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Re-Energizing a Mystical Experience
Mother Teresa had a mystical experience while she was in her teens, and spent the rest of her life futilely trying to re-capture it. But as hypnotists we know that this is possible, at least for the experientially gifted.
Many other people have had mystical experiences, and when such a history is present, it can serve as a focus for re-energizing their present view of life. For example, a 58 year old retired English teacher and mother of five grown children who recently had been divorced after a marriage of forty years came to me for help with depression. She was spending the greater part of each day in bed, with the blankets drawn up over her head. She was taking antidepressants, but they did not seem to help. She responded well to hypnosis, and early in the course of therapy, she mentioned that when she was about sixteen, she had a mystical experience: "I could step beyond the ordinary world of reality, and I felt totally loved."
I asked her if she would like to re-visit this mystical experience as a way of getting over her depression, and she immediately agreed. I told her that for best results, it would help if she were to re-capture her mystical experience with the same life-changing intensity that she had experienced it the first time. She readily agreed to this also.
Pulling out all the stops in order to provide an experience of life-changing intensity, which she obviously needed, I regressed her to her earlier mystical event, and told her that we were going to make it even stronger using hyperempiria, or suggestion-enhanced experience. I suggested that we were reaching down into her vast, untapped potential for feeling happiness and joy. This potential for happiness and joy was flowing out from the innermost depths of her being in many different ways and on many different levels, like water from a hundred secret springs. As these feelings continued to flow without limit, they were healing and cleansing every muscle and fiber and nerve of her body, driving out all of the worry, and all of the stress, and all of the care that she had ever felt, and leaving her glowing from head to toe with such an intensity of happiness that she could not bear it if she were not hypnotized.
She remained outwardly impassive as I continued in this vein, emphasizing that this happiness was greater and more intense than anything she had ever hoped for, dreamed of, longed for, or imagined. To further emphasize its strength, I suggested that when she returned from hypnosis, she would not be able to bring all of this intensity back with her, because it would be more than she could bear in the everyday state of consciousness in which we live and move and have our being. But nevertheless, it would transform her life, and turn each new day into a thing of wondrous beauty.
Her depression lifted within two more sessions. Because she was a Buddhist, it was easy to frame her mystical experience as evidence that true happiness comes from within. She no longer remains in bed all day, and frequently goes out to go shopping, play cards or to visit with friends. Her demeanor is pleasant, relaxed, and cheerful. She is continuing to come in for monthly sessions in order to keep her orientation focused on the positive aspects of life, and as a means of continuing her personal and spiritual development.
The client's youngest daughter, who has had a great many personal difficulties of her own, has recently moved in with her. Even though she frequently serves as a lightning rod for her daughter's wrath, the client has remained impassive, and has managed to maintain a generally congenial relationship with her daughter (when the daughter is on speaking terms!)
Experientialism is the philosophical theory that experience is the source of knowledge. I would like to invite anyone who is interested to join the new HypnoThoughts group entitled, "The Experientially Gifted." This group is open to everyone who has experienced phenomena associated with high responsiveness to hypnosis and who would like to develop these abilities for their own personal growth and fulfillment. It is also open to everyone who would like to develop their hypnotic abilities more fully, in order to make better use of them.
Don
Tags: experience, experientally, experientialism, fulfillment, gifted, growth, personal
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on -
What an amazing story--it's such an honor to get to help people in that way, isn't it?
I used to lead a guided meditation class, and after one of the meetings I got an email from a participant who said it was the most profound experience of love, peace, and joy she'd ever known.
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Permalink Reply by Don on -
Hi James,
It is indeed an honor to work with the experientially gifted; for they truly are "the bearers of the light," which all of us may one day hope to follow
Don
James Hazlerig said:What an amazing story--it's such an honor to get to help people in that way, isn't it?
I used to lead a guided meditation class, and after one of the meetings I got an email from a participant who said it was the most profound experience of love, peace, and joy she'd ever known.
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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on -
That is a fantastic story, thank you for sharing it, Don. These are the highlights of our careers and I just enjoyed working with one equally gifted client today and altho it was the very first experience of formal hypnosis for this person, the session was positively enlightening and liberating. My client literally floated up out of the chair, glowing with joy and embracing the new learnings with optimism.
Kelley
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Permalink Reply by Don on
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Hi James and Kelley,
Since any suggestion that is accepted is by definition a self-fulfilling prophecy, I'm wondering why we shouldn't routinely incorporate descriptions such as these into the suggestions we use to conclude our hypnosis sessions whenever we are workiing with a highly responsive client? Think of all the good it will accomplish in their lives if all of your experientially gifted clients should experience hypnosis as "the most profound experience of love, peace, and joy they've ever known," and if they "literally float up out of the chair, glowing with joy and embracing their new learnings with optimism!" Think of how they will look back upon the experience of hypnosis, even as they look forward to their next session with you. Think of what they will tell their neighbors about hypnosis, and what it will do for your own careers and reputations.
If Mesmer could get people to go into convulsions and faint, why should we be content with telling our clients such mundane things things as, "Your mind will be clear and alert, and you will be feeling wonderful" at the conclusion of a hypnosis session? If we can re-define hypnosis with our experientially gifted clients as an experience which is intrinsically filled with joy and happiness, and a life-changing event in and of itself, why shouldn't we?
Just a thought. . . .
Don
P.S. Happy World Hypnotism Day!
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Loppnow on -
all of your experientially gifted clients should experience hypnosis as "the most profound experience of love, peace, and joy they've ever known,"... Think of what they will tell their neighbors about hypnosis, and what it will do for your own careers and reputations.
I would choose a different words from "most" profound and they've "ever" known. Otherwise, it could appear that the phrase hypnotizes people to become addicted or otherwise emotionally attached to hypnosis and to market such services to others. To quote Michael Ellner, "Think of the implications."
they "literally float up out of the chair, glowing with joy and embracing their new learnings with optimism!" Think of how they will look back upon the experience of hypnosis, even as they look forward to their next session with you.
That sounds better. :)
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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on
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I always wrap up a hypnosis session with suggestions to feel wonderful.
Are there some people who don't do it that way? Crazy . . .
James
Don said:Hi James and Kelley,
Since any suggestion that is accepted is by definition a self-fulfilling prophecy, I'm wondering why we shouldn't routinely incorporate descriptions such as these into the suggestions we use to conclude our hypnosis sessions whenever we are workiing with a highly responsive client? Think of all the good it will accomplish in their lives if all of your experientially gifted clients should experience hypnosis as "the most profound experience of love, peace, and joy they've ever known," and if they "literally float up out of the chair, glowing with joy and embracing their new learnings with optimism!" Think of how they will look back upon the experience of hypnosis, even as they look forward to their next session with you. Think of what they will tell their neighbors about hypnosis, and what it will do for your own careers and reputations.
If Mesmer could get people to go into convulsions and faint, why should we be content with telling our clients such mundane things things as, "Your mind will be clear and alert, and you will be feeling wonderful" at the conclusion of a hypnosis session? If we can re-define hypnosis with our experientially gifted clients as an experience which is intrinsically filled with joy and happiness, and a life-changing event in and of itself, why shouldn't we?
Just a thought. . . .
Don
P.S. Happy World Hypnotism Day!
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Permalink Reply by Don on
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Hi Matthew,
I agree that Kelley's wording is better, and I will try to model her more closely except when I am specifically working with depression -- although I've never seen any evidence of one of my clients becoming "addicted" to hypnosis. If it were actually possible to do that, I would think that somebody would be systematically getting rich that way, there would be news stories about it, and the calls for regulation would be reaching a crescendo.
Don
Matthew Loppnow said:all of your experientially gifted clients should experience hypnosis as "the most profound experience of love, peace, and joy they've ever known,"... Think of what they will tell their neighbors about hypnosis, and what it will do for your own careers and reputations.
I would choose a different words from "most" profound and they've "ever" known. Otherwise, it could appear that the phrase hypnotizes people to become addicted or otherwise emotionally attached to hypnosis and to market such services to others. To quote Michael Ellner, "Think of the implications."
they "literally float up out of the chair, glowing with joy and embracing their new learnings with optimism!" Think of how they will look back upon the experience of hypnosis, even as they look forward to their next session with you.
That sounds better. :)
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Permalink Reply by Don on
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Hi James,
I believe that the paragraph at the bottom of this reply does not say that nobody is telling clients, "Your mind will be clear and alert, and you will be feeling wonderful." But what it does say is that this is "mundane" in comparison to what we could be telling them.
When I think of the implications, I'm reminded of the words of the song from the motion picture, "Going My Way:"
Or would you rather swing on a star,
Carry moonbeams home in a jar,
And be better off than you are?\
Don
James Hazlerig said:I always wrap up a hypnosis session with suggestions to feel wonderful.
Are there some people who don't do it that way? Crazy . . .
James
Don said:Hi James and Kelley,
Since any suggestion that is accepted is by definition a self-fulfilling prophecy, I'm wondering why we shouldn't routinely incorporate descriptions such as these into the suggestions we use to conclude our hypnosis sessions whenever we are workiing with a highly responsive client? Think of all the good it will accomplish in their lives if all of your experientially gifted clients should experience hypnosis as "the most profound experience of love, peace, and joy they've ever known," and if they "literally float up out of the chair, glowing with joy and embracing their new learnings with optimism!" Think of how they will look back upon the experience of hypnosis, even as they look forward to their next session with you. Think of what they will tell their neighbors about hypnosis, and what it will do for your own careers and reputations.
If Mesmer could get people to go into convulsions and faint, why should we be content with telling our clients such mundane things things as, "Your mind will be clear and alert, and you will be feeling wonderful" at the conclusion of a hypnosis session? If we can re-define hypnosis with our experientially gifted clients as an experience which is intrinsically filled with joy and happiness, and a life-changing event in and of itself, why shouldn't we?
Just a thought. . . .
Don
P.S. Happy World Hypnotism Day!
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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on
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I must confess that I read too quickly. Thanks for the clarification, Don.
Don said:Hi James,
I believe that the paragraph at the bottom of this reply does not say that nobody is telling clients, "Your mind will be clear and alert, and you will be feeling wonderful." But what it does say is that this is "mundane" in comparison to what we could be telling them.
When I think of the implications, I'm reminded of the words of the song from the motion picture, "Going My Way:"
Or would you rather swing on a star,
Carry moonbeams home in a jar,
And be better off than you are?\
Don
James Hazlerig said:I always wrap up a hypnosis session with suggestions to feel wonderful.
Are there some people who don't do it that way? Crazy . . .
James
Don said:Hi James and Kelley,
Since any suggestion that is accepted is by definition a self-fulfilling prophecy, I'm wondering why we shouldn't routinely incorporate descriptions such as these into the suggestions we use to conclude our hypnosis sessions whenever we are workiing with a highly responsive client? Think of all the good it will accomplish in their lives if all of your experientially gifted clients should experience hypnosis as "the most profound experience of love, peace, and joy they've ever known," and if they "literally float up out of the chair, glowing with joy and embracing their new learnings with optimism!" Think of how they will look back upon the experience of hypnosis, even as they look forward to their next session with you. Think of what they will tell their neighbors about hypnosis, and what it will do for your own careers and reputations.
If Mesmer could get people to go into convulsions and faint, why should we be content with telling our clients such mundane things things as, "Your mind will be clear and alert, and you will be feeling wonderful" at the conclusion of a hypnosis session? If we can re-define hypnosis with our experientially gifted clients as an experience which is intrinsically filled with joy and happiness, and a life-changing event in and of itself, why shouldn't we?
Just a thought. . . .
Don
P.S. Happy World Hypnotism Day!
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Permalink Reply by David Chervick on -
Watching a morning tv magazine extolling the virtues of going to a world resort in 2012 for "The Quest for Quiet."http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/16486761/ns/today-travel/ They mentioned a resort in Mexico with access to a mountain Indian shaman. Amazing news Don - Your skills are once again IN! Great example of the use of the mystical. You did Jung proud. Happy and Prosperous 2012. Dave
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Loppnow on
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Don said:I've never seen any evidence of one of my clients becoming "addicted" to hypnosis. If it were actually possible to do that, I would think that somebody would be systematically getting rich that way, there would be news stories about it, and the calls for regulation would be reaching a crescendo.
No doubt to that. ;)
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Permalink Reply by Don on
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Hi Dave,
Thanks to the (undeserved!) comparisons to such luminaries. The experientially gifted know who they are, and with the Internet they don't have to go to India, or to a resort in Mexico any more. They, and anyone else who is interested, can join the Experientially Gifted group right here and learn from the world's best teachers -- each other -- to explore and develop these abilities for the benefit of themselves and for all humanity.
Best wishes to you and yours for a happy and prosperous New Year!
Don
David Chervick said:
Watching a morning tv magazine extolling the virtues of going to a world resort in 2012 for "The Quest for Quiet."http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/16486761/ns/today-travel/ They mentioned a resort in Mexico with access to a mountain Indian shaman. Amazing news Don - Your skills are once again IN! Great example of the use of the mystical. You did Jung proud. Happy and Prosperous 2012. Dave
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