Hypnosis for Beginners

by William W Hewitt

  Hypnosis clubs and groups are superb methods of mutual self-improvement. Members gain by being helped and gain by helping others.

  Don't overlook the great opportunity of having your own family engage in group hypnosis. It is a marvelous way to increase love and understanding.

  One rule for any group-whether a formal club, informal gathering, or family group-is sticking to a schedule. Meet every day if you wish, but do not be willy-nilly about the meetings. Meeting about once a week works best; set aside the time and make it happen. Disciplining the mind to produce the miracles you want requires persistence. In no case should you meet less frequently than once every other week because the residual effects of hypnotic suggestion usually wear off in about two weeks.

  Guard against scheduling a meeting and then canceling or postponing it. That can become a counterproductive habit which ultimately can give zero results. An occasional rescheduling will likely be necessary from time to time, and that is all right. Just don't develop the habit of rescheduling, because when you do you are signaling your mind loud and clear, "My goals aren't very important. Reschedule them," and that is just what your mind will do: reschedule your goals so you won't attain them.

  Hypnosis is more-much more-than just a set of words in a relaxing procedure. It is a way of life, a way of enjoying life to the fullest, a technique for creating and realizing the reality you want for yourself now and in the future. It is a vehicle you can drive through life in. The vehicle will only go where you direct it.

  HABIT CONTROL

  Case 1

  If you want to control a habit and learn self-hypnosis at the same time, follow the six sessions detailed for diet control in Part I except for two things. First, delete all references and suggestions dealing with diet. Second, add appropriate references and suggestions for dealing with the habit you want to control.

  For example, if nail biting is your problem, in session 2 you would not visualize putting a piece of chocolate in your mouth. Instead you would put your fingernail in your mouth and it would taste horrible. Let common sense prevail and you will do just fine.

  Case 2

  If you already have learned your self-hypnosis procedure, then, first, alter your state of consciousness with your simple self-hypnosis procedure. Second, give yourself appropriate suggestions for the particular habit. For example, in nail biting you might say the following:

  I like myself and I am proud of who I am.

  Ugly, stubby, chewed nails are not compatible with who I am.

  When I put my fingers to my mouth to chew, I will immediately remember that I want long, beautiful nails that help enhance my appearance, and I will not bite my nails.

  For situations other than nail biting, refer to chapter 9 for help in devising the suggestions you want to use. Use your common sense and be creative; you can come up with excellent suggestions.

  Case 3

  If you have not learned the self-hypnosis routine and do not wish to learn it but still want to deal with your habit problem, do the following eight steps. (As an alternative to recording each step, you could have a buddy say the words for you.)

  1. Record hypnosis routines A, B, C, D, E, F, I, G, U, and V in that order.

  2. After routine V, record the suggestions you wish to give yourself (for examples, see the suggestion in case 2 above or chapter 9).

  3. Then record: I will now stop talking for three minutes while you visualize your desired goal.

  4. Let the recorder continue to run for three minutes without anything being recorded. The purpose here is to allow time to visualize yourself and the goal you desire before more instructions are given. In the case of nail biting, visualize long, healthy, attractive fingernails, etc. Make the visualization as expansive, complete, and detailed as you wish for the project you are handling. If you think you want more than three minutes for this process, let the recorder run for whatever time you wish. There is no magic number of minutes to visualize; it is your choice. If you are using the buddy system, your buddy should say, "I am now going to stop talking for three minutes while you visualize." Then she or he would simply remain silent for the required time before proceeding with the remaining hypnosis instructions.

  5. Record hypnosis routines W and 1J. In routine W, delete references to diet and substitute other appropriate words.

  Your finished tape should have the following data on it: routines A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, U, and V; your specific suggestions for self-help; a blank pause for X number of minutes to allow time for your visualization of success; and routines W and 1J.

  6. Close your eyes and replay the recording, hypnotizing yourself. (This step is not necessary if your buddy did the hypnotizing in person.)

  7. Listen to the tape once every day (more often if you wish) until the desired results are obtained. That is, until you get rid of your unwanted habit. If you are using the buddy system, your buddy would have to say the routines every day for you-a very clear advantage for making your own tape.

  8. If the unwanted habit starts to recur, get out your tape and use it daily until the problem disappears. It is rare that you will have to do this more than once after your initial handling of the problem.

  For the remaining uses described in this chapter, you'll find only the routines and suggestions as described in Case 3 above under the assumption that you are interested in quickly dealing with the problem by yourself. In all situations, however, you may exercise your own self-hypnosis procedure (as in Case 2 above) or a full-blown procedure where you learn self-hypnosis (as in Case 1 above). You may use the buddy system also if you wish in any of the following situations.

  Following are general approaches and specifics for each situation without a repetition of all the routine detail and the options and variations. Just become familiar with the options detailed here under Habit Control-those same options apply to all the other situations.

  PHOBIAS

  Agoraphobia

  The dictionary defines agoraphobia as "morbid fear of being in an open space." People with this phobia panic when in open places such as supermarkets, shopping centers, and parks. These people usually confine themselves to their home or automobile. In severe cases, people will not leave their home at all. Many will leave but only in their car. They will drive someone somewhere, but won't get out of the car themselves. Others will force themselves to make a quick run into a grocery store for a much needed item and get out as quickly as they can, all the time in terror of having a panic attack.

  There is no need for these people to continue leading such unhappy lives. Hypnosis can help.

  The following seven-step procedure will help.

  1. Record hypnosis routines A, B, C, D, E, F, I, G, U, and V.

  2. Record the following suggestions (or if you prefer, make up your own):

  I am a worthwhile person, and I am thankful to be alive.

  My Creator gave me the entire world to enjoy and to use for my benefit. This includes small cramped spaces and it includes large wide open spaces.

  I am now making a commitment to myself to enjoy all of creation, especially all open spaces, large areas, crowds, everything.

  There is no need to fear being in an open or large place because my Creator gave it to me with love to enjoy and use. He never gives me anything that I should ever fear, and this is so.

  I love all of my world, and I intend to use all of it, and enjoy it, and learn from it.

  I give thanks to my Creator for everything He has given me.

  3. Then record the following:

  I want you to imagine now that you are strolling through a large public park. You are walking alone, but there are other people whom you can see walking in the park. It is a warm, sunny day and you have a smile on your face. You feel great and at peace with the entire world. This is a spacious place. You seem to be able to see forever in all directions. You love it here. You can hear the birds singing in the lush treetops. Occasionally you meet someone on the path you are walking and they smil
e and say, "Have a nice day." You smile back and wish them well. What a beautiful place. What a beautiful world. It is not confining you. You can do whatever you want and go in whatever direction you wish. Perfect freedom. You love the spaciousness and enjoy the peace and the experience of being here and of learning all you can about events that take place here. You come to a broad city street and across the street is a large shopping center. It is a huge, roomy place with crowds of shoppers scurrying about. What a delightful place to be. Enter the first shop you come to and browse through all the merchandise there. Pick out some things you like and purchase them. What fun. You love mingling with the people who are having fun just like you. Your smile is so strong that it just may stay on your face permanently. What a beautiful world you live in. Now take your purchases and walk back across the street and into the park again. This has been a perfect outing and you vow to get out more often into the wide open spaces where you can benefit from more of your marvelous world.

  NOTE: Devise your own visualization procedure in place of this one if you prefer. Keep the same concept of enjoying the wide open spaces that your Creator gave you for your benefit.

  4. Record routines W and 1J, deleting any diet references.

  Your finished tape should have the following data on it: routines A, B, C, D, E, F, I, G, U, and V; your specific suggestions for self-help; your visualization instructions; and routines W and 1J.

  5. Close your eyes and replay your tape, hypnotizing yourself.

  6. Listen to your tape every day at least once until you no longer have the problem.

  7. If the problem starts to recur, listen to your tape again until the problem disappears.

  Claustrophobia

  The dictionary defines claustrophobia as "morbid dread of closed or narrow places." People with this phobia panic when in small, closed, or narrow places. They avoid going into closets. Putting something over their head would send them into panic. Sometimes even a large passenger car is too confining for them.

  As with all phobias, hypnosis can help people who are claustrophobic.

  Follow the same procedure as detailed in the Agoraphobia section above. Following are some suggestions to use in step 2.

  I am a worthwhile person, and I am thankful to be alive.

  My Creator gave me the entire world to enjoy and use for my benefit. This includes small cramped spaces as well as large, open spaces.

  I am now making a commitment to myself to enjoy all of creation, especially all small, narrow, or cramped spaces, everything.

  There is no need to fear being in small, closed, or tight places because my Creator gave it to me with love to enjoy and use. He never gives me anything that I should ever fear, and this is so.

  I love all of my world, and I intend to use all of it, and enjoy it, and learn from it.

  I give thanks to my Creator for everything He has given me.

  Following are visualization instructions for step 3.

  I want you to imagine now that you have just walked into a closet where you store books, magazines, and photographs. The closet has a light in it and you turn it on. This is a tiny closet packed with your private literature. You have come in here to get your favorite book to read so you can spend a quiet, peaceful day reading. A draft blows the closet door shut, locking you inside. At that moment, the phone rings in the living room. You listen to the phone ring and you smile because now you don't have to answer it and have your quiet day interrupted. There is just enough space on the floor to sit comfortably and read. The idea of being locked in really tickles your fancy because now you have a legitimate excuse for not doing anything except enjoy yourself reading, relaxing, browsing through old photographs, and reminiscing. A perfect, quiet, peaceful afternoon with no intrusions from anyone or anything. You love it. You know the key to the door is in your pocket, but you are going to ignore that. Instead you are pretending to be locked in so you can enjoy the solitude of your own private space. Being cramped appeals to you because it brings your friends, the books and photos, close to you where you can feel the warmth of their presence. What a lovely, calm, peaceful way to spend the day. You vow to retreat into your own tiny space in the closet every once in awhile so you can enjoy just being with yourself. You hadn't realized before just how cozy and secure this experience could be. You love it.

  NOTE: Devise your own visualization procedure in place of this one if you prefer. Keep the same concept of enjoying the tiny, cramped space that your Creator gave you for your benefit.

  Other Phobias

  Follow the same pattern as for the two phobias described above. All you need to change are the specific suggestions you give yourself and the visualization instructions you create.

  Make your suggestions and visualizations in the same positive vein: give thanks for what you have and who you are; show appreciation for yourself; enjoy all situations that have caused you problems in the past. Let your creative mind run free in devising vivid, powerful visualizations and suggestions. There is no limit to what you can achieve if you diligently put your mind to it.

  SENIOR CITIZENS

  Many senior citizens are beset with a myriad of problems. They have been released from the job market, and they often feel useless. The aging process often leaves them with aches, pains, and physical debilities that frustrate them because it stops them from enjoying more of life. Their income is limited, often to poverty levels. They want to do constructive work, but have difficulty finding anything. Their families are grown and have their own problems, leaving the senior citizen to feel abandoned. They crave companionship, but don't know how to find it. Their selfesteem slips, and they become depressed.

  While there are many senior citizens who do not have the above problems, many do. There is no reason why anyone of any age should not enjoy life to the fullest. Hypnosis can help.

  Follow the same seven-step procedure used in the preceding situations in this chapter.

  1. Record hypnosis routines A, B, C, D, E, F, I, G, U, and V.

  2. Record specific suggestions for the situations you are dealing with. Some suggestions you might consider using:

  I am a worthwhile person, and I am thankful to be alive.

  I am happy to be the age I am because I have earned the right by my past daily living and experiences.

  I am delighted to be my present age because I am much wiser and more experienced than I used to be.

  I have many beautiful memories to comfort me at all times.

  There are many worthwhile things that I can do, and I am learning to do more by using my mind to create my reality as I want it to be.

  I command my creative mind to furnish me with ideas and thoughts that will enable me to enrich my life more and more.

  I command my mind to furnish me with the physical fortitude to live each day with ever increasing achievement and enjoyment.

  I thank my Creator for my life and my state of life.

  I ask for the insight to use my innate abilities for greater benefit to myself and others.

  I give thanks to my Creator for everything He has given me.

  I enjoy being with other people, but I also enjoy being alone.

  I am in control of my own life, and I accept responsibility for taking care of myself to the fullest extent of my ability.

  3. Record visualization instructions that you create to deal with the specific situation you have in mind. One visualization technique you may want to use is the Seashore Trip in chapter 12. This is an especially powerful routine. While you are on the beach, visualize yourself successfully doing anything you enjoy.

  4. Record hypnosis routines W and 1J, deleting any references to diet.

  5. Relax and play back your tape recording, hypnotizing yourself.

  6. Listen to your tape every day at least once, until you no longer have the problem.

  7. If the problem starts to recur, listen to your tape again until the problem disappears.

  I am now a senior citizen, and I had the experience of
being cut from the job market prematurely. Fortunately, my wife and I had the foresight and financial management skills so that we were not left in a critical situation. However, I still needed to work because at the time neither of us was close to being eligible for social security. (Yet I was old enough that the marketplace wasn't interested in hiring me; an all too common situation for many people.) If I didn't find work within a reasonable time, we would have a critical situation. What did I do to find work? First, I took stock of what I could do that had no relationship to age. Here is what I came up with:

  I am a very good writer.

  I am an excellent hypnotist.

  I am a good astrologer.

  I am a good lecturer and teacher.

  I love doing all the above things.

  Using my self-hypnosis, I set my goals and brought them into reality. My results:

  Until I reached retirement age, I earned a very nice living doing contract technical writing for various industries.

  I wrote a number of books on astrology, hypnosis, self-improvement, and psychic development, and they were all successfully published.

  I have written and sold many magazine articles.

  I gave lectures on altered states of consciousness, psychic development, and hypnosis.

  I purchased five timeshare villas in Cancun, Mexico; we have a lovely place to vacation several times a year for the rest of our lives.

  I enjoy good health because I programmed it that way with self-hypnosis.

  My wife and I are now retired, and I continue to write and lecture, but on a less demanding schedule.

  I have a full life of freedom, enjoyment, and achievement. And it is all because of how I use my altered state of consciousness via self-hypnosis and psychic practice (the next step beyond hypnosis).

  You can do the same or even more. You have at least one ability that you can capitalize on, and most likely much more than that. Start using your head, your altered state of consciousness, and your creative mind, and make good things happen for yourself. Don't depend on others. Rely on yourself. You can do it. This book gives you the key, but you must use the key to unlock your own doors to your own rewarding future.