God and Self Hypnosis - Shaken Or Stirred?
Albert Blair
possession? Is it a substitute for prayer and the work of the Holy
Spirit? Is there any value in it for religious people?
Many religious people are misinformed about self hypnosis. Here's an
example. A devout Christian friend of mine said she didn't need
hypnosis because she had prayer and the Holy Spirit to solve her
problems. She thought that as a clinical hypnotherapist I would now
substitute hypnosis for prayer - or even deny the power of the Divine.
She disapproved of it so much, she tossed it off and compared it to
Ouija board use. She just thought self hypnosis and God could not
coexist.
Hypnosis: The Caricature and the Truth
That caricature of hypnosis still persists in the minds of many
religious and nonreligious people. Here's the truth:
Hypnosis, hypnotherapy and self hypnosis have wide acceptance in the
medical community (the proliferation of hypnosis-related science
articles and books throughout the world strongly highlight how how
relevant it is).
Hypnosis will not "take over your mind." It's simply a focusing of
your mind's attention to create positive change.
It's not supernatural.
It's not mind control. You'll have full awareness during the entire
procedure in the vast majority of cases. With self hypnosis the person
can do the inductions and suggestions all by herself.
When pressed about their knowledge of hypnosis and where their
objections come from, some religious people become vague and circular
in their smoke-filled arguments. Many have never experienced it or
researched it. And instead of searching for the clear substantive
evidence, they protect their religious faiths with dogma and salve
their egos with emotion-filled hearsay. (Of course modern scientific
hypnotherapy didn't exist when the sacred scriptures of the world
religions were penned.)
Do God and Hypnosis Mix?
As a man with a strong faith and connection with the Divine, I can
tell you self hypnosis and God can coexist. Many of my feelings about
my morality-based habits and challenges have been improved by using
hypnosis-related techniques.
You've heard the expression "God helps those who help themselves."
Since hypnosis is used as a tool for change by millions, hasn't God
provided it so we could reach for and then maintain our goals? For
more than five decades modern hypnosis has helped psychiatrists cure
the mentally ill, medical doctors alleviate pain and the rest of us
reduce our stress and overcome bad habits.
So, When Does Hypnosis Need the Help of Spirit?
There are times when no amount of hypnosis can surmount some problems.
That's when I turn to spiritual practices like prayer. And what a
powerful combination prayer and hypnosis can make!
Both have a lot in common. When we pray deeply and earnestly we enter
into an altered state of consciousness identical to certain levels of
trance with self hypnosis. But here's the difference: with prayer we
hope to open up the line of communication with the Divine and invoke
assistance -- whether for ourselves or for others.
Demonic Possession vs. The Hypnotic State
The idea that hypnosis could relegate a mentally healthy person to
demonic obsessions or possessions could come from the fear that
because we are unconscious in the hypnotic state certain forces could
take us over. But... we remain completely aware, awake and in control
(morally) during hypnosis. So we needn't fear that invisible entities
will gain entry to our souls.
I've been practicing self hypnosis and clinical hypnotherapy since
1996 and I haven't seen anything which hints at aligning with the
demonic. Hypnosis makes my prayer life more effective and full of
wonder. (More in a future article.)
In Summary
Self hypnosis should be seen as a gift from above. It's a simple and
effective way to work on our challenges -- not a replacement for
prayer or connection with the Divine. It can really work with the
tools of spirit to help make each of us become our best. Isn't that
what the Divine wants?
Self hypnosis and God don't only coexist; they both can expand our
wonder and alignment with the universe.