I know this trick is quite old however I thought I would discuss Derren’s Telephone Box Hypnosis, as it looks amazing on his show. I have been trying to think how he does it and I came up with the following ideas:

1. They are in fact stooges, (Though he says he doesn’t use any). He’s paid them and told them what to do.

2. Derren tells them on the phone that they are being filmed for his show and to fake hypnosis and they will get paid for it later.

3. Derren knows the persons using the phone, and he has previously hypnotised them and given them a post hypnotic suggestion to sleep, when he talks over the phone.

4. They are somnambulists and he uses a pattern interrupt on the phone and fires in the suggestion of sleep. We don’t get to see the failed attempts.

Anyway those are my ideas. If anybody has any others or in deed actually knows how its done let me know.

In closing. Like many people, I have purchased all of Derren’s books and DVDs and seen him in one of his shows. To me it was fun working out how he produced certain effects. He is clearly a master at his art. It is very clear that he uses a lot of Hypnosis, NLP and Magic, mixed together with his astonishing memory and showmanship.

If any one is interested? Out of all of his books, I personally found ‘ TRICKS OF THE MIND’ the most interesting, as it comes the closest to telling others how he does things. The others books are more about showmanship and magic tricks.

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This is the 7 minute introductory version of the FREE 35 min relaxation video

I know the jury is still out on this, and one cannot easily explain away some past life sessions, for various reasons. Depending on your belief that there is or isn’t such a concept as a past life or lives. One may come to the belief that it is simply a imaginary experience, influenced by our experiences and others may conclude that that they are a result of genetic  imprints within us.

The practice of Past Life Regression has whatever the perspective has brought about positive change in individuals with previously unexplained reasons behind their presenting issues. Putting past lives to one side briefly, regression in this life time, is a powerful method of positive change in the hands of the Professional Hypnotherapist. I personally do not recommend regression by anyone without training, due to revication, negative anchoring and the possibility of false memories.

There are many Past Life methods. This is one of the better ones, that achieve a Past Life from a perceived first person perspective, as apposed to the usual third person perspective. If Your method doesn’t work, start from a convenient point in the process, not the beginning, assuming you actually have somnambulism and not artificial somnambulism. If it is still not working, change the method, without bringing any attention to the process. If the client has a fear or tries too hard it will inhibit the process.

Start of session:

Pre-talk to eliminate fears and misconceptions. Establish what issue they want to resolve. In doing so establish their representational system.
I use the Elman rapid induction to somambulism. Use covert test for compliance to suggestion and deepen further. Further test for amnesia with name block. Now set up ideometer finger signals for yes, no and maybe.

To client:

Now your subconscious mind has retained every experience in this life and your past lives. It knows everything about you and has the resources to heal any issue that affects you. Your subconscious mind has the ability to go back in time and remember any event. Your mind is incredibly powerful. What’s special is that when you go back in the memory of the mind, you can experience any happy time in your past. It may be a special birthday party as a child or you may want to experience the excitement that you felt as a child on Christmas day. You would like that wouldn’t you. Look for ideometer yes response.

Now in a moment I’m going to count down from 5-1 and on the count of one I’ll tap you on the forehead and you are to go right back to one of those happy times as a child.

Five… moving back now in the memory of the mind

Four… Drifting further and further back

Three… Arms and legs may be getting smaller

Two… Feeling that excitement as a child
One… Be there. Tell me (Name) What’s happening

Note:

Subject will talk about the memory as a child and will feed back their experience from a child’s perspective of that age.

The regression to the childhood event is the primer for the past life ,as it proves to the subject that they can recall forgotten events.
To Client:

The happy childhood scene is fading now. In a moment I’m going to count from 5-1 and as I count down I want your subconscious mind to take you even further back, back to a time before this life time. To a past life experience that has some significance or learning for you.

Five… Allowing your mind to drift further and further back now

Four…That’s it, further and further back
Three…Moving from this life into a past life
Two… Almost there. Sensing the change in energy now

One… Be there.

Typical question to ask:

What’s happening?

Where are you?

Is it night time or day time?

How old are you?

What year is it?

Do not ask questions that can plant false memories.

Subject may show fear or say that he is dying. Just say the scene is fading or you will be aware of your death but feel no sadness or pain.

Using the 3-1 technique you can get them to remember significant events in that life time.

To move between lives say:

Five… The scene is fading from this past life
Four… I want you to travel to the place that your spirit goes between each of its lives

Three… Traveling to that place now
Two… Feeling that sense of love and peace now
One… Be there

What’s happening?

(Person describes their own subjective experience)

Note:

You can then bring their attention to their spirit guide, who can impart wisdom.

You can also say…

While in this spiritual place, you are aware of many significant learning’s from your past life and the reason for your choosing your present life. This is a special gift, and when you return, you will remember these insights, and use this wisdom to better your life and others on this journey.

Going back to the present time.

Three… Further and further back now
Two… Back to the present moment, going deeper and deeper into trance
One… That’s right, so relaxed, as you allow your subconscious mind to integrate what it has
learned

Tell me. What did you learn about your past life and this life. If negative reframe experience until no issues remain.

That good.

In a moment I’m going to count fro 1-5. On the count of five you will open your eyes and feel good in every way.
One… Coming on up now
Two… Feeling confident inside
Three…Mind becoming clearer
Four…. Re-orientating to the room
Five… Open your eyes. Feeling good

Discuss and conclude session

This is known as the chevreul pendulum and is a small weight on approximately a 6 – 8″ chain or cord with a clip on the forefinger or it can be held between the forefinger and thumb. The clip on the finger requires less conscious involvement, by having to concentrate on holding on to it. It is used to ascertain answers to questions in the subconscious mind. Having said that it is not entirely accurate, especially out of trance due to interference from the conscious mind.

The pendulum can be a method of hypnotic induction and as a ideomotor response while in trance.

IT works by imperceptible muscle movements on a subconscious level. You first dangle a weight, crystal or ring etc from a thin piece of chain or string, held between your fingers. When the string is still ask for a yes response. (Usually rotates clock wise)

Ask for a no response (Usually rotates anti clockwise)

Ask for a not sure response (Usually swings side to side)

These are NOT true for everyone and are ONLY a guide. If you get no movement, insist on an answer. It will get better the more you practice. It will be easier for those with a ability to concentrate and access their imagination easily.

Keep things simple and only ask questions that require a yes or no answer.

You can then dowse for anything that you wish to know about on a subconscious level. To prevent conscious bleed through, you could try imagining that your arm is someone elses. You can easily see how conscious contamination occurs. When you want a particular answer so much, it just gives you the answer you want.

In this instance, depending on your beliefs, you can bring a psychic element into play by writing down your questions on small folded up  pieces of paper and dowsing then, with the answer hidden. It’s a case of practice makes perfect and to calibrating, what is the right way for you.
There are so many things you can ask questions about:

Relationships

Diet

Find objects

Career

What’s good or bad for you

Purpose in life

To name a few.

You can even make up your own pendulum charts, which consist of a semi circle divided into segments with your chosen questions written on each segment.

So tap into that unconscious resource and find answers to those questions, that you now, know how to answer.

I really enjoy regressing clients and have derived great satisfaction, in re-framing issues that were out side of conscious experience and therefore brought about profound changes in their issues.

Out of all my clients, I have only found a few clients that I started to regress, that would not do so, despite a pre- talk and different techniques. I believe their fear of the unknown was too great and therefore what I achieved was very superficial.

The majority have let me guide them to states of healing that never ceases to amaze me. The subconscious mind is so wonderful in its ability to retain all that you are and yet remain such an enigma to science. Nobody knows where a thought comes from, though memories do change over time and are never a true recollection of events as they naturally get distorted. This may account for our recollection of past lives, jumbled up with our life’s sensory experiences.

To take a client into a past life and see the revivication of events and experience on occasion their fight or flight responses is incredible. Their changes in language and detail of events is quite astonishing. Having said that I believe the majority of their experience are fantasy, as the for the rest? I’ll stand up and be counted as i personally believe them to be actual memories, all be it fragmented to some degree. This to me is supported with the wealth of documented accounts available from reputable people and the world wide belief in reincarnation. Its the old saying. There is no smoke without fire.
What I find the most alluring part for me is when you place them between lives and they are able to describe and converse with their guide?. Leaving a past life with a knowing or the reason for a connection with a partner or friend for example. Even knowing their reason for this life.

Though everybody cannot be a famous historical figure.  Perhaps someone who thinks they are Napoleon were in fact a foot soldier instead, but from the same era. I find the tales of children’s past lives highly significant and a greater enigma.

Buddhism strongly emphasizes the past lives of its followers, as did Christianity. I for one don’t need religion or case histories to convert myself. It is my experiences with regression that I have had, that have reinforced my belief in this interesting phenomena.

Some of these indications are physiological responses in hypnosis, that cannot be easily faked. Such as lacrimation (tearing of the eyes) and a pink tinge to the whites of the eyes. Certain hypnotic tests can also establish the real trance subjects from those trying to fool you.

There are many standard hypnosis suggestibility or concentration tests and a few lesser known methods to establish hypnotizability. There are also a few lesser known tests that one can use to establish if the client/subject is in somnambulism (deep hypnosis), in addition to the different phenomena, usually associated with different levels of trance. ie eye lock, amnesia, hallucinations, anesthesia etc.

Ironically the process of pretending to be hypnotized, invariably ends up in actual trance. Its a method of induction used on those who despite a pre talk remain a little apprehensive.

Whenever you see the subject complying with your suggestions and or exhibiting signs of hypnosis, say ‘that’s right’ to reinforce the trance experience of the subject. They then feel confident that they are doing well and as a result go deeper into trance and become more suggestible.

Some examples of trance being:

Breathing rate slows down

They may swallow less

Their eyes may appear glazed

A slight wetness to the eye. Lacrimation.

A softening of the facial muscles

A Pink tinge to the whites of the eyes

Fluttering of the eyelids

Rapid eye movement

Eyes rolled back under the eyelids

Visible relaxation of parts of the body.

Change in skin coloration.

Unconscious movements

Less physical movement

Catalepsy (Unable to move a muscle that is rigid)

On Coming Out Of Trance

They may appear drowsy

Feel a heaviness or lightness of their body.

They may be disorientated

Give you feedback; such as I was so relaxed I didn’t want to move. I felt like I was floating etc.

Time distortion

Amnesia (unable to recall)

These indications can vary from subject to subject, in that they may be obvious or very subtle. Calibrate to their normal physiology and you will be more able to recognize differences as they occur.

This is not as scary as it sounds. It is just a deep level of hypnosis, where the individual is so relaxed that they do not wish to respond to suggestion or physically move. It is a peaceful relaxed state of hypnosis where anesthesia is automatically achieved without suggestion.

Those in this deep state do respond to suggestion, all be it very slowly and are more selective in their acceptance of suggestions. Because of this, it is thought to be too deep for conventional therapy.

The method:

Pre -talk to eliminate fears and misconceptions.Use the Elman rapid induction.

Use covert test for compliance to suggestion and deepen further. Further test for somnambulism Amnesia with name block.

To the subject:

Good. Now I want you to imagine that your safe and stood on an escalator. This escalator goes down three levels A, B and C the basement of your relaxation. In a moment I want you to travel down to level ‘A’ and when you reach the bottom I want you to have doubled your relaxation. Indicate to me that level by saying ‘A’ starting now, drifting down, deeper and deeper… That’s right.

Now double your relaxation again as you go down to level ‘B’ now. Nod when you get there. Your doing great.

This next level ‘c’ is the absolute bottom of your mental and physical relaxation, just keep trebling your relaxation until you find yourself so relaxed you cannot be bothered to move or speak. Starting from now. You can do it. Just let yourself go completely, as you go deeper and deeper. Deeper and deeper.

Give sufficient time to get to level ‘C’ and test by snapping your fingers and asking them to open their eyes. They shouldn’t respond immediately as they are too relaxed. Then take an arm and hold it up. Give it a little jerk and it should remain their cataleptic. Also they should have anesthesia, so they should not feel any painful stimuli, such as a pinch of the skin.

The coma state is very pleasant for the subject. It only appears that they are not listening to you due to the depth of relaxation. Say you go to count them out of hypnosis, and they don’t respond. They are probably responding to you. They are just so deep in trance and so relaxed, that it takes more time than usual to comply with a suggestion and for you to see a response.

Sometimes a subject just wants to stay in the coma state so they dismiss a suggestion to come out of it. Obviously they would come out of trance in their own time as you cannot get stuck in hypnosis. If they don’t comply inexperienced hypnotists usually panic. Here’s the secret to getting them to come back. Just tell them that unless they emerge from hypnosis immediately, you will make sure that they can never enter this state with anyone again. This is enough for them to comply.

This is the entertainment side of hypnosis. Again it is a profession all to it’s self. It requires skill and showmanship and is not for the introvert. Though this use of hypnosis has been responsible for many myths or misconceptions. It certainly can be credited with bringing about the  popularity of instant and rapid inductions.

Here we are going to touch on it briefly, so you can have some fun at a party or similar situation, assuming you have reached the desired level of competence.

A word of warning:

Don’t attempt stage hypnosis without being confident in dealing with any abreaction that may occur without warning. Such a scenario will end your reputation overnight. Also check out the laws regarding hypnosis, for your area. Public demonstrations, especially for money can have their legal restrictions. Do not hypnotize those with a physiological or psychological condition, that may be affected by being hypnotized. Always have the safety and respect of those involved.

First allay any fears and misconceptions. Do some suggestibility tests and pick the most suggestible (somnambulists) Those that follow your suggestion and have the greatest response. Ask them if they want to experience hypnosis and have some fun. Those that agree, have already given you the hypnotic contract. Hypnotise with the Elman induction, or use rapid/instant inductions on those that are highly suggestible in the suggestibility tests. Do what you are most confident with. The stage environment and expectation usually guarantees hypnosis easily.

Remember you have to be confident and they have to believe in your ability as a hypnotist. They know what they are getting themselves into at such events and are more than likely extrovert people (not shy). You are already over half way there. Expectation and a belief that they will be hypnotised makes your life easier. Tell them that for the period of the show, that they are to make your suggestions their absolute reality.

Some say to their subjects, that only those with a great IQ can be hypnotized and that those that lack in intelligence cannot. This sets them up to comply. For the stubborn individual they are asked to comply off mic. They are usually asked to be the center of the show for some money later.

Periodically deepen your volunteers, whilst referring to them by name or touch to carry out a skit (A little performance). Tell them what you want them to do and ask them to open their eyes and do it, when you snap your fingers. Those that do not comply, just dismiss saying that not everyone is successful on the first occasion for many reasons and that they will do great next time.

Start of with basic tasks and increase the difficulty as they get conditioned to respond. Those that fail to respond to simple skits, such as feeling changes in temperature, they are not focused and are not following your suggestions Dismiss them politely by saying thank you for coming up,

It’s usually best to put on the appropriate music and say Sing “As if ” they were? (It’s easier to pretend ‘as if’, than to actually be that person in their mind) when it comes to famous people. Props help the subject to role play better.

Remember they have to accept the suggestion to do it. If you make it sound unacceptable to them. They will not do it. Treat your subjects with respect. Remove each suggestion from the subject before you give them another.

On completion of the show be extra safe and remove all suggestions and count them out of trance.

Example skits (scenarios) being:

(touching subject) Alright when I count from 1-3 and snap my fingers you will open your eyes, it will be as if you are …( Insert suggestion)

Drunk on water

Stuck to the chair

Cannot get up from the chair

Feet stuck to the floor

Cannot see the hypnotist

No clothes on

Breaking wind

Fishing

Be a stripper

Be a famous singer

x-ray glasses

Laugh at the funniest joke ever

(Use your imagination to come up with many other skits.)

This is an ancient technique which is proven to have many benefits for the body and mind of the user. Often lengthening the life span and quality of life. It is very similar to self-hypnosis except that the meditator does not give themselves suggestion for change.

The object is to still the mind and slow down the body processes in order that the user can truly understand the nature of their being and be at peace with all things.The ultimate goal for the serious meditator being to reach the state of enlightenment.

Mediation should be undertaken in an erect posture while sitting down in a traditional cross legged pose or kneeling posture. If necessary sit upright in a chair. The act of lying down tend to send you to sleep.

Meditation is about the awareness of the breath and to focusing the mind inward whilst acknowledging our thoughts and letting them go (The constant mind chatter or the monkey mind)
Meditation is a state of higher consciousness.

The state is achieved by practice and by numerous methods. From focusing inward on the breath, a mantra, a smell or constant sound, or a religious figure.

People experience different things, when they acquire the skill to quieten the monkey mind. Such as visions, lights, colours. An awakening of the intuition. A feeling of energy moving through the body, to feelings of joy and love and of course enlightenment.

An example meditation:

Sit comfortably in an upright posture with your hands on your thighs in your lap. Close your eyes and relax. Become aware of your body and how it feels. Bring your attention to the breath and become aware of it’s natural rhythm as it enters and leaves your body. Focus your attention inward and on the breath.

Thoughts will enter your mind. Just acknowledge them and let them go wherever they wish to and quietly bring your attention back to your breath. Become one with the breath.

When you wish to end the sessions. Take a deep breath in and open your eyes and contemplate your experience. Don’t have any expectations. There is no right or wrong way. Just be and appreciate the state of being, that is meditation.

Have a meditation routine. Regular meditation will slow down the aging process, reduce stress and strengthen your immune system. You will feel rejuvenated from head to toe. It will help after a stressful day at the office.You can’t help clients if you don’t look after yourself.

It helps to mentally scan the body from head to toe as you breath in and out. This helps to deepen the meditative state. Breath into any tension areas in the body and breath out the tension, allowing it to dissolve away.

Aim to achieve a inner stillness of mind where your thoughts no longer remain.

Ask the subject to lace their fingers together in a hand clasp and to straighten their arms out in front of them and lock them tight at the elbow. Then ask them to concentrate on one of their knuckles while you count from 1-5.
One: lock your mind around the thought that your hands are locked together.
Two: Your hands have been super glued together.
Three: Imagine that they are gripped in a vice now, squeezing them together. Locked together
Four: Feel the tension in your hands Growing and growing.
Five: Locked so tightly together, that the harder you try to part them the more locked together they become. Try; Try in vain to release them.

When they comply with the suggestion they have bypassed the critical factor and are in… hypnosis

Some will have no difficulty, while some will take while. Those that cannot part their hands until you indicate that they can, are the best subjects, followed by those that took a while to release their hands.

Remember: when they really accept the suggestion, you can convert the suggestibility test into an induction, by pulling their hands down (pattern interrupt) while commanding sleep at the same time, then deepen.