The History of Hypnosis
Hypnosis can be traced back to before written records began. Hypnosis has been around since Man has been on this earth. Do not under estimate the power in the process and secrets you are about to learn. Hypnosis has been studied for thousands of years and still is held in high regard.
The first written origins can be traced back to before 1000BC. The ancient Egyptians told us about their sleep temples in great detail. The first written hypnosis induction was found written in one of the great pyramids. These temples were places where Priests put worshippers to sleep and suggested that they be cured. The Ancient Egyptians were the first to instruct us in the procedure for hypnotic inductions, these lessons are still used in a lot of our inductions today.
These sleep temples spread over the years finding there way to Greece in the 4th century BC. The Romans learnt about these sleep temples and made them even more popular and spread them throughout the Roman Empire. It was the Romans who brought sleep temples to Europe and Britain for the first time. One of the biggest sleep temples was at the Roman bathes in Bath. A visit to the Bathes is a must if you are ever in the area.
In these years of sleep temples and suggestion therapy, most of the practices involved where kept a close secret and only passed down from family to family or Priest to Priest. Because the people who held the secrets to these therapies were held in such high regard by the people around them they were very reluctant to pass on any of their secrets. Even hundreds of years ago these hypnotherapists made their living from the practice.
Throughout history it has been well documented about witch doctors, shaman and medicine men in all cultures, it is also documented as early as the 1st century AD about the procedure of “laying on of hands” and its magic healing powers. These were all forms of hypnosis and healing.
It is not until recent history, from the 1600’s, that hypnosis has been written about and experimented with and today it is still not fully known exactly how and why these suggestions work or how the mind works to make these suggestions so powerful. But it is so powerful that it is being taught to doctors at university.
The term “Hypnosis” was introduced by Dr James Braid (around 1840) and was derived from the Greek “hypnos” which meant the god of sleep. He also introduced the terms “hypnotist” and “suggestion”. He later tried to change the word “hypnosis” as he believed it was misleading and technically incorrect (hypnosis is not sleep). Unfortunately it had already gained popularity and stuck, even to this day. Even in the 1800’s hypnosis was used as entertainment and a hypnotherapist would almost have a cult following.
James Braid
In the late 1800s, Sigmund Freud became interested in hypnosis and spent time learning more about it. He later abandoned it in favour of psychoanalysis, although most experts agree that his free association techniques were hypnosis by another name. Sigmund then spent a number of years telling any one who would listen that hypnosis did not work and was just a trick of the mind. The rumours of the time said that he was not any good at hypnosis that’s why he did not have a good word to say about it.
In recent history, the Germans in World War I used hypnosis for pain control when they run out of anaesthetic. It was also used very successfully during and after both world wars for the treatment of shell shock.
Today hypnosis has been recognised by the American Medical Association as well as the British Medical Association and although it has had a lot of set backs over the years, mainly due to the bad publicity of stage hypnosis, today hypnosis is routinely used to help with all kinds of ailments. Even the medical profession has started to see the benefit of hypnosis, trainee doctors are now taught a whole term about hypnosis in their university training.
Hypnosis has now becoming so popular that it now goes under many different names such as relaxation therapy, meditation, reframing, time line therapy and visualization and is now gaining more and more credibility.
Hypnosis in the future can only go from strength to strength; with reports now coming out of America of hypnosis being used to cure diabetes there is no limit to what can be achieved with hypnosis.
What Is Hypnosis
Hypnosis is possibly as old as mankind. The old myths and misconceptions about hypnosis have given way to proven, scientifically sound applications. Today, the use of hypnosis is seen in a variety of fields, including: medicine, dentistry, law enforcement, professional sports, and education.
Hypnosis is just a word that describes a state of mind. The true defintion of hypnosis is relaxation, if you are relaxed your mind is open and changes can be made easily. Hypnosis is the study of words and reactions in the brain and body to take advantage of the natural state of relaxation and make these changes.
Hypnosis levels are measured with brain wave movements.
Most people have a limited understanding of the positive results that can be achieved in a professionally controlled hypnosis session. We would like to dispel some of the myths and answer the most frequently asked questions about hypnosis.
Is hypnosis safe?
Hypnosis is completely safe. You are aware and in control at every moment and can terminate the session at any time. Hypnosis is not sleep, nor can you get "stuck" in a state of hypnosis. You cannot be made to do something against your will! Hypnosis is a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable experience.
How does hypnosis work?
Our minds work on two levels - the conscious and the unconscious. We make decisions, think, and act with our conscious mind. The unconscious mind controls our habits. In the relaxed state known as hypnosis, we can communicate directly with the unconscious mind. This is why it is so quick and easy to change habits of a lifetime with hypnosis.
Does hypnosis work for everyone?
Generally speaking, every normal person is "hypnotisable". That is, people with an IQ of at least 70, and no severe mental disorders. Therefore, virtually anyone can achieve successful results using hypnosis. But to be hypnotised the client must want to be hypnotised.
How do you know if you are hypnotised?
Most people cannot tell the difference between the hypnotised and the waking states. Some people feel relaxed and lethargic, others feel a lightness. One of the most common forms of hypnosis is when you are driving your car. You’re driving down the road on a trip you’ve done 100 times before and you start to day dream or think about something else, next thing you know you get to your destination and you have know idea how you got there. That’s hypnosis, your conscious mind has wondered off and your unconscious has driven you safely to your destination like it has many times before.
Now is the right time to get involved with something that is truly amazing, to this day after seeing hundreds on clients I am still amazed at the process and how it works. You will be learning the secrets and the “how to” of hypnosis and I know you will also find this whole subject just breath taking in its simplicity and power.
