In the first blog on Christianity and Hypnosis, I talked about the past from the 1800's forward and how the Bible shows examples. As we continue moving toward more recent years, hypnosis has become more acceptable and my hope for the future is that it will be mainstream because of its helpfulness. However, there are still others who mistakenly see it as a tool of the devil. I have felt a need for the last 25+ years to educate people on the special God-given ability to overcome problems and or enhance their lives. Rev. Paul Durbin, Minister, and Hypnotist says the foundation of his work in hypnotherapy is based on what he refers to as the human trinity. Whether you are a Christian or not, you would probably know what we refer to as the Holy Trinity. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He believes we have a human trinity. Each one of us is a trinity within ourselves. I am a trinity; you are a trinity. The human trinity is made is up of the mind, body, and spirit. We are physical, mental, and emotional beings. These three aspects of being are so different and yet so integrated that one part of the human trinity cannot be affected without it affected on the other two. If you have a physical problem, it affects you spiritually and emotionally. If you have a spiritual problem, it affects you physically and emotionally. If you have an emotional problem, affects you spiritually and physically. Hypnosis can be used as a bridge between the conscious and the subconscious mind. Though you only have one mind it has 2 parts conscious and subconscious. The conscious is the logical, reasoning, and analytical two-plus part of your mind. The conscious part of your mind makes up about 10% of your thinking power. The subconscious part of your mind makes up about 90% of your thinking power. It does not think logically, and it is concerned with bringing your deepest wishes, desires, and expectations, even if they are not contrary to logic and you’re well-being. The subconscious mind does not care that your body is hurt, rather than your deepest needs are met. If your greatest need is affection, and the only time you experience affection is when you are sick, you may get sick to receive affection. This occurs even though you do not like being sick. Our minds take things out of context and we just do not know why it does this. The subconscious mind cannot tell you the difference between a wish and a fear. If the fear becomes dominant, the fear is received by the subconscious mind as a wish. We each come with our history: religious, personally, and professionally. Rev. Paul Durban said he came as a Christion Minister who looked upon hypnosis as a valuable tool for counseling. Coming from a religious profession and working in a church-related hospital, he was often asked, "Why does one of the religious faiths need hypnosis?” or “How can you use hypnosis? Isn’t there a conflict between religious faith and hypnosis?” He believed that these questions can be responded to by referring to the statement of Jesus in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” Hypnosis is one of the gifts of God which helps people experience the “more abundant life.” Hypnosis is neither anti-religious nor pro-religious. It can be used for good or bad depending on the hypnotist and the subject. Today, more religious groups accept the proper ethical use of hypnosis for helping people. Exceptions for Christian Science, Seventh Day-Adventist, and some individuals of the various church. In recent years, the Seventh Day-Adventists have lessened their resistance by using relaxation therapy and suggestion therapy. A hypnotist by the name of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby greatly helped Mary Baker Eddy overcome an illness and she used many of his teachings and techniques in developing the Christian Science Church. Though Quimby used hypnosis to help her, she denounced hypnosis while using techniques. Though many in various churches opposed to hypnosis are using the principle of hypnosis (relaxation, concentration, suggestion, and repetition) in their healing services, they denounced hypnosis. For those who opposed hypnosis on religious grounds, Rev. Durban reminded them of the words of Baptist Van Helmont, "Hypnosis is a universal agent...and is a paradox only to those who are disposed to ridicule everything and who ascribe to Satan all phenomena which they cannot explain.” The Roman Catholic Church has issued statements approving the use of hypnosis. In 1847, a decree from the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Cross stated, “Having removed misconceptions, foretelling of the future, an explicit invocation of the devil, hypnosis is indeed merely an act of making use of the physical media that are otherwise licit and hence it is morally forbidden provided it does not end toward an illicit end or anything depraved.” The Late Pope Pius gave his approval of hypnosis. He stated that the use of hypnosis by health care professionals for diagnosis and treatment is permitted. In 1956, in an address from the Vatican on hypnosis in childbirth, the Pope gave these guidelines. (1) Hypnotism is a serious matter, and not something to be dabbled in. (2) In it is scientific use the precautions dictated by both science and morality are to be used. (3) Under the aspect of anesthesia. It is governed by the same principles as other forms of anesthesia. This is to say that the rules of good medicine apply to the use of hypnosis. Except for exceptions noted no other Protestant or Orthodox Churches have any laws against the proper-ethical uses of hypnosis. Rev. Durbin says to the best of his knowledge, there has been no opposition to the uses of hypnosis in the Jewish faith when used for the benefits of mankind. A lot of the eastern faiths, such as Buddhism, Yoga, Shintoism, Hinduism, and others approve of the use of hypnosis and they often use hypnosis in their worship. The Moslem religion has no opposition to hypnosis as well. There are so many books referring to hypnosis declaring a profound dislike and misunderstanding of hypnosis and its uses. One such book by Martin and Deidra Bagdon Hypnosis and Christianity had written "Before hypnotism becomes the new panacea from the pulpit, followed by a plethora of books on the subject: it claims, methods and long-term results should be considered. Arthur Shapiro has said, ‘One man's religion is another man's superstition, and one man's magic is another man's science.' Hypnosis has become science and medicine for some Christians with little proof of its validity, longevity, or understanding of its nature. Because so many unanswered questions about its usefulness and so many potential dangers about its usage, Christians would be wise to shun hypnosis.” The Bagdon’s should be reminded that people have been harmed by the misuse of some Christian Churches as well as other religions. Should that mean since someone misused the Christian religion, we should all avoid it? Whether the Bagdon’s did study hypnosis or not, it was not without bias, or they would not be afraid of it. They would be amazed at their abilities, which I have found personally as well as with 25+ years of working with clients. Many of God's gifts have been used incorrectly, but that should not distract from the gift when used for the benefit of mankind and the glory of God. God blesses all activities that benefit people. Did you know there is a National Association of Clergy Hypnotists? The National Association of Clergy Hypnotherapists (NACH) joined the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH) as Clergy Special Interest Group (CSIG/NGH) 1997 (Dr. William Curtis, a Presbyterian Minister, was the founder and first President of The National Association of Clergy Hypnotherapists and the first to received "The Hypnosis and Religion In an address to NACH Rev. Fred R. Krauss, said "religion has traditionally used hypnotic techniques in a variety of ways. The atmosphere of the religious service is geared to the induction of the trance state. The architecture, décor, and religious symbols have a profound spiritual effect on believers. The alter, cross, and flickering candles provide a fixation point for concentration and meditation. In prayer, most Christians bow their heads and close their eyes which can be a similar experience to hypnosis.” Rev. Krauss continued to say that prayer and meditation were the nicest hypnotic inductions of all. Everything is there that should be, including a harmony of body, mind, and spirit that enhances communication by God. By assuring the appropriate posture, closing your eyes, bowing heads, listening, and responding with an amen. In the sermon, the pastor uses voice inflections, modulations, and repetitive ideas with anecdotes, Bible stories, and other illustrations. Prayer and meditation are traditional Christian disciplines that parallel what we call autosuggestion. Of course, autosuggestions are not the only aspects of prayer for through prayer, we can open our minds to God. When we are open and responsive, prayer is communication with God. If I understand the point Rev. Krauss was making; uses of hypnotic procedures in worship and Christian experience are blessed by God. Jesus often spoke in parables or used stories that still bring vivid word pictures which teach lessons about life. Proverbs 23:7 KJ 7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Paul wrote in Galatians 6:7” for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap KJ”. My interpretation is what is shown through the conscious mind through thoughts and images into the subconscious tends to become reality. Mental images give the subconscious mind a model to work towards, good or bad. An example of this would be to think back to a time when you were angry, feel it, experience it, and let it go. Think back to a time when you were really happy, feel it, experience it and keep it. By thought, you make feelings present again. The use of positive imagery improves life and health. Until there is an image in your mind there can be no reality. All great inventions began with a thought in the mind. The people who were able to make the inventions were able to visualize or imagine the invention before they could bring it to reality. The same is true with music, great writing, or great living. Proverbs 28:18 wrote that where there is no vision, the people perish. Have you ever heard a broadcaster at a sporting event say, “It’s a new game folks?” That usually means the score is tied. It is like starting over again. The past is still there; however, we can begin from where we are now. They keep playing from where they were at. We begin where we are, but with the proper uses of relaxation, imagery, hypnosis, and uplifting expectations becomes a “brand new game.” As I said in the 1st blog of Religion and Christianity it took me, this ignorant of what a hypnosis person is, 30 years ago, to come around and understand that God gave me and you, this powerful gift to help us overcome problems, make changes to enhance our lives. Jesus said, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to teach the gospel to the poor. He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to those in captivity to pain, fear, and phobias, give sight to the emotionally and spiritually blind and set at liberty those who are bound by unwanted habits. Rev. Durbin says, “as members of different denominations and religions, let us join hands in brotherhood to share the blessings of hypnosis with others. Thanks for reading these 2 blogs and hearing me out, this is a passion and a conviction I have felt for many years from God to help others overcome challenges, enhance lives, and what an honor it has been. If you would like more information and scriptures to go with these blogs, please send me a request.

Did you know that the American Cancer Society has it's National Great American Smoke Out campaign coming up here on the 19th of November? Goes on every year. Started out with a high school guidance counselor who asked people to quit smoking for a day, and the money that they saved from their cigarettes that they would put into a high school scholarship fund. Well, that was in the early '70s, and in the mid-'70s, the American Cancer Society took over the same premise and said, "Quit for a day," in the hopes that people will go for another day, and another day, and another day. What if you can quit in one day for life? That's what you do in my office. For most people, it's just one session. Let me tell you a few stories about some of the clients that have come in over the years. I've been doing this for 26 years. Many, many years ago, I had a man come into the office and his dad was passing away within the next week or two of lung cancer, and he didn't want to be going through what his dad had to go through. He came in to quit smoking. He quit. He brought three friends, and they quit smoking. They sent more people. More a hundred clients from that one referral, that one man losing his life because of the smoking habit. So, out of those referrals, they came from Dallas, they came from Chicago, they came from Belleville, Illinois. They came from northern Missouri, they came from southern Missouri. One man came up quit smoking. Actually, he left the office saying he, he didn't quit smoking, but he (laughs) never smoked again. So, about two weeks later, he comes back up from the- southern Missouri with a car full of friends saying, "Hey they all want to quit smoking", because he was able to quit smoking. Didn't even realize he quit it when he left the office. So funny. Then I had another lady who came in. Same story, with her mom was passing away within the next week or two as well. Before we started the session, she said to me, "You know, Karen," she says, "I just love the smell. I love the smell of cigarettes." And after the session, she told me, "You know what it is? I remember as a child my mom only had one cigarette a day and a cup of tea after she put us to bed. And so I would fall asleep every night to that smell of cigarettes." And when, she was able to let that thought process go, she was able to quit the smoking habit. I had a lady come in one time who had a chronic illness, and she was extremely sick, uh, m- in a lot of pain, and had gone to the hospital the week before, or that weekend before, and the doctor wouldn't admit her when he found out that she was a smoker. Said, "I'm not admitting you." So, she came to the office and we were able to get her to quit smoking so that she never, ever had to be in that position again. Earlier in the years, I heard cosmetic surgeons that requested people quit smoking prior to surgery, I think it was, like, six weeks out, so that they will be able to heal faster and heal better. And so nowadays, I have heard lots of different types of surgeons that are recommending that people quit smoking up front, really quickly, so that they can heal faster from the surgeries. I cannot tell you how many different stories that I could that I have of people, who just, just want to quit, you know? They love the smell, or they, or they don't love the smell. They loved that they could just sit down and take a break, or that annoyed them. They have problems with not getting enough air going up and down the stairs. Whatever the reason is, they will come in and quit smoking, again, one day for life, versus one day a year. What about that? Is that you? Let me ask you this question if you do smoke cigarettes. Out of the cigarettes that you smoke, one pack, two packs, three packs, how many do you actually enjoy, where you're really, really getting something from it? Sometimes people will say, "None." Sometimes people will say, "That first one in the morning." Sometimes people will say, "Three to five." Sometimes they'll say, "10." So, think about that. Five minutes to smoke, so three to five cigarettes a day, 15 to 25 minutes a day of enjoyment for a lifetime of what? So if you're interested in quitting smoking, if you're interested in letting this habit go, if you're interested in moving forward, give me a call, Karen Glavin, at Glavin Hypnotherapy+. My phone number's 314-285-5721. My website is www.glavinhypnotherapy.com, and I always like to say, when you come to Glavin Hypnotherapy, we're helping you bring back the joy into your life. Give me a call.