Power Animals--Guiding Animal Spirits

I recently saw the movie, The Golden Compass, and was touched by some concepts that set the tone of the movie. It is family friendly movie where children are the main characters and one in particular tries to save their world (and possibly another). What

interested me was that in this world, each person had a daemon, an animal spirit guide, that protects them.

What charmed me was the fact that The Golden Compass is yet another in a series of movies that introduces audiences to the spirit world, the underworld, fairies, nature spirits and animal guides. Even if the information is not accurate and overly dramatic, a la Hollywood, it still reaches a vast audience,

in various parts of the world, and contributes to a shift in consciousness.

Animal spirit guides make part of the spiritual collective of helpers to assist and protect us

during our physical experience on earth. A person may have multiple animal spirit guides to

assist them through different moments in their life. One of the leading sources on animal guide symbolism and explanation is Steven Farmer. His book, Animal Spirit Guides, contains well over a hundred animal guides and their meanings, and serves as a useful guide.

To get to know your animal spirit guide you could perform a shamanic journey to meet your power animal. Also notice what animals keep reappearing to you. Usually if an animal shows up 3 or more times it offers a message that is meant for you.

To learn more about shamanic journeys, the spirit world and power animals, visit www.spiritbeyond.com. Adriana Kugman, MS, CCHt, Reiki Master can help you discover your power animal.

Vibrational Manifestation--Like Attracts Like

I want to share with you exerps of a wonderful book which I have been reading, Ask And It Is Given, by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Esther and Jerry Hicks, along with Jane Roberts, are the forerunners in channeling and communicating with spirit. The material they offer is considered "textbook" and a standard when learning about spirituality and metaphysics. It serves as a joyful guideline on how to live your life...joyfully. As found on page 15 (chapter 4), the channeled spirits offer this message to you and me:

"Perhaps the question we hear most often from our physical friends is: Why is it taking me so long to get what I want?

It is not because you do not want it enough.

It is not because you are not intelligent enough.

It is not because you are not worthy enough.

It is not because fate is against you.

It is not because someone else has already won your prize.

The reason you have not already gotten what you desire is because you are holding yourself in a vibrational holding pattern that does not match the vibration of your desire."

These are very valuable words, and at least for me, they lit a light bulb. If I want a Masseratti, yet I think like a Chevy, I will never get what I want. All thoughts and feelings of self deprication, lack of self worth, drama and fatalism will only attract the like. We are all electromagnetic, living organisms. We each have our own resonance and vibration and similar vibrations compliment one another and fit each other. These similar vibrations are harmonious, thus people that we like and feel good with are vibrationally harmonious with us.

With this powerful information you can begin to make the changes necessary in your life to start attracting what you desire. These changes may take time to fully achieve because you are smart and no one, including yourself, could fool you. So, if you want to earn $1 million yet you don't believe that you deserve it, then no matter how many times you ask for the money, you will not get. You must reset yourself to allow for limitless joy, opportunity and creativity. You are worth it!

To change negative or self-limiting patterns, thoughts and/or beliefs visit http://www.spiritbeyond.com/ and schedule a session with Adriana Kugman, MS, CCHt, Reiki Master.

Is there really such a thing as Blind Faith?

I suppose the real question is faith or blind faith? Faith is a belief. It is a conviction that is so strong that, at times, it may go against logical reason and transcend through various aspects of life.

These convictions serve a need in humanity. Religious and spiritual convictions provide comfort and healing for the spirit when it faces difficult circumstances. People develop specific beliefs, such as a higher power, life after life, endless love and so many more, and though the nuances differ for each individual, the belief itself is very clear.

So I question if faith could ever be blind. The beginning, the need for the belief is clear. The outcome of the belief is that it served as a support system, encouragement and hope through a passage in one's life.

I encourage you to reflect on what faiths/beliefs you have and brush them up. Give them a makeover so that they truly represent the person you are now. By doing so you get to know yourself better and you give yourself a spiritual boost.

Being present or being Grounded, wait, which...?

The catch 22 phrase of psychotherapy, alternative therapy, spiritual therapy and all other therapies and philosophies, far and many in between, is to "be present". By being present you increase your (self) awareness, thus are more grounded. Huh?

It's suffice to say that I am not an expect on being present or on grounding, but I do have real, life experience in facilitating this curiosity. Are being present and grounding the same thing? No.

Being present has very much to do with self-awareness and living in the moment. An example of a person being present is when they wake up every day and do what ever they can to feel joyful, engaged and satisfied with that day. So, beginning with a wonderful, fulfilling breakfast of oatmeal (with nuts, dried fruits and honey), to the fantastic opportunity to listen to great music on the (long) drive to work, to being more responsible at the work place, each activity experienced throughout the day is given respect and seen in the best possible light. Even realizing that your job is just not a good fit for you and accepting that, along with a quick look on Craigslist for potential new employers, embodies the spirit of being present. It calls for self-realization, doing what you can at the moment and having as much fun as possible. Now, it is not mandatory to have fun while being present--and I will get philosophical here--but then you would be denying the magnitude of your existence. Please skip to the next paragraph if you don't want the mini philosophy lesson. The logical conclusion of life is to live to your fullest, thus receiving joy from every breath. Even though there is a natural balance to life (good, evil, yin, yang), the "good" sentiments, emotions, actions, will always lead to satisfaction and authenticity. Being "bad" serves only as a comparison point of what not to do because then "I don't feel good about myself". It's a learning experience. However, fundamentally, if you live only in the "bad" you are denying your expansive existence and thus are not being present.

Being grounded refers to the capacity you have to understand life and it's experiences. Grounding is the process that allows you to integrate information in a manner that can help you grow. Say that you are not getting along with a co-worker. The grounding process would begin with an analysis of what gets you about the co-worker and why it gets you (seriously, popping gum is no biggie). This analysis only leads to a better understanding of your needs (and your actions-reactions). Then you can integrate this information into your life experiences. Next time your co-worker annoys you with that gum popping, you will immediately recognize that it reminds you of your brother when he was younger. Now that you are much older there is no need to perceive your co-worker as an annoying child but rather let bygones by bygones. Or, you may want to tell them that you can't get the image of your annoying brother out of your head and ask them to be more mindful of their popping (I'm just saying).

I hope that this short entry brings you one step closer to having a clearer and firmer grasp of being present and being grounded.

Adriana Kugman is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Energy Therapist that works in the East Bay, CA. To practice grounding or to learn how to be more present, visit http://www.spiritbeyond.com/.

Reiki--A tool for dealing with Stress

Reiki, an energy therapy, heals mind, body and spirit by using the "universal life force" found all around us. So what is this universal life force? It is what gives us life, what is found in nature and what maintains our planet Earth. It is energy. Sometimes we choose not to see it but it is always there (and scientifically proven).

Reiki is a Japanese form of alternative therapy that has a steady and increasing stream of followers in Western cultures. An attuned Reiki Master is energetically open, serving as a conduit for the universal energy to travel through to the receiver. The life force then follows the energetic pathways in the body (chakras and meridians), locating areas that need healing. Thus the various sensations of heat or cold, tingling, magnetism (a push or a tug) and general relaxation are all signs of the power of Reiki. All who experience Reiki feel more refreshed, relaxed and calm. Right brain oriented individuals can sense the subtleties of Reiki, such as flow or blockage of energy, sensations within the body, and colors or visions associated with the healing process. Due to the relaxing and calming results of Reiki, blood pressure and pulse both decrease, thus improving health.

Now for those of us who simply see the word stress and immediately feel STRESSED, I encourage you to try Reiki as a form of stress reduction and a therapy to enhance your health. Sometimes Reiki energy is described as a key because it opens energetic pathways and clears energetic blocks in the body. Why not let the key to stress relief be a Reiki key?

Adriana Kugman is a Reiki Master Teacher providing Reiki sessions and classes for Reiki I, II and Master.

Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis, Meditation? What is best for you?

Recently this question has been presenting itself repeatedly. Call it coincidence, the universe in harmony, the collective unconscious manifesting or just a common question, it clearly shows that people are interested in something and that something needs explaining.

Hypnosis is the process of entering a trance-like state. Hypnosis is what most stage performers do, such as quacking like a duck, envisioning all people in a room naked, and other nutty and funny things. Hypnosis gets you to a place where all other stimuli besides the hypnotist's voice and commands are blocked out. This is a passive experience.

Hypnotherapy, which is what I do, involves entering a trance-like state (hypnosis) and communicating the experience to me while I communicate my expertise back to you (therapy). The back and forth communication ensures that I can support you during your process. You would be doing this for emotional, physical or spiritual guidance and support. The advantage of hypnotherapy is that you are an active participant in the process, thus building self-confidence in the ability to heal yourself.

Meditation is the mother of hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Meditation is really a moment when you can allow your mind to either focus on something or focus on nothing. Either way, what occurs is a concentration that progressively relaxes that body. Through meditation you feel better and physically become healthier (meditation lowers blood pressure). A guided meditation, where you allow your thoughts to form from the ideas given by another, say a teacher, instructor or guru, induces a trance-like state, thus being the foundation for hypnotherapy.

To gently introduce yourself to these concepts, I recommend participating in a guided meditation group. A group setting has its advantages. First of all, it is more affordable and economical, as the price per person is lower. Second, you are with peers--people that have this same interest, so you fit right in. Third, you can make friends and network. The guided meditation can be on specific topics, health or career related, or more general, well-being, green peace. A group guided meditation session helps you practice your skills. As you gain confidence, you might want to tackle specific topics with hypnotherapy sessions.

For more information on guided meditation and hypnotherapy, or to form your own guided meditation group, contact Adriana Kugman at http://www.spiritbeyond.com/.

Can children benefit from Hypnotherapy? Yes they can!

Absolutely children can benefit from Hypnotherapy. I have heard both sides of the coin. One states that children can easily enter trance and are wonderful hypnotherapy subjects, as well as the opposite, that children don't have a basic understanding of what is required of them to adequately undergo a session. Also on the flip side I have heard that hypnotherapy can brainwash children. Here's my take.

It is very true that children can readily enter trance. They do it with such ease and grace that adults misinterpret it as imagination and fantasy play. While most of it is play time for children, there is true benefit. When a child plays, they develop an imaginary world and they act out all the characters involved. When they don't like something, they simply change it until they are satisfied. This is in reality a trance and children frequently perform self-hypnotic techniques of inner child, house as a metaphor and healing.

A hypnotherapist is needed for one of two reasons, when a child is having difficulty understanding and integrating an event or when the parent has a hard time understanding and integrating an event. Hypnotherapy for children is supervised and guided in a certain direction. The way a session is conducted differs from the way an adult session would unfold.

Using an example of a divorce, a child may easily blame themselves for the parents. A hypnotherapy session may involve an open-eye trance using colorful characters, such as their favorite TV show (Dora the Explorer), practicing EFT (which to children is a fun, hokey-pokey dance) and using the sandtray. The sandtray is again an open-eye trance using miniature toys. The child places and plays with the toys within a tray full of sand. The actual play that the child creates is what leads to healing, understanding and integration. The hypnotherapist guides the play to address areas where disharmony is found. Using again the divorce example, a child might place 3 teddy bears in different corners of the tray and place 2 bridges in the middle. The hypnotherapist addresses the placing of the bears, the meaning of the bears and the bridge and the reason for the 2 bridges. The child may eventually place one bear in the middle, surrounded by the 2 bridges, each leading to another bear. This would be a more harmonious tray and the child literally is recreating the family image and is gaining better understanding and integration of the situation. All this while having fun!

Fairly frequently children become clients because of their parents and the parents as well could benefit from family hypnotherapy and separate individual sessions. Children mimic parents and it is important for both mom and dad to have a protective and healthy attitude.

As with any hypnotherapy, the client sets the tone and the client determines how much work they are willing to do. Some work is slow and steady, getting a little accomplished in a longer period of time (getting the work done at a comfortable pace), and some is quick, undergoing a more dramatic process within a few sessions. It is very individual. The hypnotherapist serves as a witness and a guide. They hold a safe, protective role.

I hope this clarifies and simplifies the benefits that hypnotherapy can have for children and adults alike. For more information of hypnotherapy and sandplay, visit http://www.spiritbeyond.com/. The following are a couple of sample sandtrays.

Adriana Kugman is a CCHT and Energy Therapist practicing in the East Bay, CA.

Children of the Universe are always supported

I apologize for my tardiness creating a new post. These last few weeks have been dynamic and different and for myself, and for others I'm sure, it could take some time getting used to. With this said, have you noticed lately how perfect the universe is? I have.

While trying to understand, make do and create reasonable solutions for the changes in my life, I have been encountering people going through similar experiences. Every few days or so I have been introduced, on purpose or coincidentally, to people that were experiencing changes in their career, lifestyle or behavior. From each of these people I have learned something. From the smallest emotion of compassion to the greatest relief that we all are right, and right on our path, regardless of how much doubt we have in ourselves. It was amazing how when I needed the support, the universe handed it to me on a silver platter.

It is true that I would have preferred a manual giving me directions on how to run my life to the fullest potential. Instead, I got something better. From all the life experiences of the people I have recently met or heard about, I clearly understand that we are never alone on this earth. We really are just one, whether facets of a same snowflake, drops of the same water or bright cells of the same body, no one experience is so different that we cannot understand it and emotionally engage with it. There is always room for growth and enlightenment when we listen to and feel one another.

I actually was able to experience my situation from many perspectives, that of myself (ego), that of the other parties involved, that of the physical situation itself, and many more. Having all this understanding, all this perspective, allowed me to make choices based on how I feel or think, not on a sense of urgency or fear. So, I still don't have solutions for everything going on in my life, but I have gained trust and confidence in myself which allow me to make decisions at my own pace. This trust and confidence also gives room for error or more accurately put, areas of growth and learning.

So now it is your turn. Try to disengage from your own life circumstances and notice the people around you. More than likely they will be experiencing similar situations, some in the positive, some in the negative, but there is an enormous opportunity to learn and gain life experience through their circumstances. As children of this universe, we are constantly given support to guide us, protect us and push us to become stronger, better selves. We are never alone.

To learn more about how you are a child of the Universe and how we are all more alike than different, visit www.spiritbeyond.com. Adriana Kugman is a CCHt and Energy Therapist working in the San Francisco East Bay.

Why do angels have wings?

As contraversal as the topic of angels might be, everyone seems to agree on a few common points.  They are divine, they protect us, they inspire us and they are an endless source of love and companionship.  And of course, angels are portrayed to have wings.  When referencing the Archangels, Gabriel or Michael, the image is one of tall, strong, almost statuesque-like beings with wings as long as their body and with incredible span.  Guardian angels are given more delicate features, with smaller, more gentle wings.  Even Cupid, or Hermes, had wings to swiftly carry them on their missions.  

So, do angels really have wings?...Yes and No.  Through meditation and hypnotherapy you can deeply relax and enter an altered state of mind.  This altered state, or alternative consciousness, feels wonderful.  You feel alive, loved, humble at the greatness and vastness, and your body resonates with the energy of this love.  The more experienced meditators, psychics and intuits, are able to feel the energy of the higher self, the energy of the soul collective, the energy of the earth.  With practice, your body is better able to handle the abundance of energy.  For beginner meditators, the initial shock of this powerful energy, especially felt when connecting with spirit guides, angels or spirit healers, is interpreted as the force of wings.  With more practice and allowing the energy to flow through you (as opposed to you holding on to the energy) the source of the energy becomes clear.  It is the love energy, the oneness, that emits from our spirit world.  A closer look at" wings" allows a clear distinction of the aura and of the messages transmitted by the aura.  Each energy "wing" is distinct and specific to the individual, thus each message is a reflection of their personality.

When first experiencing this energy, a natural reaction is to hold on to the energy.  The source of the energy is limitless so there is no need to absord the impact because it could be overwhelming.  The energy must flow through you in order for you to be part of it.  If you confront it like a wall, the sensation could be painful.  Your body might shake, you could hear your heart pound, your stomach appears to fall into a black hole, and the sound of the force is similar to that of jet engines.  I have experienced these sensations and it was very confusing for me.  How could such higher power be painful?  As I continued meditating and practicing, I expanded my own energetic capacity and became a witness to the love energy, not the target of it.  By letting go of my control, I expanded my conciousness and was able to see angels for the beautiful, helpful, divine beings they are.  Such amazing beings are super-charged and emit a great source of energy.  What once were wings are now love energy with the specific personality of the being.  As such, archangels have much energy, concentrated towards the tasks that are entirely theirs, and their "wings" are more stern and impose more authority.  Guardian angels, who are more gentle and willing to hold our hands when we are afraid, have softer, cloud-like "wings", indicative of their understanding and their empathy.

Meditation is the easiest and best way to experience the love energy of the universe.  It is so abundant and powerful and we all have access to it.  Meditation and breathing exercises are also great ways to practice grounding so that your ability to process and handle energies increases.  

 

To practice meditation or to participate in guided meditation groups, visit www.spiritbeyond.com. 

How to look younger, feel better and project the best you

All of us have experienced that "one" moment when you realize that you don't look like you thought you did.  Men and women alike experience the anxiety of aging and suffer the repercussions of low self-esteem and lack of confidence.  Fret no more!  There are easy tricks that you can use to look younger, feel better and have everyone around you notice the difference.  So if you want to make a better, brighter impression on others, keep on reading.

Exercise 1

--Think of what you like about yourself most.  (If that's too hard, think about what you really liked about yourself).  This has to be a personality trait, characteristic or talent.  What is best about you?  Do you give good advice--a mini Freud?  Do you prepare your own taxes--a mathematical genius?  What are your great qualities?

--Now that you have identified your great qualities, notice how you feel when you think about these great attributes.  Notice how your body stands taller, how relaxed your muscles are, how you're probably smiling.  Your body is a master healer and so wise.  Listen to how your body reacts when you compliment yourself on these real and true qualities that you have.  

--For the next two (2) weeks carry all your qualities with you when you walk out the door or interact with people.  For example, I am an empathetic person with a sense of humor.  Just saying that and acknowledging it brings a smile to my face and I feel light-hearted.  As a result, whenever I meet people, I'm relaxed, easy-going and ready for a chat.  This not only makes my day more entertaining but people react nicer to me.  My friend is very detailed oriented, great with numbers, and a great problem solver.  When he thinks of these qualities he feels proud of himself and comfortable in his own skin.  The result is that he feels confident--just the way he is.

People notice when someone is happy, comfortable and confident.  That somebody should be you!  Is it?  If not, follow the easy trick.  The world responds in such a positive way to authentic, true-to-self individuals.  Be proud of yourself and love yourself.  Regain your self-respect.  Train your brain to follow who you are! 

Exercise 2

Now that you know how to "carry" your great qualities and you notice how much better your mood and body are, try this fantastic projection trick.  Before you leave the house, imagine and envision in your mind's eye how you want to look.  Once you envision it, merge with this image by either stepping into it or allowing it to rest on top of your face.  This is the image that people will feel.  Don't be surprised if you receive compliments on how young you look, how beautiful your eyes are or what a nice smile/laugh you have.  The results are phenominal.  For work-related events I always add a few inches to my height, enlarge my smile and envision a warm, sparkling glow around me.  You could not believe how many people think I am actually taller than I am and that I'm "sunny".  Try it!

For more information and to learn how to perfect your projection skills, visit www.spiritbeyond.com.

Blessings for Healing: Water Blessings

Water has long been a subject of much interest to me.  Within religious context, water has been used to join the body with the (holy) spirit.  This is a baptism.  Traditionally, when one is sick they take a warm or hot bath.  Water is also a medium for infusions, remedies and homeopathic medicine.  Most importantly, the human body cannot survive without water.  The healing power of water seems to magnify, or at the least, complement, the healing power of herbs.  If we only become aware of how abundantly we depend on water then we could begin to understand the healing powers along with how to effectively utilize them.

Our bodies are mostly composed of water and as such, it is only natural that we properly honor and respect water.  First begin by blessing all the water you ingest and all the water that you use throughout the day.  Start off by holding the glass of water that you are about to drink in your hands and give thanks.  Continue the blessing by stating out loud that the water is for your health, for cleansing, and that it will serve only the highest good in your body.  Do so everytime you drink water and everytime you eat water based foods (soups, teas).  Take it a step further and perform the blessing whenever you take a bath, have a steam facial, place fresh flowers in a vase, water the plants and other daily occurances.

Always note how you feel before and after the blessing.  After a period of time, say 2 weeks, note how you felt before you started blessing water and how you feel now.  I personally have noticed that I feel lighter and more connected to spirit, I eat less because I feel full faster, and I have more gratitude for Mother Nature and life.  I am constantly reminded that as I bless the water that I give to my plants, they in turn bless me with full foliage, vibrant colors and their company.  The same goes towards my animals.  I also value my clothing more.  I notice the quality of the fabric and the way it feels on my skin. (I bless the water in my washing machine and thank it for cleaning my clothing).  Overall, I feel blessed!  Now you give it a try!

And in case you need more evidence of the power of water, take a look at the image below.  I was with family on New Year's Eve.  We were enjoying the night and each other's company.  When we looked out the window we noticed how the condensation on the window from the earlier fog began to freeze in the cold of night.  The beautiful image that resulted was so inspirational, jovial and intricate that all of us were stunned.  To me, this respresented the good energy in the house.  It was a visual respresentation of how we all felt that night.   

To learn to perform your own blessings and to experience the healing spirit of blessings, contact Adriana Kugman at spiritbeyond@gmail.com or visit www.spiritbeyond.com.

Intuitive Guide--Water Meditation and Self Hypnosis

This is indeed a wonderful picture that I took while visiting Yosemite National Park.  It is a perfect picture to stimulate your mind, spark creativity, enhance your intuition, induce a guided meditation and self-hypnosis.  Another gift this picture gives us is the connection to nature and to nature spirits.  So much healing in such a simple image--if only all of us would act in spirit.

This will take only a few moments.  Sit in a comfortable position, quiet down and state out loud that you set the intention for healing.  Take a few deep breaths until you begin to feel a calmness in your body and look at the image.  Begin to describe it.  Is it a big or small body of water?  Describe the motion and speed of the water.  Describe the temperature of the water.  Imagine how it might feel if you touched it.  What time of day is it in the image?  What is the season?  

Now begin to tell the "story of the water".  Describe where the source of the water is and where this water is going.  Notice the feeling you have as you look at the image and let the water convey to you it's message.  What does the water communicate?  Take a few moments to aborb everything.

What does the water convey about you?  What words of encouragement or support do you receive?...

Could you believe how much information you received?  Could you believe how much calm, peace, grounding, even love, you received?  Believe it!  You used your intuition and imagination, you followed a guided meditation, you applied self-hypnotic techniques, you healed parts of you that respond to nature and best of all, notice how you feel.  That is the best way to measure the benefits of guided meditation and hypnosis.

For those of you that are curious to know how good your intuition really is, below is a picture of the full image.  

For help meditating, learning self hypnosis and developing your intuition visit www.spiritbeyond.com.

 

The Importance of the Higher Self

The Higher Self is the greatest source of wisdom and love that a person can have.  The Higher Self is infinite.  It is a link between earth and other dimensions; ultimately, it is the God in all of us.

One can find the Higher Self when looking within.  In the daily routine of our lives we rush, we over perform, we normalize working 8, 10, 12 hour days, work under fluorescent lights, eat fast food every day, and experience so many other unnatural states of consciousness.  Many of us experience a need, a “hunger” for meaning in our lives that stems from a source deep within us.  This source is honest, truthful, open, and aware of our needs.  It is the Higher Self expressing its protective and helpful nature, trying to give our bodies, our minds, our souls exactly that which it needs.

As a hypnotherapist, one of the first things I do is facilitate introducing clients to their Higher Selves.  This might take the entire first session but it is critical because once clients are aware of their Higher Self and know how to contact their Higher Self they always have who to turn to for advice.  Clients then realize that they are never alone and have a "best friend" that can offer wonderful advice.  Sometimes, after the client learns to communicate with the Higher Self, they can let the Higher Self guide the session toward areas that need healing (and not necessary what the client initially presents).

Once you discover your Higher Self you become open to meeting other helping guides, such as Spirit Guides, Animal Guides, Nature Guides and many more.  The discovery of the Higher Self truly opens the door for a full sensory experience and increases your sprit and state of mind.  As a result, you have more energy and your vibration increases.  The higher your vibration, the better and easier the communication is with all your helpers.  With so much help and support available, how can anyone ever feel alone or disconnected in this world?  Trust in your Higher Self.

To discover your own Higher Self visit www.spiritbeyond.com. 

Methods to integrate a hypnotherapy session

After your hypnotherapy session give yourself some time to process the session.  This is essential because we are multidimensional beings and have many layers of processing.  Experiencing the session just once is not enough.  Review the session in your mind for a few days and begin to apply anything you learned from the session immediately.  By doing so you gain insight and you begin to heal yourself.  Any tools gained during the session should be used on a regular (if not daily) basis so that you practice using them, benefitting from them and gaining expertise.

The following are a few methods to fully integrate your session and achieve the greatest results.  Ask yourself:

--How did I feel when I began the session?

--How did I feel afterwards?

--What was most profound for me during the session?

--What points did the hypnotherapist seem to stress?

--If there is a difference between what I found most important and what the hypnotherapist found most important, can I see things through another perspective?

--What have I learned about myself?  How did I portray myself during the session?  Does it match who I really am?

--Even if I'm already familiar with what came up during the session, why would this come up again?  Is there anything "new" about this "old" topic?

--Even if I already know this, how can I further integrate this information?

--How did I feel about this experience?  (Relieved, calmed, happy, light-hearted, emotional, magical, etc...)

--Do I follow what I discovered/learned during my session?  Do I apply this information on a regular basis?

--Is there more that I would like to know/heal about myself?  If yes, maybe I am ready for another session.

To learn more about how to integrate your hypnotherapy session or how to apply hypnotherapy techniques and tools, visit www.spiritbeyond.com.

Tools for the Sprit: A Step-by-Step Guide for Hypnotherapy

While many of you have heard about the fantastic results you could get with hypnotherapy, the reality is that hypnotherapy is still a mystery.  For those interested in learning more about hypnotherapy and what to expect, this is a step-by-step guide to get you ready and going (from a real hypnotherapist to a real person).

Step 1: Definition.  Hypnotherapy combines the process of hypnosis and open communication during the hypnotic process between the client and hypnotherapist.  This means that a conversation will occur, and yes, you can do it!  No, you will not lose or fall out of trance.  So what is trance exactly?  It's a process of allowing your body to relax.  There is no reason to be nervous or to treat the session with such high intensity.  This leads to nervousnes and pretty soon both your brain and your ego take over.  Take it easy, get comfortable and listen to what the hypnotherapist says as if you are listening to an old CD that you have already heard.  The whole point is to follow along and participate.

Step 2: Expectations.  Ask yourself what your expectations are.  Hypnotherapist cannot diagnose or treat illnesses, they cannot mind  control you or take away your power and most importantly, they cannot make you do what you don't want to do--including relaxing and opening yourself for a trance state.  Always assume responsibility for yourself and what you bring to the session.  The hypnotherapist uses words to communicate with you.  It is your responsibility to process the words by using your imagination and integrating this imagery within your body.   

Step 3: Guided Imagery.  This is by far the easiest thing to do.  Guided imagery is simply using your imagination.  A commonly used image is that of a pathway in a forest.  "Imagine walking on a pathway, soft grass underneath your bare feet, a crisp breeze brushing your cheeks, the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, the smell of pine in the air.  As Mother Earth guides you on your journey deep within, notice how you feel."   The hypnotherapist tells a story and you simply follow along and envision this story.

Step 4: Choice.  To enter a trance is a choice.  It has less to do with the hypnotherapist and more to do with your willingness.  You choose to get the most out of your session and that implies being a full participant.

Side Note: Do not try to control the session.  Just follow along with the hypnotherapist.  If you try to control how the session will run or if you have demands about what you want, you actually block yourself from entering a trance.  You're limiting your imagination and most likely are setting harsh and unrealistic standards or expectations.  Instead of resisting an image flow with it.

Step 5: Let go.  It's natural to have strong emotions of excitement and anticipation, even a slight fear of the unknown.  Put these emotions aside and remind yourself that your session is an opportunity for self-expression, healing, mind-body-spirit wisdom and getting to know yourself.  The more you do it, the better you become at it.

Step 6: Everything is important.  At times clients will say after a session "I already knew that".  Does this mean that the session is less valuable or less extraordinary?  Not at all.  My reply is that if they already knew that, why is it coming up again?  Maybe they are not really listening to how profound their thoughts and feelings are.  Maybe that is why "But I already knew that" has come to mean "I know that but do nothing about it".  Don't limit yourself; there is always room for further integration.

Step 7: Appreciation.  Appreciate yourself for being responsible and attempting to heal your body and spirit.  Bless yourself and the session and allow your body to integrate the information.

Step 8: Process.  Hypnotherapy is a process because you have to integrate the experience and the information within your body.  This can take some time.  A process implies that a few sessions will more fully address an issue.

Now that you have a better understanding of what to expect, go for it!  You can learn to be your best friend through hypnotherapy.  The benefits include gaining access to your wisdom body and your higher self, changing thought patterns, gaining insight and solutions, healing the mind-body-spirit, and making yourself a better you!  With all the techniques you learn you can soon rely on yourself for your healing.

Ready for a hypnotherapy session?  Visit www.spiritbeyond.com.