We all know what stress is. And we’ve all heard what stress does to our bodies. Now and then we even hear about some way to reduce or relieve stress.
Well, more then likely we’ll never completely eliminate stress. Some theories suggest that a little stress is necessary and beneficial. But how do we get stress under control when it becomes overwhelming?
Introducing EFT, short for Emotional Freedom Techniques; EFT is a natural and non-invasive procedure based upon the ancient Chinese technique Acupuncture. Don’t run away yet, there are NO needles… you are safe EFT is actually very relaxing and most people find it very enjoyable. It is a system of gentle tapping on several points on the face and upper body while utilizing a basic formula of verbalizing key statements.
EFT has an amazingly high success rate and is simple enough for the average person to use on a regular basis for all types of issues.
Now back to STRESS. Or perhaps I should say RELIEF. Because that is exactly what you get when you use EFT in stressful situations. Depending upon the severity of the issue the average person seems to experience an almost immediate decrease in stress and anxiety with only one round of EFT, which takes about 1-3 minutes. In some cases the emotional intensity completely disappears. Even the individuals who don’t completely resolve their stress and anxiety with a few rounds of EFT seem to experience noticeable improvement.
Imagine yourself having a pleasant, fast, easy and effective tool to relieve stress any time. You can have that with EFT and I’d love to show you how. For free information about EFT, go to: http://www.hatherapies.com. To book your EFT session with me, call (715) 297-6864 or email: support@hatherapies.com.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
EFT - Far deeper then you could ever imagine.
By Deirdre Brocklebank
I have been asking myself could there be more to the vibrational impact of EFT on the body than we realise? For instance, how does the tapping impact on the body outside the energy system? As an adult body is about 70% water it seemed to be appropriate to begin my research on this. This focus led me to the fascinating work with water by internationally renowned Japanese scientist Dr Masaru Emoto and the correlation between his principles and those of EFT.
Of particular relevance to EFT is that after many years of research Dr Emoto has demonstrated that molecules of water are affected by our thoughts, words and feelings. Since the earth and humans are composed mainly of water his message can be seen as one for personal health, global environmental renewal, and a practical plan for the creation of peace that starts with each of us. Dr Emoto regards his work as a
exploration of how the cosmos works. Water has taught him about the ‘delicacy of the human soul and the impact that “love and gratitude” can have on the world.’
Dr Emoto has visually recorded the impact of different vibrations on water by freezing it and by photographing the resulting crystal formations. Some of his photographs are shown in his books “The Hidden Messages in Water” and The True Power of Water.”
The following principles are basic to Dr Emoto’s work and of relevance for EFT.
1. Water is the life force and it is sensitive to all vibration.
2. The entire universe is vibrating and everything has a unique frequency (sound).
3. The Universe is naturally in balance and harmony, and discord has a destructive vibration.
4. The words “love” and “gratitude” form the fundamental principles of the laws of nature and also of the phenomenon of life.
Every living cell requires water and we are dependant on the fluid flow in all the different systems in our bodies including the body's electrical system. Dehydration, will cause the energy system to be sluggish or severely repressed and this is one of the recognised causes of Psychological Reversal (PR) in EFT. For this reason, and also because people can become very thirsty while doing EFT, it is necessary to drink water during the session. Correct hydration is also essential for accuracy with muscle testing.
Dr Emoto discovered a close correlation between peoples’ emotions and affected body parts. Of particular interest to EFT is that he found that excess fear resonated with the kidneys. The kidneys maintain the constancy of fluids to our internal environment. They filter fluid from the bloodstream and are the major excretory organs. His findings concur with the Five Elements Cycle in Chinese medicine in which the kidneys are affected by the negative emotion of fear. In EFT the collarbone point is also the Kidney 27 point in acupuncture. I have found this to be a very powerful point in EFT which is not surprising given its connection to the kidneys, water and the emotion of fear.
Einstein’s Theory of Relativity explains that physical matter including the human body is made of energy at the sub-atomic level. The principle is universally accepted in the scientific world and the Science of Quantum Mechanics generally recognises that substance is nothing more than vibration. EFT practitioners have been successfully applying this principle for years and the clinical results prove it.
Dr Emoto calls this universal vibration hado which means “all the subtle energy that exists in the Universe.” Water is sensitive to hado and according to Dr Emoto, water acts as a mirror of the vibrations created in the world. This energy can be positive or negative.
Humans are each vibrating with their own unique frequency and have the sensory skills necessary to feel the vibrations of others. My EFT experiences have enabled me to develop my skills in this regard. As a result, I now often intuitively tune into the subtle as well as the stronger more obvious emotions that my clients experience during EFT sessions with them.
I also feel a range of physical sensations that they too experience during the sessions. As our frequencies change, we literally resonate with one another. I believe this is because I tap together with the client and often speak the same or relevant words for the problems on which we are focussed. Gary has discussed this effect in his Borrowing Benefits concept.
Another phenomenon that I have experienced with EFT is that many of my clients tell me that after doing the technique they have unexpectedly been able to relate better to people with whom they previously had conflict. These were not necessarily people that they consciously addressed using EFT. So even though the person themselves has not necessarily made a conscious effort to “make peace” with another, their vibration had so changed after the EFT that they experienced greater resonance with the other’s energy. I believe that it is highly likely that this change has occurred as a result of tapping into the meridian system plus changes in the vibration of water in the body.
Dr Emoto has developed a device that measures various vibrations of the body at cellular level. He has expanded its use to measuring hado in his development of hado medicine for which the fundamental principles are vibration and resonance. According to Dr Emoto, “When the cellular vibrations in different parts of the body are disturbed due to various reasons, our body can make a wrong turn. When this situation occurs, a new external vibration can be given to the disturbed cell so as to resonate with it, thus, its intrinsic vibration is restored.”
The description of how these principles work aligns very closely to the Psychological Reversal phenomenon in EFT. This is caused by self-sabotaging, negative thinking which often occurs subconsciously and is therefore outside our awareness. It is a polarity reversal in the body’s energy system –the energy is there but it doesn’t flow correctly. It is generally present when a person confuses words, numbers and/or concepts and when they are thinking negatively, and acting irrationally and irritably when they are doing EFT.
In EFT, the correction for Psychological Reversal is made by tapping (ie introducing new external vibration) and making a Setup statement which acknowledges the problem (negative words) and creates self acceptance despite the problem being present (positive words). This changes the vibration in the meridian system, and most likely in the water in the body as well.
Of great significance to EFT is Dr Emoto’s contention that water carries information both negative and positive to all the cells in the body, coupled with his visual recording of water’s ability to understand the meaning of words.
He discovered that the vibration from negative words has the power to destroy, whereas, the vibration of the “good” words has a positive effect. The words may either be written or spoken. He considers that all the vibrations both good and bad impact on water in the body. This has a profound impact on our health and general attitude and demeanour.
Tapping into the meridian system with EFT while stating negative and positive words also has a profound effect. This is because when a disruption of the energy system is calmed and relieved, the person no longer experiences pain and/or or negative emotions from the original memory or thought, as the associated feeling has been “disconnected” according to Sylvia Hartmann, the founder of EmoTrance.
Dr Emoto also discovered that water exposed to the written words “love and gratitude” produced the most beautiful and perfect of all the crystals that he recorded. He contends that these words form the fundamental principles of the laws of nature and the phenomenon of life. He found that while “love” has healing powers on its own, the words “love and gratitude” together form immunity in healing. EFT incorporates the words “love” and “accept” into the Setup statement. Even though acceptance of oneself is a type of gratitude it could be even more beneficial, given Dr Emoto’s research, to incorporate the word “gratitude” and other similar words expressing thanks when doing EFT.
Dr Emoto states that words spoken with determination have strong powers. He was able to observe this in 1999 when 350 people assembled to pray for the cleansing of Lake Biwa in Japan. The algae that normally formed in the lake did not appear that year. He used Einstein’s equation of E=MC² to explain the phenomenon of the healing of the lake. He considers that the “C” can equate to “consciousness” as well as to the speed of light which is the normal interpretation. In this case “M” could equal the number of people consciously focussed. This concept is not new to EFT practitioners who have experienced Gary’s Borrowing Benefits phenomenon, as referred to earlier.
Everyone knows that negative emotions and feelings are a part of us. It is also quite obvious that with an attitude of positive thinking our health often improves.
Dr Emoto believes that we can correct our hado by using the opposite word. So for example, “hate” has a opposing frequency to “gratitude”, “anger” to “kindness”, “fear” to “courage”, “anxiety” to “peace of mind”, “pressure” to “presence of mind” and so forth. The EFT work by Patricia Carrington on choices beautifully exemplifies the efficacy of this.
Dr Emoto’s research has also demonstrated that while words have their own unique vibrational frequencies these can be effected by the vibrations of the person speaking or writing the words. The implications for EFT centre on the importance of using the individual’s own words rather than only those of the therapist when tapping, unless of course there is agreement on the words.
The following is another of Dr Emoto’s findings that is worth developing for EFT. He found that water responds to intent so we can say positive prayers to water which gains the power to potentially answer our prayers. He believes that we can send stronger hado to water by praying in the past tense rather than the future tense, as though the prayer has already been answered. According to Dr Emoto we can make our thoughts and intentions stronger by doing this. He also believes that it is important to have a strong image of the desired result. Loudly vocalizing the words gives off a stronger hado than writing them on paper. He suggests that a practical way to create your own hado water is by writing words on a piece of paper and sticking it to your water bottle with the words facing inwards. Dr Emoto recommends drinking five glasses of this water per day. If you don’t have a specific wish then he suggests using the words love and gratitude.
I decided to do a small practical experiment with four people and seven glasses of water to test some of Dr Emoto’s principles. The purpose of the experiment was to revise muscle testing in a workshop while testing whether written words could affect the taste of water. One person was muscle tested by three different people for glasses of water which were each exposed to one of seven words. These words were unseen by the person being tested and the testers, until after all the testing had been completed.
Results confirmed that water exposed to different words changed taste. When the person was muscle tested, “nice” tasting water tested strong and “not nice” tasting water tested weak. Three glasses tasted neutral. For these, the muscle response was very weak for water exposed to “ungrateful”, strong for “live” and very weak for “bad”.
The results were useful for finding issues to pursue with EFT. For example the person in this experiment liked the taste of, and muscle tested very strong to water exposed to the word “die”. However, on two occasions she didn’t like the taste of the water exposed to the word “live” and she muscle tested weak on this. When asked later how she felt about dying she answered that she was quite happy about the thought of it. By contrast, living was a challenge at the time because she was about to retire and was not sure about her financial future.
Conclusion
There is a strong correlation between Dr Emoto’s findings and EFT principles.
Dr Emoto’s pioneering research has provided sound evidence of the impact of thoughts, words and feelings on the body through the medium of water.
Whereas Dr Emoto’s work measures the impact at a personal and global level, EFT provides a therapeutic approach to influence and manage negative emotion at the individual level. Thanks to Dr Emoto’s work, it is now possible to understand more about the wider therapeutic implications of tapping into the meridian system through EFT.
Deirdre Brocklebank
I have been asking myself could there be more to the vibrational impact of EFT on the body than we realise? For instance, how does the tapping impact on the body outside the energy system? As an adult body is about 70% water it seemed to be appropriate to begin my research on this. This focus led me to the fascinating work with water by internationally renowned Japanese scientist Dr Masaru Emoto and the correlation between his principles and those of EFT.
Of particular relevance to EFT is that after many years of research Dr Emoto has demonstrated that molecules of water are affected by our thoughts, words and feelings. Since the earth and humans are composed mainly of water his message can be seen as one for personal health, global environmental renewal, and a practical plan for the creation of peace that starts with each of us. Dr Emoto regards his work as a
exploration of how the cosmos works. Water has taught him about the ‘delicacy of the human soul and the impact that “love and gratitude” can have on the world.’
Dr Emoto has visually recorded the impact of different vibrations on water by freezing it and by photographing the resulting crystal formations. Some of his photographs are shown in his books “The Hidden Messages in Water” and The True Power of Water.”
The following principles are basic to Dr Emoto’s work and of relevance for EFT.
1. Water is the life force and it is sensitive to all vibration.
2. The entire universe is vibrating and everything has a unique frequency (sound).
3. The Universe is naturally in balance and harmony, and discord has a destructive vibration.
4. The words “love” and “gratitude” form the fundamental principles of the laws of nature and also of the phenomenon of life.
Every living cell requires water and we are dependant on the fluid flow in all the different systems in our bodies including the body's electrical system. Dehydration, will cause the energy system to be sluggish or severely repressed and this is one of the recognised causes of Psychological Reversal (PR) in EFT. For this reason, and also because people can become very thirsty while doing EFT, it is necessary to drink water during the session. Correct hydration is also essential for accuracy with muscle testing.
Dr Emoto discovered a close correlation between peoples’ emotions and affected body parts. Of particular interest to EFT is that he found that excess fear resonated with the kidneys. The kidneys maintain the constancy of fluids to our internal environment. They filter fluid from the bloodstream and are the major excretory organs. His findings concur with the Five Elements Cycle in Chinese medicine in which the kidneys are affected by the negative emotion of fear. In EFT the collarbone point is also the Kidney 27 point in acupuncture. I have found this to be a very powerful point in EFT which is not surprising given its connection to the kidneys, water and the emotion of fear.
Einstein’s Theory of Relativity explains that physical matter including the human body is made of energy at the sub-atomic level. The principle is universally accepted in the scientific world and the Science of Quantum Mechanics generally recognises that substance is nothing more than vibration. EFT practitioners have been successfully applying this principle for years and the clinical results prove it.
Dr Emoto calls this universal vibration hado which means “all the subtle energy that exists in the Universe.” Water is sensitive to hado and according to Dr Emoto, water acts as a mirror of the vibrations created in the world. This energy can be positive or negative.
Humans are each vibrating with their own unique frequency and have the sensory skills necessary to feel the vibrations of others. My EFT experiences have enabled me to develop my skills in this regard. As a result, I now often intuitively tune into the subtle as well as the stronger more obvious emotions that my clients experience during EFT sessions with them.
I also feel a range of physical sensations that they too experience during the sessions. As our frequencies change, we literally resonate with one another. I believe this is because I tap together with the client and often speak the same or relevant words for the problems on which we are focussed. Gary has discussed this effect in his Borrowing Benefits concept.
Another phenomenon that I have experienced with EFT is that many of my clients tell me that after doing the technique they have unexpectedly been able to relate better to people with whom they previously had conflict. These were not necessarily people that they consciously addressed using EFT. So even though the person themselves has not necessarily made a conscious effort to “make peace” with another, their vibration had so changed after the EFT that they experienced greater resonance with the other’s energy. I believe that it is highly likely that this change has occurred as a result of tapping into the meridian system plus changes in the vibration of water in the body.
Dr Emoto has developed a device that measures various vibrations of the body at cellular level. He has expanded its use to measuring hado in his development of hado medicine for which the fundamental principles are vibration and resonance. According to Dr Emoto, “When the cellular vibrations in different parts of the body are disturbed due to various reasons, our body can make a wrong turn. When this situation occurs, a new external vibration can be given to the disturbed cell so as to resonate with it, thus, its intrinsic vibration is restored.”
The description of how these principles work aligns very closely to the Psychological Reversal phenomenon in EFT. This is caused by self-sabotaging, negative thinking which often occurs subconsciously and is therefore outside our awareness. It is a polarity reversal in the body’s energy system –the energy is there but it doesn’t flow correctly. It is generally present when a person confuses words, numbers and/or concepts and when they are thinking negatively, and acting irrationally and irritably when they are doing EFT.
In EFT, the correction for Psychological Reversal is made by tapping (ie introducing new external vibration) and making a Setup statement which acknowledges the problem (negative words) and creates self acceptance despite the problem being present (positive words). This changes the vibration in the meridian system, and most likely in the water in the body as well.
Of great significance to EFT is Dr Emoto’s contention that water carries information both negative and positive to all the cells in the body, coupled with his visual recording of water’s ability to understand the meaning of words.
He discovered that the vibration from negative words has the power to destroy, whereas, the vibration of the “good” words has a positive effect. The words may either be written or spoken. He considers that all the vibrations both good and bad impact on water in the body. This has a profound impact on our health and general attitude and demeanour.
Tapping into the meridian system with EFT while stating negative and positive words also has a profound effect. This is because when a disruption of the energy system is calmed and relieved, the person no longer experiences pain and/or or negative emotions from the original memory or thought, as the associated feeling has been “disconnected” according to Sylvia Hartmann, the founder of EmoTrance.
Dr Emoto also discovered that water exposed to the written words “love and gratitude” produced the most beautiful and perfect of all the crystals that he recorded. He contends that these words form the fundamental principles of the laws of nature and the phenomenon of life. He found that while “love” has healing powers on its own, the words “love and gratitude” together form immunity in healing. EFT incorporates the words “love” and “accept” into the Setup statement. Even though acceptance of oneself is a type of gratitude it could be even more beneficial, given Dr Emoto’s research, to incorporate the word “gratitude” and other similar words expressing thanks when doing EFT.
Dr Emoto states that words spoken with determination have strong powers. He was able to observe this in 1999 when 350 people assembled to pray for the cleansing of Lake Biwa in Japan. The algae that normally formed in the lake did not appear that year. He used Einstein’s equation of E=MC² to explain the phenomenon of the healing of the lake. He considers that the “C” can equate to “consciousness” as well as to the speed of light which is the normal interpretation. In this case “M” could equal the number of people consciously focussed. This concept is not new to EFT practitioners who have experienced Gary’s Borrowing Benefits phenomenon, as referred to earlier.
Everyone knows that negative emotions and feelings are a part of us. It is also quite obvious that with an attitude of positive thinking our health often improves.
Dr Emoto believes that we can correct our hado by using the opposite word. So for example, “hate” has a opposing frequency to “gratitude”, “anger” to “kindness”, “fear” to “courage”, “anxiety” to “peace of mind”, “pressure” to “presence of mind” and so forth. The EFT work by Patricia Carrington on choices beautifully exemplifies the efficacy of this.
Dr Emoto’s research has also demonstrated that while words have their own unique vibrational frequencies these can be effected by the vibrations of the person speaking or writing the words. The implications for EFT centre on the importance of using the individual’s own words rather than only those of the therapist when tapping, unless of course there is agreement on the words.
The following is another of Dr Emoto’s findings that is worth developing for EFT. He found that water responds to intent so we can say positive prayers to water which gains the power to potentially answer our prayers. He believes that we can send stronger hado to water by praying in the past tense rather than the future tense, as though the prayer has already been answered. According to Dr Emoto we can make our thoughts and intentions stronger by doing this. He also believes that it is important to have a strong image of the desired result. Loudly vocalizing the words gives off a stronger hado than writing them on paper. He suggests that a practical way to create your own hado water is by writing words on a piece of paper and sticking it to your water bottle with the words facing inwards. Dr Emoto recommends drinking five glasses of this water per day. If you don’t have a specific wish then he suggests using the words love and gratitude.
I decided to do a small practical experiment with four people and seven glasses of water to test some of Dr Emoto’s principles. The purpose of the experiment was to revise muscle testing in a workshop while testing whether written words could affect the taste of water. One person was muscle tested by three different people for glasses of water which were each exposed to one of seven words. These words were unseen by the person being tested and the testers, until after all the testing had been completed.
Results confirmed that water exposed to different words changed taste. When the person was muscle tested, “nice” tasting water tested strong and “not nice” tasting water tested weak. Three glasses tasted neutral. For these, the muscle response was very weak for water exposed to “ungrateful”, strong for “live” and very weak for “bad”.
The results were useful for finding issues to pursue with EFT. For example the person in this experiment liked the taste of, and muscle tested very strong to water exposed to the word “die”. However, on two occasions she didn’t like the taste of the water exposed to the word “live” and she muscle tested weak on this. When asked later how she felt about dying she answered that she was quite happy about the thought of it. By contrast, living was a challenge at the time because she was about to retire and was not sure about her financial future.
Conclusion
There is a strong correlation between Dr Emoto’s findings and EFT principles.
Dr Emoto’s pioneering research has provided sound evidence of the impact of thoughts, words and feelings on the body through the medium of water.
Whereas Dr Emoto’s work measures the impact at a personal and global level, EFT provides a therapeutic approach to influence and manage negative emotion at the individual level. Thanks to Dr Emoto’s work, it is now possible to understand more about the wider therapeutic implications of tapping into the meridian system through EFT.
Deirdre Brocklebank
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
WHAT IS YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS TELLING YOU??
Every day, your subconscious mind picks up messages. No matter what you're doing, your brilliant subconscious mind will pick things up--good or bad--and those things will change you before you even realize what is happening.
DID YOU KNOW...
The subconscious mind is much more powerful than most of us realize. It has a huge amount of control over our behavior. Each and every day, our subconscious mind determines much of what we do--whether we like it or not.
TAKE CONTROL OF SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES AND USE THEM TO HELP YOU!
Large retail stores use subliminal messages to reduce theft. Celebrities such as Tiger Woods and Anthony Robbins say that subliminal messages are a key part of their success. If these people can use subliminal messages to help them, so can you!
BETTER YOURSELF WITH THE POWER OF SUBLIMINALS!
“Subliminal-Power.com wants to show YOU how to harness and use the power of subliminal messages through our revolutionary computer software. Our Subliminal Power software is a fully-customizable studio package that will run on any Windows-based computer. Once installed, it silently boots up when you start your computer, and runs in the background. It constantly flashes subtle random-area, low-contrast, 100-millisecond positive subliminal messages while you work, surf the Internet, write letters, or play games.” (except from Subliminal-Power website)
IT'S EFFORTLESS ON YOUR PART!
Your conscious mind can't comprehend these messages, but your subconscious instantly understands and acts upon them. With Subliminal Power software, YOU decide what subliminal messages to use--even write them yourself.
When you use Subliminal Power software, you are your own subliminal message editor, creating your own subliminal messaging modules to help you succeed in any area you wish.
I have been using the software since February of 2008 and it is awesome. I began noticing changes within the first week. I highly recommend you use this product.
DID YOU KNOW...
The subconscious mind is much more powerful than most of us realize. It has a huge amount of control over our behavior. Each and every day, our subconscious mind determines much of what we do--whether we like it or not.
TAKE CONTROL OF SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES AND USE THEM TO HELP YOU!
Large retail stores use subliminal messages to reduce theft. Celebrities such as Tiger Woods and Anthony Robbins say that subliminal messages are a key part of their success. If these people can use subliminal messages to help them, so can you!
BETTER YOURSELF WITH THE POWER OF SUBLIMINALS!
“Subliminal-Power.com wants to show YOU how to harness and use the power of subliminal messages through our revolutionary computer software. Our Subliminal Power software is a fully-customizable studio package that will run on any Windows-based computer. Once installed, it silently boots up when you start your computer, and runs in the background. It constantly flashes subtle random-area, low-contrast, 100-millisecond positive subliminal messages while you work, surf the Internet, write letters, or play games.” (except from Subliminal-Power website)
IT'S EFFORTLESS ON YOUR PART!
Your conscious mind can't comprehend these messages, but your subconscious instantly understands and acts upon them. With Subliminal Power software, YOU decide what subliminal messages to use--even write them yourself.
When you use Subliminal Power software, you are your own subliminal message editor, creating your own subliminal messaging modules to help you succeed in any area you wish.
I have been using the software since February of 2008 and it is awesome. I began noticing changes within the first week. I highly recommend you use this product.
Friday, May 23, 2008
What Really Causes Disease? Experts Blame Stored Emotions and Recommend New Acupressure Technique
Medical experts agree that no one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis, other autoimmune disorders, or chronic pain. They say there is no known cure or way to prevent Parkinson’s disease, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, or dozens of other illnesses. Modern medicine doesn’t attempt to cure these conditions. Instead, it manages them for as long as possible with symptom-suppressing procedures and drugs.
But a growing number of physicians, medical experts, and health care practitioners believe they know how these illnesses begin and progress. It’s not all in your head, they say – but it is in the muscles and organs that store past traumas. Releasing stored traumas releases the illness’s underlying cause and helps the body heal from the inside out. The method they use is EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), a do-it-yourself acupressure technique described in a free manual from the official EFT website. (Except taken from PRWEB)
“At least 85 percent of medical problems are physical manifestations of how stress, anxiety, or past traumas are held in and processed by the body,” says Los Angeles physician Eric Robins, MD. “EFT is the best technique for addressing these issues and clearing them out of the body.”
The speed and effectiveness of EFT is the result of treating the problem at its source, the imbalances in the body's energy system. Stressful and traumatic experiences, that are not resolved, leave the body’s energy system in a state of imbalance, and we experience strong negative emotions that are difficult to let go of as a result. Once these imbalances are corrected, the negative emotion quickly shifts into a positive emotion. EFT does this by having the recipient "tune into" the negative emotion, tap a set of acupressure treatment points and perform other energy balancing exercises to help the mind/body heal itself. This process can take from five minutes to an hour depending on the number of aspects (separate emotional parts of a feeling or a memory) which need to be treated.
Gary Craig, the Stanford-trained engineer who developed EFT, worked with Vietnam War Veterans to help them resolve some of their traumatic memories. Says Craig, “in the course of applying EFT, the Veterans experienced profound emotional peace for the first time in 20 years. A side-benefit was that many of the men reported that their chronic physical pain diminished or disappeared along with their emotional pain. Soon we were successfully applying EFT with people who were suffering chronic pain from arthritis, back injury and even fibromyalgia. Emotional and physical relief tend to go hand-in-hand when doing EFT.”
EFT is a form of psychological acupressure that used light tapping instead of needles to stimulate traditional Chinese acupuncture points. The tapping on the designated points on the face and body is combined with verbalizing the identified problem followed by a general affirmation phase. Combining these ingredients of the EFT technique balances the energy system and appears to relieve psychological stress and physiological pain. Restoring the balance of the energy system allows the body and mind to resume their natural healing abilities. EFT is safe, easy to apply, and is non-invasive.
Many people here in our area have begun using EFT to resolve all types of issues, from stress relief to weight loss. The success rate is very high and the technique is very easy. It seems to be most effective when learned from an experienced practitioner who can offer suggestions and guidance, however, once the technique has been learned the individual is encouraged to continue using the technique on your own for other issues that may arise.
For additional information about EFT and to download the EFT Manual go to http://www.hatherapies.com.
But a growing number of physicians, medical experts, and health care practitioners believe they know how these illnesses begin and progress. It’s not all in your head, they say – but it is in the muscles and organs that store past traumas. Releasing stored traumas releases the illness’s underlying cause and helps the body heal from the inside out. The method they use is EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), a do-it-yourself acupressure technique described in a free manual from the official EFT website. (Except taken from PRWEB)
“At least 85 percent of medical problems are physical manifestations of how stress, anxiety, or past traumas are held in and processed by the body,” says Los Angeles physician Eric Robins, MD. “EFT is the best technique for addressing these issues and clearing them out of the body.”
The speed and effectiveness of EFT is the result of treating the problem at its source, the imbalances in the body's energy system. Stressful and traumatic experiences, that are not resolved, leave the body’s energy system in a state of imbalance, and we experience strong negative emotions that are difficult to let go of as a result. Once these imbalances are corrected, the negative emotion quickly shifts into a positive emotion. EFT does this by having the recipient "tune into" the negative emotion, tap a set of acupressure treatment points and perform other energy balancing exercises to help the mind/body heal itself. This process can take from five minutes to an hour depending on the number of aspects (separate emotional parts of a feeling or a memory) which need to be treated.
Gary Craig, the Stanford-trained engineer who developed EFT, worked with Vietnam War Veterans to help them resolve some of their traumatic memories. Says Craig, “in the course of applying EFT, the Veterans experienced profound emotional peace for the first time in 20 years. A side-benefit was that many of the men reported that their chronic physical pain diminished or disappeared along with their emotional pain. Soon we were successfully applying EFT with people who were suffering chronic pain from arthritis, back injury and even fibromyalgia. Emotional and physical relief tend to go hand-in-hand when doing EFT.”
EFT is a form of psychological acupressure that used light tapping instead of needles to stimulate traditional Chinese acupuncture points. The tapping on the designated points on the face and body is combined with verbalizing the identified problem followed by a general affirmation phase. Combining these ingredients of the EFT technique balances the energy system and appears to relieve psychological stress and physiological pain. Restoring the balance of the energy system allows the body and mind to resume their natural healing abilities. EFT is safe, easy to apply, and is non-invasive.
Many people here in our area have begun using EFT to resolve all types of issues, from stress relief to weight loss. The success rate is very high and the technique is very easy. It seems to be most effective when learned from an experienced practitioner who can offer suggestions and guidance, however, once the technique has been learned the individual is encouraged to continue using the technique on your own for other issues that may arise.
For additional information about EFT and to download the EFT Manual go to http://www.hatherapies.com.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Creative Visualization
by Adrian Cooper
Creative visualization is the process of creating and "seeing" images in your Mind using the powers of imagination that we all have as a natural ability of Spirit. By making these images as realistic as possible within the Mind, and by adding Energy to those images by means of concentration, emotion and focus, the image will first of all influence inner Energy levels comparative to the physical world, before eventually manifesting into your life as an observable, experiential reality in accordance with Universal Laws including the laws of Attraction, Correspondence, and Cause and Effect, which of course are all closely related.
This experiential manifestation is in the form of Energy that corresponds exactly with the object of your visualization, the Energy of which vibrates in harmony with it thereby attracting it into your conscious awareness. Your outer, physical reality is therefore always manifested first from within. This is not only the basis of all manifestation within the physical world and individual Consciousness, but is also the basis of healing. All diseases of the physical body originate within the inner bodies before eventually manifesting within the physical body resulting in a physical disorder. Of course modern medicine seeks to "fix" the problem within the physical body itself, not realizing that the Energy giving rise to the disorder of the body still exists as strongly as ever within the inner Energy levels of the Soul and Spirit.
Within the inner worlds relative to the physical Universe, as each and every person will soon discover upon their next transition to the Astral worlds after the process erroneously known as "death", powers of the imagination with focussed concentration, will and intent results in the instant creation of the object of the imagination out of the Energy of the Astral Ether. The creation thus manifested is still pure Energy but is "shaped" by the Mind of the person who created it.
In order to manifest this inner Energy into your present physical reality it is first of all necessary to bring yourself into vibrational harmony with it. Creative visualization achieves this by allowing you to experience the object of your visualization by means of the powers of your imagination, and the more you can experience utilizing all of the senses, the more you integrate the object of your visualization into your conscious awareness, and the more it becomes your experiential reality.
Unlike the immediate, observable manifestations of visualization in the Astral and inner worlds, within the material world the process will seem to be slower due to the relative higher density of matter as compared to the much finer density of the Astral and inner worlds, and the much lower vibrations of the Energy involved at the level of the physical world. The more Energy, emotion, intent and concentration focussed and conveyed into the visualization and the more solid and realistically it is visualised utilizing all of the senses, the more solid and resilient the object of visualization will in turn become within the fabric of the Energy levels of the inner worlds, and the more you will experience and become in harmony with it, thereby enabling the object of your visualization to manifest into your physical reality.
In order to manifest the object of the visualization as a reality into the physical world, the Energy of the inner worlds need to influence the physical world in the direction of the desired result. Again, the Universal Law of Correspondence is a major factor in this process, "as above, so below", as is the Law of Attraction, although these are of course closely related aspects of the law of cause and effect. Universal harmony will not allow any imbalance between the Energy of the inner worlds and the corresponding Energy of the physical world, or indeed anywhere at all within the multi-dimensional continuum of the Universe. Therefore once an image is manifested in the inner worlds by means of the imagination, creative visualization, and the Energy exists in a form that has then to be balanced in accordance with The Laws of Correspondence and Attraction, the creation then has to manifest into the physical world in order to maintain Universal balance in accordance with these Laws. Again, the interplay of the Law of Correspondence as well as the closely related Laws of Attraction and Cause and Effect are all very prevalent in the process of manifestation.
As previously discussed, creative visualization is also very important in the attracting of the object of your desires by experientially bringing yourself into harmony with it. The more you visualize and thereby become fully involved with your wishes, the more your vibrations will be in harmony with your wishes, until soon your own Energy will vibrate in harmony with the object of your visualization thus allowing it to harmoniously manifest into your own personal reality as an exact vibrational Energy alignment.
Another major factor in the success of manifestation into the physical world is due to the influence of the Energy planes of the group human Mind. As we already know, all human Minds are connected at a level of Energy and Consciousness at which levels human Minds can subconsciously influence each other upon the Energy and Consciousness levels of the Mental planes of the collective group human Mind. When a desire of a certain type is created within the inner worlds by the use of creative visualization and other powers of the imagination, for example the desire to receive a pay increase, the Universe might seek to bring about the necessary balance by influencing the Mind of the person responsible for awarding the pay rise in the desired direction. This is just another way in which Energy seeks balance through physical channels by virtue of Universal Consciousness, Mind and Spirit through which we are all inseparable as Universal expressions of The Source Energy, The First Cause, of God.
During the creative visualization process required to bring the desired result into manifestation, you might for example have created an image in your Mind of a higher amount of money written upon your usual monthly pay cheque, while at the same time deeply feeling and experiencing the emotions associated with receiving more money to spend on your desires as well as the gratitude for having received that money; that Energy can then manifest into the Energy of your physical reality as the desired increase in pay. You need not and should not seek a reason for your increase in pay. Once the Energy of your pay increase is vibrating in harmony with your ability to receive it, then by virtue of Universal laws it must manifest by the most direct means, means that are very often completely unpredictable.
Another way in which desires can be manifested by means of creative visualization is by way of probability. Before any particular event occurs within the space-time continuum of the physical world there are an infinite number of corresponding probabilities pertaining to that particular event in the inner worlds beyond the confines of space and time where there is only the Eternal Now. Not only does everything exist, past, present and future relative to Earth time already within the Eternal Now, but there are also an infinite number of variations and therefore probabilities relating to it. In quantum physics these are known as quantum probabilities. For example in the case of your pay increase there are potentially an infinite number of possibilities as to whether the pay rise will manifest, not manifest, or even partially manifest. By harmonizing Energy by means of creative visualization, imagining beyond any doubt whatsoever that your pay increase has already completely manifested into your experiential reality, thereby coming in complete harmony with it, the probability of receiving that pay rise is positively influenced in the direction of it actually becoming an observable reality. This process is all about the influence and balancing of Universal Energy by the Mind.
Creative visualization works at both conscious and subconscious levels of the human Mind. Everyone is constantly creating by means of the thoughts and images passing through their Minds. However, as most people have no conscious awareness at all of this process, most such thoughts and images are usually totally random, driven almost entirely in response to minute by minute, hour by hour, day to day physical events in a totally uncoordinated manner.
As previously noted, people can and frequently do become trapped in a vortex of negative Energy. By dwelling on negative events and situations, thinking about them constantly, imagining all sorts of negative scenarios, in other words "thinking the worst", the corresponding Energy will be influenced and attracted and accordingly "the worst" will sooner or later manifest as a reality into the lives of these negative thinking people. Such a situation can then very easily spiral out of control. For this reason everyone should be fully aware of their own thought processes at all times, instantly rejecting all negative thoughts and images and retaining only those positive thoughts and images consistent with the desired direction in life. Should a negative thought or image intrude then it should either be rejected or transmuted to the opposite positive thought or image. Understanding and aligning with Universal laws and Energy and applying them exclusively for the most positive purposes as a natural way of living, just as every human was created to do by God, is indeed Magic in its highest and truest form.
God, The One, The All is the Supreme Creator, The Source, The First Cause within the Macrocosm of the Universe, whereas human beings being made in the true image of God, and integral aspects of God are co-creators in the microcosm, the individual aspect of the Universe. Every human being without exception is therefore an integral aspect of the great creative process of the Universe, and it is accordingly incumbent on everyone to use these powers consciously, wisely, and only for the greater good of personal and Universal evolution.
There is nothing at all wrong with desiring to bring good things into your life and to live comfortably with all genuine needs fulfilled. The Universe is infinitely abundant and there is always enough for everyone. One of the greatest problems on Earth at this time however, is that due to the gross materialistic attitudes and ego of many people, together with a total lack of understanding of the way in which the Universe works and of the true purpose and destiny of mankind, there is a considerable imbalance between those who have much more than they could ever really need to live very comfortably, and those who have insufficient for even the most basic existence, a situation that has been caused by forcing everything in a physical direction by physical means and against the creative flow of the Universe. Instead of being open channels of expression and creation, much of mankind has created an alternative physical reality based upon perceptions and idea in turn based upon materialism and the ego. Only when mankind fully understands the immutable operation of Universal laws and lives accordingly will these imbalances be balanced, and every human being in every part of the world can live in peace, harmony and plenty thereby fulfilling the ultimate "Kingdom of Heaven on Earth", an Earth that is finally vibrating in harmony with the Universe.
Creative visualization can attract genuine needs from the Universe of abundance, therefore facilitating the process of balance. In utilizing your own powers of creative visualization and imagination you should never be tempted to become trapped within the spiral of materialism or of the demands of the ego by endeavoring to manifest more than the genuine needs of yourself, your family and others in genuine need. It is incumbent on everyone therefore in utilizing these God given Universal powers of the Mind to fully understand their own individual destiny and that of all mankind, thus ensuring these abilities are always used wisely for genuine personal needs and for the greater good of the Universe, and never merely to satisfy greed, the ego, or for the accumulation of material things for the sake of it.
As we know, the entire Universe and everything and everyone within it, is an infinitely large Energy field comprised of vibration. Thoughts and imagination are also therefore pure Energy, which when directed effectively influences the corresponding Energy in the Universe in the same direction by coming into harmony with it, Energy that has to be balanced in accordance with immutable Universal laws. The more power and focus placed behind this Energy by means of concentration, visualization, emotions, intent, and will, the more profound and rapid will be the effect be on the corresponding Energy you wish to influence in your direction in order to potentially manifest your desires into physical reality.
For these reasons alone it must be stressed once again the absolute importance of exercising total Mindfulness and control over all thoughts and images at all times, and in particular avoiding negative and limited thinking. In this way you can maintain full, conscious control at all times, manifesting only those positive things into your life and the lives of your loved ones. These powerful abilities are within every single human being as creators in the microcosm, each of us being an immortal Spirit, made in the "true image of God", The Supreme, Divine Creator of the Universe in all its planes of glory, the Macrocosm.
Creative visualization can be applied to potentially manifest anything at all at any Energy level over which Mind has an influence. It should be realized however that the larger the desire the longer it might take to manifest it into physical reality. It might not even be possible to manifest some desires in an acceptable time scale due to the sheer number of other people projecting the same Energy into exactly the same desire. A very good example of this situation is winning the lottery. When millions of people purchase a lottery ticket each week, each and every one of them is projecting exactly the same desire, in other words vibrating the same Energy of intent to win the jackpot. The sheer individual Energy required to overcome these collective Energy of so many people all focussing on and vibrating exactly the same desire would be extremely difficult to produce and project, and are in any case would be beyond the powers of the Mind of most Earthly people at this stage in their evolution.
It makes much more sense therefore with the results being potentially much more rapid to focus on desires within your own sphere of personal availability, thereby involving as few people as possible. To use the previous example of obtaining a pay increase; in this case only two people are directly involved, yourself and your manager, and therefore your Energy can be much more highly focussed and will accordingly be that much more effective. Manifesting large, tangible physical items, for example a home or a car usually takes more time effort due to the number of situations and probabilities needing to be influenced first. All manifestations into the physical world requires a physical channel through which the Universe can realize that desire.
There are literally an infinite number of ways by which a desire can manifest into your physical reality, most if not all of which are not immediately obvious. As previously noted, the Universe is infinitely abundant and your task is to direct your Energy by means of your God given powers of the Mind, and to vibrate in complete harmony with the Energy of your desires, thereby allowing the Universe to manifest your desires though physical channels in its own natural way, and in accordance with immutable Universal laws.
For larger manifestation projects it can be much more effective and more rapid in the long run to manifest a desire in stages. For example you might wish to manifest a successful computer business for yourself where you are your own boss. Taking this example, you might first manifest the new PC required to learn the necessary skills. Next you might manifest a series of training courses in business management followed by further courses in advanced computer skills. Having successfully achieved this you might then manifest an office from which to launch your new computer business and then start to manifest customers for your business. Once you have many customers and your business is a great success, a fact that in your Mind you should not ever have the slightest doubt, you then might then wish to manifest larger offices and some employees if appropriate. Finally, if you wish, you can manifest a thriving computer business with many employees, a business that is very highly thought of by your customers, and is providing yourself and your family with all of your genuine needs. This is a fairly basic example of manifestation but nevertheless serves to illustrate a sequential process of manifestation towards achieving an ultimate desire. Of course, it is also possible to use the creative visualization process to manifest your successful computer business without any interim stages at all, allowing the Universe to manage the "details". You would likely eventually succeed in manifesting this desire, however due to the number of people, factors and possibilities involved, the process might take more concentrated Energy and focus during your creative visualization sessions, as well as more time to bring yourself into vibrational harmony with your desires, and therefore in turn take longer to manifest.
The closely related Laws of Attraction, Correspondence and Cause and Effect are all involved in the process of manifestation by means of creative visualization. These laws are all very much related but with subtle differences. The Law of Attraction is such that whatever you constantly hold in your Mind creates a unique vibration and Energy that the Universe will immediately seek to balance by the harmonisation of and manifesting whatever you hold in your Mind as soon as possible through physical channels, providing your vibration, your Energy at an individual level is in complete harmony with it. Creative visualization and in particular utilizing all powers of the imagination, facilitates this process considerably.
The Law of Correspondence is represented by the age-old axiom "as above, so below". Whenever Energy is projected into the inner spheres of reality, where density is much lower and vibration much higher, depending on the amount of Energy projected it will remain as a potential manifestation in the form of an Energy configuration until such time as the Universe brings about balance by actually manifesting it into physical reality. As previously mentioned, this is the basis of true Magic. Where the Law of Attraction subtly differs from the Law of Correspondence is that the Law of Attraction is a more ongoing interaction of Energy until harmony is achieved, whereas the Law of Correspondence seeks to balance stronger Energy or vibrations that have been brought about by a single or a few similar actions, by manifesting the object of that Energy into the physical world where the original creative Energy originated.
The Law of Cause and Effect is much more absolute in that it simply states that for every cause, for example the altering of Energy, vibration by means of the power of thought, there has to be a corresponding effect, and the Universe will always maintain balance by bringing about the corresponding effect. Absolute harmony is always the direction of Energy and therefore of the Universe as a whole.
The Law of Attraction is therefore more of an ongoing state of Consciousness, whereas the laws of Correspondence and Cause and Effect are more likely to be invoked by a single or few much more focussed cause. All Universal laws are in operation and interacting however at all times, all maintaining harmony, balance and ongoing perfection within the Universe.
There are no notional limits to what can be manifested by creative visualization, the Universe is infinitely abundant, but the forgoing needs to be considered most carefully. As with most things in life, whatever you succeed in manifesting will be directly related to the degree of effort and commitment involved, and the degree to which you vibrate in harmony with it.
Finally, before proceeding to the practical creative visualization techniques following, these words of caution should be repeated. Never, ever consider using creative visualization for the purpose of affecting others in any negative or harmful way whatsoever, either intentionally or otherwise. The Universal processes involved, like Magic, do not discriminate between positive or negative, good or evil, black or white all being degrees of the same Energy.
The creative abilities of humans are very real and very powerful, and must always be used with a great sense of responsibility. Again, in accordance with the law of Cause and Effect, including karma, anyone who uses their God given powers to cause harm to any other person, or indeed to any aspect of the Universe, will most assuredly pay the price, either in this or a future lifetime, there is no escaping the immutable Universal laws of Cause and Effect of which karma is an integral aspect. All of humanity and the entire Universe are as one; we are all aspects of the same infinite Energy and Consciousness of Spirit, we are all immortal aspects of The Divine, of The Source, of God, and anyone who harms anyone or anything else equally harms themselves without exceptions and in immutable progression, it is the Law. The Practice of Creative Visualization Learning to visualise effectively and at will is an extremely worthwhile ability. visualization is an aspect of the imagination which can not only be used in the process of maintaining full control over every aspect of your life, but as previously mentioned can also be used very effectively to manifest your desires, to heal yourself, to protect yourself from harmful psychic influences, and much, much more.
Also, and most importantly, these abilities can also be used in the same way for the benefit of loved ones and others.
Imagination is a major power behind all creation in the Universe, both in the Macrocosm and the microcosm. Everyone will use these abilities as a completely natural aspect of life in the much lower density of the inner worlds after passing on from the physical world.
Learning to visualise effectively, as with most worthwhile abilities, requires time to be set aside, preferably each and every day. Ten minutes each day will suffice to start with, but as you progress, thirty minutes each day would be much more beneficial. Any spare time during the day can be used to practice creative visualization as well as other valuable abilities.
To begin these exercises first of all obtain five household items of your choice, such as a fruit, a cup, a pen, a spoon, a coin; any such items will suffice; it is preferable however if they are all of a distinctly different shape and color.
Start the exercise by attaining a good state of physical and mental relaxation in a place where you can concentrate and will not be disturbed. It is best to sit upright on a hard kitchen type chair without leaning against the backrest of the chair; this will enable you to achieve the necessary state of relaxation, concentration and focus, with your spine completely straight, without falling asleep. For these reasons lying on a bed or reclining in an armchair are most certainly not advisable.
Set out your four chosen items in front of you. Now fix your eyes on the first of these objects and memorise it in as much detail as you possibly can, including shape, color, texture, patterns and any other significant details.
Next close your eyes and recall the object in your imagination in as much detail as possible. The objective is to visualise the object in your Mind as clearly or even clearer than it appears to your physical sight. You might well find that when first starting these exercises the object will frequently fade from your imagination; if this happens simply use as much will power and concentration as necessary to recall the object back into your imagination. You will soon find that after time and practice the object will disappear and reappear increasingly less frequently until finally you can maintain a solid and realistic image for any length of time, visualising the object just as it appears to your physical sight.
Should you become tired practicing with one object, move straight onto the next object and repeat the visualization exercise. It is very important to remain as relaxed as possible while maintaining each visualization for as long and realistically as you can; there is nothing to be gained however by over-tiring yourself. Although these exercises might seem to be quite difficult to start with for some people, as with gaining any worthwhile ability it is extremely important to persevere; these are extremely valuable abilities as will become readily apparent to you.
The objective of these exercises is to maintain an image of your chosen item with total, absolute realizm, just as it would appear to your physical sight, for at least five continuous minutes without it fading from your Consciousness. When you have achieved this with your first four chosen objects, select another four objects and repeat the exercises until you achieve the same results. For the next stage of these exercises, rather than starting with four physical objects, recall any object or scene of your choice from memory and visualise it with as much realizm as possible. This might for example be a household item, something in your garden, or perhaps a favourite location or person; it really does not matter what image you select providing you can readily bring it to Mind, retain it in your Mind and become emotionally involved with it.
Having attained as clear an image as possible in your Mind from memory of your chosen object, person or scene, once again endeavor to maintain the image as it would appear to your physical senses for a full five minutes without it fading from your imagination. When you can maintain any image vividly in your Mind with total realizm for a full five minutes, then this part of the visualization exercises is complete.
The final stage of these exercises is to visualise objects with your eyes open. It doesn't matter which objects you choose for this purpose although it is better to start with the objects previously visualised with your eyes closed.
To commence, with your eyes open imagine, as realistically as possible, your object suspended in the air, standing on a shelf, on a table, or anywhere else of your choice. Your object must appear to be every bit as solid and real as the original physical object, so much so in fact that you feel that you feel you can actually reach out and touch it. There must be absolutely no doubt whatsoever as to the complete realizm of your visualised object as it is suspended in the air, or standing on a solid object such as a shelf or table. This exercise is complete when you can maintain in your imagination your visualization of any object, in any location, with your eyes open for a full five minutes.
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Creative visualization is the process of creating and "seeing" images in your Mind using the powers of imagination that we all have as a natural ability of Spirit. By making these images as realistic as possible within the Mind, and by adding Energy to those images by means of concentration, emotion and focus, the image will first of all influence inner Energy levels comparative to the physical world, before eventually manifesting into your life as an observable, experiential reality in accordance with Universal Laws including the laws of Attraction, Correspondence, and Cause and Effect, which of course are all closely related.
This experiential manifestation is in the form of Energy that corresponds exactly with the object of your visualization, the Energy of which vibrates in harmony with it thereby attracting it into your conscious awareness. Your outer, physical reality is therefore always manifested first from within. This is not only the basis of all manifestation within the physical world and individual Consciousness, but is also the basis of healing. All diseases of the physical body originate within the inner bodies before eventually manifesting within the physical body resulting in a physical disorder. Of course modern medicine seeks to "fix" the problem within the physical body itself, not realizing that the Energy giving rise to the disorder of the body still exists as strongly as ever within the inner Energy levels of the Soul and Spirit.
Within the inner worlds relative to the physical Universe, as each and every person will soon discover upon their next transition to the Astral worlds after the process erroneously known as "death", powers of the imagination with focussed concentration, will and intent results in the instant creation of the object of the imagination out of the Energy of the Astral Ether. The creation thus manifested is still pure Energy but is "shaped" by the Mind of the person who created it.
In order to manifest this inner Energy into your present physical reality it is first of all necessary to bring yourself into vibrational harmony with it. Creative visualization achieves this by allowing you to experience the object of your visualization by means of the powers of your imagination, and the more you can experience utilizing all of the senses, the more you integrate the object of your visualization into your conscious awareness, and the more it becomes your experiential reality.
Unlike the immediate, observable manifestations of visualization in the Astral and inner worlds, within the material world the process will seem to be slower due to the relative higher density of matter as compared to the much finer density of the Astral and inner worlds, and the much lower vibrations of the Energy involved at the level of the physical world. The more Energy, emotion, intent and concentration focussed and conveyed into the visualization and the more solid and realistically it is visualised utilizing all of the senses, the more solid and resilient the object of visualization will in turn become within the fabric of the Energy levels of the inner worlds, and the more you will experience and become in harmony with it, thereby enabling the object of your visualization to manifest into your physical reality.
In order to manifest the object of the visualization as a reality into the physical world, the Energy of the inner worlds need to influence the physical world in the direction of the desired result. Again, the Universal Law of Correspondence is a major factor in this process, "as above, so below", as is the Law of Attraction, although these are of course closely related aspects of the law of cause and effect. Universal harmony will not allow any imbalance between the Energy of the inner worlds and the corresponding Energy of the physical world, or indeed anywhere at all within the multi-dimensional continuum of the Universe. Therefore once an image is manifested in the inner worlds by means of the imagination, creative visualization, and the Energy exists in a form that has then to be balanced in accordance with The Laws of Correspondence and Attraction, the creation then has to manifest into the physical world in order to maintain Universal balance in accordance with these Laws. Again, the interplay of the Law of Correspondence as well as the closely related Laws of Attraction and Cause and Effect are all very prevalent in the process of manifestation.
As previously discussed, creative visualization is also very important in the attracting of the object of your desires by experientially bringing yourself into harmony with it. The more you visualize and thereby become fully involved with your wishes, the more your vibrations will be in harmony with your wishes, until soon your own Energy will vibrate in harmony with the object of your visualization thus allowing it to harmoniously manifest into your own personal reality as an exact vibrational Energy alignment.
Another major factor in the success of manifestation into the physical world is due to the influence of the Energy planes of the group human Mind. As we already know, all human Minds are connected at a level of Energy and Consciousness at which levels human Minds can subconsciously influence each other upon the Energy and Consciousness levels of the Mental planes of the collective group human Mind. When a desire of a certain type is created within the inner worlds by the use of creative visualization and other powers of the imagination, for example the desire to receive a pay increase, the Universe might seek to bring about the necessary balance by influencing the Mind of the person responsible for awarding the pay rise in the desired direction. This is just another way in which Energy seeks balance through physical channels by virtue of Universal Consciousness, Mind and Spirit through which we are all inseparable as Universal expressions of The Source Energy, The First Cause, of God.
During the creative visualization process required to bring the desired result into manifestation, you might for example have created an image in your Mind of a higher amount of money written upon your usual monthly pay cheque, while at the same time deeply feeling and experiencing the emotions associated with receiving more money to spend on your desires as well as the gratitude for having received that money; that Energy can then manifest into the Energy of your physical reality as the desired increase in pay. You need not and should not seek a reason for your increase in pay. Once the Energy of your pay increase is vibrating in harmony with your ability to receive it, then by virtue of Universal laws it must manifest by the most direct means, means that are very often completely unpredictable.
Another way in which desires can be manifested by means of creative visualization is by way of probability. Before any particular event occurs within the space-time continuum of the physical world there are an infinite number of corresponding probabilities pertaining to that particular event in the inner worlds beyond the confines of space and time where there is only the Eternal Now. Not only does everything exist, past, present and future relative to Earth time already within the Eternal Now, but there are also an infinite number of variations and therefore probabilities relating to it. In quantum physics these are known as quantum probabilities. For example in the case of your pay increase there are potentially an infinite number of possibilities as to whether the pay rise will manifest, not manifest, or even partially manifest. By harmonizing Energy by means of creative visualization, imagining beyond any doubt whatsoever that your pay increase has already completely manifested into your experiential reality, thereby coming in complete harmony with it, the probability of receiving that pay rise is positively influenced in the direction of it actually becoming an observable reality. This process is all about the influence and balancing of Universal Energy by the Mind.
Creative visualization works at both conscious and subconscious levels of the human Mind. Everyone is constantly creating by means of the thoughts and images passing through their Minds. However, as most people have no conscious awareness at all of this process, most such thoughts and images are usually totally random, driven almost entirely in response to minute by minute, hour by hour, day to day physical events in a totally uncoordinated manner.
As previously noted, people can and frequently do become trapped in a vortex of negative Energy. By dwelling on negative events and situations, thinking about them constantly, imagining all sorts of negative scenarios, in other words "thinking the worst", the corresponding Energy will be influenced and attracted and accordingly "the worst" will sooner or later manifest as a reality into the lives of these negative thinking people. Such a situation can then very easily spiral out of control. For this reason everyone should be fully aware of their own thought processes at all times, instantly rejecting all negative thoughts and images and retaining only those positive thoughts and images consistent with the desired direction in life. Should a negative thought or image intrude then it should either be rejected or transmuted to the opposite positive thought or image. Understanding and aligning with Universal laws and Energy and applying them exclusively for the most positive purposes as a natural way of living, just as every human was created to do by God, is indeed Magic in its highest and truest form.
God, The One, The All is the Supreme Creator, The Source, The First Cause within the Macrocosm of the Universe, whereas human beings being made in the true image of God, and integral aspects of God are co-creators in the microcosm, the individual aspect of the Universe. Every human being without exception is therefore an integral aspect of the great creative process of the Universe, and it is accordingly incumbent on everyone to use these powers consciously, wisely, and only for the greater good of personal and Universal evolution.
There is nothing at all wrong with desiring to bring good things into your life and to live comfortably with all genuine needs fulfilled. The Universe is infinitely abundant and there is always enough for everyone. One of the greatest problems on Earth at this time however, is that due to the gross materialistic attitudes and ego of many people, together with a total lack of understanding of the way in which the Universe works and of the true purpose and destiny of mankind, there is a considerable imbalance between those who have much more than they could ever really need to live very comfortably, and those who have insufficient for even the most basic existence, a situation that has been caused by forcing everything in a physical direction by physical means and against the creative flow of the Universe. Instead of being open channels of expression and creation, much of mankind has created an alternative physical reality based upon perceptions and idea in turn based upon materialism and the ego. Only when mankind fully understands the immutable operation of Universal laws and lives accordingly will these imbalances be balanced, and every human being in every part of the world can live in peace, harmony and plenty thereby fulfilling the ultimate "Kingdom of Heaven on Earth", an Earth that is finally vibrating in harmony with the Universe.
Creative visualization can attract genuine needs from the Universe of abundance, therefore facilitating the process of balance. In utilizing your own powers of creative visualization and imagination you should never be tempted to become trapped within the spiral of materialism or of the demands of the ego by endeavoring to manifest more than the genuine needs of yourself, your family and others in genuine need. It is incumbent on everyone therefore in utilizing these God given Universal powers of the Mind to fully understand their own individual destiny and that of all mankind, thus ensuring these abilities are always used wisely for genuine personal needs and for the greater good of the Universe, and never merely to satisfy greed, the ego, or for the accumulation of material things for the sake of it.
As we know, the entire Universe and everything and everyone within it, is an infinitely large Energy field comprised of vibration. Thoughts and imagination are also therefore pure Energy, which when directed effectively influences the corresponding Energy in the Universe in the same direction by coming into harmony with it, Energy that has to be balanced in accordance with immutable Universal laws. The more power and focus placed behind this Energy by means of concentration, visualization, emotions, intent, and will, the more profound and rapid will be the effect be on the corresponding Energy you wish to influence in your direction in order to potentially manifest your desires into physical reality.
For these reasons alone it must be stressed once again the absolute importance of exercising total Mindfulness and control over all thoughts and images at all times, and in particular avoiding negative and limited thinking. In this way you can maintain full, conscious control at all times, manifesting only those positive things into your life and the lives of your loved ones. These powerful abilities are within every single human being as creators in the microcosm, each of us being an immortal Spirit, made in the "true image of God", The Supreme, Divine Creator of the Universe in all its planes of glory, the Macrocosm.
Creative visualization can be applied to potentially manifest anything at all at any Energy level over which Mind has an influence. It should be realized however that the larger the desire the longer it might take to manifest it into physical reality. It might not even be possible to manifest some desires in an acceptable time scale due to the sheer number of other people projecting the same Energy into exactly the same desire. A very good example of this situation is winning the lottery. When millions of people purchase a lottery ticket each week, each and every one of them is projecting exactly the same desire, in other words vibrating the same Energy of intent to win the jackpot. The sheer individual Energy required to overcome these collective Energy of so many people all focussing on and vibrating exactly the same desire would be extremely difficult to produce and project, and are in any case would be beyond the powers of the Mind of most Earthly people at this stage in their evolution.
It makes much more sense therefore with the results being potentially much more rapid to focus on desires within your own sphere of personal availability, thereby involving as few people as possible. To use the previous example of obtaining a pay increase; in this case only two people are directly involved, yourself and your manager, and therefore your Energy can be much more highly focussed and will accordingly be that much more effective. Manifesting large, tangible physical items, for example a home or a car usually takes more time effort due to the number of situations and probabilities needing to be influenced first. All manifestations into the physical world requires a physical channel through which the Universe can realize that desire.
There are literally an infinite number of ways by which a desire can manifest into your physical reality, most if not all of which are not immediately obvious. As previously noted, the Universe is infinitely abundant and your task is to direct your Energy by means of your God given powers of the Mind, and to vibrate in complete harmony with the Energy of your desires, thereby allowing the Universe to manifest your desires though physical channels in its own natural way, and in accordance with immutable Universal laws.
For larger manifestation projects it can be much more effective and more rapid in the long run to manifest a desire in stages. For example you might wish to manifest a successful computer business for yourself where you are your own boss. Taking this example, you might first manifest the new PC required to learn the necessary skills. Next you might manifest a series of training courses in business management followed by further courses in advanced computer skills. Having successfully achieved this you might then manifest an office from which to launch your new computer business and then start to manifest customers for your business. Once you have many customers and your business is a great success, a fact that in your Mind you should not ever have the slightest doubt, you then might then wish to manifest larger offices and some employees if appropriate. Finally, if you wish, you can manifest a thriving computer business with many employees, a business that is very highly thought of by your customers, and is providing yourself and your family with all of your genuine needs. This is a fairly basic example of manifestation but nevertheless serves to illustrate a sequential process of manifestation towards achieving an ultimate desire. Of course, it is also possible to use the creative visualization process to manifest your successful computer business without any interim stages at all, allowing the Universe to manage the "details". You would likely eventually succeed in manifesting this desire, however due to the number of people, factors and possibilities involved, the process might take more concentrated Energy and focus during your creative visualization sessions, as well as more time to bring yourself into vibrational harmony with your desires, and therefore in turn take longer to manifest.
The closely related Laws of Attraction, Correspondence and Cause and Effect are all involved in the process of manifestation by means of creative visualization. These laws are all very much related but with subtle differences. The Law of Attraction is such that whatever you constantly hold in your Mind creates a unique vibration and Energy that the Universe will immediately seek to balance by the harmonisation of and manifesting whatever you hold in your Mind as soon as possible through physical channels, providing your vibration, your Energy at an individual level is in complete harmony with it. Creative visualization and in particular utilizing all powers of the imagination, facilitates this process considerably.
The Law of Correspondence is represented by the age-old axiom "as above, so below". Whenever Energy is projected into the inner spheres of reality, where density is much lower and vibration much higher, depending on the amount of Energy projected it will remain as a potential manifestation in the form of an Energy configuration until such time as the Universe brings about balance by actually manifesting it into physical reality. As previously mentioned, this is the basis of true Magic. Where the Law of Attraction subtly differs from the Law of Correspondence is that the Law of Attraction is a more ongoing interaction of Energy until harmony is achieved, whereas the Law of Correspondence seeks to balance stronger Energy or vibrations that have been brought about by a single or a few similar actions, by manifesting the object of that Energy into the physical world where the original creative Energy originated.
The Law of Cause and Effect is much more absolute in that it simply states that for every cause, for example the altering of Energy, vibration by means of the power of thought, there has to be a corresponding effect, and the Universe will always maintain balance by bringing about the corresponding effect. Absolute harmony is always the direction of Energy and therefore of the Universe as a whole.
The Law of Attraction is therefore more of an ongoing state of Consciousness, whereas the laws of Correspondence and Cause and Effect are more likely to be invoked by a single or few much more focussed cause. All Universal laws are in operation and interacting however at all times, all maintaining harmony, balance and ongoing perfection within the Universe.
There are no notional limits to what can be manifested by creative visualization, the Universe is infinitely abundant, but the forgoing needs to be considered most carefully. As with most things in life, whatever you succeed in manifesting will be directly related to the degree of effort and commitment involved, and the degree to which you vibrate in harmony with it.
Finally, before proceeding to the practical creative visualization techniques following, these words of caution should be repeated. Never, ever consider using creative visualization for the purpose of affecting others in any negative or harmful way whatsoever, either intentionally or otherwise. The Universal processes involved, like Magic, do not discriminate between positive or negative, good or evil, black or white all being degrees of the same Energy.
The creative abilities of humans are very real and very powerful, and must always be used with a great sense of responsibility. Again, in accordance with the law of Cause and Effect, including karma, anyone who uses their God given powers to cause harm to any other person, or indeed to any aspect of the Universe, will most assuredly pay the price, either in this or a future lifetime, there is no escaping the immutable Universal laws of Cause and Effect of which karma is an integral aspect. All of humanity and the entire Universe are as one; we are all aspects of the same infinite Energy and Consciousness of Spirit, we are all immortal aspects of The Divine, of The Source, of God, and anyone who harms anyone or anything else equally harms themselves without exceptions and in immutable progression, it is the Law. The Practice of Creative Visualization Learning to visualise effectively and at will is an extremely worthwhile ability. visualization is an aspect of the imagination which can not only be used in the process of maintaining full control over every aspect of your life, but as previously mentioned can also be used very effectively to manifest your desires, to heal yourself, to protect yourself from harmful psychic influences, and much, much more.
Also, and most importantly, these abilities can also be used in the same way for the benefit of loved ones and others.
Imagination is a major power behind all creation in the Universe, both in the Macrocosm and the microcosm. Everyone will use these abilities as a completely natural aspect of life in the much lower density of the inner worlds after passing on from the physical world.
Learning to visualise effectively, as with most worthwhile abilities, requires time to be set aside, preferably each and every day. Ten minutes each day will suffice to start with, but as you progress, thirty minutes each day would be much more beneficial. Any spare time during the day can be used to practice creative visualization as well as other valuable abilities.
To begin these exercises first of all obtain five household items of your choice, such as a fruit, a cup, a pen, a spoon, a coin; any such items will suffice; it is preferable however if they are all of a distinctly different shape and color.
Start the exercise by attaining a good state of physical and mental relaxation in a place where you can concentrate and will not be disturbed. It is best to sit upright on a hard kitchen type chair without leaning against the backrest of the chair; this will enable you to achieve the necessary state of relaxation, concentration and focus, with your spine completely straight, without falling asleep. For these reasons lying on a bed or reclining in an armchair are most certainly not advisable.
Set out your four chosen items in front of you. Now fix your eyes on the first of these objects and memorise it in as much detail as you possibly can, including shape, color, texture, patterns and any other significant details.
Next close your eyes and recall the object in your imagination in as much detail as possible. The objective is to visualise the object in your Mind as clearly or even clearer than it appears to your physical sight. You might well find that when first starting these exercises the object will frequently fade from your imagination; if this happens simply use as much will power and concentration as necessary to recall the object back into your imagination. You will soon find that after time and practice the object will disappear and reappear increasingly less frequently until finally you can maintain a solid and realistic image for any length of time, visualising the object just as it appears to your physical sight.
Should you become tired practicing with one object, move straight onto the next object and repeat the visualization exercise. It is very important to remain as relaxed as possible while maintaining each visualization for as long and realistically as you can; there is nothing to be gained however by over-tiring yourself. Although these exercises might seem to be quite difficult to start with for some people, as with gaining any worthwhile ability it is extremely important to persevere; these are extremely valuable abilities as will become readily apparent to you.
The objective of these exercises is to maintain an image of your chosen item with total, absolute realizm, just as it would appear to your physical sight, for at least five continuous minutes without it fading from your Consciousness. When you have achieved this with your first four chosen objects, select another four objects and repeat the exercises until you achieve the same results. For the next stage of these exercises, rather than starting with four physical objects, recall any object or scene of your choice from memory and visualise it with as much realizm as possible. This might for example be a household item, something in your garden, or perhaps a favourite location or person; it really does not matter what image you select providing you can readily bring it to Mind, retain it in your Mind and become emotionally involved with it.
Having attained as clear an image as possible in your Mind from memory of your chosen object, person or scene, once again endeavor to maintain the image as it would appear to your physical senses for a full five minutes without it fading from your imagination. When you can maintain any image vividly in your Mind with total realizm for a full five minutes, then this part of the visualization exercises is complete.
The final stage of these exercises is to visualise objects with your eyes open. It doesn't matter which objects you choose for this purpose although it is better to start with the objects previously visualised with your eyes closed.
To commence, with your eyes open imagine, as realistically as possible, your object suspended in the air, standing on a shelf, on a table, or anywhere else of your choice. Your object must appear to be every bit as solid and real as the original physical object, so much so in fact that you feel that you feel you can actually reach out and touch it. There must be absolutely no doubt whatsoever as to the complete realizm of your visualised object as it is suspended in the air, or standing on a solid object such as a shelf or table. This exercise is complete when you can maintain in your imagination your visualization of any object, in any location, with your eyes open for a full five minutes.
This article is sponsored by the Mind Power Studio. The Mind Power Studio components suite provides an extremely powerful platform to program your Mind for complete success, and to realize everything you desire in the shortest possible time by allowing you to take full control over your subconscious Mind, and every other aspect of your powers of creation. Mind Power Studio provides you with all the tools you need in one complete suite, for attracting complete success in everything you desire in your life.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Are You Being Influenced Without Your Knowledge?
Source: The Power Of Conversational Hypnosis
It might seem shocking, but every single day people are trying to influence and persuade you without your knowledge.
Some of this is relatively harmless. But a lot of it most certainly is not.
It's not talked about a lot but it's the dark side of hypnosis.
You see,hypnosis is actually a fairly commonplace everyday occurrence.
People go in and out of trances all the time.
Watching TV, reading a book, simply standing in line or in an elevator.
As a result, people (and you) are open to being influenced.
You're being targeted by thousands of messages every single day.
These messages come to you in the form of the media, advertising, news, government, post and even other people's opinion.
Now sometimes this accidental hypnosis is well-intentioned, well-meaning or even totally accidental.
Other times it's very, very purposeful.
For example, take an advertisement.
If you look closely at advertising you'll notice that it's actually structured in a very hypnotic way.
It is designed to persuade and influence you.
It is designed to get you to buy things.
And there are many other examples.
Think about news broadcasts.
Typically, they will focus on really negative experiences.
People dying, wars, financial losses, dangerous economic events, natural disasters and the like.
Thisis done because it captures your attention.
It captivates you.
It makes sure you watch.
Now, if you're like me, I'm sure you want to protect yourself against these unwanted intrusions.
The good news is that when you understand what's happening, it's easy to shrug off these attempts to persuade you.
There's also a positive side to all this.
You can actually turn these techniques to your advantage.
You can turn the tables and influence and persuade people without them being aware of what you're doing.
Being able to do this, to understand and apply the power of hypnosis in everyday
situations, is what the program "The Power of Conversational Hypnosis" is all about.
If you want the power to persuade and influence people, and get more of what you want, then take a look at this amazing course
The Power Of Conversational Hypnosis
It might seem shocking, but every single day people are trying to influence and persuade you without your knowledge.
Some of this is relatively harmless. But a lot of it most certainly is not.
It's not talked about a lot but it's the dark side of hypnosis.
You see,hypnosis is actually a fairly commonplace everyday occurrence.
People go in and out of trances all the time.
Watching TV, reading a book, simply standing in line or in an elevator.
As a result, people (and you) are open to being influenced.
You're being targeted by thousands of messages every single day.
These messages come to you in the form of the media, advertising, news, government, post and even other people's opinion.
Now sometimes this accidental hypnosis is well-intentioned, well-meaning or even totally accidental.
Other times it's very, very purposeful.
For example, take an advertisement.
If you look closely at advertising you'll notice that it's actually structured in a very hypnotic way.
It is designed to persuade and influence you.
It is designed to get you to buy things.
And there are many other examples.
Think about news broadcasts.
Typically, they will focus on really negative experiences.
People dying, wars, financial losses, dangerous economic events, natural disasters and the like.
Thisis done because it captures your attention.
It captivates you.
It makes sure you watch.
Now, if you're like me, I'm sure you want to protect yourself against these unwanted intrusions.
The good news is that when you understand what's happening, it's easy to shrug off these attempts to persuade you.
There's also a positive side to all this.
You can actually turn these techniques to your advantage.
You can turn the tables and influence and persuade people without them being aware of what you're doing.
Being able to do this, to understand and apply the power of hypnosis in everyday
situations, is what the program "The Power of Conversational Hypnosis" is all about.
If you want the power to persuade and influence people, and get more of what you want, then take a look at this amazing course
The Power Of Conversational Hypnosis
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Battle For Your Mind
Persuasion & Brainwashing Techniques
Being Used On The Public Today
By Dick Sutphen
The following is an expanded version of a talk Dick Sutphen delivered at the World Congress of Professional Hypnotists Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although the paper carries a 1984 copyright to protect the contents from unlawful duplication for sale, Dick invites individuals to make copies and give them to friends or anyone in a position to communicate this information. Since the paper was released, it has been distributed to millions and is currently available on dozens of Websites. As a result of this awareness, Dick has been contacted by law enforcement officers, the BBC and investigative reporters. On numerous occasions, the information has helped to bring public attention to the misuse of conversion tactics.
Some government agencies don't want this information generally known, for the techniques are used in armed forces basic training. Some Christian Fundamentalists, cults, and human-potential trainings would also prefer that the public remain unaware of how they are recruiting new members.
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I'm going to talk about conversion, which is a nice word for brainwashing. Everything I'll share only exposes the surface of the problem. I don't know how the misuse of these techniques can be stopped other than through public awareness. It isn't possible to legislate against what often cannot be detected; and if those who legislate are using these techniques, there is little hope of affecting laws to govern usage.
In talking about mind manipulation, I am talking about my own business. I know it, and I know how effective it can be. I produce hypnosis and subliminal tapes and, in some of my seminars, I use conversion tactics to assist participants to become independent and self-sufficient. But, any time I use these techniques, I point out that I am using them, and those attending have a choice to participate or not. They're also aware of the desired result of participation.
So, to begin, I want to share a basic fact about brainwashing: IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MAN, NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN BRAINWASHED AND REALIZED, OR BELIEVED, THAT HE HAD BEEN BRAINWASHED. Those who have been brainwashed will usually passionately defend their manipulators, claiming they have simply been "shown the light" ... or have been transformed in miraculous ways.
The Birth of Conversion
Any study of brainwashing has to begin with a study of Christian revivalism in eighteenth century America. Apparently, Jonathan Edwards accidentally discovered the techniques during a religious crusade in 1735 in Northampton, Massachusetts. By inducing guilt and acute apprehension and by increasing the tension, the sinners attending his revival meetings would break down and completely submit. Technically, what Edwards was doing was creating conditions that wipe the brain slate clean so that the mind accepts new programming. He would tell those attending, "You're a sinner! You're destined for hell!"
As a result, one person committed suicide and another attempted suicide. The neighbors of the suicidal converts related that they, too, were affected so deeply that, although they had found "eternal salvation," they were obsessed with a diabolical temptation to end their own lives.
Once a preacher, cult leader, manipulator or authority figure creates the brain phrase to wipe the brain-slate clean, his subjects are open to new programming. New input, in the form of suggestions, can be substituted for their previous ideas. Because Edwards didn't turn his message positive until the end of the revival, many accepted the negative suggestions and acted, or desired to act, upon them.
Charles J. Finney was another Christian revivalist who used the same techniques four years later in mass religious conversions in New York. The techniques are still being used today by Christian revivalists, cults, human-potential training, some business rallies and the U.S. armed services.
Let me point out here that I don't think most revivalist preachers realize or know they are using brainwashing techniques. Edwards simply stumbled upon a technique that worked, and others copied it and have continued to copy it for over two hundred years. And the more sophisticated our knowledge and technology become, the more effective the conversion. I feel strongly that this is one of the major reasons for the increasing rise in Christian fundamentalism, especially the televised variety, while most of the orthodox religions are declining.
The 3 Brain Phases
The Christians may have been the first to successfully formulate brainwashing, but we have to look to Pavlov, the Russian scientist, for a technical explanation. In the early 1900s, his work with animals opened the door to further investigations with humans. After the revolution in Russia, Lenin was quick to see the potential of applying Pavlov's research to his own ends.
Three distinct and progressive states of transmarginal inhibition were identified by Pavlov. The first is the Equivalent phase, in which the brain gives the same response to both strong and weak stimuli. Second is the Paradoxical phase, in which the brain responds more actively to weak stimuli than to strong. Third is the Ultra-Paradoxical phase, in which conditioned responses and behavior patterns turn from positive to negative or from negative to positive.
With the progressions through each phase, the degree of conversion becomes more effective and complete. The ways to achieve conversion are many and varied, but the usual first step in religious or political brainwashing is to work on the emotions of an individual or group until they reach an abnormal level of anger, fear, excitement or nervous tension.
The progressive result of this mental condition is to impair judgment and increase suggestibility. The more this condition can be maintained or intensified, the more it compounds. Once catharsis or the first brain phase is reached, the complete mental takeover becomes easier. Existing mental programming can be replaced with new patterns of thinking and behavior.
Other often-used physiological weapons to modify normal brain functions are fasting, radical or high sugar diets, physical discomforts, regulation of breathing, mantra chanting in meditation, the disclosure of awesome mysteries, special lighting and sound effects, programmed response to incense, or intoxicating drugs.
The same results can be obtained in contemporary psychiatric treatment by electric shock treatments and even by purposely lowering a patient's blood sugar level with insulin injections.
Before I talk about exactly how some of the techniques are applied, I want to point out that hypnosis and conversion tactics are two distinctly different things -- and that conversion techniques are far more powerful. However, the two are often mixed ... with powerful results.
How Revivalist Preachers Work
If you'd like to see a revivalist preacher at work, there are probably several in your city. Go to the church or tent early and sit in the rear, about three-quarters of the way back. Most likely repetitive music will be played while the people come in for the service. A repetitive beat, ideally ranging from 45 to 72 beats per minute (a rhythm close to the beat of a human heart), is very hypnotic and can generate an eyes-open altered state of consciousness in a high percentage of people. And, once you are in an Alpha state, you are at least 25 times as suggestible as you would be in full Beta consciousness. The music is probably the same for every service, or incorporates the same beat, and many of the people will go into an altered state almost immediately upon entering the sanctuary. Subconsciously, they recall their state of mind from previous services and respond according to the post-hypnotic programming.
Watch the people waiting for the service to begin. Many will exhibit external signs of trance -- body relaxation and slightly dilated eyes. Often, they begin swaying back and forth with their hands in the air while sitting in their chairs. Next, the assistant pastor will come out. He usually speaks with a "voice roll".
Voice Roll Technique
A "voice roll" is a patterned, paced style used by hypnotists when inducing a trance. It is also used by many lawyers (several of the most famous are highly trained hypnotists), when they desire to entrench a point firmly in the minds of the jurors. A voice roll can sound as if the speaker were talking to the beat of a metronome, or it may sound as though he were emphasizing every word in a monotonous, patterned style. The words will usually be delivered at the rate of 35 to 60 beats per minute, maximizing the hypnotic effect.
Now the assistant pastor begins the "build-up" process. He induces an altered state of consciousness and/or begins to generate the excitement and the expectations of the audience. Next, a group of young women in "sweet and pure" chiffon dresses might come out to sing a song. Gospel songs are great for building excitement and involvement. In the middle of the song, one of the girls might be "smitten by the Spirit" and fall down or react as if possessed by the Holy Spirit. This effectively increases the intense atmosphere in the room. At this point, hypnosis and conversion tactics are being mixed. And the result is the audience's attention is now totally focused upon the communication while the environment becomes more exciting or tense.
Right about this time, when an eyes-open mass-induced Alpha mental level has been achieved, they will usually pass the collection plate. In the background, a 45-beat-per-minute voice roll from the assistant preacher might exhort, "Give to God ...Give to God...Give to God ..." And the audience does give. God may not get the money, but his already wealthy representative will.
Next, the fire-and-brimstone preacher will come out. He induces fear and increases the tension by talking about "the devil", "going to hell" or the forthcoming Armageddon.
In the last such rally I attended, the preacher talked about the blood that would soon be running out of every faucet in the land. He was also obsessed with a "bloody ax of God," which attendees had seen hanging above the pulpit the previous week. I have no doubt that some people saw it -- the power of suggestion given to a group of people in hypnosis assures that at least 10 to 25 percent would see whatever he suggested they see.
In most revivalist gatherings, "testifying" or "witnessing" usually follows the fear-based sermon. People from the audience come up on stage and relate their stories. "I was crippled and now I can walk!" "I had arthritis and now it's gone!" It is a psychological manipulation that works. After listening to numerous case histories of miraculous healings, the average guy in the audience with a minor problem is sure he can be healed. The room is charged with fear, guilt, intense excitement and expectations.
Now those who want to be healed are frequently lined up around the edge of the room, or they are told to come down to the front. The preacher might touch them on the head firmly and scream, "Be healed!" This releases the psychic energy and, for many, catharsis results. Catharsis is a purging of repressed emotions. Individuals might cry, fall down or even go into spasms. And if catharsis is effected, they stand a chance of being healed. In catharsis, the brain-slate is temporarily wiped clean and the new suggestion is accepted.
For some, the healing may be permanent. For many, it will last four days to a week -- a week is, incidentally, how long a hypnotic suggestion given to a somnambulistic subject will usually last. Even if the healing doesn't last, if they come back every week the power of suggestion may continually override the problem ... or sometimes, sadly, it can mask a physical problem which could prove to be very detrimental to the individual in the long run.
I'm not saying that legitimate healings do not take place. They do. Maybe the individual was ready to let go of the negativity that caused the problem in the first place; maybe it was the work of God. Yet I contend that it can be explained with existing knowledge of brain/mind function.
The techniques and staging will vary from church to church. Many use "speaking in tongues" to generate catharsis in some while the spectacle creates intense excitement in the observers.
The use of hypnotic and conversion techniques by religions is sophisticated, and professionals are assuring that they become ever more effective. A man in Los Angeles is designing, building and reworking a lot of churches around the county. He tells ministers what they need and how to use it. This man's track record indicates that the congregation and the monetary income will double if the minister follows his instructions. He admits that about 80 percent of his efforts are in the sound system and lighting.
Powerful sound and the proper use of lighting are of primary importance in inducing an altered state of consciousness -- I've been using them for years in my own seminars. However, my participants are fully aware of the process and what they can expect as a result of their participation.
6 Conversion Techniques
Cults and human-potential training companies are always looking for new converts. To attain them, many use conversion tactics, which must be effective within a short space of time -- usually a weekend, but in some cases as quickly as a single day. The following are the six primary techniques used to generate the conversion.
Conversion Tactic 1: The meetings or training takes place in an area where participants are cut off from the outside world: a private home, a remote or rural setting, or a hotel ballroom where the participants are allowed only limited bathroom usage. In human-potential trainings, the controllers will give a lengthy talk about the importance of "keeping agreements" in life. The participants are told, "If you don't keep your agreements, your life will never work." Generally, this is good advice, but the controllers are subverting a positive human value for selfish purposes. The participants vow to themselves and their trainer that they will keep their agreements. Anyone who doesn’t concur will be intimidated into agreement or forced to leave the training. The next step is to get the participants to agree to complete the training, thus assuring a high percentage of conversions for the organization. They will usually have to agree not to take drugs, smoke and sometimes not to eat ... or they are given such a short meal break that it creates tension. One of the real reasons for the agreements is to alter internal chemistry, which generates anxiety and hopefully causes at least a slight malfunction of the nervous system, which in turn increases the conversion potential.
Before the gathering is complete, the agreement's manipulation will be used to ensure that the new converts go out and find new participants. They are intimidated into agreeing to bring in at least two potential converts. Since the importance of keeping agreements is so high on their priority list, the converts will twist the arms of everyone they know, attempting to talk them into attending the free introductory session offered at a future date by the training organization. The new converts are zealots. The inside term for merchandising one of the largest and most successful human-potential trainings is, "sell it by zealot!"
At least a million people are graduates and a good percentage have been left with a mental activation button that assures their future loyalty and assistance if the guru figure or organization calls. Think about the potential political implications of hundreds of thousands of zealots programmed to campaign for their guru.
Be wary of an organization of this type that offers follow-up sessions after the seminar. Follow-up sessions might be weekly meetings or inexpensive seminars given on a regular basis which the organization will attempt to talk you into taking. These regularly scheduled events are used to maintain control. As the early Christian revivalists found, long-term control is dependent upon a good follow-up system.
Conversion Tactic 2: A schedule is maintained that causes physical and mental fatigue. This is primarily accomplished by long hours in which the participants are given no opportunity for relaxation or reflection.
Conversion Tactic 3: Techniques are used to increase the tension in the room or environment.
Conversion Tactic 4: Uncertainty. One of the most effective ways of creating uncertainty is to subject the participants to the fear of being "put on the spot" or encountered by the trainers who play upon guilt feelings, or convince the participants to verbally relate their innermost secrets in front of the others. Activities that emphasize the removal of masks is another powerful ploy. One of the most successful human-potential seminars forces the participants to stand on a stage in front of the entire audience while being verbally attacked by the trainers. A public poll showed that the most fearful of all situations is to speak to an audience. It ranked above window washing outside the 85th floor of an office building. So you can imagine the fear and tension this situation generates within the seminar participants who have agreed to complete the training. Many faint, but most cope with the stress by mentally going away. They literally go into an Alpha state, which automatically opens them to being 25 to 200 times more suggestible. And another loop of the downward spiral into conversion is successfully effected.
Conversion Tactic 5: The introduction of jargon -- new terms that have meaning only to the "insiders" who have participated in the training. Vicious language is also frequently used to purposely make participants uncomfortable.
Conversion Tactic 6: There is no humor in the communications until the participants are converted. Then, merry-making and humor are highly desirable as symbols of the new joy the participants have supposedly "found".
I'm not saying that good does not result from participation in such gatherings. But it is important for people to know what has happened and to be aware that continual involvement may not be in their best interest.
Over the years, I've conducted professional seminars to teach people to be hypnotists, trainers and counselors. I've had many of those who conduct human-potential training and rallies (from the training companies who use the tactics I've just described) come to me and say, "I know what I'm doing works, but I don't know why." After showing them how and why, many have gotten out of the business or have decided to approach it differently or in a much more loving and supportive manner.
Many of these trainers have become personal friends, and it scares us all to have experienced the power of one person with a microphone and a room full of people. Add a little charisma and you can count on a high percentage of conversion. The sad truth is that a high percentage of people seem to want to become true believers and give away their power.
Cult gatherings or human-potential trainings are an ideal environment to observe firsthand what is technically called the "Stockholm Syndrome". This is a situation in which those who are intimidated, controlled or made to suffer, begin to love, admire and even sometimes sexually desire their controllers or captors.
But let me inject a word of warning here: If you think you can attend such gatherings and not be affected, you are probably wrong. A perfect example is the case of a woman who went to Haiti on a Guggenheim Fellowship to study Haitian Voodoo. In her report, she related how the music eventually induced uncontrollable bodily movement and an altered state of consciousness. Although she understood the process and thought herself above it, when she began to feel herself become vulnerable to the music, she attempted to fight it and turned away. Anger or resistance almost always assures conversion. A few moments later she was possessed by the music and began dancing in a trance around the Voodoo meeting house. A brain phase had been induced by the music and excitement, and she awoke feeling reborn. The only hope of attending such gatherings without being affected is to be the Buddha and allow no positive or negative emotions to surface. Few people are capable of such detachment.
I once attended est (Erhard Seminar Training). The training is no longer offered, although a current incarnation of the seminar is called The Forum. My goal in attending was to be an observer -- to be Buddha throughout the process, which took place in a Phoenix hotel ballroom with 200 people attending. I remained detached until late afternoon of the final day, when a doctor stood up and accused the est trainer of using brainwashing tactics. The incensed trainer argued back, using ridiculous Zen riddles to try to intimidate the doctor.
After 45 minutes of ranting, the trainer began using the other participants against the protesting doctor, who was speaking the truth. That did it. I stood up, snapped a karate kick at an est staffer and took a spare microphone out of his hands (the kick was to distract and did not inflict pain). Then I verbally went after the trainer. He responded by yelling for his people to call the police. Both the doctor and I walked out of the training room as the police arrived. I'm probably still listed in the est computers as someone who doesn't keep agreements.
Before leaving the six conversion tactics, I should mention military boot camp. The Marine Corps talks about breaking men down before rebuilding them as new men -- as marines. That is exactly what they do, the same way a cult breaks its people down and rebuilds them as happy flower sellers on your local street corner. Every one of the six conversion techniques are used in boot camp. Considering the needs of the military, I'm not making a judgment as to whether this is good or bad. As a simple fact, these men are brainwashed. Those who won't submit must be discharged or spend much of their time in the brig.
Decognition Process
Once the initial conversion is effected, cults, armed services and similar groups cannot have cynicism among their members. Members must respond to commands and do as they are told, otherwise, they are dangerous to the organizational control. This is normally accomplished as a three-step Decognition Process.
Step One is Alertness Reduction: The controllers cause the nervous system to malfunction, making it difficult to distinguish between fantasy and reality. This can be accomplished in several ways. Poor diet is one; watch out for brownies and Koolaid. The sugar throws the nervous system off. More subtle is the "spiritual diet" used by many cults. They eat only vegetables and fruits; without the grounding of grains, nuts, seeds, dairy products, fish or meat, an individual becomes mentally spacey. Inadequate sleep is another primary way to reduce alertness, especially when combined with long hours of work or intense physical activity. Being bombarded with intense and unique experiences achieves the same result.
Step Two is Programmed Confusion: You are mentally assaulted while your alertness is being reduced as in Step One. This is accomplished with a deluge of new information, lectures, discussion groups, encounters or one-to-one processing, which usually amounts to the controller bombarding the individual with questions. During this phase of decognition, reality and illusion often merge and perverted logic is likely to be accepted.
Step Three is Thought Stopping: Techniques are used to cause the mind to go flat -- altered-state-of-consciousness techniques that initially induce calmness by giving the mind something simple to deal with that focuses awareness. The continued use brings on a feeling of elation and eventually hallucination. The result is the reduction of thought and eventually, if used long enough, the cessation of all thought and withdrawal from everyone and everything except that which the controllers direct. The mental takeover is then complete. It is important to be aware that when members or participants are instructed to use thought-stopping techniques, they are told that they will benefit by so doing: they will become better soldiers or attain enlightenment.
There are three primary techniques used for thought stopping. The first is Marching: The thump, thump, thump beat literally generates self-hypnosis and thus greater susceptibility to suggestion. In the early stages of his rise to power, Adolph Hitler used marching demonstrations and the excitement as a mass conversion technique for those attending his rallies, and in the decognition phase for his soldiers.
The second thought-stopping technique is Meditation. If you spend 90 minutes or more a day in meditation, after a few weeks, there is high probability that you will not return to full Beta consciousness. You will remain in a fixed state of Alpha for as long as you continue to meditate. I'm not saying this is bad. If you do it yourself, it may be very beneficial. But know that you are causing your mind to go flat. I've worked with meditators on an EEG machine and the results are conclusive: the more you meditate, the flatter your mind becomes until, eventually and especially if used to excess or in combination with decognition, all thought ceases. Some spiritual groups call this nirvana -- which is just another manipulation. The mental state is simply a predictable physiological result. If heaven on earth is non-thinking and non-involvement, I really question why we are here.
The third thought-stopping technique is Chanting, and often chanting in meditation. Speaking in tongues could also be included in this category.
All three thought-stopping techniques produce an altered state of consciousness. This may be desirable if you are controlling the process, for you also control the input. I personally use at least one self-hypnosis programming session every day and I know how beneficial it is for me. But you need to know if you use these techniques to the degree of remaining continually in Alpha that, although you'll be very mellow, you'll also be more suggestible.
True Believers & Mass Movements
Before ending this section, I want to talk about the people who are most susceptible to conversion and joining mass movements. I am convinced that at least a third of the population are what Eric Hoffer calls true believers. They are joiners and followers ... people who want to give away their power. They look for answers, meaning and enlightenment outside themselves.
Hoffer's book The True Believer (Harper & Row, 1951) is a classic on mass movements. He says, "True believers are not intent on bolstering and advancing a cherished self, but are those craving to be rid of an unwanted self. They are followers, not because of a desire for self-advancement, but because it can satisfy their passion for self-renunciation!" Hoffer also says that true believers "are eternally incomplete and eternally insecure."
In my years of conducting seminar trainings, I have constantly run into true believers. All I can do is advise them to seek the True Self within, where meaningful personal answers will be found. I teach that the basics of spirituality are self-responsibility (karma) and the attainment of self-actualization (being compassionate, while also accepting others without judgment, expectations, blame or attempting to control.) But most of the true believers just tell me that I'm not spiritual and go looking for someone who will give them the dogma and structure they desire.
Never underestimate the potential danger of these people. They can easily be molded into fanatics who will gladly work and die for their holy cause. It is a substitute for their lost faith in themselves and offers a substitute for individual hope. Hitler's Brown Shirts were true believers. The Moral Majority is made up of true believers. All cults are composed of true believers. You'll find them in politics, churches, businesses and social-cause groups. They are the fanatics in these organizations.
Mass Movements will usually have a charismatic leader. The followers want to convert others to their way of living or impose a new way of life -- if necessary, by legislating laws forcing others to their view, as evidenced by the activities of the Moral Majority. This means enforcement by guns or punishment, which is the bottom line in law enforcement.
A common hatred, enemy or devil is essential to the success of a mass movement. Hitler's devil was the Jews; the Born-Again Christians have Satan himself, but that isn't enough -- they've added the New Age and all who oppose their integration of church and politics, as evidenced in the political reelection campaigns against those who opposite their views. In revolutions, the devil is usually the ruling power or aristocracy. Some human-potential movements are far too clever to ask their graduates to join anything, thus labeling themselves a cult -- but, upon close examination, you'll find that their devil is everyone who hasn't taken their training.
There are mass movements without devils but they seldom attain major status. True believers are mentally unbalanced or insecure people, or those without hope or friends. People don't look for allies when they love, but they do when they hate or become obsessed with a cause. And those who desire a new life and a new order feel the old ways must be eliminated before the new order can be built.
Persuasion Techniques
Persuasion isn't technically brainwashing, but it is a manipulation of the human mind, without the manipulated party being aware what caused his opinion shift. I only have time to very basically introduce you to a few of the many techniques in use today, but the basis of persuasion is always to access your right brain. The left half of your brain is analytical and rational. The right half is creative and imaginative. That is overly simplified but it makes my point. So, the idea is to distract the left brain and keep it busy. Ideally, the persuader generates an eyes-open altered state of consciousness, causing you to shift from Beta awareness into Alpha -- a shift that can be measured on an EEG machine.
First, let me give you an example of distracting the left brain. Politicians use these powerful techniques all the time; lawyers use many variations which, I've been told, they call tightening the noose.
Assume for a moment that you are watching a politician give a speech. First, he might generate what is called a yes set. These are statements that will cause most listeners to agree; they might even unknowingly nod their heads in agreement. Next come the truisms. These are usually facts that could be debated but, once the politician has his audience agreeing, the odds are in the politician's favor that the audience won't stop to think for themselves, thus continuing to agree. Last comes the suggestion. This is what the politician wants you to do and, since you've been agreeing all along, you could be persuaded to accept the suggestion. Now, if you'll listen closely to my political speech, you'll find that the first three statements are the yes set, the next three are truisms and the last is the suggestion.
"Ladies and gentlemen: are you angry about high food prices? Are you tired of astronomical gas prices? Are you sick of out-of-control inflation? Well, you know the Other Party allowed 18 percent inflation last year; you know crime has increased 50 percent nationwide in the last 12 months, and you know your paycheck hardly covers your expenses any more. Well, the answer to resolving these problems is to elect me, John Jones, to the U.S. Senate."
You've heard it all before. But you might also watch for what are called Imbedded Commands. As an example: On key words, the speaker makes a gesture with his left hand, which research has shown is more apt to access your right brain. Today's media-oriented politicians and spellbinders are often carefully trained by a whole new breed of specialists who are using every trick in the book -- both old and new -- to manipulate you into accepting their candidate.
The concepts and techniques of Neuro-Linguistics are so heavily protected that I found out the hard way that to even talk about them publicly or in print results in threatened legal action. Yet Neuro-Linguistic training is readily available to anyone willing to devote the time and pay the price. It is some of the most subtle and powerful manipulation I've ever seen. A good friend who recently attended a two-week seminar on Neuro-Linguistics found that many of those she talked to during the breaks were government people.
Another slippery manipulation is called an interspersal technique and the idea is to say one thing with words but plant a subconscious impression of something else in the minds of the listeners and viewers.
As an example, assume you are watching a television commentator make the following statement: "Senator Johnson is assisting local authorities to clear up the stupid mistakes of the companies contributing to the nuclear waste problems." It sounds like a statement of fact, but if the speaker emphasizes the right word and especially if he makes the proper hand gestures on the key words, you could be left with the subconscious impression that Senator Johnson is stupid. That was the subliminal goal of the statement and the speaker cannot be sued for libel.
Persuasion techniques are also frequently used on a much smaller scale with just as much effectiveness. The insurance salesman knows his pitch is likely to be more effective if he can get you to visualize something in your mind. This is right-brain communication. For instance, he might pause in his conversation, look slowly around your living room and say, "Can you just imagine this beautiful home burning to the ground?" Of course you can! It is one of your unconscious fears and in forcing you to visualize it, you are more likely to be manipulated into signing his insurance policy.
The cults, operating in every airport, use what I call shock and confusion techniques to distract the left brain and communicated directly with the right brain. While waiting for a plane, I once watched one operate for over an hour. He had a technique of almost jumping in front of someone. Initially, his voice was loud then dropped as he made his pitch to take a book and contribute money to the cause. Usually, when people are shocked, they immediately withdraw. In this case they were shocked by the strange appearance, sudden materialization and loud voice of the devotee. In other words, the people went into an Alpha state for security because they didn't want to confront the reality before them. In Alpha, they were highly suggestible so they responded to the suggestion of taking the book; the moment they took the book, they felt guilty and responded to the second suggestion: give money. We are all conditioned that if someone gives us something, we have to give them something in return. While watching this hustler, I was close enough to notice that many of the people he stopped exhibited an outward sign of Alpha -- their eyes dilated.
Subliminal Programming
Subliminals are hidden suggestions, perceived only by your subconscious mind. They can be audio suggestions, hidden behind music, or visual suggestions airbrushed or cleverly incorporated into a picture or design, or words/images flashed on a screen so fast that you don't consciously see them.
Some subliminal programming tapes offer verbal suggestions recorded at a low volume. I question the efficacy of this technique -- if subliminals are not perceptible, they cannot be effective, and subliminals recorded below the audible threshold are therefore useless. The oldest audio subliminal technique uses a voice that follows the volume of the music so subliminals are impossible to detect without a parametric equalizer. But this technique is patented and, when I wanted to develop my own line of subliminal audio cassettes, negotiations with the patent holder proved to be unsatisfactory. My attorney obtained copies of the patents which I gave to talented Hollywood sound engineers, asking them to create a new technique. They found a way to psychoacoustically modify and synthesize the suggestions so that they are projected in the same chord and frequency as the music, thus giving them the effect of being part of the music. But we found that in using this technique, there is no way to reduce various frequencies to detect the subliminals. In other words, although the suggestions are being heard by the subconscious mind, they cannot be monitored with even the most sophisticated equipment.
If we were able to come up with this technique as easily as we did, I can only imagine how sophisticated the technology has become, with government or advertising funding. And I shudder to think about the propaganda and commercial manipulation that we are exposed to on a daily basis. There is simply no way to know what is behind the music you hear. It may even be possible to hide a second voice behind the voice to which you are listening.
The series of books by Bryan Key, Ph.D. on subliminals in advertising and political campaigns, well documents the misuse in many areas, especially printed advertising in newspapers, magazines and posters.
The big question about subliminals is: do they work? Based upon the response from those who have used my tapes, the answer is yes. Subliminal suggestions behind the music in department stores can be advising customers not to shoplift. An East Coast department store chain reported a 37 percent reduction in thefts in the first nine months of testing.
A 1984 article in the technical newsletter Brain-Mind Bulletin states that as much as 99 percent of our cognitive activity may benon-conscious, according to the director of the Laboratory for Cognitive Psychophysiology at the University of Illinois. The lengthy report ends with the statement, "these findings support the use of subliminal approaches such as taped suggestions for weight loss and the therapeutic use of hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic programming."
Mass Misuse
I could relate many stories that support subliminal programming, but I'd rather use my time to make you aware of even more subtle uses of such programming.
I have personally experienced sitting in a Los Angeles auditorium with over ten thousand people who were gathered to listen to a charismatic figure. Twenty minutes after entering the auditorium, I became aware that I was going in and out of an altered state. Those accompanying me experienced the same thing. Since it is our business, we were aware of what was happening, but those around us were not. By careful observation, what appeared to be spontaneous demonstrations were, in fact, artful manipulations. The only way I could figure how the eyes-open trance had been induced was to pipe a 6- to 7-cycle-per-second vibration into the room behind the air conditioner sound. That vibration generates Alpha, which would render the audience highly susceptible. Ten to 25 percent of the population is capable of a somnambulistic trance level. For these people, the suggestions of the speaker could potentially be accepted as commands.
Vibrato
Vibrato is the tremulous effect imparted in some vocal or instrumental music, and the cycle-per-second range causes people to go into an altered state of consciousness. At one period of English history, singers whose voices contained pronounced vibrato were not allowed to perform publicly because listeners would go into an altered state and have fantasies, often sexual in nature.
People who attend opera or enjoy listening to singers like Mario Lanza are familiar with this altered state induced by the performers.
ELFs
Now, let's carry this awareness a little farther. There are also inaudible ELFs (extra-low frequency waves). These are electromagnetic in nature. One of the primary uses of ELFs is to communicate with our submarines. Dr. Andrija Puharich, a highly respected researcher, in an attempt to warn U.S. officials about Russian use of ELFs, set up an experiment. Volunteers were wired so their brain waves could be measured on an EEG. They were then sealed in a metal room that could not be penetrated by a normal signal.
Puharich then beamed ELF waves at the volunteers. ELFs go right through the earth and right through metal walls. Those inside couldn't know if the signal was or was not being sent. And Puharich watched the reactions on the technical equipment: Thirty percent of those inside the room were taken over by the ELF signal in six to ten seconds.
When I say taken over, I mean their behavior followed the changes anticipated at very precise frequencies. Waves below 6 cycles per second caused the subjects to become emotionally upset, and even disrupted bodily functions. At 8.2 cycles, they felt high -- as though they had been in masterful meditation, learned over a period of years. Eleven to 11.3 cycles induced waves of depressed agitation which could lead to riotous behavior.
The Neurophone
Dr. Patrick Flanagan is a personal friend. In the early 1960's, as a teenager, Pat was listed as one of the top scientists in the world by Life magazine. Among his many inventions was a device he called the Neurophone -- an electronic instrument that can successfully program suggestions directly through contact with the skin. When he attempted to patent the device, the government demanded that he prove it worked. When he did, the National Security Agency confiscated the neurophone. It took Pat two years of legal battle to get his invention back.
In using the device, you don't hear or see a thing; it is applied to the skin, which Pat claims is the source of special senses. The skin contains more sensors for heat, touch, pain, vibration and electrical fields than any other part of the human anatomy.
In one of his tests, Pat conducted two identical seminars for a military audience -- one seminar one night and one the next night, because the size of the room was not large enough to accommodate all the attendees at one time. When the first group proved to be very cool and unwilling to respond, Patrick spent the next day making a special tape to play at the second seminar. The tape instructed the audience to be extremely warm and responsive and for their hands to become tingly. The tape was played through the neurophone, which was connected to a wire he placed along the ceiling of the room. There were no speakers, so no sound could be heard, yet the message was successfully transmitted from that wire directly into the brains of the audience. They were warm and receptive, their hands tingled and they responded, according to programming, in other ways that Pat doesn't want publicly discussed.
The Medium For Takeover
The more we find out about how human beings work, the more we learn to control human beings. What scares me most is that the medium for takeover is already in place! The television set in your living room and bedroom may be doing a lot more than just entertaining you.
Before I continue, let me point out something else about an altered state of consciousness. When you go into an altered state, you transfer into right brain, which results in the internal release of brain opiates: enkephalins and Beta-endorphins, which are chemically almost identical to opium. In other words, it feels good and you want to experience more.
Tests by researcher Herbert Krugman showed that while viewers were watching TV, right-brain activity outnumbered left-brain activity by a ratio of two to one. Put more simply, the viewers were in an altered state more often than not. They were getting their Beta-endorphin fix.
To measure attention spans, psychophysiologist Thomas Mulholland of the Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts, attached young viewers to an EEG machine that was wired to shut the TV set off whenever the children's brains produced a majority of Alpha waves. Although the children were told to concentrate, only a few could keep the set on for more than 30 seconds.
Most viewers are already hypnotized. To deepen the trance is easy. One simple way is to place a blank, black frame every 32 frames in the film that is being projected. This creates a 45-beat-per-minute pulsation perceived only by the subconscious mind -- the ideal pace to generate deep hypnosis.
The commercials or suggestions presented following this Alpha-inducing broadcast are much more likely to be accepted by the viewer. The high percentage of the viewing audience that naturally attains a somnambulistic-depth could very well accept the suggestions as commands -- as long as the commands did not ask the viewer to do something contrary to his morals, religion or self-preservation.
The medium for takeover is here. By the age of 16, children have spent 10,000 to 15,000 hours watching television -- more time than they spend in school. In the average home, the TV set is on for six hours and 44 minutes per day.
A research project by Jacob Jacoby, a Purdue University psychologist, found that of 2,700 people tested, 90 percent misunderstood even such simple viewing fare as commercials or a TV series they watched regularly. Only minutes after watching a show, the typical viewer missed 23 to 36 percent of the questions about what they had just seen. Maybe this is because they were going in and out of trance. When in a deep trance, you must be instructed to remember -- otherwise you forget consciously, while your subconscious mind remembers everything.
The Tip of the Iceberg
I have just touched the tip of the iceberg. When you start to combine subliminal messages behind the music, subliminal visuals projected on the screen, hypnotically produced visual effects, sustained musical beats at a trance-inducing pace, you are talking conversion -- brainwashing. Every hour that you spend watching TV you become more conditioned. In case you thought there was a law against any of these things, guess again. There isn't. There are a lot of powerful people out there who probably have plans for you?
Partial Bibliography:
Influence -- The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini, Ph.D. (Quill 1984)
The Battle for the Mind by William Sargant (Perennial Library 1957)
Snapping by Flo Conway & Jim Siegelman (Delta Books 1978)
The True Believer by Eric Hoffer (Harper & Row 1951)
Mind Wars by Ron McRae (St. Martin's Press 1984)
How To Organize & Manage Your Own Religion Cult by Duke McCoy (Loompanics Unlimited 1980)
Behavior Modification by Richard Camellion (Paladin Press 1978)
Cults by Charles G. Waugh & Martin H. Greenberg (Beaufort 1983)
Holy Terror by Flo Conway and Jim Siegelman (Delta Books 1982)
All subliminal books by Bryan Key, Ph.D.
Hitler propaganda films produced before World War II
Newsweek magazine
Being Used On The Public Today
By Dick Sutphen
The following is an expanded version of a talk Dick Sutphen delivered at the World Congress of Professional Hypnotists Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although the paper carries a 1984 copyright to protect the contents from unlawful duplication for sale, Dick invites individuals to make copies and give them to friends or anyone in a position to communicate this information. Since the paper was released, it has been distributed to millions and is currently available on dozens of Websites. As a result of this awareness, Dick has been contacted by law enforcement officers, the BBC and investigative reporters. On numerous occasions, the information has helped to bring public attention to the misuse of conversion tactics.
Some government agencies don't want this information generally known, for the techniques are used in armed forces basic training. Some Christian Fundamentalists, cults, and human-potential trainings would also prefer that the public remain unaware of how they are recruiting new members.
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I'm going to talk about conversion, which is a nice word for brainwashing. Everything I'll share only exposes the surface of the problem. I don't know how the misuse of these techniques can be stopped other than through public awareness. It isn't possible to legislate against what often cannot be detected; and if those who legislate are using these techniques, there is little hope of affecting laws to govern usage.
In talking about mind manipulation, I am talking about my own business. I know it, and I know how effective it can be. I produce hypnosis and subliminal tapes and, in some of my seminars, I use conversion tactics to assist participants to become independent and self-sufficient. But, any time I use these techniques, I point out that I am using them, and those attending have a choice to participate or not. They're also aware of the desired result of participation.
So, to begin, I want to share a basic fact about brainwashing: IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MAN, NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN BRAINWASHED AND REALIZED, OR BELIEVED, THAT HE HAD BEEN BRAINWASHED. Those who have been brainwashed will usually passionately defend their manipulators, claiming they have simply been "shown the light" ... or have been transformed in miraculous ways.
The Birth of Conversion
Any study of brainwashing has to begin with a study of Christian revivalism in eighteenth century America. Apparently, Jonathan Edwards accidentally discovered the techniques during a religious crusade in 1735 in Northampton, Massachusetts. By inducing guilt and acute apprehension and by increasing the tension, the sinners attending his revival meetings would break down and completely submit. Technically, what Edwards was doing was creating conditions that wipe the brain slate clean so that the mind accepts new programming. He would tell those attending, "You're a sinner! You're destined for hell!"
As a result, one person committed suicide and another attempted suicide. The neighbors of the suicidal converts related that they, too, were affected so deeply that, although they had found "eternal salvation," they were obsessed with a diabolical temptation to end their own lives.
Once a preacher, cult leader, manipulator or authority figure creates the brain phrase to wipe the brain-slate clean, his subjects are open to new programming. New input, in the form of suggestions, can be substituted for their previous ideas. Because Edwards didn't turn his message positive until the end of the revival, many accepted the negative suggestions and acted, or desired to act, upon them.
Charles J. Finney was another Christian revivalist who used the same techniques four years later in mass religious conversions in New York. The techniques are still being used today by Christian revivalists, cults, human-potential training, some business rallies and the U.S. armed services.
Let me point out here that I don't think most revivalist preachers realize or know they are using brainwashing techniques. Edwards simply stumbled upon a technique that worked, and others copied it and have continued to copy it for over two hundred years. And the more sophisticated our knowledge and technology become, the more effective the conversion. I feel strongly that this is one of the major reasons for the increasing rise in Christian fundamentalism, especially the televised variety, while most of the orthodox religions are declining.
The 3 Brain Phases
The Christians may have been the first to successfully formulate brainwashing, but we have to look to Pavlov, the Russian scientist, for a technical explanation. In the early 1900s, his work with animals opened the door to further investigations with humans. After the revolution in Russia, Lenin was quick to see the potential of applying Pavlov's research to his own ends.
Three distinct and progressive states of transmarginal inhibition were identified by Pavlov. The first is the Equivalent phase, in which the brain gives the same response to both strong and weak stimuli. Second is the Paradoxical phase, in which the brain responds more actively to weak stimuli than to strong. Third is the Ultra-Paradoxical phase, in which conditioned responses and behavior patterns turn from positive to negative or from negative to positive.
With the progressions through each phase, the degree of conversion becomes more effective and complete. The ways to achieve conversion are many and varied, but the usual first step in religious or political brainwashing is to work on the emotions of an individual or group until they reach an abnormal level of anger, fear, excitement or nervous tension.
The progressive result of this mental condition is to impair judgment and increase suggestibility. The more this condition can be maintained or intensified, the more it compounds. Once catharsis or the first brain phase is reached, the complete mental takeover becomes easier. Existing mental programming can be replaced with new patterns of thinking and behavior.
Other often-used physiological weapons to modify normal brain functions are fasting, radical or high sugar diets, physical discomforts, regulation of breathing, mantra chanting in meditation, the disclosure of awesome mysteries, special lighting and sound effects, programmed response to incense, or intoxicating drugs.
The same results can be obtained in contemporary psychiatric treatment by electric shock treatments and even by purposely lowering a patient's blood sugar level with insulin injections.
Before I talk about exactly how some of the techniques are applied, I want to point out that hypnosis and conversion tactics are two distinctly different things -- and that conversion techniques are far more powerful. However, the two are often mixed ... with powerful results.
How Revivalist Preachers Work
If you'd like to see a revivalist preacher at work, there are probably several in your city. Go to the church or tent early and sit in the rear, about three-quarters of the way back. Most likely repetitive music will be played while the people come in for the service. A repetitive beat, ideally ranging from 45 to 72 beats per minute (a rhythm close to the beat of a human heart), is very hypnotic and can generate an eyes-open altered state of consciousness in a high percentage of people. And, once you are in an Alpha state, you are at least 25 times as suggestible as you would be in full Beta consciousness. The music is probably the same for every service, or incorporates the same beat, and many of the people will go into an altered state almost immediately upon entering the sanctuary. Subconsciously, they recall their state of mind from previous services and respond according to the post-hypnotic programming.
Watch the people waiting for the service to begin. Many will exhibit external signs of trance -- body relaxation and slightly dilated eyes. Often, they begin swaying back and forth with their hands in the air while sitting in their chairs. Next, the assistant pastor will come out. He usually speaks with a "voice roll".
Voice Roll Technique
A "voice roll" is a patterned, paced style used by hypnotists when inducing a trance. It is also used by many lawyers (several of the most famous are highly trained hypnotists), when they desire to entrench a point firmly in the minds of the jurors. A voice roll can sound as if the speaker were talking to the beat of a metronome, or it may sound as though he were emphasizing every word in a monotonous, patterned style. The words will usually be delivered at the rate of 35 to 60 beats per minute, maximizing the hypnotic effect.
Now the assistant pastor begins the "build-up" process. He induces an altered state of consciousness and/or begins to generate the excitement and the expectations of the audience. Next, a group of young women in "sweet and pure" chiffon dresses might come out to sing a song. Gospel songs are great for building excitement and involvement. In the middle of the song, one of the girls might be "smitten by the Spirit" and fall down or react as if possessed by the Holy Spirit. This effectively increases the intense atmosphere in the room. At this point, hypnosis and conversion tactics are being mixed. And the result is the audience's attention is now totally focused upon the communication while the environment becomes more exciting or tense.
Right about this time, when an eyes-open mass-induced Alpha mental level has been achieved, they will usually pass the collection plate. In the background, a 45-beat-per-minute voice roll from the assistant preacher might exhort, "Give to God ...Give to God...Give to God ..." And the audience does give. God may not get the money, but his already wealthy representative will.
Next, the fire-and-brimstone preacher will come out. He induces fear and increases the tension by talking about "the devil", "going to hell" or the forthcoming Armageddon.
In the last such rally I attended, the preacher talked about the blood that would soon be running out of every faucet in the land. He was also obsessed with a "bloody ax of God," which attendees had seen hanging above the pulpit the previous week. I have no doubt that some people saw it -- the power of suggestion given to a group of people in hypnosis assures that at least 10 to 25 percent would see whatever he suggested they see.
In most revivalist gatherings, "testifying" or "witnessing" usually follows the fear-based sermon. People from the audience come up on stage and relate their stories. "I was crippled and now I can walk!" "I had arthritis and now it's gone!" It is a psychological manipulation that works. After listening to numerous case histories of miraculous healings, the average guy in the audience with a minor problem is sure he can be healed. The room is charged with fear, guilt, intense excitement and expectations.
Now those who want to be healed are frequently lined up around the edge of the room, or they are told to come down to the front. The preacher might touch them on the head firmly and scream, "Be healed!" This releases the psychic energy and, for many, catharsis results. Catharsis is a purging of repressed emotions. Individuals might cry, fall down or even go into spasms. And if catharsis is effected, they stand a chance of being healed. In catharsis, the brain-slate is temporarily wiped clean and the new suggestion is accepted.
For some, the healing may be permanent. For many, it will last four days to a week -- a week is, incidentally, how long a hypnotic suggestion given to a somnambulistic subject will usually last. Even if the healing doesn't last, if they come back every week the power of suggestion may continually override the problem ... or sometimes, sadly, it can mask a physical problem which could prove to be very detrimental to the individual in the long run.
I'm not saying that legitimate healings do not take place. They do. Maybe the individual was ready to let go of the negativity that caused the problem in the first place; maybe it was the work of God. Yet I contend that it can be explained with existing knowledge of brain/mind function.
The techniques and staging will vary from church to church. Many use "speaking in tongues" to generate catharsis in some while the spectacle creates intense excitement in the observers.
The use of hypnotic and conversion techniques by religions is sophisticated, and professionals are assuring that they become ever more effective. A man in Los Angeles is designing, building and reworking a lot of churches around the county. He tells ministers what they need and how to use it. This man's track record indicates that the congregation and the monetary income will double if the minister follows his instructions. He admits that about 80 percent of his efforts are in the sound system and lighting.
Powerful sound and the proper use of lighting are of primary importance in inducing an altered state of consciousness -- I've been using them for years in my own seminars. However, my participants are fully aware of the process and what they can expect as a result of their participation.
6 Conversion Techniques
Cults and human-potential training companies are always looking for new converts. To attain them, many use conversion tactics, which must be effective within a short space of time -- usually a weekend, but in some cases as quickly as a single day. The following are the six primary techniques used to generate the conversion.
Conversion Tactic 1: The meetings or training takes place in an area where participants are cut off from the outside world: a private home, a remote or rural setting, or a hotel ballroom where the participants are allowed only limited bathroom usage. In human-potential trainings, the controllers will give a lengthy talk about the importance of "keeping agreements" in life. The participants are told, "If you don't keep your agreements, your life will never work." Generally, this is good advice, but the controllers are subverting a positive human value for selfish purposes. The participants vow to themselves and their trainer that they will keep their agreements. Anyone who doesn’t concur will be intimidated into agreement or forced to leave the training. The next step is to get the participants to agree to complete the training, thus assuring a high percentage of conversions for the organization. They will usually have to agree not to take drugs, smoke and sometimes not to eat ... or they are given such a short meal break that it creates tension. One of the real reasons for the agreements is to alter internal chemistry, which generates anxiety and hopefully causes at least a slight malfunction of the nervous system, which in turn increases the conversion potential.
Before the gathering is complete, the agreement's manipulation will be used to ensure that the new converts go out and find new participants. They are intimidated into agreeing to bring in at least two potential converts. Since the importance of keeping agreements is so high on their priority list, the converts will twist the arms of everyone they know, attempting to talk them into attending the free introductory session offered at a future date by the training organization. The new converts are zealots. The inside term for merchandising one of the largest and most successful human-potential trainings is, "sell it by zealot!"
At least a million people are graduates and a good percentage have been left with a mental activation button that assures their future loyalty and assistance if the guru figure or organization calls. Think about the potential political implications of hundreds of thousands of zealots programmed to campaign for their guru.
Be wary of an organization of this type that offers follow-up sessions after the seminar. Follow-up sessions might be weekly meetings or inexpensive seminars given on a regular basis which the organization will attempt to talk you into taking. These regularly scheduled events are used to maintain control. As the early Christian revivalists found, long-term control is dependent upon a good follow-up system.
Conversion Tactic 2: A schedule is maintained that causes physical and mental fatigue. This is primarily accomplished by long hours in which the participants are given no opportunity for relaxation or reflection.
Conversion Tactic 3: Techniques are used to increase the tension in the room or environment.
Conversion Tactic 4: Uncertainty. One of the most effective ways of creating uncertainty is to subject the participants to the fear of being "put on the spot" or encountered by the trainers who play upon guilt feelings, or convince the participants to verbally relate their innermost secrets in front of the others. Activities that emphasize the removal of masks is another powerful ploy. One of the most successful human-potential seminars forces the participants to stand on a stage in front of the entire audience while being verbally attacked by the trainers. A public poll showed that the most fearful of all situations is to speak to an audience. It ranked above window washing outside the 85th floor of an office building. So you can imagine the fear and tension this situation generates within the seminar participants who have agreed to complete the training. Many faint, but most cope with the stress by mentally going away. They literally go into an Alpha state, which automatically opens them to being 25 to 200 times more suggestible. And another loop of the downward spiral into conversion is successfully effected.
Conversion Tactic 5: The introduction of jargon -- new terms that have meaning only to the "insiders" who have participated in the training. Vicious language is also frequently used to purposely make participants uncomfortable.
Conversion Tactic 6: There is no humor in the communications until the participants are converted. Then, merry-making and humor are highly desirable as symbols of the new joy the participants have supposedly "found".
I'm not saying that good does not result from participation in such gatherings. But it is important for people to know what has happened and to be aware that continual involvement may not be in their best interest.
Over the years, I've conducted professional seminars to teach people to be hypnotists, trainers and counselors. I've had many of those who conduct human-potential training and rallies (from the training companies who use the tactics I've just described) come to me and say, "I know what I'm doing works, but I don't know why." After showing them how and why, many have gotten out of the business or have decided to approach it differently or in a much more loving and supportive manner.
Many of these trainers have become personal friends, and it scares us all to have experienced the power of one person with a microphone and a room full of people. Add a little charisma and you can count on a high percentage of conversion. The sad truth is that a high percentage of people seem to want to become true believers and give away their power.
Cult gatherings or human-potential trainings are an ideal environment to observe firsthand what is technically called the "Stockholm Syndrome". This is a situation in which those who are intimidated, controlled or made to suffer, begin to love, admire and even sometimes sexually desire their controllers or captors.
But let me inject a word of warning here: If you think you can attend such gatherings and not be affected, you are probably wrong. A perfect example is the case of a woman who went to Haiti on a Guggenheim Fellowship to study Haitian Voodoo. In her report, she related how the music eventually induced uncontrollable bodily movement and an altered state of consciousness. Although she understood the process and thought herself above it, when she began to feel herself become vulnerable to the music, she attempted to fight it and turned away. Anger or resistance almost always assures conversion. A few moments later she was possessed by the music and began dancing in a trance around the Voodoo meeting house. A brain phase had been induced by the music and excitement, and she awoke feeling reborn. The only hope of attending such gatherings without being affected is to be the Buddha and allow no positive or negative emotions to surface. Few people are capable of such detachment.
I once attended est (Erhard Seminar Training). The training is no longer offered, although a current incarnation of the seminar is called The Forum. My goal in attending was to be an observer -- to be Buddha throughout the process, which took place in a Phoenix hotel ballroom with 200 people attending. I remained detached until late afternoon of the final day, when a doctor stood up and accused the est trainer of using brainwashing tactics. The incensed trainer argued back, using ridiculous Zen riddles to try to intimidate the doctor.
After 45 minutes of ranting, the trainer began using the other participants against the protesting doctor, who was speaking the truth. That did it. I stood up, snapped a karate kick at an est staffer and took a spare microphone out of his hands (the kick was to distract and did not inflict pain). Then I verbally went after the trainer. He responded by yelling for his people to call the police. Both the doctor and I walked out of the training room as the police arrived. I'm probably still listed in the est computers as someone who doesn't keep agreements.
Before leaving the six conversion tactics, I should mention military boot camp. The Marine Corps talks about breaking men down before rebuilding them as new men -- as marines. That is exactly what they do, the same way a cult breaks its people down and rebuilds them as happy flower sellers on your local street corner. Every one of the six conversion techniques are used in boot camp. Considering the needs of the military, I'm not making a judgment as to whether this is good or bad. As a simple fact, these men are brainwashed. Those who won't submit must be discharged or spend much of their time in the brig.
Decognition Process
Once the initial conversion is effected, cults, armed services and similar groups cannot have cynicism among their members. Members must respond to commands and do as they are told, otherwise, they are dangerous to the organizational control. This is normally accomplished as a three-step Decognition Process.
Step One is Alertness Reduction: The controllers cause the nervous system to malfunction, making it difficult to distinguish between fantasy and reality. This can be accomplished in several ways. Poor diet is one; watch out for brownies and Koolaid. The sugar throws the nervous system off. More subtle is the "spiritual diet" used by many cults. They eat only vegetables and fruits; without the grounding of grains, nuts, seeds, dairy products, fish or meat, an individual becomes mentally spacey. Inadequate sleep is another primary way to reduce alertness, especially when combined with long hours of work or intense physical activity. Being bombarded with intense and unique experiences achieves the same result.
Step Two is Programmed Confusion: You are mentally assaulted while your alertness is being reduced as in Step One. This is accomplished with a deluge of new information, lectures, discussion groups, encounters or one-to-one processing, which usually amounts to the controller bombarding the individual with questions. During this phase of decognition, reality and illusion often merge and perverted logic is likely to be accepted.
Step Three is Thought Stopping: Techniques are used to cause the mind to go flat -- altered-state-of-consciousness techniques that initially induce calmness by giving the mind something simple to deal with that focuses awareness. The continued use brings on a feeling of elation and eventually hallucination. The result is the reduction of thought and eventually, if used long enough, the cessation of all thought and withdrawal from everyone and everything except that which the controllers direct. The mental takeover is then complete. It is important to be aware that when members or participants are instructed to use thought-stopping techniques, they are told that they will benefit by so doing: they will become better soldiers or attain enlightenment.
There are three primary techniques used for thought stopping. The first is Marching: The thump, thump, thump beat literally generates self-hypnosis and thus greater susceptibility to suggestion. In the early stages of his rise to power, Adolph Hitler used marching demonstrations and the excitement as a mass conversion technique for those attending his rallies, and in the decognition phase for his soldiers.
The second thought-stopping technique is Meditation. If you spend 90 minutes or more a day in meditation, after a few weeks, there is high probability that you will not return to full Beta consciousness. You will remain in a fixed state of Alpha for as long as you continue to meditate. I'm not saying this is bad. If you do it yourself, it may be very beneficial. But know that you are causing your mind to go flat. I've worked with meditators on an EEG machine and the results are conclusive: the more you meditate, the flatter your mind becomes until, eventually and especially if used to excess or in combination with decognition, all thought ceases. Some spiritual groups call this nirvana -- which is just another manipulation. The mental state is simply a predictable physiological result. If heaven on earth is non-thinking and non-involvement, I really question why we are here.
The third thought-stopping technique is Chanting, and often chanting in meditation. Speaking in tongues could also be included in this category.
All three thought-stopping techniques produce an altered state of consciousness. This may be desirable if you are controlling the process, for you also control the input. I personally use at least one self-hypnosis programming session every day and I know how beneficial it is for me. But you need to know if you use these techniques to the degree of remaining continually in Alpha that, although you'll be very mellow, you'll also be more suggestible.
True Believers & Mass Movements
Before ending this section, I want to talk about the people who are most susceptible to conversion and joining mass movements. I am convinced that at least a third of the population are what Eric Hoffer calls true believers. They are joiners and followers ... people who want to give away their power. They look for answers, meaning and enlightenment outside themselves.
Hoffer's book The True Believer (Harper & Row, 1951) is a classic on mass movements. He says, "True believers are not intent on bolstering and advancing a cherished self, but are those craving to be rid of an unwanted self. They are followers, not because of a desire for self-advancement, but because it can satisfy their passion for self-renunciation!" Hoffer also says that true believers "are eternally incomplete and eternally insecure."
In my years of conducting seminar trainings, I have constantly run into true believers. All I can do is advise them to seek the True Self within, where meaningful personal answers will be found. I teach that the basics of spirituality are self-responsibility (karma) and the attainment of self-actualization (being compassionate, while also accepting others without judgment, expectations, blame or attempting to control.) But most of the true believers just tell me that I'm not spiritual and go looking for someone who will give them the dogma and structure they desire.
Never underestimate the potential danger of these people. They can easily be molded into fanatics who will gladly work and die for their holy cause. It is a substitute for their lost faith in themselves and offers a substitute for individual hope. Hitler's Brown Shirts were true believers. The Moral Majority is made up of true believers. All cults are composed of true believers. You'll find them in politics, churches, businesses and social-cause groups. They are the fanatics in these organizations.
Mass Movements will usually have a charismatic leader. The followers want to convert others to their way of living or impose a new way of life -- if necessary, by legislating laws forcing others to their view, as evidenced by the activities of the Moral Majority. This means enforcement by guns or punishment, which is the bottom line in law enforcement.
A common hatred, enemy or devil is essential to the success of a mass movement. Hitler's devil was the Jews; the Born-Again Christians have Satan himself, but that isn't enough -- they've added the New Age and all who oppose their integration of church and politics, as evidenced in the political reelection campaigns against those who opposite their views. In revolutions, the devil is usually the ruling power or aristocracy. Some human-potential movements are far too clever to ask their graduates to join anything, thus labeling themselves a cult -- but, upon close examination, you'll find that their devil is everyone who hasn't taken their training.
There are mass movements without devils but they seldom attain major status. True believers are mentally unbalanced or insecure people, or those without hope or friends. People don't look for allies when they love, but they do when they hate or become obsessed with a cause. And those who desire a new life and a new order feel the old ways must be eliminated before the new order can be built.
Persuasion Techniques
Persuasion isn't technically brainwashing, but it is a manipulation of the human mind, without the manipulated party being aware what caused his opinion shift. I only have time to very basically introduce you to a few of the many techniques in use today, but the basis of persuasion is always to access your right brain. The left half of your brain is analytical and rational. The right half is creative and imaginative. That is overly simplified but it makes my point. So, the idea is to distract the left brain and keep it busy. Ideally, the persuader generates an eyes-open altered state of consciousness, causing you to shift from Beta awareness into Alpha -- a shift that can be measured on an EEG machine.
First, let me give you an example of distracting the left brain. Politicians use these powerful techniques all the time; lawyers use many variations which, I've been told, they call tightening the noose.
Assume for a moment that you are watching a politician give a speech. First, he might generate what is called a yes set. These are statements that will cause most listeners to agree; they might even unknowingly nod their heads in agreement. Next come the truisms. These are usually facts that could be debated but, once the politician has his audience agreeing, the odds are in the politician's favor that the audience won't stop to think for themselves, thus continuing to agree. Last comes the suggestion. This is what the politician wants you to do and, since you've been agreeing all along, you could be persuaded to accept the suggestion. Now, if you'll listen closely to my political speech, you'll find that the first three statements are the yes set, the next three are truisms and the last is the suggestion.
"Ladies and gentlemen: are you angry about high food prices? Are you tired of astronomical gas prices? Are you sick of out-of-control inflation? Well, you know the Other Party allowed 18 percent inflation last year; you know crime has increased 50 percent nationwide in the last 12 months, and you know your paycheck hardly covers your expenses any more. Well, the answer to resolving these problems is to elect me, John Jones, to the U.S. Senate."
You've heard it all before. But you might also watch for what are called Imbedded Commands. As an example: On key words, the speaker makes a gesture with his left hand, which research has shown is more apt to access your right brain. Today's media-oriented politicians and spellbinders are often carefully trained by a whole new breed of specialists who are using every trick in the book -- both old and new -- to manipulate you into accepting their candidate.
The concepts and techniques of Neuro-Linguistics are so heavily protected that I found out the hard way that to even talk about them publicly or in print results in threatened legal action. Yet Neuro-Linguistic training is readily available to anyone willing to devote the time and pay the price. It is some of the most subtle and powerful manipulation I've ever seen. A good friend who recently attended a two-week seminar on Neuro-Linguistics found that many of those she talked to during the breaks were government people.
Another slippery manipulation is called an interspersal technique and the idea is to say one thing with words but plant a subconscious impression of something else in the minds of the listeners and viewers.
As an example, assume you are watching a television commentator make the following statement: "Senator Johnson is assisting local authorities to clear up the stupid mistakes of the companies contributing to the nuclear waste problems." It sounds like a statement of fact, but if the speaker emphasizes the right word and especially if he makes the proper hand gestures on the key words, you could be left with the subconscious impression that Senator Johnson is stupid. That was the subliminal goal of the statement and the speaker cannot be sued for libel.
Persuasion techniques are also frequently used on a much smaller scale with just as much effectiveness. The insurance salesman knows his pitch is likely to be more effective if he can get you to visualize something in your mind. This is right-brain communication. For instance, he might pause in his conversation, look slowly around your living room and say, "Can you just imagine this beautiful home burning to the ground?" Of course you can! It is one of your unconscious fears and in forcing you to visualize it, you are more likely to be manipulated into signing his insurance policy.
The cults, operating in every airport, use what I call shock and confusion techniques to distract the left brain and communicated directly with the right brain. While waiting for a plane, I once watched one operate for over an hour. He had a technique of almost jumping in front of someone. Initially, his voice was loud then dropped as he made his pitch to take a book and contribute money to the cause. Usually, when people are shocked, they immediately withdraw. In this case they were shocked by the strange appearance, sudden materialization and loud voice of the devotee. In other words, the people went into an Alpha state for security because they didn't want to confront the reality before them. In Alpha, they were highly suggestible so they responded to the suggestion of taking the book; the moment they took the book, they felt guilty and responded to the second suggestion: give money. We are all conditioned that if someone gives us something, we have to give them something in return. While watching this hustler, I was close enough to notice that many of the people he stopped exhibited an outward sign of Alpha -- their eyes dilated.
Subliminal Programming
Subliminals are hidden suggestions, perceived only by your subconscious mind. They can be audio suggestions, hidden behind music, or visual suggestions airbrushed or cleverly incorporated into a picture or design, or words/images flashed on a screen so fast that you don't consciously see them.
Some subliminal programming tapes offer verbal suggestions recorded at a low volume. I question the efficacy of this technique -- if subliminals are not perceptible, they cannot be effective, and subliminals recorded below the audible threshold are therefore useless. The oldest audio subliminal technique uses a voice that follows the volume of the music so subliminals are impossible to detect without a parametric equalizer. But this technique is patented and, when I wanted to develop my own line of subliminal audio cassettes, negotiations with the patent holder proved to be unsatisfactory. My attorney obtained copies of the patents which I gave to talented Hollywood sound engineers, asking them to create a new technique. They found a way to psychoacoustically modify and synthesize the suggestions so that they are projected in the same chord and frequency as the music, thus giving them the effect of being part of the music. But we found that in using this technique, there is no way to reduce various frequencies to detect the subliminals. In other words, although the suggestions are being heard by the subconscious mind, they cannot be monitored with even the most sophisticated equipment.
If we were able to come up with this technique as easily as we did, I can only imagine how sophisticated the technology has become, with government or advertising funding. And I shudder to think about the propaganda and commercial manipulation that we are exposed to on a daily basis. There is simply no way to know what is behind the music you hear. It may even be possible to hide a second voice behind the voice to which you are listening.
The series of books by Bryan Key, Ph.D. on subliminals in advertising and political campaigns, well documents the misuse in many areas, especially printed advertising in newspapers, magazines and posters.
The big question about subliminals is: do they work? Based upon the response from those who have used my tapes, the answer is yes. Subliminal suggestions behind the music in department stores can be advising customers not to shoplift. An East Coast department store chain reported a 37 percent reduction in thefts in the first nine months of testing.
A 1984 article in the technical newsletter Brain-Mind Bulletin states that as much as 99 percent of our cognitive activity may benon-conscious, according to the director of the Laboratory for Cognitive Psychophysiology at the University of Illinois. The lengthy report ends with the statement, "these findings support the use of subliminal approaches such as taped suggestions for weight loss and the therapeutic use of hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic programming."
Mass Misuse
I could relate many stories that support subliminal programming, but I'd rather use my time to make you aware of even more subtle uses of such programming.
I have personally experienced sitting in a Los Angeles auditorium with over ten thousand people who were gathered to listen to a charismatic figure. Twenty minutes after entering the auditorium, I became aware that I was going in and out of an altered state. Those accompanying me experienced the same thing. Since it is our business, we were aware of what was happening, but those around us were not. By careful observation, what appeared to be spontaneous demonstrations were, in fact, artful manipulations. The only way I could figure how the eyes-open trance had been induced was to pipe a 6- to 7-cycle-per-second vibration into the room behind the air conditioner sound. That vibration generates Alpha, which would render the audience highly susceptible. Ten to 25 percent of the population is capable of a somnambulistic trance level. For these people, the suggestions of the speaker could potentially be accepted as commands.
Vibrato
Vibrato is the tremulous effect imparted in some vocal or instrumental music, and the cycle-per-second range causes people to go into an altered state of consciousness. At one period of English history, singers whose voices contained pronounced vibrato were not allowed to perform publicly because listeners would go into an altered state and have fantasies, often sexual in nature.
People who attend opera or enjoy listening to singers like Mario Lanza are familiar with this altered state induced by the performers.
ELFs
Now, let's carry this awareness a little farther. There are also inaudible ELFs (extra-low frequency waves). These are electromagnetic in nature. One of the primary uses of ELFs is to communicate with our submarines. Dr. Andrija Puharich, a highly respected researcher, in an attempt to warn U.S. officials about Russian use of ELFs, set up an experiment. Volunteers were wired so their brain waves could be measured on an EEG. They were then sealed in a metal room that could not be penetrated by a normal signal.
Puharich then beamed ELF waves at the volunteers. ELFs go right through the earth and right through metal walls. Those inside couldn't know if the signal was or was not being sent. And Puharich watched the reactions on the technical equipment: Thirty percent of those inside the room were taken over by the ELF signal in six to ten seconds.
When I say taken over, I mean their behavior followed the changes anticipated at very precise frequencies. Waves below 6 cycles per second caused the subjects to become emotionally upset, and even disrupted bodily functions. At 8.2 cycles, they felt high -- as though they had been in masterful meditation, learned over a period of years. Eleven to 11.3 cycles induced waves of depressed agitation which could lead to riotous behavior.
The Neurophone
Dr. Patrick Flanagan is a personal friend. In the early 1960's, as a teenager, Pat was listed as one of the top scientists in the world by Life magazine. Among his many inventions was a device he called the Neurophone -- an electronic instrument that can successfully program suggestions directly through contact with the skin. When he attempted to patent the device, the government demanded that he prove it worked. When he did, the National Security Agency confiscated the neurophone. It took Pat two years of legal battle to get his invention back.
In using the device, you don't hear or see a thing; it is applied to the skin, which Pat claims is the source of special senses. The skin contains more sensors for heat, touch, pain, vibration and electrical fields than any other part of the human anatomy.
In one of his tests, Pat conducted two identical seminars for a military audience -- one seminar one night and one the next night, because the size of the room was not large enough to accommodate all the attendees at one time. When the first group proved to be very cool and unwilling to respond, Patrick spent the next day making a special tape to play at the second seminar. The tape instructed the audience to be extremely warm and responsive and for their hands to become tingly. The tape was played through the neurophone, which was connected to a wire he placed along the ceiling of the room. There were no speakers, so no sound could be heard, yet the message was successfully transmitted from that wire directly into the brains of the audience. They were warm and receptive, their hands tingled and they responded, according to programming, in other ways that Pat doesn't want publicly discussed.
The Medium For Takeover
The more we find out about how human beings work, the more we learn to control human beings. What scares me most is that the medium for takeover is already in place! The television set in your living room and bedroom may be doing a lot more than just entertaining you.
Before I continue, let me point out something else about an altered state of consciousness. When you go into an altered state, you transfer into right brain, which results in the internal release of brain opiates: enkephalins and Beta-endorphins, which are chemically almost identical to opium. In other words, it feels good and you want to experience more.
Tests by researcher Herbert Krugman showed that while viewers were watching TV, right-brain activity outnumbered left-brain activity by a ratio of two to one. Put more simply, the viewers were in an altered state more often than not. They were getting their Beta-endorphin fix.
To measure attention spans, psychophysiologist Thomas Mulholland of the Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts, attached young viewers to an EEG machine that was wired to shut the TV set off whenever the children's brains produced a majority of Alpha waves. Although the children were told to concentrate, only a few could keep the set on for more than 30 seconds.
Most viewers are already hypnotized. To deepen the trance is easy. One simple way is to place a blank, black frame every 32 frames in the film that is being projected. This creates a 45-beat-per-minute pulsation perceived only by the subconscious mind -- the ideal pace to generate deep hypnosis.
The commercials or suggestions presented following this Alpha-inducing broadcast are much more likely to be accepted by the viewer. The high percentage of the viewing audience that naturally attains a somnambulistic-depth could very well accept the suggestions as commands -- as long as the commands did not ask the viewer to do something contrary to his morals, religion or self-preservation.
The medium for takeover is here. By the age of 16, children have spent 10,000 to 15,000 hours watching television -- more time than they spend in school. In the average home, the TV set is on for six hours and 44 minutes per day.
A research project by Jacob Jacoby, a Purdue University psychologist, found that of 2,700 people tested, 90 percent misunderstood even such simple viewing fare as commercials or a TV series they watched regularly. Only minutes after watching a show, the typical viewer missed 23 to 36 percent of the questions about what they had just seen. Maybe this is because they were going in and out of trance. When in a deep trance, you must be instructed to remember -- otherwise you forget consciously, while your subconscious mind remembers everything.
The Tip of the Iceberg
I have just touched the tip of the iceberg. When you start to combine subliminal messages behind the music, subliminal visuals projected on the screen, hypnotically produced visual effects, sustained musical beats at a trance-inducing pace, you are talking conversion -- brainwashing. Every hour that you spend watching TV you become more conditioned. In case you thought there was a law against any of these things, guess again. There isn't. There are a lot of powerful people out there who probably have plans for you?
Partial Bibliography:
Influence -- The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini, Ph.D. (Quill 1984)
The Battle for the Mind by William Sargant (Perennial Library 1957)
Snapping by Flo Conway & Jim Siegelman (Delta Books 1978)
The True Believer by Eric Hoffer (Harper & Row 1951)
Mind Wars by Ron McRae (St. Martin's Press 1984)
How To Organize & Manage Your Own Religion Cult by Duke McCoy (Loompanics Unlimited 1980)
Behavior Modification by Richard Camellion (Paladin Press 1978)
Cults by Charles G. Waugh & Martin H. Greenberg (Beaufort 1983)
Holy Terror by Flo Conway and Jim Siegelman (Delta Books 1982)
All subliminal books by Bryan Key, Ph.D.
Hitler propaganda films produced before World War II
Newsweek magazine
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