Our subconscious talks in symbols and images, mainly to bypass the conscious mind, and also to aid us in our discovery of the self…. A jigsaw puzzle of the mind so to speak, and in the higher good, it’s part of the journey to ‘figure it out’.

There are many images and symbols that are Universal, and we refer to the major images as Architypes (see Gestalting with Dreams for the 8 major Architypes -Jung).

Dreams come with their own Universal images. In essence, a house in our dreams generally represents our subconscious. The feeling surrounding the house is important..is it in disrepair, cold and damp or warm and inviting, supportive and nurturing? Is it chaotic and messy or neat and organised? One becomes the house and describes themselves and their feeling being in this house and what are their immediate needs.

A car is generally our body – physical, emotional or spiritual body. What is the colour? The shape? The size? The make and model? Become the car and describe yourself.

Water represents our emotions – calm and smooth, choppy or rough violent waves, clean and pristine, dark and murky. Are there beautiful tranquil dolphins, or looming sharks circling? Many clients when going through major transitions, will dream of tsunami’s, as chaos is change in motion, and a fear it will be overwhelming and swallow them up. They could describe their feeling about the tsunami, and then become the tsunami.

Old woman/man – represents our wise/higher self. This is an aspect of our higher, wise self, that may appear in our dreams when we need guidance. It is useful to introduce the wise old woman under for guidance if they need it.

The Sacred Mountain – we use this metaphor for a few reasons 1. For safety 2. Alludes to a Higher Being/Divine 3. To create a Sacred space totally removed from the material and mundane world. 4. It adds a mysteriousness that puts them in the surrender mode.

Waterfall – Cleansing – and ridding the self of outmoded patterns and programs no longer serving the client. Here we can also introduce their warrior/sacred self rising up in an ancient mirror from the water, and stepping into that self. Suggest they can feel their posture change as they step into this empowered self.

Mentor - A mentor can be anyone they feel they really trust. It’s a safety issue. It can be a friend, a passed loved one, a Guardian Angel, for children, it is common for them to use a superhero or an idol. Imagine it is like going to school on your 1st day, with a loving parent holding your hand and just being there to protect you and guide you on your first day. It is for comfort, a feeling of safety and protection.

Robe - Many clients will present with a base line of ‘not safe’. This is especially relevant with anxiety disorders. Repeat several times during hypnosis ‘ you are safe, you are safe, you are safe’

Say ‘as the robe wraps around you, you are in a cocoon of safety… shielded, protected, so safe, and so warm’.

Golden Room – Represents our Positive . People with lots of trauma may struggle to remember even one positive thing that has occurred in their lives, so in this room they can be presented with every loving moment, every smile, every kind word….watch their phenomenology closely here, if it appears they are struggling to find one, introduce their Mother & Father – only their higher evolved selves, to grow the baby up with love, acceptance, worthiness. It’s important to really be present here with your client, as this can be life changing for them if you are on the ball. Really elaborate on the ‘feeling’ of love and approval on their parents faces as they look so lovingly upon their beautiful baby. Grow that baby up in total love and acceptance to their current age.

You can find the meaning of most of the metaphors in your Study Guide under the 17 Steps of Hypnosis. (which should have been read cover to cover).

Where we take our clients on their hypnotic journey will guide them to their healing. As you become a more experienced Hypnotherapist, you will develop your own favourties. My personal favourites are the Sacred Mountain (safe space), Neptunes cave deep in the ocean (deep subconscious change of emotions), the ocean for cleansing

Before the Scottish physician James Braid coined the terms "hypnosis" and "hypnotism", the phenomena of hypnosis belonged to the fields of magnetism and Mesmerism. Magnetists and Mesmerists believed that an invisible universal fluid was responsible for their cures. In 1784 a commission investigating Mesmer stated that the cures were due to the imagination, not to magnetism. In response to criticisms, one of Mesmer's pupils, Charles d'Elson, wrote, "If Mesmer had no other secret than that he has been able to make the imagination exert an influence upon health, would he not still be a wonder doctor? If treatment by the use of the imagination is the best treatment, why do we not make use of it?"[1]

Many people suffer from problems that are caused by the imagination. For example, the person with a fear of flying imagines the small space or turbulence, or, as Kroger describes in Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, the example of a person who lacks confidence in public speaking:

"When in bed at night, he 'sees' himself walking up to the rostrum and 'hears' himself delivering his address. The mere thought of the future talk causes palpitation, sighing, holding of the breath and a panicky feeling. Thus, the imagination produces the same effects as if the speaker were in front of the audience. This process is referred to as sensory imagery.

If his imagination is negatively 'programmed' in this manner, time after time, night after night, it is only natural that he will develop anxiety when he gets up to speak. Continually thinking negative, harmful and destructive thoughts eventually leads to their realization because of expectation and belief that they will happen. Having an idea of an action often results in that action."

The Law of Reversed Effect Most people try to assert will power to solve their problems, but the Law of Reversed Effect says that the harder one tries to do something, the less chance there is of success.[2] For example: the insomniac who makes a real effort to sleep (even though sleep cannot occur from effort), or the smoker who tries to stop by admonishing herself every time she smokes a cigarette. In , more effective than the "You do not smoke" is the imagery of increased breath capacity, healthier skin, or greater peace of mind. Never use negative e.g. ‘smoking will make you sick’ or ‘if you keep eating you will get really fat’. We only use positive reinforcement and always in the present tense. So ‘you are now a non-smoker, easily and effortlessly’, feel how deeply you can now breather, and how much better food tastes! And your breath is so fresh…and your teeth are so much whiter! How good does it feel that you are saving over $8000…wow!’ You would already have their goals in the History form of what they want to do with the money they save, so add that here too ‘ Feel yourself in that shiny new car, with such comfy lux seats, and all the new modern technology that you can have so much fun with! How good do you feel sitting in that car! Can you smell that new car smell??....Divine!’

More than words The unconscious responds more readily to the imagination than to hypnotic suggestions. When hypnotic suggestions are used, their greatest effect is not in their literal meanings, but in the imagined thoughts they produce (use your Metaphor Handbook to find lovely metaphors which the subconscious understands). Words and phrases can produce powerful imagery, so a thoughtful hypnotist will be sensitive to the imagery that certain words may trigger in the imagination. Part of the task of the hypnotherapist is to determine what words are cues for specific imagery for the hypnotic subject.

Make it personal Imagination can be reproductive (i.e. reproducing a previous experience or idea) or productive/constructive (creating something new). When using imagery in hypnotherapy, the subject's own recollections are more impactful than a newly created image. For example, to help someone increase confidence in public speaking, it is more effective to use his actual

memories of times when he felt confident (in speaking or otherwise) than to describe an idealized image to which he cannot relate from personal experience. His own personal experiences are not forced on him, so he will accept them more readily.

Types of imagery Imagination can be volitional (voluntary) or receptive (involuntary). Hypnotherapy and self- hypnosis can use both types. With receptive imagery, the images come without conscious effort. An example of using receptive imagery is to establish a purpose for entering hypnosis (ex: to remember something or to solve a problem), and then to observe passively what imagery occurs on its own, without exerting conscious effort.

Tips for using imagery:

- Close your eyes.

- Pay attention to details: colours, shapes, faces, attire, landscape, sounds, feelings, etc.

- Include all five senses. Imagination can be visual, auditory, olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), and/or tactile (physical sensation).

- Be patient. Don't rush it or make hard work of it.

- If you are using volitional imagery, maintain a passive attitude when the mind wanders from the subject of focus, and return to it without judgment or frustration.

- Everyone already has the ability to imagine, so instead of waiting for something unusual or remarkable to happen, approach imagining as an opportunity to discern more closely how your imagination operates. Each person is unique in how they ‘imagine’, it may be visual, although some people cannot visualise, and that’s ok, so use the other senses..especially ‘feel’ e.g. ‘feel the soft, lush green grass beneath your feet’ or ‘feel the warm white sand flicking up between your toes’.

Sources: [1] Goldsmith, M. L. (1934). Franz Anton Mesmer; a history of mesmerism. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc.

[2] Kroger, William S. (1963). Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott.