Dianne Ronnow asked:


When I first heard about the Jen Fe Fat Loss Diet Patches from Nexagen, I was skeptical. I don’t believe in miracle weight loss cures and short-cuts. I believe in healthy weight loss by lifestyle changes. And I know that there are lots of diet scams and useless diet aid out there, giving false hope and wasting people’s time and hard earned money.

But people all around me who had tried unsucessfully to lose weight and change to a healthier lifestyle and diet, were suddenly losing weight. Not only were they dropping several pounds a week, but they had extra energy (without being jittery) and were even sleeping better. What was going on? I began to do some research. ( I don’t recommend a product without a lot of thought and research!)

Here is what I found…

First I was skeptical that a transdermal patch would even work to get a substance through the skin and into the body. But I learned that the skin is actually a permeable organ that allows some things to enter the body, while blocking other. Some substances that the skin especially likes to pass on to the body are fat-soluble substances such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as steroid hormones such as estrogen. Pharmaceutical companies use this knowledge to find ways to make patches that will deliver medication into the body through the skin. The substances enter the bloodstream through the capillary networks in the skin, and spread throughout the body.

The medical community is becoming excited about patches, since they give a constant amount of medication, instead of dumping in too much and letting it wear off, then doing it again, the way oral medication works. Patches are now being used to deliver a number of therapeutic drugs. These include estrogen, scopolamine (motion sickness), nitroglycerin (heart problems), and nicotine (for those trying to quit smoking).

I became convinced that patches, in general, can and do work. So the question is now whether the substances the patch is sending into the body are effective or not. This is the reason that most diet patches do not work. They are using inferior or useless ingredients. Some diet patch companies have even been prosecuted for running scams.

What about the ingredients in the Jen Fe Fat Loss Diet Patch and the Jen Fe Power Patch (a stronger version of the original Fat Loss Patch)?

The Jen Fe Power Patch features a natural blend of patented ingredients–ForsLean®, the herb Guarana (Paullina cupana), ChromeMate (an effective, natural form of chromium poly-nicotinate), Cosmoperine®, 5-HTP and diiodotyrosine.

ForsLean®, an extract of the herb Coleus Forskohlii, which contains an active ingredient in it called forskolin. This herb has been used in ayruvedic medicine for many years. Forskolin has been shown to not only enhance fat burning, but it may also inhibit fat storage from occurring. Another way that forskolin may allow for fat loss to occur is by stimulating thyroid hormone production and release. Thyroid hormone controls metabolism and can enhance metabolic rate, which may translate into more fat loss.

Forskolin does not have dangerous side effects such as increased blood pressure, heart palpitatations, nervousness and jitteriness, like ephedrine does.

Another benefit of forskolin is that it stimulates the digestive enzymes, which can allow individuals to digest and assimilate their food better. It has been shown to increase nutrient absorption in the small intestine as well.

ChromeMate is an effective, natural form of chromium poly-nicotinate, a popular and well researched diet supplement which is linked with the B-vitamin niacin. An essential trace mineral, Chromium helps the body burn calories, promotes fat and weight loss and preserves lean tissues. Chromium helps the body normalize itself metabolically, and sets the stage for safe and steady weight loss. Chromium may also help control sugar cravings.

The herb Guarana (Paullina cupana) is a great source of the energizing, fat-mobilizing substance caffeine. A small amount of caffeine from this herb helps the body move fats out of storage and into the blood where they can serve as a source of energy. Using fat for energy spares the sugar in muscles and the liver, and helps keep up muscle strength and endurance during your diet. Caffeine also helps to increase epinephrine (adrenalin) levels in the blood. Epinephrine boosts attention, alertness, blood sugar and energy, while damping appetite. The caffeine in one Jen Fe Next Diet Patch is about the same as you would find in an average-sized cup of tea.

Aside from caffeine, Guarana is a rich source of epicathechin and proanthocyanidins. Epicathechin is recognized as the potent antioxidant and health-protector in green tea, while the benefits of proanthocyanidins in red wine are widely known. In addition to protective effects, epicatechin itself boosts metabolism and calorie burning.

Cosmoperine®, the active ingredient of black pepper and long pepper, allows the Jen Fe Next Patch to offer increased delivery and patch performance without compromising factors like gentleness or skin irritation. Homeopathically potentiated thyreodinum extract also helps maintain the careful balance Jen Fe Next Patch is known for.

Diiodotyrosine, a building block for T3 and T4, can assist the thyroid gland to maintain its function and help preserve lean muscle. Thyroid function is critical to metabolism and weight management. During dieting, the body inevitably slows down production of the thyroid gland’s hormones T3 and T4 in an attempt to keep the body in equilibrium. Dieters are forced to reduce calorie intake to the point where the body starts to use muscle glycogen as a source of energy.

5- HTP is an amino acid produced by the African plant Griffonia simplicifolia that acts as a natural and powerful appetite suppressant. What makes 5-HTP most remarkable is that it suppresses the appetite cravings for carbohydrate calories, but not protein or fat calories, making 5-HTP ideal for those on low-carbohydrate diets.

All these dynamic ingredients are absorbed slowly through the skin to stimulate your body’s metabolism. The result is a safe and easy way for you to increase your energy levels and, with proper diet and exercise, achieve a whole new level of wellness!

Well, after going through all this research, it didn’t take me long to sign up with Nexagen (although you don’t need to sign up as a distributor to get the products.) And as the pounds begin to come off, I haven’t regretted a minute of it



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Find acupuncture certification programs in the United States and Canada. Acupuncture certification is an important step in practicing this alternative healing art. Students interested in earning the valuable credential of acupuncture certification must first complete required coursework and successfully graduate from one of several acupuncture schools.

In general, acupuncture certification programs extended through one of many Oriental medicine schools or acupuncture schools will include three or four-year studies to help students gain the necessary skills and knowledge to practice acupuncture. In addition to acupuncture needling techniques, students will learn about Chinese Medicine, principles, and philosophies; and will gain practical clinical and classroom training. In many cases, students who aspire to earn acupuncture certification will discover that many acupuncture schools will combine education in acupuncture with Oriental medicine, including courses in Tui Na, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and medical Chinese terminology; and associated education in anatomy, physiology, and other respective subjects of study.

While there are several styles of acupuncture, including 5-element acupuncture and Kiiko Matsumoto style (among others), acupuncture certification programs are not intended for any one specific style, but for acupuncture practitioners who desire to improve their professional outlook.

Typically, acupuncture certification is attained by taking a certification examination through the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). Eligibility for candidates who desire to gain acupuncture certification and earn the title of Diplomate (Dipl. Ac.), must have acquired a formal education in acupuncture and must have met all accreditation requirements.

Consequently, if graduates have received their acupuncture degrees, but have not obtained all necessary coursework for acupuncture certification can earn and present supplemental education through an ACAOM-accredited or candidate school. Furthermore, practitioners who have earned their acupuncture certification must acquire a minimum of 60 PDA (Professional Development Activity) points for recertification.

If you are interested in finding your dream job, let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you now!

Acupuncture Certification FAQs

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The CollegeBound Network

All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.



By: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd

About the Author:

Mydomain.com

BBCWorldwide asked:

Watch these weird and wonderful images of animal hypnosis in this BBC clip. When in danger, animals will often fall into a trance-like state to avoid capture.

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HealingMagic asked:

http://www.fastereft.com
When you begin to understand that trance happens all the time, and knowing that we all are hypnotists we will be able to transform your life.

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JakeORhodes asked:

This hypnosis video will actually make you feel drunk. You could even save some money on your next night out!

Use with caution and remember, don’t drink and drive!

While hypnosis can be used for fun and entertainment, it is also a powerful healing tool. If you’d like to learn more about hypnotherapy and its many uses then please visit:

http://www.hypnobusters.com

Rapid Learn Centre

Yaron Lavi asked:




It is considered as one of the easiest and most affordable tiling methods – Landscaping Pebbles Tiles can easily be used for practically any home surface. Each time you look at these natural stones keeps you fascinated on the ‘creativeness’ of the nature that surrounds us. The following article will describe how by using these nature-made panels you’ll be able to remodel any surface at home.

Short overview

When you see it for the first time you quickly understand that Landscaping Pebbles Tiles redecoration is created by fixing together similar small flat stones manually and carefully attached onto a mesh backing of 12′ by 12′ size. One thing is sure: most of these tiles are originated from one part of the world – that is the exotic Indonesian islands. You can easily tile anywhere in the inside and in the outside: Bath walls, shower bases & backsplashes, kitchen backsplash, countertops, patios, pool surfaces, decks, and fireplaces.

Quick benefits and advantages

Going down to the bottom line we notice the following benefits:

* Easily adjusted to almost any surface size especially when it comes to tiling around taps and small narrow areas.

* Easy to be replaced if needed.

* Easily installed over existing surfaces such as old ceramics or plain concrete.

Tips you want to remember!

* Make sure the surface you are about to tile is flat, clean, dry and free of contaminants.

* To appreciate the beauty of these ‘Nature-Made’ panels, it is recommended on removing the excess grout with a wet sponge. After all, you want to expose as much of the stones as possible.

* These stone panels have their weight, so if you intend to install backsplashes use small carpenter’s nails to hold the tile in place so you can easily grout it.

We could easily find many other great benefits provided by this fashionable home redesigning technique simply because once you explore and understand how it works, you quickly find endless redesigning opportunities that could fit any space at home.

Summary

Landscaping Pebbles Tiles installation process is considered extremely easy and in average it takes no more than just several hours. Although this is a quick review, it is highly recommended to look at these tips and advices once you prepare for installation.



Rapid Learn Centre

Hypnosis: so easy, you do it with your eyes closed.

Fundamentals of the Mind

The human mind may be subdivided into three parts: the Unconscious, Subconscious and Conscious. These compare to a computer:

Unconscious = operating system

Subconscious = hard drive

Conscious = RAM

Each part has separate and distinct tasks.

The Unconscious mind operates your automatic body systems such as the circulatory system, much as a computer’s operating system includes its basic functions. The Subconscious mind operates like a hard drive by storing files of all kinds, from a full memory bank of your past to your emotional spectrum, to its most vital task: protecting you at all costs. The Conscious mind is our everyday mind, making immediate day to day decisions like what to wear, eat, and drink. It is the gatekeeper, choosing what information is to be acted upon moment by moment. It’s the mind you’re reading this book with right now, and its tasks include comparing, reasoning, and explaining. These abilities are called the Critical Factor and are bypassed in hypnosis.

Importance of the Subconscious Mind

To update a file on your computer, you must open the original file and make the changes. In the human mind, original files are stored in the Subconscious. To gain access, we must reach the Subconscious directly, bypassing the Conscious mind. In other words, one way to gain positive changes in the present is to neutralize the negativity in the past. We do not change the memories, we upgrade how you feel about them.This upgrading can only be accomplished in the Subconscious, for that is where memories are stored, and it can only be reached through bypass of the Conscious mind, and that can only be done through hypnosis. Why? It’s what works. Hypnosis specifically sets the Conscious mind aside temporarily.

Your Mind Must Protect You; Good News, Bad News

All levels of your mind work to protect you as best they can at all times. And this especially applies to the Subconscious. It must protect you at all costs, and to do so, it may even lie to you, or more to the point, to your Conscious mind. It may lie about you, about others, it may even lie to your hypnotist while you are in trance. It may hide memories from you. And much, much more. This is because once it accepts negative behaviors in the name of your safety, it hangs on to those behaviors. Some examples are:

•smoking anything

•being obese

•declining success

•biting your fingernails

•spending compulsively

You may well ask, how can compulsive spending possibly protect me? It distracts you. Misdirection is one highly effective way your Subconscious protects you by keeping a lid on overwhelming emotions. Ergo the addict. You may well ask, how can declining to be successful possibly protect me? It limits you. Limiting exposure to risk is another way to protect you. It is when such protective efforts do not meet your current needs that you desire change. Hypnosis sets aside the Conscious mind, makes changes via the Subconscious mind, and change is achieved.

How Hypnosis Upgrades Your Files

Hypnosis is able to change your perception of your memories, and thus of yourself. We do not change the events themselves, we upgrade how you feel about them, and thus your daily life is upgraded. By accessing the original files stored in the Subconscious, you are able to see all of the reasons why your mind specifies your behaviors in the name of protecting you, and together we upgrade those behaviors since, typically, the need of that protection is gone. You are no longer in the middle of the event that had such impact on you. Your Conscious mind does not have complete access to your memory files; that is not its job. This is why merely talking about change is such an ineffective means of getting any. Talking happens in the Conscious mind. Change happens in the Subconscious. And here’s the rub: the Subconscious outvotes the Conscious mind. It is far, far larger, stronger, and more powerful. This is why willpower fails so miserably for the dieter. Unless the Subconscious agrees to a healthy diet and a normalized body weight, your finest of intentions are shortlived, having been overridden by the Subconscious mind.

Emotions

Emotions are a function of, and are stored in, the Subconscious. When you have had an emotional reaction to danger, for example, real or imagined, those emotions are felt and stored in your Subconscious. Hypnosis accesses those stored emotions, upgrades your perception of them, and results in changed behavior. You must give yourself permission to make changes. You must want to change. You must want to enter into hypnosis. And this means not being afraid of hypnosis. So, let’s define what hypnosis is in several ways, as there is no single perfect way to phrase it.

What Hypnosis Is

•“Hypnosis is the bypass of the critical factor of the conscious mind combined with the establishment of selective thinking,” says the US Government.

•Hypnosis is a blend of physical relaxation and extreme mental alertness. Yes, I said extreme.

•Hypnosis is a state of focused concentration. This is why a few minutes of emotional expression in trance is worth hours in an alert state. Humans are so easily distracted, and the Conscious mind is forever making excuses for everything. In hypnosis, the conscious mind is set aside, and excuses are seen for what they are.

•Hypnosis is the state you enter into every time you watch a tv show you like, see a film you like, or sit down at the computer intending to only be there for 10 minutes… and suddenly it’s two hours later.

•Hypnosis also happens when humans fall in love, literally entranced.

What Hypnosis Is Not

•Hypnosis is not mind control.

•Hypnosis is not a royal proclamation.

•Hypnosis is not sleep. We use relaxation, not sleep, to enter hypnosis. You do not wake up from hypnosis, you emerge. And you already know exactly what emerging from hypnosis feels like! Remember the last time you went to the movies, loved the film, and at the end when the credits rolled, you suddenly “came to”? You just emerged from hypnosis. That’s exactly what it feels like, because that’s exactly what happened.

•Hypnosis is not being unconscious. You can hear everything that goes on around you during trance; you’re just not interested in it.

•Hypnosis is not relaxation. That’s just an optimal starting point.

•Hypnosis is not being drugged. However, one can easily mimic a drugged state in hypnosis, provided you have previously felt the effects of that drug. Your body remembers. This is useful for pain control.

•Hypnosis is not involuntary. Just as no one can make you enjoy a movie that fails to entrance you, no one can make you remain in hypnosis. I typically teach my clients self hypnosis on the very first session so that they know for certain that they can emerge whenever they like. Anyone can emerge from hypnosis instantly by making that their intention.

How Does It Actually Happen?

Hypnotists use methods we call techniques. These include Guided Imagery, Rescuing Events, The Forgiveness Pyramid, Parts, The Spa of Your Inner Mind, Upgrades, and Higher Mind, to mention a few.

The Last Word

The media uses hypnosis on you all the time. Aaaalllllllll the time. Advertisers have been known to employ hypnotists to assess the hypnotic potential of a given advertisement, and pay good money for it.

Everytime you watch tv and enjoy it, you go into a state of trance. Ditto listening to music, going to the movies, watching a DVD, hearing talk radio, reading a magazine, and so forth. When you don’t like a particular type of music, that is expressly because it fails to put you into the trance you listen to music for.

So here comes the big duh. Why should media have all the fun? Please visit your friendly neighborhood trance specialist and use hypnosis to further your own goals.

Ah, hypnosis. So easy you can do it with your eyes closed.



By: Michelle Beaudry

About the Author:

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Mark S asked:


I am about 6′6″ and about 230lbs. I was wondering what temporary detox drinks work the best for someone with high body mass and high toxin levels.

Especially toxins like THC, and aderall (amphetamines).

Rapid Learn Centre

John Kump asked:


Provillus for women is a product that allows women to treat hair loss. You will never have to be extra careful when brushing or combing your hair, in fear that strands might go along your bush or comb. No need to be ashamed of bald patches on your scalp any longer. Provillus for women can help you grow back hair.

What causes hair loss?

The cause of hair loss generally falls under these categories:

- Genes – Hormones – Health issues

What is Provillus?

Provillus for women is a natural powerful hair loss remedy especially designed for women. It is made up of essential minerals, vitamins and botanicals that will help hair grow back and keep it healthy. This product comes in two forms: a liquid solution and pills to be taken orally. The solution’s major component is Minoxidil which is proven to promote hair growth. The pills are made with ingredients that also help in the re-growth of hair and promote healthy hair. Check the directions on the carton of the solution to find out if you are eligible to use it. If not, you can use the pills by itself and still get good results.

How does it work?

Provillus for women works by stimulating the scalp to encourage faster hair growth. With continuous use, you will notice that the hair on your scalp will begin to thicken again. Provillus also works on making the hair healthier inside and out.

What are the ingredients of Provillus for women?

The ingredients used in Provillus for women are remarkable for their hair growing properties and hair maintenance capabilities.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride)

Vitamin B6 can help prevent hair loss and has properties to aid in the growth and re-growth of hair. It is also helpful for hair because it aids in the production of melanin, which is needed for the hair to retain its color.

Biotin

Biotin is good for maintaining healthy hair. It is called by some as “food for hair”, because it gives the hair the nourishment it needs. Biotin also produces Keratin which is a major part of the hair. This ingredient is also able to avoid hair graying and hair loss.

Magnesium (Magnesium Oxide)

This ingredient is important because it keeps hair follicles healthy. To keep hair healthy, you need to have healthy hair follicles to begin with.

Horsetail

The components found in Horsetail are capable of stimulating blood flow to the scalp. Horsetail is also known to be a good hair grower.

Para-aminobenzoic Acid (PABA)

PABA is a part of the Vitamin B complex which helps the hair by making the strands stronger. It also contributes to the overall health of the hair and in hair pigment production.

The Results

After continuously using Provillus for women, you will notice that you have much more hair that is bouncier, shinier and healthier. Most of the women who have tried using this product, normally notice improvements after a few months. Keep in mind that along with the product, it takes patience to grow back lost hair.

Provillus for women is a breakthrough for those who have to hide under a hat, not just during “bad hair days” but on “no hair days” which is every day for someone who has problems with hair loss. With the company’s 90 Day Return Policy, you have nothing to lose.



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nd Self Hypnosis by Eldon Taylor, Ph.D., DAPA, Ct.H.

Introduction

First, I want to suggest to you that all hypnosis is fundamentally self hypnosis. This idea is not new from me, for one of the real pioneers of modern hypnosis, Dr. Milton Ericcson made this statement many years ago. The fact is, hypnosis is based on suggestibility and you must be willing to accept the suggestions or their is no so-called trance state to follow. Now, that is not to say that gifted hypnotists are not able to disarm defenses one might have, but it is to say that YOU are the key to a successful hypnotic session. The common fear of hypnosis, that someone else has control over you, has no place in a self-hypnosis session, for you are both the hypnotist and the subject–and just to be clear, the fear is mislaid and false to fact.

You will learn that hypnosis is a natural state that can be objectified by brain wave activity. This special brain wave state known as alpha and theta (we’ll look at those more closely later in this text) is not only a powerful state for mind training, deep relaxation, accelerated learning opportunities and so forth, but a state that most move through several times each day. All of this and more is covered in these programs, so let’s get into some important matters that are not discussed there.

Self Hypnosis to Condition Belief

Not long ago I was preparing a literature review of hypnosis. One of the texts I used is written by two scholars with impeccable credentials. The book is called “Hypnosis, Will and Memory” (Laurence and Campbell, 1988). It is essentially a psycho-legal history of hypnosis. Repeatedly the text cites a time when hypnosis was believed to be either of the devil or pure unmitigated fakery. Finally, the scientific community investigated hypnosis. Scientists who doubted hypnosis used a test to determine true hypnosis from fakery. The test was largely based on body levitation evidence. In other words, it was assumed as a result of direct observation that a subject truly in hypnosis could and would levitate!

Now skeptics tested for fakery and often reported finding hidden wires and ropes and pulleys. However, these same skeptics reported true unfaked levitation on many occasions. Not only did they report it, the evidence was sometimes offered in the courts. Okay, levitation was not such an unnatural act until the laws of Newton became popularly known. Suddenly, everyone knew that the human body was heavier than air and could not float. Levitation suddenly disappeared from the scene and the literature. Prior to that, levitation was often witnessed by the most reliable of even the skeptics in instances of hypnosis, spiritual enlightenment and so-called demonic possession. Indeed, levitation was one of the criteria for determining the guilt or innocence of a witch.

It would appear that belief, individual and collective, directly influences the physical world. Physicists have often reported the role of the “observer” in influencing the outcome of physical measurement and observation. Indeed, many physicists believe that consciousness interacts with matter. A recent study employed some sophisticated statistical measurements to evaluate the mind’s interaction with matter. The data clearly suggested an information exchange between mind and matter.

Belief in ourselves, abilities, powers, and the influence over our own lives and the world around us, is at the crux of what each and every one of us experiences in life. Belief literally may define and delimit our every experience. Eroding belief is doubt. Self doubt is the most personally damaging belief we can hold.

Monkey Conditioning–Behaviorism

Regaining our inherent self-confidence, self-belief, self-respect, and self power is relatively easy, if we’re willing to make the proper choices. The difficulty is in the choices. Humans can behave very much like the conditioned animal. It is for this reason that Classical Behaviorism gained such popularity in psychological schools of thought. Behaviorism essentially argues that the human condition is entirely a product of nature/nurture and is conditioned to believe, behave and otherwise execute life. There is no such thing as a higher principle or a need for self-actualization. The human is but a shabby animal with higher cerebral processing mechanisms than other animals. It behaves in habitual patterns and treatment consists chiefly of changing the patterns. The assertion seems simple, change behavior and you change the person. This assertion has some very pragmatic applications and we’ll use it as we progress with the material at hand. However, just so there is no ambiguity, the underlying hypothesis which asserts no higher principle is as false a notion as any one will ever encounter! In fact, it is my opinion that only one with true cognitive dissonance and/or absolute ignorance of the world around us would hold such a view.

Altered States Of Consciousness

For some, an altered state of consciousness is a taboo. It portends to “mess” with the mind. The mind is not to be messed with. I have always found this assertion naive for the reason that every human being experiences various states of altered consciousness daily. When the typical person turns on the television, an altered state generally ensues. Indeed, children become conditioned to enter an altered state within minutes after beginning to view TV. Studies have demonstrated that even when children are hooked up to brain wave monitoring devices such as electro encephalographic feedback and given substantial reward motivation to remain in fully alert states of consciousness, that in under five minutes they will fail to maintain ordinary wakeful consciousness. The child will slip into what is commonly termed alpha consciousness (more on this in a moment). When a person day dreams, falls into a light sleep or state of reverie, slowly wakes from a deep sleep, or fixates on almost anything, they are almost always in an altered state of consciousness. So what is an altered state of consciousness?

Typically, consciousness is divided into four categories. Normal consciousness is called “beta,” lightly modified consciousness “alpha,” deep sleep “theta,” and comatose states “delta.” States of consciousness are thought of in terms of brain wave rates (cycles per second). Beta consciousness is normally 15 to 30 cycles per second, alpha is 8 to 14 cycles per second, theta is 4 to 8 cycles per second and delta is less than 4. Now let’s translate this schema into something meaningful outside the realm of definition.

Beta

In normal ordinary wakeful states of consciousness, the mind operates from its most critical platform. It constantly judges input from self (inner talk) and others. It evaluates and reacts. Indeed, it chiefly reacts. For even when one believes they are evaluating, more often than not, the evaluation is settled before it begins. The belief system of the unconscious not only places a lens through which all matters will be disputed, but it also hides behind a protective veil the information that may give rise to mistaken decisions. That is, the unconscious mind during normal wakeful states is operating as a software program feeding the flow of everyday life through a mosaic of interpretations that are written chiefly upon avoidance and attraction principles (experienced and imagined). Therefore, when the conscious mind says something like, “I can do this. I’m good enough to excel and succeed,” the unconscious (subconscious if you prefer) sends some inner talk message like, “Really, good enough for what? How about‹? Do you remember?” etc.

Now, maybe the reason the unconscious sends the negative message is due to some fear from the past, or some fear projected through imagination. Perhaps the negative feedback is due to negative input from peers, parents, and so forth. It is also possible that the negative is due to some deep sense of unworthiness that is the result of a need to punish oneself. It could also be the result of some deep belief that conflicts with our desire, such as the desire to become successful and an inner belief that sorts along a line of logic that goes something like this, “If I want to be saved in Heaven, I must sacrifice here and now. Further, money is the source of all evil.” There could also be a myriad of other reasons and a virtual labrynth of entanglement between them all. The fact is, in ordinary beta consciousness very little new information can really get in. Now, “very little” in this reference is by comparison to alpha consciousness. In fact, just as an aside before going further, the methods of Superlearning and Suggestopedia (Ostrander) clearly demonstrate the advantage of learning school room information such as language, math, science, and so forth, in alpha consciousness states.

Alpha

Alpha consciousness is the state most refer to as the primary state experienced in hypnosis. Hypnosis has been viewed from many perspectives and historically has held more than one definition. However, the agreed upon definition today is a heightened state of suggestibility. This heightened state of suggestibility is just what the title implies. In alpha consciousness one is particularly prone to the acceptance of skillful suggestion. The nature of suggestion depends on who is suggesting. A hypnotherapist will make healthy and positive suggestions while a sales person trained in the art of hypnotic selling may give personally self-serving suggestions (Moine, Lloyd). The power of suggestion and the psychology of compliance, mentioned in further detail in the next chapter, are used every day in mass marketing strategies to sell everything from illness to religion (Taylor).

When one is in an alpha state, whether naturally or artificially induced, their inner talk tends to slow down and become image oriented and/or guided as opposed to constantly self-initiated, albeit often unconsciously. Since we live in a modern society we are exposed to a variety of stimuli that our forefathers never knew. Let me provide a couple of examples.

Much of the television, radio and print media programming of today dwells on violence, sex and so-called taboo issues. The word is sensationalism. The more sensational, the better the reviews, the more money, the larger the audience and so on. Rather systematically over the past twenty to thirty years, the threshold of arousal has increased in the population, forcing an ever increasing thrust into areas of an explicit nature in order to maintain the sensational. Consequently, our inner talk, our fantasies, our very ideation has been influenced. This new tolerance for vengeance, anger, fear, violence, sexuality and so forth has tilted our society. Values have diminished to the point that we have younger generations without the proverbial “clue” as to what life is about. The world is for living and taking and minimizing pain while maximizing pleasure. Twelve-year-old children walk into school and gun down their teachers and school mates. Drugs, child prostitution, gang violence, drive-by shootings, and so forth are the chief worries of parents today. How did our society degenerate to this point?

Many psychologists and psychiatrists, sociologists and anthropologists, and for that matter, political scientists, have made vociferous outcries asserting the neurotic nature of our times and are lining up in an attempt to end the media management of arousal thresholds and value orientation. Television has probably the single largest impact on people today. It guides our purchases, the information most have about their world or any single issue/event, merchandises everything from wearing apparel, hair style, fashion in general to wholesaling the common cold. “It’s the flu season and it’s coming to your town! Everyone will get it! You can relax and baby yourself, pamper your whims and take some needed time off, maybe even cement your relationships, if you have XYZ on hand.” How much sickness do you think is vended in the same way attitudes and beliefs are sold through our media?

Some of you may want to say, “Taylor, you’re nuts. Television doesn’t make anyone sick. You don’t get the flu from a TV!” Fair enough. Let’s look a little deeper. When a person is in a state of alpha, such as hypnosis, the science and literature show us clearly, without doubt, that the body can be suggested to health or illness. A hypnotist can suggest a burn, place an ice cube on the arm, and a blister will almost immediately appear. As a practicing hypnotherapist, I personally witnessed phenomena that illustrates the mind’s control over the body to the degree that suggesting a simple runny nose is, as Sherlock would say, “Elementary!” But in order to tie this suggestibility of alpha states in to the problems posed by television viewing, we should also take a look at another area of scientific enquiry that may surprise you.

Studies have shown that the average individual will enter alpha brain wave states within four minutes of being engaged by television (Taylor). If you think about it, this should not come as any surprise. How many times have each of us seen someone, or been that someone, who appeared so engrossed in television that it required yelling at the person to get their attention?

Okay, alpha consciousness and “cold season”‹I ask you again, how much illness do you think is sold in order to create the market that sells the cure?

It should be obvious that the state of alpha consciousness is not only natural but can be a beneficial time to put positive information into our bio computing brain/mind. The essential use of alpha can also either be a matter of choice or a matter of habituation. Recently I saw a sign in the supermarket selling the publication: TV Guide. The sign underneath the current issue said, “Check Out.” A picture of a television with the initials TV within it was all that accompanied the sign. How many times have you heard or used the phrase, “I’ll watch television and check out”? Check out, vacuum the mind, and so on; these are the terms we all naturally think of when we think of TV. Turn our minds over, let go of our concerns, oh‹and let someone else program them. Why “check out”? In alpha states of consciousness endorphin levels increase. Endorphin is the body’s natural opiate system. It feels good. Sometimes, perhaps too good.

Before we continue with our discussion of brain states, let me provide a visual analogy that may be helpful. If you think of brain wave activity as the number of lines on an inch of graph paper, then you have a visual image of mental activity at least as we measure it with electro-encephalographic instrumentation. Instead of thinking of the lines on paper, think in terms of the size of fencing. The closer the lines are to each other, the smaller the fencing material. The smaller the fencing, the more restrictive it is to both incoming and outgoing “stuff;” in our analogy, let’s say birds. The mind is very much like this. The tighter the wire enclosure, the less information (stimulus) we can process and remember. This is why superlearning states use alpha consciousness. As the brain wave activity slows down, the holes in our fencing material become large and more information can get it. (See the illustration below).

In future chapters we’ll examine in more detail some of the powers and practical applications of altered states of consciousness. For the purposes of this chapter, our introduction is only intended to serve as groundwork.

Theta

Theta consciousness is often associated with deep sleep and very deep levels of hypnosis or meditation. It is generally believed that the so-called super human feats of the many spiritual masters, such as those reported eating hot coals, controlling body functions, and so forth, are achieved while in theta consciousness. Indeed, mystics tend to teach that as the brain wave patterns slow, the vibration of the body alters. By allegedly changing the vibration of the body, many things thought to be impossible become possible. The rate of vibration is seen analogically as light vibrating at a rate much faster than

glass, therefore it passes through the glass. A stone, however, vibrates much slower than glass, consequently preventing it from passing through without breaking the glass. Thus, there is an arguable inverse proportion to brain wave activity and body vibration. As the brain wave activity slows, the body vibration rate is said to increase.

Delta

Delta consciousness is ordinarily thought of as comatose. For years this state of consciousness was believed to be so turned in on itself that outside stimuli went totally unnoticed, perhaps even unrecognized at any level of registration. However, the work of Oliver Sacks showed the world that even in this state of consciousness, there is awareness. In his work with patients (see his book Awakenings), he used massive doses of dopamine, and literally awakened (at least for a short time) most of the patients. Stranger than fiction, these patients reported their various records and sensitivities to the history of their treatment, the hospital protocol, their environment and so forth.

This has just been a short introduction to hypnosis. The bottom line is one that you may want to check out for yourself. My suggestion, try it. If you still want to know more first, then you will want to read the story in the July 2001 issue of Scientific America. The article shatters many common myths including those that attempt to debunk hypnosis as either fakery, pleasing the hypnotist or imagination. The hypnotic subject experiences a state of consciousness that is independent from so-called ordinary consciousness. It is not about compliance or imagination, nor is it about placebo responsiveness, low intelligence or the weak minded. Hypnosis is a safe state where many wonderful insights and healings can and do take place.

By: Eldon Taylor

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