What is Hypnosis?
What is Hypnosis, that’s a good question. This is the explanation of the basic concept of hypnosis that I use in some of my recorded programs.
Thanks for listening,
Wes Graham C.C.Ht.
Stress Relief Tool
I put together a quick recording of a fractional relaxation. This is typically used as an induction to a longer hypnosis session but I find it’s also a wonderful standalone tool for general stress relief. Please feel free to download and enjoy.
(Right click below and Save Target As)
Get a Stone to Call your Own
A Habit from My Father
I guess I inherited my fascination with rocks and stones from my father. He was a desert-loving rock hound and had a collection of all the interesting stones he’d come across. These were not precious stones and were of no particular type or value; they just were interesting and “spoke” to him in some way. From time to time, he would pick one out and carry it in his pocket. He called it his “worry stone.” When he got stressed he would take it out or just stick his hand in his pocket and rub the stone. As if it were some magical talisman, he would transfer his stress to the stone. Because where your mind goes, your energy flows, for him, it worked.
Stones as Symbols
For as long as there have been humans, we have used inanimate objects, such as stones in particular, as powerful symbols. Large monolithic structures such as Stonehenge and the giants of Easter Island come to mind.
An even more striking example is the “Stone of Scone,” a small rectangular block of red sandstone that, since before recorded history, has be imbued with the power to make kings. It was used in the coronation of all the Kings of Scotland until 1296AD, when King Edward of England conquered Scotland. To enforce its submission as a vassal state, Edward took the stone and placed it in Westminster Abby and it has been used in the coronation of every English monarch since. In 1996, for political reasons it was decided that when not in use, the stone would be “stored” in Scotland. However, when Prince Charles is eventually made King of England he will be sitting on a throne placed on top of the Stone of Scone.
On a much more personal level stones can be beneficial symbols. They can remind us to place our energies where we want them.
Stones as Energetic “Batteries”
I’ve always had the habit of carrying a small stone with me most of the time. But instead of using it like some kind of symbolic septic tank, I prefer to think of it as a battery. When my energy is up, say after an exercise or a meditation, I often “push” my positive energy into the stone. Then when I feel drained, worried or just down, I take hold of the stone and imagine the energy flowing back into me. Any old stone will do, but it is better if it has a special meaning or it comes from a special place or time.
How my stone came to me
I’ve had many stone over the years, but my current “Sacred Stone” came to me in a truly special way. My path to these current projects has been interesting, personally difficult and sometimes quite odd. At one point when I was particularly stuck, I went to see a hypnotherapist. (Just like doctors don’t treat themselves, hypnotherapists quite often see other hypnotherapists.) During one of my sessions we were doing an exercise much like The Message. In this exercise I was looking for an “Inner or Spirit Guide” or even an Animal Guide. (Interestingly, quite often even people with no background knowledge or experience with Native American culture see their “Spirit Guide” as an animal.) In the trance I mentally envisioned myself in my “Happy Place.” In my case it was a picnic table in a real park I go to on the windward shore of the island of Oahu. I really had no expectation of what my guide would be; I wouldn’t have been surprised if I saw my great grandfather or if I saw a talking squirrel.
I was surprised when the guide who came to me in this trance state was actually me. A slightly thinner, long haired (my hair was shorter at the time), self-confident and, most importantly, very happy version of myself. Even in trance I was dumbfounded. He walks up to me, slaps me on my shoulder and said very gregariously, “Dude, you know what you want to do!” and showed me a vision that started me on the path to this work now. As we finished, in the vision/trance he/me smiled and handed me a small stone, which I felt and saw very clearly.
Weeks passed and the memory of the trance/vision was still strong in my mind as I worked to absorb the full meaning of it all. Now, I often order supplies and such over the Internet and one company where I get my favorite incense routinely sends little “gifts” with orders. These little things could be a string bracelet, a pin, etc., like spiritual Cracker Jacks prizes. Well, I received an order and opened the box and to my amazement they had sent me a stone. THEY HAD SENT ME THE STONE! Even in a life filled with bizarre and miraculous events this took the cake. Personally, I took it as a sign of the validity of my vision and I have treated it as such ever since.
Get a Stone to Call your Own
Below I’ve included a link to a Mindfulness exercised based on a “Personal Stone that I call “Minding the Stone.” If you don’t have one yet you should find one and make it your own. As I said, really any stone will do. It doesn’t have to come to you like some universal thunderbolt, but it should have some connection to you. Maybe you picked it up at your favorite beach or on your favorite hiking path. If you don’t have one yet just put the thought in your mind. Get in a relaxed state and mentally call for a special stone to come to you. Then just keep an eye out for it, in the next day or two you will see it; in in your yard, in a park or a parking lot, you will just know that it’s the right one. This might not be your end all, be all, sacred stone, but you can at least use it for this exercise.
You can click on it to play or right click on the 2nd link and select “Save target as” to download.
Thanks and enjoy,
Wes Graham C.C. Ht.
hypnoenergetics 