Did you know that you use about six metaphors a minute in ordinary English?

That fact has been verified by researchers many times, but it probably surprises you. Because while you probably know that a compelling metaphor is a great way to get a message through to another person’s unconscious mind – whether in a hypnotic induction, a piece of writing, or a presentation – you’re probably far less aware of your own, everyday metaphors.

Just as fish probably don’t notice the water they swim in, you don’t notice the metaphors and analogies which are the very stuff of your unconscious “thoughts”. Even leading academics have only really become aware of them in the last decade or so.

But you can tell that those metaphors are there, because they casually spill out in your native language at such an astonishing rate.

Listen! Metaphors “spill out”… I’m comparing metaphors to some kind of liquid that’s overflowing from it’s container. “Get a message through”… it’s as if a message is like a physical object which has to penetrate layers of “stuff” to reach the person’s unconscious mind. We’re constantly comparing one kind of thing to another kind of thing, comparing and contrasting. That’s how we learn to make sense of the world.

Now, here’s the thing. Since the metaphors in our language are a side-effect of the metaphors in our unconscious “thoughts”, the metaphors in your language can be used as a way of connecting with your unconscious mind.

Probably the most sophisticated way of achieving this connection uses a process called Clean Language, devised by the late David Grove. It’s a hypnotic process which often helps people to make dramatic life changes – and it derives its power primarily from the metaphors used by the client.

The first step is to start to notice those metaphors! Start by noticing other people’s: listen for metaphors while watching TV or listening to podcasts; watch for them while reading online.

It’s then a short step to noticing your own. Here’s how to get started with that:

1. Record yourself talking to a friend about something that’s important to you, for about two or three minutes.

2. Get the recording transcribed. (You can find lots of inexpensive transcription services on Fiverr.com)

3. Look through the text for metaphors, ideally with the help of your friend. The most obvious are often in the form of cliches such as “I’m banging my head against a brick wall” or “I’m stuck in a rut”.

4. When you find a metaphor, take a few moments to consider it. If that’s the metaphor you are using in your unconscious thinking, what are its potential implications in your life?

5. If you’d like to take things to the next level, ask yourself a Clean Language question about your metaphor. It’s best to start with the Power Switch question: “And when , what would you like to have happen?” So, for example, “And when you’re stuck in a rut, what would you like to have happen?” Notice how being asked this question about your metaphor shifts your attention.

6. When you’ve spent a few moments considering each of the obvious metaphors, return to the text and look for more metaphors. Check the prepositions – are things really on, under, over, through? Or are these words being used figuratively, as metaphors? Expect to find at least one metaphor per sentence. And again, consider the implications of each.

And when you start to notice those metaphors in your language, and to use them to make a deeper connection to your unconscious mind, then what would you like to have happen?

- Judy Rees helps intelligent individuals to escape stuckness and procrastination, using the power of their own unconscious metaphors. She is the co-author of the bestseller “Clean Language: Revealing Metaphors And Opening Minds” and teaches Clean Language internationally. Her websites incude a popular blog about minds, metaphor and manipulation at www.xraylistening.com, and a collection of free training videos at www.learncleanlanguage.com

This is the first time we’ve tried this system, so do give me feedback in the comments section and let me know if you enjoyed the post. If you submitted a question and it isn’t answered here, chances are your question is so good that I’ve written a post or two on it in the past. Have a quick scan of the archives and I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for.

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Q: Alex Chekmarev on “Trance”

Hello, Nathan!

My name is Alex, I’m from Russia. For couple of weeks I actively explore your site and videos. You’ve been doing a fantastic job for people!
I’ve read lots of your articles and some pdfs and now had a few questions. Could you help me with them?

1. It is written everywhere that trance happen all the time, it is natural, there are lots of signs of it and so on. But what is a characterictic of a state directly opposed to trance? How it looks like? Because more I become aware of trance, more I notice that it haapen all the time even now, while I am writing this letter.

2. Trance is said to be extremely useful state for learning, relaxing, talking to people and so on. Then, what are weak sides of trance comparing to “not” transe state? In other words, when one should better be not in trance?

I’ll extremely appreciate your response.

A: Thanks for your questions Alex, I’ll answer them both together if I may as it’s essentially the same thing. For decades people have viewed the idea of hypnosis as the utilization and induction of special “trance” state which causes increased responsiveness to suggestion. More recently, people have been viewing this in a different way. First put forward my Milton Erickson, many of us now see “trance” not as one special, unusual state, but simply as the changing of one’s state of mind. This helps us understand hypnosis as a process, not a state.

Throughout the day your state of mind is always changing, depending on your thoughts, physiology, environment etc. Some states of mind are useful, others are harmful. Hypnosis is often about eliciting the most helpful and resourceful state of mind for the particular situation you’re in, and using this to cement habitual changes at the subconscious level.

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Q: Ryan Myer on Instant Hypnosis Inductions

Hi Nathan

I have purchased your book on Rapid Hypnosis, I have done about 5 Hypnotic inductions were the subject is visually obeying my instructions to relax and their pupils expand but when I give them the ‘sleep’ command they do not respond… I have used the hand to face and arm drop induction. They feel very relaxed after I say sleep they just don’t sleep.Do you have any suggestions?

Also are you perhaps planning to come to South Africa? To give a course?

Kind Regards
Ryan Mayer

A: Hi Ryan. I’d love to go to South Africa. Myself and Leo Gopal – one of South Africa’s best known hypnosis authors and trainers – have been correspondants for years, so a trip to meet up with him and teach a joint course is definitely on the cards.

Your question re instant inductions is a good one, and one addressed in Rapid Street Hypnosis which you already have. Check out the sections on failure proofing and what I call in the book “power inductions.” This will help you integrate the ‘suggestion’ phase with the ‘induction’ phase so that you can leverage the success you’ve been getting at the start throughout the entire process.

The key for you here to to maintain your ‘patter’ after triggering the induction. A lot of people just give the “sleep” command and then hold their breath anxiously hoping for it to work. Instead, keep talking and do not give the induction the option of failing. If they don’t close their eyes, tell them to do so. If they laugh, tell them “that’s right, keep laughing as you close your eyes now and relax.” Keep talking to them throughout the entire process so that there is no point where the induction has the chance of failing. Remember hypnosis is a constant process, not an instantaneous event, so you constantly have opportunities to convert a failure into a success.

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Q: Andrew D. Speech Patterns for Teachers

Nathan,
My son is a teacher do you have any advice as far as speech patterns he can use during class to help maintain control in class and enhance studying and test results?

A: Good question! I find the two most important things when teaching are confidence and story. Confidence of the teacher allows him or her to take control of the class and command attention. Telling good stories conditions people to listen when the teacher talks and pay close attention to what he’s saying. All subjects abound with fascinating stories, and listening to stories is how we were initially conditioned to learn. There almost nothing that cannot be made interesting through a good story. A little research will dig up what you need, and help the students to find interest in the subject matter and be motivated to study and succeed.

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Q: Jim Shane Hypnosis Advice

I have a question Nathan. I hope you get these emails and read them.

My name is Jim Shane and I live in Arizona. I took hypnotherapy training in San Diego many years ago and did little with it, but I’m regaining an interest in it.

I’ve watched many of the stage and street hypnosis videos on Youtube and I’ve wondered about something.

After one has put a subject into a trance and had them do several of the funny things hypnotists like to do, like sticking hands to walls and losing a number, etc, the subject is pretty well conditioned to go very deep and take commands quite effectively. But I never see any of the hypnotists give any kind of positive command like more confidence or overcoming a fear, etc.

My questions are…

Would this not be the perfect time to embed a powerful command that would change ones life for the better?
And, would a command given one time at this point not stick rather permanently if done well?

Very interested in your reply.

Thanks Nathan,

Jim Shane

A: Jim… Great Question! Actually I agree 110%. Hypnosis is a fantastically powerful way to help people reprogram their minds, overcome problems and achieve their goals… so why waste this by having people dance like Michael Jackson and leaving it at this! Now the distinction between “as seen on TV” stage hypnosis and the more conversational style of hypnosis we tend to talk about here is another matter, but fundamentally you have hit upon a key point: if you’re influencing people’s minds in anyway, be sure to leave them better than you found them. I teach this in all our hypnosis training courses and make sure people get this.

A fantastic way to leverage a simple entertaining hypnosis demo is to use your hypnotic phenomena as a metaphor for change. This combines the awe inspiring power of the phenomena you have created with the positive suggestion you’re giving, making it stick. The metaphor does not need to be Hemingway-esque in it’s subtle brilliance – just use the word “Because” to tie in themes. “Because your hand was stuck to the wall and is now free it means your mind has the power to free you from problems you that may have previously kept you locked down.” 

Excellent question Jim, thanks a lot for reading and contributing.

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Hey so that’s that for the key questions this month! I hope you found this useful. Remember if you asked a question and didn’t get an answer it’s probably because your question has been covered elsewhere on the blog. It’s also possible of course that it slipped through the cracks, so feel free to send it again! Questions can be submitted by emailing support@keystothemind.com

We’ll have another Q&A session like this in one months time, but between now and then we have a lot of content and ideas to share, so keep your eyes peeled and check back here soon.

Cheers!
Nathan Thomas

Nathan invited me to write a guest post for him and of course I jumped at the chance. It was only after I had said yes that I realised I had no idea of what to talk about that would really benefit you.

In the end I thought we could discuss some of the secrets to dramatically developing your skills but with an obvious regard towards learning hypnotic language patterns.

I have a passion of Accelerated Learning and have been studying the subject since I was a teenager.

Below are five things that can make a real difference. I have seen this with many different types of skills and obviously as an NLP and Hypnosis Trainer I have seen people flounder and others fly with their hypnosis skills. To a large extent it is all about how much they are prepared to embrace these learning points.

If you are ready, let’s have a look at some key points that make a huge difference to how you develop you conversational hypnosis skills

1) Learn to differentiate between practice and performance

There is a saying that practice makes perfect. I only half agree with this. I think perfect practice makes perfect. The point is many people don’t differentiate between practicing a skill and performing or using it.

Let’s look at a different context and you will see the point. If you were a musician you would not learn a new piece in front of five thousand people in the Albert Hall. You would probably practice the piece without an audience until you had it perfect and then you would perform it to people perhaps building the confidence for a huge audience.

The reasons for making this distinction is obvious and let us really nail the issue anyway. The purpose and outcomes for practice are to practice. If you are, for example using hypnotic language patterns for a specific result you are not practicing hypnotic language patterns you are simply using them for a purpose. The outcomes that you want will begin to interfere with the outcomes of the practice which are just to practice.

If you want to practice hypnotic language patterns isolate what element you want to practice; for example just saying a new pattern, getting your pitch, tone or tempo right, getting it to flow in the middle of a conversation. Then practice that element. The outcome is to practice; all other results are just a bonus.

2) Learn to take baby steps

It never ceases to amaze me whenever I teach people an instantaneous rapport pattern I usually have someone that immediately tries it out in the most difficult circumstances. They will pick a random stranger that is walking past them in a noisy environment talking to someone else. Then they wonder why they failed to build rapport.

When a child learns to walk you don’t immediately expect them to be able to stand at the edge of a tall building and walk across a tightrope. I’ve been walking for most of my life and I don’t think I am ready for that level of skill yet.

The key to developing your skills is to break things down to baby steps that you stand a better than average chance of succeeding at. When learning a new language pattern I will break it down into phrases then practice each phrase in isolation until I can string the whole thing together. I might then start by imagining situations where I would use the pattern, then practice with a friend and then in set up conversations and finally in proper live situations. Taking baby steps invites success

3) Learn to practice in the real world

Let’s stay in sight of the ultimate objective. In terms of learning hypnotic language patterns I think the key focus is to use them fluently, instinctively whilst still engaged in the conversation. As such there will have to be a point where you say the patterns out loud to someone else as part of a conversation.

Reading about them, practicing them alone in your head or understanding them is not enough. The problem I have seen happen is people seeing the complexity of some of the language make the assumption that they could never come out with that sort of thing fluently, they will be caught out or they will make a mistake.

The reality is you need to you need to bite the bullet and accept that to gain the skills you need to get out and practice in a live environment. That said remember baby steps, build towards it and develop exercises that invite success. But the final exercises need to be in a live environment.

My general approach is something like this:

• I start by working out what the pattern looks like
• I practice it out loud so I can just say the words
• I imagine conversations where I can use the pattern
• I then practice the conversations out loud hopefully with a study buddy who will feed the lines for the other party, or if not I will have the conversations on my own
• I will then sort out my “outs” – what I am going to say when I get caught out
• I then go out and deliberately start conversations specifically to use the pattern. I will usually use the pattern as many times as I can get away with it and using my outs when I get caught

4) Learn to love making mistakes

The only way to develop your skills is to do the things that you are not yet completely comfortable with. Sure we need to engineer the situation to give you the best chance of succeeding, but if you succeed every time then you are not stretching and you are not developing your skills.

This is a point I think needs repeating a lot:

 “Practicing the things that you can already do will not develop your skills.”

Remember when you were at school and revising for exams. If you are like a lot of people you will have revised the things that you are most comfortable with. I remember my friends constantly asking me to test them on the things that they knew. Surely the point would be to test them on the things they didn’t know so they could find out the extent of the gaps in their knowledge and start plugging them?

The reason I think this needs repeating lots of times whenever you are studying anything is because it is a comfort zone issue. Until you are entirely comfortable being uncomfortable there will be a natural tendency to creep back into the comfort zone and it is the one thing that will really slow down your development.

The solution? That’ easy, practice when the outcome is just to practice, have fun, not only accept your mistakes just build them in to part of the fun of learning.

Specifically when practicing hypnotic language patterns I developed a whole series of “outs” and things to say when I would be found out, stumble over my words and generally screw things up.

Here are three that I have used a lot:

“I screwed that up, what I was trying to convince you of was…(use the pattern again)”

“Sorry I was practicing my hypnotic language. If you end up with no trousers on squawking like a chicken it had nothing to do with this conversation. What I was trying to convince you of was…(back into your pattern)”

“Was that you using ninja persuasion skills to get me to fluff my lines? Damn you are good. What I was trying to convince you of was…(back to your pattern)”

5) Learn to over learn

This is a trick I learnt from learning to play the guitar. When learning a piece of music I would learn to play it in as many different ways as I could. I would use different speeds, fingering and rhythms. And eventually I would learn to play the piece whilst doing things like counting in threes or trying to say the alphabet backwards.

Think about walking for a moment. You make a series of very complex muscle movements that have to be completed in sequence to exactly the right level otherwise you fall over. You can go from running to standing to walking and to sitting down without hesitation, confusion or making a mistake. You can do this because you have engrained the skill at a deep unconscious level so that it becomes completely instinctive.

The same was true with my music analogy. I would find myself when performing a piece of music that I had learnt in this manner that I was completely unflappable, could improvise around the theme and could add expression or feel as the moment suggested.

But even more importantly I found that the things I had learnt in this fashion would appear in other things I was playing. Little phrases, particular ways of moving my fingers and the way I would playing things would change, especially when I was improvising. It was like I was building a library of material that was learnt on such a fundamental level that my unconscious mind would draw on it on command… rather like walking.

I find the same is true of learning hypnotic language patterns. I seriously advocate playing pattern of the day games. The basic game goes like this. Set your alarm on your watch or phone for a random time of day when you know you will have an opportunity to talk to people. When the alarm goes off you have ten minutes to start a conversation with the express purpose of using that pattern as many times as possible until you are caught out. If you were to do this for the next thirty days just imagine how fluent you would be at using those patterns.

Let me explain just how many levels this works on. Firstly you won’t get the luxury of the excuse of not remembering to practice for the day. By having to use the same pattern so many times in the conversation the whole of your focus is on just using the pattern instead of worrying about outcomes. This is perfect practice where the only purpose of the practice is to practice.

You also have to learn how to frame the conversation to get the pattern in to it. That means you rapidly get to learn what has to happen in the conversation to allow you to use the pattern and how to engineer it. By doing this sort of thing you are inevitably going to get caught out. This will allow you to practice your “outs” and let go of any fear of being caught.

And finally, my favourite. After a little while you get a reputation for doing this sort of thing. Then people get disappointed if you don’t do this sort of thing and you eventually end up in a position where people want you to do this sort of thing with them and you get to take great liberties with your language. And you end up being much more persuasive because people want and expect you to play linguistically with them.

 6) Learn to have fun

And as an extra bonus point of the startlingly obvious. Learn to have fun with the material. At the point where you take the material and just use it to have fun is the point where you really start to develop your skills.

Rintu Basu

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Message From Nathan Thomas:

This expert guest post was written by Rintu Basu, Amazon top selling author and world renown persuasion skills instructor. I’ve known Rintu for years and have twice co-taught seminars with him. What makes Rintu special isn’t just his mastery of these persuasion patterns, but the skill with which he can install these patterns in the minds of his students. Study from Rintu, and you’ll be spinning mind bending patterns like a natural.

Rintu has agreed to give you guys an exclusive special offer on his highly acclaimed “Persuasion Skills on Steroids” online training course. This street lethal program will rapidly install in your mind the skills to influence, persuade and motivate others in any context you choose. Because you’re a Keys To The Mind reader you can claim your copy for $200 off the regular price. Note: This is a time sensitive one time offer which you can only view once. Click Here to Claim Your Copy Now

Here’s the secret:

When excellent trainers look at a room full of fresh eager students, they don’t see a group of new, inexperienced learners.

They see a room full of masters.

It’s conventional wisdom among good NLPers / hypnotherapists that you should view every client as if they were the easiest and most promising client in the world.

This expectation and attitude will be communicated in every aspect of your behaviour and non verbal communication.

Because you EXPECT it, it will become reality.

This is what some call a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” The mere fact that you expect it causes you to behave in a way which makes it inevitable.

So, what does this mean for us as students of the mind?

The first thing is to STOP causing damage by doing this backwards.

A lot of people look at others through very negative lenses, constantly watching for their flaws, and waiting to expose them.

This is a kind of safety mechanism. It stops them from having to admit the virtue of someone else, which some may take as an admission of their own inferiority.

In order to truly help others thrive, you need to rearrange your thinking so that you are motivated – no threatened – by others success.

Look at every person you interact with as IF they are just totally awesome.

See them as if they were just fantastic to be around, as if you just loved every second of their company.

Ask yourself what would happen IF you did that.

Practice this, and when it becomes a habit the changes it creates will ricochet throughout your entire lif, and bring you a massive amount of freedom and success.

You can also apply this to yourself.

Look at yourself as a master of persuasion and communication skills.

Make it your reality.

Expect yourself to be successful, but don’t demand it.

Just relax, and know that that’s who you really are inside.

Your expectations shape your reality, your perceptions shape your expectations.

Actually, I’d like to get a little advanced for a second.

I don’t normally take things this deep, but I’m sure you can handle it.

If our perceptions shape our reality, and our reality shapes our identity, then we can look at our perspective and our identity as the same thing.

Practice shifting your perspective and seeing the best in others and your identity will begin to change.

Think about this…

Your entire perception of reality exists in your mind.

Every thought you have about another person is actually a thought about your perception of another person.

This means it’s actually a thought about a neurological construct within your own mind!

This means that if you feel hatred or dislike towards another person, you are actually directing these negative feelings towards a part of yourself.

Likewise, when you feel good feelings towards another person, you are really projecting these good feelings onto yourself.

Now is the time to STOP the toxic cycle, and break free from those old negative patterns.

See the best in others, and really focus on that.

Expect other people to be great, to live up to everything you love about them, and this will shape your reality.

This is powerful.

Practice it, and make this a habit.

See the good in people, and you are seeing the good in yourself.

Expect all people to be fantastic, expect them to like you, expect them to find YOU simply fantastic also!

The reward this will give you is truly phenomenal.

However, just because you train yourself to naturally see the best in others, it does NOT mean you can let them slide.

This is especially true if you’re in the business of teaching, coaching or helping others.

Do not turn into a spineless people pleaser who is kind to everything and everyone no matter their actions.

Recognize that your attention and goodwill is of value.

You only give it to people who EARN it, and you never accept second best from anybody, including yourself.

You can see the best in others whilst refusing to accept or be happy with their second best.

When I was assisting at one of my first hypnosis seminars, I asked the instructor what attitude should we, as the trainers, be presenting.

Should we be kind, and put others at ease?

Should we be strict, and keep them on their toes?

The answer relates to this issue perfectly.

Act like a proud parent. You love the students, but if they step out of line, you’ll gently but firmly reign them in.

This is how you should FEEL inside your mind.

Actually, you need to stop for a second and realize this isn’t just a happy clappy social technique.

It’s MUCH more powerful than that.

Why?

Because this is also how you should view yourself!

Be happy with yourself and your accomplishments, but don’t be content with anything other than your utmost best.

Think on this, and use your experiences to show you the value of this simple idea.

Cheers,
Nathan Thomas

This is their  way of saying what sense or “modality” you operate in.

According to NLP, the ‘predicates’  you use in conversation give away clues as to which sense you interpret the world through.

If you talk about seeing your point, perceiving things in a new way, getting a clear vision of what you’re saying, then chances are you’re quite visual.

Likewise if you hear what I’m saying and it sounds right and rings true, then chances are your “primary representational system” is auditory.

If however, you think this whole NLP business smells a bit off and that you get a bad taste in your mouth when you read NLP books, you must be olfactory / gustatory (smell and taste for those without an “NLP jargon dictionary” to hand).

NLP will teach you…

• that arguments are caused when two people with different “primary representational systems” are talking to each other in different senses. If he says “Can’t you see me point?” but she responds “Sure, I hear what you’re saying” then the two are talking at crossed senses, and neither will really feel understood by the others.
• that a fun hypnosis induction is to switch between various senses whilst speaking to confuse people. “Looks like this sounds good, but does it feel clear to you?”

These are both reasonably sound ideas and have some value.

However the full truth is, as common sense will tell you, it’s not quite that simple.

Most of us are reasonably well endowed in all 5 senses. Claiming that we actually only interpret the world through one of them is going a bit too far.

Yes there are people who more often than not interpret and express their reality in a visual way. There are also times when these ‘visual people’ think in terms of feelings or sound or taste.

Whether the ‘predicates’ we use in conversation determines how we are actually thinking has not (to my knowledge) been proven. It seems to make sense that if Bob uses visual works like ‘see’ and ‘perceive’ and ‘clear’ Bob must be a visual thinker, and if Jane uses words like ‘hear’ and ‘sounds right’ and ‘loud and clear’ Jane must be an auditory thinker.

Where things get tricky is the influences on the way we speak are many and varied. In the same way that we pick up slang and idioms from family and friends perhaps we also pick up the sensory predicates we use and simply mimic them. Rather than being a cunningly observed door to our subconscious, maybe it’s a simple, ‘meaningless’ matter of environment or coincidence.

The “Solid Ground” (Kinesthetic, if you’re wondering)

Representational systems are big time in the learning skills world. People beyond NLP, such as Tony Buzan advocate discovering your own most dominant sense and using this to enhance how you learn.

This actually quite main stream, and seems to resonate to some degree with common sense. Think about yourself and your own habits, and keep an ear out for the predicates you use – you never know what you might spot!

The “Big Picture”

Based essentially on modelling success, NLP has done with sensory modalities what it normally does – take a good idea, make it bigger, add some jargon and teach it.

The application of sensory systems in communication is an interesting idea, and I know from experience that it has value both for persuasion and influence and for change work.

Like all ‘techniques’ it is useful, but should be taken with a pinch of salt.

People are 3 dimensional. Deep. Varied. Complex – not simply sensory conversation machines. Understanding the relevance of sensory modalities is useful, but it’s easy to get carried away.

Cheers!
Nathan Thomas

“The Hidden” is a short film which aims to explore the power of the mind, and how anyone can access this through hypnosis.

Lucas Wandwerker is the young star and creative force behind this project which both hypnotists and ‘regular folk’ should find fascinating.

I asked Lucas to contribute an interview to Keys To The Mind about his thoughts on hypnosis, influence and the subconscious mind.

His responses were fascinating, and very well thought out.

I started studying hypnosis when I was about 14. I read every book I could get my hands on, and went out every day practicing on friends and anyone who would let me. Through trial and error I figured out what worked for me, and what didn’t and kind of developed my own ideas on hypnosis. I started giving hypnosis performances, the kind that make people look silly on stage. It wasn’t too long after that, I felt it was a waste of potential. One afternoon I was over a friends house in south Florida, and we were talking about hypnosis, he asked me if I could help him study for tests, I had no idea, but I said yes. So we took an encyclopedia off the shelf and worked out an unconscious memorization technique. I hypnotized him, and began quizzing him. He started to get every answer right, not knowing where they were coming from, he started to freak out. It was then that I realized I really tapped into something, that there was something more in our minds, all our minds, and there was a way to discover it in each individual person. It was real, it was incredible, and it was the first step towards the work I do now.

The Hidden is a series of live performances, all centered around the belief that in the right state of mind, all people are capable of all things. The goal of this project is to show the process one random member of the public will go through in order to unconsciously memorize Grey’s Anatomy. Within this process we will talk about other areas of memory and give other memory demonstrations.

I don’t see a line at all. My performances and my films are not intended to entertain. If they do or not, thats simply a side effect of the process. I really try to take my ego out of the equation when I present an idea and demonstration. Its not about me, its about my audiences, their minds, their thoughts, and their full potential. I hope they leave not just engaged, but inspired and empowered knowing they are truly capable of anything.

I do use NLP and psychological suggestion within my work. I don’t use these techniques to manipulate though. For me, every technique or idea that goes into my work is devoted to giving my audiences the power and the platform to realize that power. If its to make someone more comfortable or focus or visualize something or use a past experience to aid them in this process, NLP has been very helpful in accomplishing some of these wild eyed ideas.

I use only hypnotic techniques in this film. The end goal of the film is to teach a random member of the public to unconsciously memorize Grey’s Anatomy and take an exam on the subject. I whole heartedly believe anyone can do what I did in that video. Its just a matter of giving yourself the time and permission to indulge the process. The film will follow that process, with an average person.

I don’t really call myself a mentalist, I don’t mind that title, but it didn’t come from me. I feel im working on things that are beyond anything that has been done before. I know that may sound egocentric, but some of the things we are working on in this film are completely in another world from what’s been done in mentalism, and even hypnosis.The ideas keep getting more ambitious and the theories more interesting. I keep seeing the ideas progress towards this wonderful place, and Im not going to stop them moving, I don’t think anyone can stop them moving.

In order to make this vision a reality, we need to raise $3,000 for equipment, travel, editing, and everything else that goes into making a film happen. Take a look at the kickstarter page, donate what you can, every dollar helps. Then send it to all your friends and family. Its only through your support that this will happen. We really appreciate anything you can offer.

Click Here to Visit “The Hidden” on Kickstarter

Hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did!

All the best,

Nathan Thomas

Do a Google search for people like Dave Elman, James Braid and Franz Anton Mesmer. There’s a lot of bizarre facts to discover, and some fascinating stories for you to unearth!

For example, did you know that Dave Elman and Milton Erickson – the two definitive giants of 20th hypnosis – hated each other?

Erickson once furiously ejected a student from one of his classes when he found out that the student had also studied under Elman!

Franz Anton Mesmer is the man behind the weird idea of “Animal Magnetism” and the idea that all illness is caused by the misdirection of the magnetic flow in our bodies.

He would wave magnets up and down people’s bodies whilst suggesting that they would be cured.

When sent to investigate this bizarre phenomenon, Benjamin Franklin realized that the healing effects people experienced were the result of suggestion.

Mesmer is, of course, the man from whom we have the words “Mesmerism” and “Mesmerize.”

Last week I blogged an eye opening infographic about public perceptions of hypnosis

The Morpheus Hypnosis Clinic, the same people behind the “Myths and Facts” info-graphic and the creators of “Hypnotizr“, sent me another cool image that you’ll find interesting.

It’s a graphic summary and timeline of the history of hypnosis which covers everything from Braid to Bandler!

Check it out here – click the image to enlarge:

Cheers!
Nathan Thomas

From my experience, most people are a lot more educated than that!

Recently some folks from the Morpheus Hypnosis Clinic (the group responsible for the Hypnotizr phenomenon) contacted me about some interesting research they conducted into what people really think about hypnosis.

They surveyed 163 members of the general public about their beliefs regarding hypnosis, and the answers make for interesting reading.

Here are their results summarized in a very cool info-graphic:

(Click on the image to enlarge)

The Morpheus Clinic are based in Canada, and I’m sure results would vary per culture, but overall public opinion seems more or less in line with ‘informed’ opinion.

The lesson for us: if you’re interesting in learning hypnosis, don’t let your fears hold you back – people won’t be offended, freak out, or lunge at you with cloves of garlic!

Cheers,
Nathan Thomas

PS

Check out Hypnotizr to see more of what the Morpheus Clinic are up to. They’ve set up a great way for you to get the benefits of visiting a professional hypnotist without the price tag.

Maybe they’re polite and nod along as you talk about your passion, but you know that they just don’t GET IT in the deep, intuitive, passionate way you do.

A lot of folk still view the “Self Development” (for want of a better world) as a fad.

As something people turn to when they’ve got nothing else left.

Because you’re reading this, I think on some level you get that…

… Mastering The Mind is What This Century is About!

For people in what is nauseatingly called the “Developed World” at least, survival is not really an issue.

You have enough (or too much!) food to eat, and a roof over your head.

I bet even the dumbest, laziest guy you know has never had to go without three hot meals a day!

So those ancient challenges of survival are dead. Gone.

However, as Henry David Theroux said…

… Most Men [and women!] Live Lives of Quiet Desperation

We have everything we could ever need…

… yet many people still aren’t happy.

Suicide is an epidemic, particularly in my native New Zealand.

People are addicted to drugs, obese, depressed, tormented.

By WHAT?

By they’re own minds.

So that’s the KEY isn’t it!

There’s a lot wrong with the world out there…

… but far more wrong with the world inside most peoples heads.

And this is where you come in!

You’re learning how to master the subconscious mind.

Whether you call this “hypnosis” “NLP” or WHATEVER…

… Your focus is internal.

It’s mental.

It’s on how we think, feel and believe.

It’s on the attitude and the mindset, the real, core internal stuff which actually makes all the difference.

Slowly, people are beginning to jump on the bandwagon.

People get that happiness is a decision and the quality of your life is something that is decided from the inside out…

… not the outside in!

So I’m writing this quick blog post for you to tell you to KEEP AT IT!

So what if not everyone you know “gets it.”

So what if people tell you that you’re wasting your time.

So what if others reject the wonderful ideas and insights you have.

You’re riding the train that soon EVERYONE is going to try and jump on.

When they do, just remember that…

… You were here first!

Ok that’s all from me!

I gotta back to the “Hypnotize Anywhere” course – the videos are coming along BEAUTIFULLY. Actually, this is easily the best course – in terms of production quality and especially content – that I’ve ever put out.

So get excited, because you’ll have it to watch and enjoy soon!

Bottom line: Master the mind, and you’ll be driving a car whilst most folk are stumbling along in a horse and cart. Eventually, they’ll catch up…

…but in the mean time just enjoy the ride!

Cheers,
Nathan Thomas