After Gary Manouelian was laid off last year as a customer-service representative, he was anxious about his ability to pay off his mortgage and credit-card debt. So he sought help through hypnosis.

Thirty sessions and $1,500 later, Mr. Manouelian says he has since landed a government job and is working to pay off his debts. For this he thanks his hypnotist, Laura Ryan-Day in Austin, Texas.

"It's definitely made me change my thinking," says Mr. Manouelian says, of Pflugerville, Texas. "I'm much more confident and less stressed."

Hypnosis has been used for years to help clients quit smoking, lose weight or sleep better. But recently there has been a surge of business from people who want help dealing with the stress of market turmoil, according to Dwight Damon, president of the National Guild of Hypnotists. The guild has more than 12,000 members.

With hypnosis, the therapist uses calming tones and sometimes music to put clients in a deeply relaxed state. Clients are then given suggestions and recommendations on how to change their behavior, adjust their thinking and reach their goals. No credentials are required to practice hypnotherapy. That has created tension between hypnotherapists who attended traditional psychology programs at major universities and those who got their degrees at online universities or have no formal training at all.

Scientific research on hypnosis isn't as robust as in other fields of psychology, but most patients and practitioners say that the shift toward a positive attitude is helpful for many. A lot of the techniques utilized in hypnosis parallel those in more-conventional forms of psychology.

The American Psychological Association points to the success of hypnosis as documented in scientific journals. But the organization's Web site notes that not everyone responds to treatment, and that hypnosis should be done by a trained health-care worker.

'Money Is Energy'

Ms. Ryan-Day, who has been doing hypnosis for eight years and is working on her master's degree in counseling, asks her clients to wear dark goggles to help them relax and focus on the hypnosis. Clients sit in a comfortable chair in her office and put on headphones to block out unwanted sounds. Ms. Ryan-Day speaks to them through a microphone: "Money is energy that comes and goes," she says soothingly. She records the session and encourages clients to listen to it three times a day, but "not while driving."

The effectiveness of hypnosis aimed at treating financial anxiety is difficult to track -- unlike smoking-cessation or weight-loss hypnosis. The outcomes are measurable in pounds or months cigarette free, whereas with finances, countless variables are involved. But that doesn't stop stressed-out Wall Street types from seeking treatment.

Jacob Bimblich, a New York City hypnotist, knew that when the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted this fall, his business would go up. He first noticed the increase in financially fretful clients after a couple of laid-off workers from Bear, Stearns & Co., which collapsed in March and was acquired by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., saw him this spring. Soon came a stream of clients from Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., Washington Mutual Inc. and other Wall Street firms caught up in the credit crunch.

Mr. Bimblich never went to school for hypnosis, and says he learned his craft through working with other hypnotists and reading up on the subject. He sees around 30 clients a week, and charges $60 for a basic half-hour session.

"I have no control over the financial markets," Mr. Bimblich tells clients. "But I can help with how you look at them." The number of clients coming in for financial problems has "increased tenfold" he says.

One person he's treated was overeating because of financial anxiety.

"I watch the market news and I want a doughnut," complains Jack, a dance-studio owner who doesn't want his last name used, as he sits in Mr. Bimblich's Brooklyn office. Jack says he's gained 47 pounds over the past couple of years because of anxiety about the economy. Since he started getting hypnosis a month ago, he says he's shed 15 of those pounds.

Uptick in Clients

Neil Fiore, a psychologist in California who uses hypnotism in his Bay Area practice, has seen the number of clients coming in with financial problems double in the past year. "I haven't seen difficulties like these since the dot-com boom" went bust, he says.

Calming Messages

Dr. Fiore, who has been hypnotizing for more than 30 years, charges $150 for a 25-minute session. He also encourages his clients -- many of whom are wealthy tech entrepreneurs -- to send him their worries via email and BlackBerry throughout the week. He responds with calming messages that typically echo the mantras he speaks while the client is being hypnotized. He's even done sessions over the phone to clients who never had to leave their cubicles.

He's constantly telling clients, "You net worth doesn't equal your personal worth."

Diana Ayala estimates that she spent $700 for hypnosis sessions with Ms. Ryan-Day over the summer. She was financially frustrated after not earning a raise after three years doing business development at her job in Dallas. She also lost $1,700 in a marketing scam.

"I would have loved to have gone to Italy, but at the time, I had to focus on myself," she says of her hypnosis sessions, which she found effective.

It can be big business. Matthew B. James, a Hawaii-based hypnotist, says he earns $3 million a year through his group-hypnosis sessions, hypnosis-related books and CDs and teaching other hypnotists through his unaccredited American Pacific University. The cost of his treatment sessions range from $95 for a two-day seminar to $2,000 for an intensive weekend-long program.

He counsels...

[More]

Tags: financial worries, health, hypnosis, santa cruz, stress

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V: The Palinophant

Lynn Araujo from Us Games Systems, Inc recently contacted me to point out that someone has noticed an uncanny resemblance between Sarah Palin and a card from their Vanessa Tarot deck. She writes,

The coincidences are overwhelming- the hair, the glasses, the red suit, the religious fashion accessories all mirror Sarah's look. And of course the religious connotations of the Hierophant card itself are rather fitting too. This deck was published over 2 years ago and was created by a Filipino artist so it was certainly not intentional. We're really struck by how prophetic this all seems. We'll have to wait and see what's really 'in the cards'.

I still believe in free will & free choice, and that the cards are reflective more than prophetic. If seeing Sarah reflected as the Palinophant helps some folks to wake up & vote for change, then I say blessed, blessed be.

Tags: hierophant, inc, sara palin, tarot, us games systems

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- Induce trance (countdown, body tour) to safe space. Go to sacred space.

• - Imagine you are setting out for a quest. You are setting out on a path or road. The sun is overhead and you are on your way. Be aware of what the path is like, your surroundings, your pace...
• - You see a mountain and walk toward it. You are going to climb it. You are aware of how high it is, how easy or difficult. Feel your feet... experience your ascent, stage by stage...
• - In a moment you will reach the top of the mountain. You are standing at the top. Above you is only light and sun.
• - Imagine leaving your physical body behind and traveling upwards into the air. Maybe a cloud, or a ray of light, or pure energy. You merge and blend with the light in the sky. Be aware of the quality of your light, your energy, of how it feels to be one with the light of the sky...
• - Experience the quality of your own pure energy, the quality of your essence
• - Ask yourself now, what is the aim or purpose of this essence in your life? How can it best express itself? What does it have to give?
• - Now look down on your life and imagine how it would be if you fully expressed or realized this energy of yours, your essence, in your daily life. Picture how your life would be if the quality of your energy was in everything you did. You may need to imagine changes in your lifestyle, your work, your relationships...
• - You are still merged with the light, but gradually you start to come back to the top of the mountain. there you find your physical body again. When you feel ready, enter it—go back into your body.
• - You start walk back down the mountain. Be aware of being back in your body. Be aware of your surroundings. Beware of what the light is like...
• - On your way down, you find a stone that is special to you. You pick it up to keep as a reminder of what you have learned of your essence...
• - As you proceed, be aware of any changes you want to make when you return, ways that you can change your life so that the essence you contacted can shine through...
• - You get back to the foot of the mountain and walk back along the path or road to the place where you began your journey...
• - Go to sacred space, safe space, count up...
• - When you are ready, open your eyes and come back to this room.
• - Spend a few minutes writing down journey

(Copyright kgr 2005)
 

Tags: astrology, healing, heros journey, hypnosis

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My notes from watching The Secret, 2006

Tags: abundance, affirmations, meditations, prosperity, the secret

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Money Tree Meditation
• Draw a tree (or copy one of these) with branches reaching into the sky, and roots going into the earth. What kind of tree comes to mind? Oak, bamboo, willow, fir, pine... notice which feels right to you. Make it simple, add a little grass or a backdrop with mountains, whatever you like.

• In the trunk of the tree, put in your face or whole being, a favorite quote or affirmation, the meditation below or even just the words, “I am the Source”.

• In the branches, write in all your sources of abundance, including income, trades, dividends, inheritances, gifts, alimony, all other sources of financial support, etc.

• In the roots, write in all your resources, including education, past jobs, family, property, investments, fields of expertise, experience, etc.

• For the leaves, go around each branch with a green pen and make dollar signs. Cover it!

• In the mountains, write in your financial goals and dreams.

• In the grass, write in what you are providing to the universe, for example:
• I provide food, clothing & shelter for myself & my family
• I provide space and energy for my clients
• I provide jobs in my community, from restaurants to utility services
• My taxes provide for community services including schools, parks, roads,& health care
• I provide stability for myself, knowing the seasons turnings.

In return I give my gifts generously,
knowing my thoughts & ideas
are like the leaves on the tree -
I let go and give the gift of usable energy.
I am provide shade and beauty,
a place to nest, and
a way to recycle, renew & revive.
Blessed Be.

 

 

Tags: meditations

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“The most important promises are the ones I make to myself.”

- Maryanne Radmacher

 

 

• I use tarot & astrology as a daily meditation tool, to focus on my career, my relationships, and my creativity. They serve as moment in my journey where I look at the map of my life and decide which direction to take. But I don’t just stay stuck looking at the map - journaling is one of the steps I take to put into action what I have been contemplating.

 

• You can have many different kinds of journals, that you write in at different times of your life. Just as your checkbook is a record of your spending habits, journals can reflect your patterns and serve as a reminder of the positive “emotional deposits” Elisa talked about in her presentation.

 

• Kinds of journals: Business notes, daily affirmations, dreams (night and day), poetry, sketches, coloring books, blank books or notebook paper put into a binder, a photo album or scrap books, engagement calenders.

 

• Who is your audience? Well, you, of course, but it also could be your children, your spouse or lover, your business colleagues, your therapist, your best friend.

 

• Privacy: there is so much temptation to read someone else’s journal. When my lover read mine, I stopped writing for 5 or 6 years. When getting divorced, I read my spouses' journal and found out things I really didn’t want to know. Talk about Pandora’s box.

 

• There is a lot of power in writing in your journal (or on loose leaf paper) all your thoughts and feelings, and then burning or otherwise destroying them. Recently I drew a horrible picture of myself being controlled by my last lover - it was quite a relief to destroy it.

 

• Time: even just five minutes a day can grow into a disciplined practice (like flossing your teeth or exercise). This is time for YOU, time to focus on achieving something you desire. keeping a little notebook in your bag is helpful for those odd moments of standing in the bank line. Putting the TV on mute and jotting down thoughts during commercials can reactivate your brain waves.

 

• Your other favorite tool is your PEN: do you like blue or black ink? Pencil? Colored pencils? Markers? Paints? I highly recommend crayons...

• To quote from the 5 of Wands card - Keep your expression flowing. Stop editing yourself and let go of concern about what comes out. Be playful. The openness of play allows for inventiveness and newness in a way that high expectations do not. (from The Tarot of Transformation by Willow Arlenea & Jasmin Lee Cori)

 

• You are writing your story and you can change your story - one exercise I did was to divide the page into columns and in the first write a sentence that begins “I wish...” the second column is the same sentence that starts with “I will”. This takes you out of wishful thinking into your will power, because it pushes you to the next step of figuring out HOW to achieve your goal. Examples:

 

I wish I had more money to I WILL have more money

I wish I was friends with my ex to I WILL be friends with my ex

I wish I had more tome to write in my journal to I WILL have more time to write in my journal

 

• Other exercises:

- Goals in the next month, year, five years

- List what you are afraid of. Burn it.

- List what makes you happy. Keep it.

- Pull a tarot card, medicine (animal) card, or angel card. Sketch it.

- Cartoons of you

- Songs, poems, quotes by others that inspire you

- Same as above, go from “I fear...” to “I wonder...”

- Pure color (finger painting)

- Create a couples journal, or a friendship journal

- That letter you would never send

- Who am I?

- Love letters to yourself

 

• Some book recommendations:

Earth Art Critters coloring books by Sue Coccia

The Coloring Book for Big Girls by Sudie Rukusin

When Your Heart Speaks, Take Good Notes: The Healing Power of Writing by Susan Borkin

The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity -- by Julia Cameron

The Creative Journal by Lucia Capacchione

 

“Turn your wish bone, daughter, into a back bone”

- author unknown

 

copyright kgr 2008

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Sexual, Creative & Divine

Tags: prayers

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What is your current motivation?
Are you looking for more clients or do you want more Income? Although they are related, there is a distinction. Once could have large numbers of clients, but still have a financial lack. Then again, once could have relatively few clients and be financially comfortable.

What is your real need?
Is it more money you need? Could you live within your current income by changing your lifestyle? the answers to these questions could serve as the impetus for you to develop long-range goals that may prove to be successful financially.

Are you looking for more income?
Begin by searching the many avenues open to you. Be creative. You could offer to facilitate seminars (e.g. stress management) for businesses. Such presentations would benefit both management and you, and could lead you to further options.

Are you seeking to attract more clients?
Word-of-mouth and advertising are the most popular avenues to pursue. Of the two, word-of-mouth is the more effective, and it's FREE!

Look for clients through referrals
Some referrals come from doctors, schools, and various organizations. Offer to talk at civic and educational events. People hearing your presentation will become interested in making an appointment with you because they feel a connection.

Seek professional advice
Consult a financial advisor or someone who actively works with small businesses. A trained specialist can detect areas where you can lower expenses and make significant improvements in your work. Best of all, and outsider can identify your strengths and income potential. Sometimes you can receive such services free or at a lower cost through national organizations.

Use self-hypnosis
Consider using the same tools that you use in your profession to help others. Use self-hypnosis for your own financial betterment. Make positive programming tapes and use creative visualization exercises. Instill business success into your subconscious mind. Make it a reality!

Update your skills
Have you kept pace with research in your field? Do you know about the various successful techniques employed by your colleagues in other cities and in other countries? The need to update one's professional and business skills is subtle and profound.
Think about the methods you are using now. Are they outdated? Do you really believe that YOU are the main force in your sessions? are you ego-driven rather than service-oriented?

Such real questions require honest answers. Our field is changing dramatically. What worked twenty years ago, even ten years ago, has run it's course. Update your thinking and update your skills.

Be holistic
Let people know that you are in the business to serve them. Hypnosis is a profession that can help people improve every area of their lives. It is termed holistic, meaning physical health, mental well-being, emotional fulfillment, financial balance, and spiritual harmony.

Diversity
If your practice is limited to consultation with clients, consider teaching hypnosis classes. If you only teach classes, consider scheduling clients.

Pray
There is something profound that you can do to help both yourself and your clients. You can PRAY. Prayer is important for everyone. If you sincerely pray for guidance and wisdom, you will find your sessions more productive.

Act
Directly related to prayer is acting on the guidance you receive. self-motivation and self-initiative are needed. If you avoid acting because you are afraid of making a mistake, then in your fear you will fail to do anything. try new approaches, stretch a little, be willing to experiment. "It is the TRY that is more often counted as righteousness and not the success or failure." Edgar Cayce

Be thankful
What does thankfulness have to do with business success? Everything! the concept of thankfulness can be exceedingly beneficial to your client base and to your income. Being successful in our profession requires professionalism, sincerity, appreciation, and thankfulness to those whom we serve. An attitude of gratitude benefits everyone. the people who find real pleasure and fulfillment are those with a spiritual vision and purpose rooted in service.

Mr. Bolduc is Director of Bolduc Intensive Training Center in Independence, VA. and a valued supporter and contributor to Hypnotherapy Today. For further information on the Bolduc Training, please contact Mr. Bolduc at 540.655.4523 or write him at P.O. Box 88, Independence, VA. 24348

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First contact DMA by sending a postcard requesting that they stop sending junk mail from companies you have never ordered anything from. include your name, address and request to "activate the preference service". This will stop junk mail from those companies which you have never contacted. This will stop junk mail from these companies for up to five years.
Your name will be put on a "delete" file that is updated four times a year-in January, April, July and October-and made available to direct-mail and telephone marketers. Two to three months after your name is entered into file, solicitations you receive should decrease. However, your registration will not stop mailings or calls from organizations not registered with the DMA's Mail and Telephone Preference Services. (Continue below to find out how to get in touch with some of those Companies and stop junk mail from them also!)

DMA Mail Preference Service
PO Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

They also have the same service for telemarketers. Write them at this address:

Telephone Preference Service
PO Box 1559
Carmel, NY 10512

America on-line- what a total waste. This is the biggest junk mail offender in my opinin. call 1-800-827-6364 (6am-2am EST) and demand to be taken off of the list.

Magazines - look up the 800 number and ask them to take you off of their list.

Credit card offers- you can call all of these companies directly or call an opt-out number that generally takes care of most of them- but at any rate- stop the junk mail you receive from them by calling these numbers:

*1-888-567-8688 or 1-888-5OPTOUT. This will remove you from junk mail sent by Trans Union, Equifax, innovis, Experian and. The individual contact information is:
TRANS UNION
Attn: Name Removal
PO Box 97328
Jackson, MS 39288-7328

EQUIFAX
Attn: Opt Out
PO Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348

INNOVIS
Attn: Consumer Assistance
P.O. Box 1358
Columbus, OH 43216-1358

EXPERIAN
Attn: Opt Out
701 Experian Parkway
Allen, TX 75013
888-633-4402

Other companies that are members of trade associations that send junk mail, and qualify as direct marketing companies are:

Acxiom CORP.
Attn: Opt Out
PO Box 2000
Conway, AR 72033-2000
1-800-922-9466

American Business information inc.
Attn: Product Quality
PO Box 27347
Omaha, NE 68127

Publishing Clearinghouse Sweepstakes
101 Channel Dr
Port Washington, NY 11050
1-800-645-9242
1-800-453-0272 (fax)

Donnelly Marketing, inc
Attn: Data Base Operations
PO Box 3502
Ames, iA 50010-3502
888-633-4402

American Family Sweetpstakes
1-800-237-2400

American Family Publishers
PO Box 62000
Tampa, FL 33662

Readers Digest Sweepstakes
Readers Digest Rd.
Pleasantville NY 10570
800-678-2743

The Polk Company
Attn: Opt Out
26955 Northwestern Hwy
Southfield, MI 48034-8455
800-873-7655

ABACUS
PO Box 1478
Broomfield, CO 80038
800-518-4453

Haines and Company, inc.
Criss-Cross Directory
Attn: Director of Data Processing
8050 Freedom Ave
NW Canton, OH 44720
Dataquick
877-970-9171

ADVO INC.
Attn: Consumer Assistance
PO Box 249
Windsor, CT 06095
860-520-3361

VAL-PAK Coupons-
1661 Worchester Rd
Framingham, MA 01701
800-676-6878

Some general JUNK MAiL FREE TIPS:

Always when giving your information request these companies do not give away or "rent" your name to other companies. Almost always, companies will give your information to other companies of the same interest for a small fee. Phone books are a sure way for people to find you. If you are not interested in having an unlisted number ask that your address not be published. this should take care of some of the junk mail. Remember that any time you give out your name, for charity or warranty cards or whatever- you are almost always putting yourself on some list that will get sold over and over to companies that send junk mail. Always politely ask that your information stay private and not sold to junk mail lists.

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• In the ancient art of Feng Shui, spaces (home, office, room, property) are divided up into nine sections, each with a specific “life value” or focus. For todays talk, I am focused on two: Wealth & Abundance (always the furthest corner in the room from the door) and Helpful Beings, (found in the first right hand corner in relation to the door).

• As opposites attract, and balance is often key to resolving any blocks in energy flow, we as business women are often aware of how being in service has a correlation with our income and cash flow. One way to increase our positive cash flow energy is to focus on helpful beings, ie helpful people, friends, family, colleagues, team members, networks and community as well as spirit guides, angels, ancestors - “all visible and invisible beings”.

• Cigar boxes, pencil boxes, hat boxes, a large bowl, a mason jar - anything can serve as your helpful people box. Nothing too big - you don’t want to psychically burden yourself! Personalize by decorating with pictures of friends, family, spirit guides, goddesses, angels, pets, animal guides, etc. Images of multiples eg a ring of fairies has a different feel than a single fairy.

• Helpful people boxes bring chi, positive energy to this life station, whether or not you reinforce it by also placing the helpful people box in the helpful people corner. Bring intention to another life value if placing it in another area eg “I now invite helpful people into my career and on my life path.”

• What do I put in it? Business cards, Leads slips, post it notes, index cards, magic money (if making a check out to yourself, mark it VOID), prayers, quotes, fortune cookie messages, written intentions (80% of what we write down comes true in a year - Well Adjusted story), something to represent YOU, your business (gift certs, flyers). I keep a small notepad in my morning meditation space & start each day by putting in my clients.
• These are emotional deposits- prayers for people who have been helpful to you, eg “ Joanne Gramo has always been a helpful person to me. Let her now receive all the help she needs from all the visible and invisible helpful beings, this or something better now occurs for the greatest good.”

• “Unhelpful People” - people who are a pain in your life, soon either become helpful or become resolved. Praying for your enemies builds compassion as well as frees you emotionally - you know you’ve done your best, by turning it over to a higher power(s). Eg. “May my annoying neighbor now receive all the help he needs to find a different home & move out, or become a helpful person to me by shutting the f* up, this or something better now occurs for the greatest good.”

• It is a symbolic act, and each time you see or use your box, you will be affirming the messages inside. It acts as a psychic “back burner”.

• Clean it out! Don’t let it get cluttered - I clean mine out with each change of season, and any other time I feel my “Power & Money” feels stuck - back to opposites attract, remember? Acts as a psychic “tickler” file for those spells in progress. It’s okay to have more than one - helpful people & spells in progress, home & office, individual & shared, etc.

• Feel the power of focusing your intentions, and visually see your emotional deposits grow. Feel gratitude for your connections and feel your true success.

• For more information, contact your local Feng Shui Consultant.

• Want to learn more? Come to a fun & infomative evening and make a helpful people box. Kayla will provide boxes, collage materials, glue, etc. Bring scissors & pictures you want to be a part of your box. Learn prayers, meditations, and more ways how to invite prosperity and abundance into your life.

copyright kgr 2008

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Chant for Self Esteem

-Luisah Teisch

Earth, Water,

Fire and Air
Within me,

all things are there

The flesh on my bones

is like the earth

It’s soft yet strong

and full of worth

The blood that flows

within my veins
Is like the ocean,

river & rains

My spirit soars,

and takes me higher
Here is where

I keep my fire

My breath and thoughts

are like the air
I can do anything,

I can go anywhere