to come forward. I'm not speaking of regression, but just of a vulnerable, sweet, gentle being or essence which is quite innocent. I've witnessed it time and again, even in the most seemingly hard personalities. When in deep trance, a softer, more pliable, trusting and yet knowing energy emerges. It's a joy to dialogue with this essence and in so doing, the very best in me is brought forth to nurture and support that beautiful essence. If it is being brave and admitting something that it knows it is holding onto and wants to release it, then the words and tone and listening must be in total congruency of intent to support this need. Echoing back this recognition for the confirmation of the revealer is important.....letting them hear themselves witnessed. This allows for further revelation, if there is more to be had....and the hypnotist's role at this time is of listener and reflecter, or mirror....so words are used in a reflective or mirror-like way to help the speaker to arrive where they need to arrive. At times, it may be necessary to guide a little, it all depends on the consistency of the trance state and what there is in there bubbling about. If in a depth where there is much turbulance, then more guidance is needed, and words are chosen in order to offer a kind of handrail and/or rudder. One does not allow a very negative subconscious voice/belief to indulge itself in a non-productive or destructive way. You gather information by asking questions of it and using the kind of logic appealing to the client's suggestability in order to soothe and bring forth the antidote within the person.

I could go on forever on the subject of the delicacies and nuances of trance dialogue, but it really is so involved and full of special circumstances that it's impossible to generalize.

In eery day life though, we often are not aware of how we are hypnotizing others or they us. It would be good to notice this, to be aware of the things that seduce and convince us. Was it the wording, the way the logic was expressed, the framework of the idea, the tonality, the style, the lack of push or the insistence, the repetition? Hypnotism is not to be confused with brainwashing mind you, a common misconception. The latter is designed for politically manipulative purposes and has not regard for the wishes or will of the recipient, who is in fact a victim. Hypnotism does not assume that role, though, I will grant that there may well be some unethical hypnotists out there who verge on this agenda, however, I would then call them brainwashers rather than hypnotists. Stage hypnotists are another kettle of fish too. They mostly use shock induction, subject for another thread. Hypnotherapists are an entirely different category again.

As the name suggests, hypnotism is being used therapeutically. In essence, this is what sacred music does in it's transcendent way, whether using words or not. It massages ones mind into a receptive state and feeds it with relaxing, positive, beautiful sounds that let the mind create beauty.

And so, in our every day life, we can learn from this modality as well. The musicality of our voices. Are we using our instrument constructively, kindly, gently, mindfully? I'm not suggesting that we all go around speaking in soothing tones all the time with beautific smiles on our faces....part of the joy of life is it's mixture of boisterousness and gentility, waves crashing and tranquil waters.

I do believe however that if one has a consciousness of the power of words, the power of silence too and of our tone and here's the other part, when to speak and when to remain quiet and listen, oh, what a more peaceful world we would live in! Within this logos aware culture, the boisterous aspects would not be destructive but joyous.

To end wounding with words, we must all think more about their meaning and be careful not to assume or condemn. It is so ingrained into us from such an early age to criticise that it requires much discipline at first to curb this impulse.

Some hypnotic language modalities (by the way, speech writers for politicians use some of these), speak in universals rather than specifics, state the obvious in a profound sounding way....for example, "It is, as it is because it is", if you contemplate this thought for more than a minute, it becomes very hypnotic....specifics are hypnotic too, however you have to be sure of them and never assume, assumptions that are incorrect can be harmful and/or take people out of trance. Always be sure that any specifc you suggest, is true or else inquire. Obtain or gather (in your mental bank) "power words" from the person you are speaking to and use them in conversation with them, especially when making suggestions. Power words are words that have a particulaly positive effect, meaning or association for that person. They are incredibly helpful and useful to know and employ....obtaining as many synonyms for them from the mind of your subject is good too. Don't ever assume that a synonym you use is okay. Words have different meanings and associations for everyone.

Just as power words are important, it's good to know the trigger words for negatives, the ideas that bring about a negative spiral or series of associations. You want to stay away from those in speaking therapeutically.

To address an emergency situation immediately, the most helpful words you can say, according to this woman who created something called "Verbal first aid" (great concept!) is "You are alright. The worst is over and help is on it's way" or if I may add an alternative, if the help is already there, "You are alright. Help is here. The worst is over. " Someone wrote in here once about saving a woman's life who had been stung by a bee while on mdma. This person talked her out of panic into a state of calm. The same is true at accident sites or in a crisis. The correctly applied words can act like bandages and healing salves. Even bleeding can be slowed down by giving the suggestions to slow down breathing and explain that this is slowing down the circulation and conserving blood flow.

Suggesting to a person with a pain that the cause of the pain is no longer and so it has permission to leave, can make certain kinds of pain leave. I would not say that this works all of the time, but it works enough of the time to demonstrate that our cellular memory holds onto the memory of a trauma, a pain and forgets to forget it in order to protect an area. If we suggest to that area, to the cellular memory that it is safe to release that memory now, then miraculously the pain or holding pattern can release.

This is one way that hypnotic pain management is suggested verbally. There is also hypnoanaesthesia, but that's a whole other subject.

Bottom line, is we can do so much good with these little sound and thought modules called words. Language was created in a very organic way from the most authentic impulses and then sophisticated from these urges over the millenia or thousands of years, depending on how long you believe humans have been around.

A way to make suggestions very receptive to a person who likes to make up their own mind is to put it into their hands as a puzzle, invitation, question or unfinished thought that they complete. There are other ways too, such as inference, metaphor or story.

So, in this mode, I might for example, suggest that we explore the possiblitiies of pathways that language can create and notice perhaps what windows we can present by how we frame our ideas and suggestions. In this awareness, we can also choose to notice how we receive language and create a kind of positive filter that just like a tea strainer or sieve captures all the fragments we don't want in our drink, we too, can filter what we receive and filter out toxins and just accept the nutrients. This makes sense and could be thought of as perhaps inner ecology, or keeping out mental pollution and respecting our thought climate.

Thoughts, as we all know are multi-faceted things. They do not operate in a vacuum, but are electromagnetic, cellular and vibrational. They are intrinsically connected to our whole system, hence they are like the Queen chess piece for they can move in any direction and have supreme power for they construct beliefs. Thoughts can be verbal or non-verbal, concept or feeling based, however, sooner or later, they get these things called beliefs connected to them and beliefs are communicable via words. So they are created, they can be uncreated. The experiences that contrbuted to their creation can not be erased, (no eternal sunshine of the spotless mind unless you get total amnesia and even then, I wonder if it is all gone) but, the beliefs that were created as a result are not unchangeable. A different perspective is almost always (I try not to "always" or "never" things of this kind for nothing is absolute, even the absolute and nothing for that matter) possible.

Okay, getting into all sorts of webby terrain now....so will trail off now with my favorite quote, possibly of all time (oops, being absolutist!) which reframes the concept of cynic and affirms possiblity in the most delightful way.

Take it away Thomas Huxley:

I am too much of a cynic to deny the possiblity of anything.


(God, I love that quote).


Bella


(End.....without end)