Ready to Quit Smoking for Good?

Smoking is an interesting habit - people quit smoking for as many reasons as they started smoking - and absolutely hypnosis is helpful in changing any habit. Hypnotherapy allows you to discover the deeper purpose behind smoking and how to fulfill that purpose in a new, healthier, deeply satisfying way. Because all of this is happening in your own mind, it is always the perfect right solution for you.

Some interesting facts: In breaking smoking cycle, it takes 3 days for the nicotine release; 21 days for the emotional release; and almost 2 years for the plaque build up to clear your arteries. Hypnosis is helpful for the immediate withdrawal symptoms; for processing the release of emotional toxins over the mid range; and for managing/decreasing stress in the long run.

I do a minimum of three sessions over one week to quit smoking for good. The first session is the “getting to know you” session, My intake includes looking at what is your main motivation, your 3 strongest reasons to quit; past success with quitting; support systems in your life; and what affirmations are you making now. Some examples: “I smell fresh”, “ I reach for health” and a personal favorite, “Every breath is a gift”.

During the first session I teach a simple, one minute self hypnosis technique that effectively anchors the feelings of whatever it is that smoking brings you into a part of the body. Repeating the technique while tapping that part of the body instantly brings you to that place, circumventing the need for an actual cigarette.

The second session is almost completely done in trance, and is to quit smoking entirely. This can include imagining all the future situations where you would be tempted to smoke and seeing yourself as a permanent nonsmoker. It also includes visualizing releasing all your smoking paraphernalia, from ash trays to lighters to packs or cartons of cigarettes. This reinforces your self-programming, especially when combined with your anchor.

The last session is a goodbye ritual, acknowledging how Father Tobacco has served you in life, and honoring Spirit of the Plants. I combine Reiki in my sessions, using the energy to further dissolve any stagnation. According to Chinese medicine, grief is stored in the lungs, and often folks who smoke are stuck in some sort of grief, and hypnosis allows for a symbolic death, mourning, and most importantly, moving on to reaffirm life.

Some folks feel it’s about having enough will power, but really I see it as changing wishful thinking into willful thinking. Feel the difference in saying out loud, “I wish I could stop smoking” and “I WILL stop smoking” When you say, “I will” your brain says, “How?” and is all excited to participate. The simple truth is: You will know when it is time to quit. I had one client come to quit smoking, which she did in 3 days, after over a year of weekly hypnotherapy sessions to address the real reason behind her smoking: stress (the proverbial smoke screen). Once she had built up the internal resources to manage her emotions and discovered ways to release her stress in a positive way, she was ready to let go of her smoking habit. Allow yourself all the time you need, and remember to embrace change as a doorway to a more peaceful existence.

I hope this is helpful. Click the Schedule Now button  when you are ready to quit smoking for good!

Hard Night's Day

Hard Night's Day

It's been a hard night's day, and I've been sweating like a pig
It's been a hard night's day, and my hot flashes have gotten big
But when I find a cool spot in the sheets, it makes me weep,
Yeah, it makes me feel alright

You know I work all day to get money to pay my kid's tuition
And it's worth it just to hear you say you're not going to be bitchin'
If I need to sleep alone, please don't cry or moan
You know I feel OK

When I'm cool everything seems to be tight
When I'm cool feeling my hormones get right

It's been a hard night's day, and I been working like a dog
It's been a hard night's day, I should be sleeping like a log

But when I share my bed with you, and the cats too
Will make me feel hot and sweaty all night, oww
So please don't moan, 'cause when I'm in bed alone
You know I feel OK...

(To the Beatle's tune of "Hard Day's Night)

Join me on LIVE Radio with Santa Cruz Socialites

Please join me on LIVE Radio with Santa Cruz Socialites on Tuesday, January 24 from 9:00am-9:30am. I will be sharing holistic tips for managing post holiday/inauguration/ seasonal depression by cultivating lightheartedness, releasing worry & doubt, and practicing positive mental yoga through self hypnosis and other mindfulness techniques.

Up next on The Socialite Series: Listen LIVE

Episode #32: Tips for Seasonal Affective Disorder, aka: Post Holiday Depression, with guest host Kayla Garnet Rose.

Cuddle Meditation

A couple of years ago my sweetie and I went to some workshops on sexuality at our local (and tasteful) adult toy store, Pure Pleasure. The best thing we got out of it was "cuddle meditation" which we have now practiced consistently for two and a half years.

In the mornings, we tend to drink our tea and read/play on the computer for an hour or so. Then we go back upstairs and brush our teeth. Next we get back into bed (no clothes or pjs), and usually I lie on top of (since I'm smaller). We breathe together, hum, giggle, connect chakras, belly laugh, hold silence, and sometimes make love. This can last five to forty-five minutes, depending on work schedules, etc.

The effect has been incredibly positive. We both come from and practice very different spiritual beliefs, and this is way that we can "pray" together. We don't live together and only spend together time Friday through Monday. The first two years of our relationship the distance and separateness was an added strain. Since doing cuddle meditation, we both feel more calm and connected during the week, with much less insecurity and jealousy issues.

Also, when we do have conflict, we both take turns to speak our truth, then end up doing cuddle meditation. The next morning during cuddle meditation we check in to see if we had resolution and completion. This feels very safe, vulnerable and intimate, all at the same time. I highly recommend it.

Have you cuddled mindfully today?

Cooking with Intention

A client said, "I have tried to meditate while waiting for the dinner on to cook, but things could boil over, or burn, and I find it harder to concentrate." For me, meditation is a relaxed, focused state of concentration. In hypnotherapy, we call this going into trance. We go into trances all day long - getting sucked into tv or facebook, reading a good book, driving home getting lost in one's thoughts and suddenly you are there.

This activates the parasympathetic nervous system - our natural state of being, as opposed to the sympathetic nervous system, also known as fight-or-flight. When we are stressed out, blood leaves the belly (poor digestion) and the brain (poor thinking) to go into the muscles in order to run away or deal with a challenge. We don't have tigers and bears chasing us any more, but we do have bills and traffic. Even being under low grade stress can wear out the adrenals, cause poor sleep and assorted ailments.

Being able to return to the parasympathetic is crucial, as we think better, sleep better, digest better - indeed, this is when the body and mind can restore, replenish and rejuvenate itself. Meditation is the deliberate act of intentionally entering this state. It can be done with the eyes shut or open, while sitting or walking, actually at any time you choose to. This, to me, is what being mindful is all about. Thus, one can meditate at any time - from brushing your teeth to cooking in the kitchen

So, I would propose a two minute kitchen meditation. While, cooking, take a few deep breaths. Then focus on the smells of cooking, the sounds of cooking, the colors of the foods, the tastes and textures. Really be aware. I like to visualize the whole chain of people who made the meal possible - the farmer who planted the carrot, the worker who pulled it out of the earth, the trucker who brought it to the store, the market clerk who stocked it, the cashier who sold it, the person who cooked it (myself or the restaurant chef if I am dining out), the person who served it (wait person or my spouse). I feel this is a way to bless the food and really appreciate the simple task of creating a meal.

And guess what, washing the dishes can be it's own meditation too!

Weeding Meditation

Today I did a weeding meditation. Being mindful in the garden is a delight - really noticing the sounds of the birds, wind, my breathing; seeing the colors of the rich earth revealed as I removed the green and yellow sour grass; smelling the fresh air; feeling the roots give way as I gently tugged on the stems, the stretch in my low back, the little wooden stool supporting me; even the taste of a crisp California foggy day.

I found my mind wandering around the metaphor of pulling out negative thinking, the tenacity of old habits, the constant diligence to prune out the what is no longer serving. Even noticing that the big weeds were easier to get rid of then the little ones - just like my habits, some of the big ones are easier to change, more so than the little self doubts that creep in and take hold.

And then allowing myself to simply enjoy the garden, not just work at it - just like in meditation, enjoying the wandering of my mind, with no need to do anything but explore my inner landscape, appreciating the beauty and complexity, feeling whole and healthy - weeds and all.

Good Morning Habits

Today's Affirmation: I allow myself order and routine.

We often think of hypnosis being used to break a bad habit, like smoking, biting nails or overeating. However, hypnotherapy is also effective in creating  long term life style changes by cultivating good habits, such flossing teeth, regular exercise, and using turn signals at intersections. Indeed, we are creatures of habit, but it begins with a mindfulness, awareness, and a willingness to change. Creating healthy habits is a way to release anxiety and manage stress. They can be comforting, calming, and empowering by promoting self care which creates self reliance.

For developing morning habits, getting up early is key. I was a late sleeper until my early thirties. Then, after having a kid, I discovered that getting up early was my secret time to myself. Now my daughter is 19 and in college, but I still like getting up an hour before my partner and having time to meditate, journal, stretch, etc. It has definitely become a habit, even if I go to bed late. It is way easier for me to add to morning habits - last December I struggled with adding flossing to my evening routine, and still now am using my phone reminder.

Here are my "good morning" habits:

• Wake up with the dawn to the crowing of cats
• Make green tea
• Check emails, play on computer 20 minutes (I used to spend 90 minutes, one great habit change from the September module)
• Meditate, journal
• Work out - 30 minutes cardio, 15 minutes stretches, 5 minutes strength exercises
• Get washed and dressed - use a moisturizer with sunscreen in it
• Make the bed, tidy the house
• Take my herbs and supplements

There is some variation, day to day, depending on what time my first client arrives - I try to schedule my work day to start at 10:30am, but sometimes I see clients at 8 or 9am. On Wednesdays I have a 7:30am business meeting, so I meditate and work out usually in the early afternoon. On weekends, my partner and I meditate together, and we either walk or hike for an hour or two, so I use that for my exercise, but I still do stretches at some point.

The one glaring habit that is missing? Eating breakfast! I have not eaten breakfast on a regular basis since junior high. I know it is so good for the body. Wednesdays I go out with my colleague after our meeting, but otherwise I tend to brunch - eating a pretty solid meal around 11:30am before my noon client. Time for some self-hypnosis, Kayla!

What good habits would you like to cultivate?

How Many Sessions Will It Take?

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive as a hypnotherapist is: how many hypnotherapy sessions will it take for my issue to be resolved?

Most people start with three sessions. The initial consultation is 90 minutes long to allow for a thorough intake. This is "the getting to know you" session. Usually we record a short hypnosis technique to be used between sessions. 

The second session is usually 60 minutes and dedicated to building up resources. Insights from the initial session and affirmations are combined with hypnosis techniques designed to build up the willpower "muscle".

The third session varies on the nature of the problem. It can be used for release of past trauma, managing current stressors/triggers, and/or for reinforcing the positive changes occurring. From there, we make a plan on what would be the most beneficial, depending on whether the client feels complete, would like to continue to explore their inner landscape, or has a different issue to be addressed.

Some people have complete resolution in one session, others take longer. Most people experience a subtle shift right away, which brings a sense of relief and being back in control of your life and the ability to make healthier choices. Simply picking up the phone is the first step to success, just as joining a gym or signing up for a yoga class is the first step - after that, showing up, practicing, and following through on your intentions is what creates truly long term, successful solutions.

One of the problems with hypnosis is how it is portrayed in the media - I do not have a pocket watch that induces instant trance with instant results. I would love to have a magic hypno wand that makes everything better, but the truth is, your issue is worth dedicating some time and investing some energy into, so as to truly have deep understanding and develop wisdom.

Statistics show that hypnotherapy has a 93% success rate after 6 sessions, as compared to a 38% success rate after 600 sessions for psychoanalysis (that's once a week for 12 years)*. While hypnosis has a different scope of practice than traditional talk therapy, it is a great adjunct and can be a way to accelerate the healing process.

Please call or email for more information or for an appointment and experience insights for personal growth and transformation today.

* Study by Dr. Alfred Barrios, published in American Health Magazine, August 2007

   

Past Life Regression

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart ... Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." - Carl Jung

As a hypnotherapist, one of my ultimate favorite sessions is doing past life regressions. Whether one believes in last lives or not, these sessions are always  profound, insightful, and deeply healing. I have had clients come to do past life regressions in order to understand current life patterns, such as overspending and overeating; find forgiveness for their childhood abuser; and release feelings of karmic debt from failed relationships. I have guided over two dozen sessions, and some clients have experienced this process more than once. Personally, I have worked with other hypnotherapists and have experienced three past lives. Here is the most recent one.

 Intention: What would be beneficial for me now in my healing practice?
 Affirmation: I will say yes to giving my gift this lifetime

 The hypnotherapist had me get comfortable and warm on the massage table. We started with some deep breathing and a basic relaxation technique. Then she counted down from ten to one, with the instruction to discover in my minds eye a safe comfortable place to begin today's journey. I go into trance extremely easily and quickly, and always find it quite pleasant. I felt very curious and full of wonder of what I might discover today.

I found myself imagining being in my back yard on a warm spring day. The sun was shining, I could smell the jasmine, and both the cats were keeping me good company. I noticed the sounds of hummingbird wings and my neighbors off in the distance, I felt very safe and secure. I moved a statue of Kuan Yin over to the power corner of the garden (as according to fend shui), and took a moment to pay tribute to the goddess of healing and compassion. Kuan Yin is often depicted with her head tilted to one side, in order to hear the cries of suffering from humankind. I took a moment to reflect on all the deep listening I do for my clients, and prayed they always felt my office to be sanctuary to release their woes and find peace.

Now the hypnotherapist led me through a second countdown, and I felt as if I was traveling through time. I saw Eskimo faces, Romany gypsies, African tribes, all flashing before my eyes in quick succession. At zero she had me simply look at my feet, then my clothes, then the surroundings, taking in the sights, the sounds,the smells, all the colors and textures, even the tastes. I knew the time of day, the season, even the year in incredible detail.... I was in China, in the year 500 a.d.

I looked down at my tiny feet, aware I was wearing white silk pants and a blue silk shirt. At first I felt genderless, then noticed I was a 13 year old girl. My feet were hurting, as we're my shoulders, and I noticed the way the smooth wooden yoke fit across my neck, the way my hands balanced the buckets, which were filled not with water but an assortment of herbs and mushrooms. I walked back to the compound, aware of the dust and the smell of my sweat, stopping at a small hut to gather up supplies.

Then I went from room to room doing my honorable task for each of my aunties - taking off the tight bindings and bathing their feet with fresh spring water and herbs. The smell is incredible, the twisted toes forced into tiny shoes, and again and again the admonishment to keep this secret. I am not royal nor a peasant, so my feet are not as tightly bound, my role is to perpetuate tradition, to find sacred in the mundane. I cleanse and purify, applying herbs as salves and poultices, massaging calves to encourage blood flow before reapplying the restrictive bindings.

The hypnotherapist has me fast forward into this life. I have a husband, who I recognize as my brother in this lifetime. Their are bunches of herbs drying in the rafters, hanging in pouches along the wall. I am well versed in herbs for infertility as well as for inducing menses, the only contraceptive of the time. I myself am infertile, and I feel cursed, yet blessed that my husband remains by my side.

I see myself stirring up salves, unguents, lotions. I continue to tend to the ladies, and see babies birthing between my hands. Sometimes they are still born, And I take their tiny bodies down to a special burial place at Kuan Yin's temple. These are my spirit children, and I know my task is to guide their spirits in the most sacred of ways. and always, keep it secret, secret, secret.

Now the hypnotherapist gently guides me to the moment of my death. I am forty years old, surrounded by nieces and nephews, always a favorite auntie. I pass quite peacefully, my devoted husband by my side, surrounded by clay jars sealed with beeswax with flowers pressed into them.

The hypnotherapist counts me back to my safe space. Back in the garden, i realize this is where my cats are buried in the yard. I have intense memories of reading Chinese Folktales as a kid, which i was fascinating by, and Mary Daly in college, her descriptions of Chinese foot binding being both horrifying and fascinating. More images flash before my eyes, including washing both Jesus and Marys feet with my hair during reiki I and ii. Then i see my paternal grandmother, Nona Thersa, her gnarled feet and discolored toenails. I briefly experience the double foot surgery I went through when I was in sixth grade, my feet being bound by ice skates. My mom had the same surgery at the same time, her feet messed up by wearing shoes much too small due to the extreme poverty she lived in as a child in postwar Sweden. Here was the aha moment of seeing an ancestral pattern.

The hypnotherapist counted me up to this dimension. We spent some time processing the session, then said our goodbyes. The session was so rich and qualitatively different from other hypnosis sessions, the amount of detail and deep knowing feeling is like nothing else I have ever experienced. I hope this sparked your own sense of curiosity and wonder... Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to set up a session to experience a past life regression of your own.

Tossing Worries

I tend to wake up around 3:00 am every night and be up for an hour or so. Usually I read a book or meditate. Last night I found myself "Tossing My Worries" instead, and excellent way to release stress. Here is the technique:

Start with a simple self hypnosis technique to relax. Begin with some deep cleansing breaths, breathing deeper and deeper for 5 to 10 breaths. Relax each part of your body - head and neck, shoulders and arms, down your spine, hips and thighs, calves and feet, chest and belly. Say out loud, "I am calm, peaceful and relaxed." 

Now visualized yourself going down to the ocean, a favorite river, lake or pond. It could be real or imaginary. Make it as vivid as possible. Notice the sights, sounds, colors, textures, and tastes. Be aware of the time of day, the season of the year. Allow yourself to enjoy this special place that lives deep inside of your imagination.

Now find a container with a light lid, cork or lock. I found a cobalt blue bottle. Pick up pebbles, naming each of your worries, and pop them into the bottle (worry about family, health, finances, etc). Take all the time you need. Notice the weight of each stone, how it feels in your hand, the satisfying sound as you drop it into your container.

When it feels complete, put the lid on tightly, and seal it in any way that makes you feel safe and secure. Throw it into the water and visualize it sinking all the way to the bottom, deep, deep down, never to surface again. Notice how it feels to be released of your burdens and fears. 

Take some deep breaths, returning into your body gently, notice being present and conscious, alert, awake and alive. Welcome back!

Call or email for a personal session to toss your worries and live a more fulfilling, productive and proactive life.

Phobias & Money

I received this comment on my video, A Simple Self Hypnosis Technique:
Yes this does indeed work but how can I use this to overcome the fear of a phobia without having to pay money to see a hypnotherapist?

 Well, of course it will depend on what phobia you have, how long you have had it, and how intense it is. That being said, I'd recommend doing the simple self hypnosis technique daily and adding in imagining yourself successfully dealing with the phobia.

For example, I had a client with severe claustrophobia who needed an MRI. We did three sessions in three days, anchoring her feelings of being calm and centered then having her practice in her head doing the self hypnosis technique on the way to the hospital, in the hospital waiting room, during the MRI, and afterwards coming home. She was able to go through the procedure without any panic feelings whatsoever. Visualizing your self before, during, and after helps with overcoming phobias. This has also worked with clients who have had a variety of phobias including fear of flying, social anxiety and public speaking.

On a different note, it is worth it to pay a hypnotherapist. Medicare charges seniors a copay because research showed that people who pay get better. Working with a trained professional is usually much more efficient - think of the difference in working with a guitar teacher rather trying to learn guitar by yourself. All of my sessions are recorded for home practice. It is an investment in yourself and you are worth it! Call or email for your appointment today.

Sweeping Beauty

Focus and Simplify

We live in a time of multitasking, over-committing and having shorter and shorter attention spans. According to Leo Babauta,

• Multi-tasking is less efficient, due to the need to switch gears for each new task, and the switch back again.
• Multi-tasking is more complicated, and thus more prone to stress and errors.
• Multi-tasking can be crazy, and in this already chaotic world, we need to reign in the terror and find a little oasis of sanity and calm.
• Our brains can really only handle one thing at a time, and so we get so used to switching between one thing and another with our brains that we program them to have a short attention span. This is why it’s so hard to learn to focus on one thing at a time again.

So the challenge is to begin single tasking. Charles Dickens once wrote, “He did each single thing as if he did nothing else.” This is a life lived fully in the moment, with a dedication to doing the best you can in anything you do — whether that’s a work project or making green tea.

Today my single-minded, distraction free, 15 minute task was sweeping the front walkway and sidewalk. Each time my mind would wander I would do a simple hypnosis exercise of noticing 3 things I could hear, three things I could see, and three things I could physically feel. 

For example, I noticed the sounds of the broom, the neighbors talking, an airplane in the distance. I noticed the weight of the broom, the sun on my shoulders, my hair lifted by the breeze. I noticed the colors of the leaves, the textures of the slate pavers, the plants that are surviving despite the drought. I was also aware of the smell of winter, the change in light, the satisfaction of creating order even though I will need to repeat it all over again tomorrow.

Hypnosis is an excellent way to retrain your brain to stay focused, increase your attention span as well as memory, and live a more intentional and mindful life. Call or email for your appointment today!

Warmly,

Kayla

Kayla Garnet Rose, PhD
www.KaylaGarnetRose.com
(831) 435-5182

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnosis Works!

I joined a new referral site and they asked interesting questions about my role as a hypnotherapist that I thought these were well worth sharing. Enjoy!

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Clients experience insights for personal growth and transformation. Both hypnosis and Reiki are incredibly effective for managing stress, releasing blocks, and discovering long term, successful solutions. Commonly people come in for: insomnia, weight management, stress management, smoking cessation and other habit changes. Hypnobirthing, pain management and accelerated healing are also benefits of hypnosis. On the trans-spiritual side, sessions can be focused on accessing inner guides, dream work or past life regressions. Enhanced performance, whether for a test, sports event or public speaking, comes with the guidance and positive reinforcement that hypnotherapy provides. Please call or email with any questions!

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. There are a few things in life you never want to buy at a discount: brain surgery, dentistry, parachutes and hypnotherapy. And Medicare has a copay as studies show that people who pay get better!

Hypnotherapy is an investment in yourself. It is most successful for people who are willing to put in the time, over a length of time. According to American Health Magazine, hypnotherapy has a 93% success rate after just 6 sessions. Dedicating this time to go deep within yourself is a way to value, honor, and truly listen to your deeper wisdom.

Practicing the Simple Self-Hypnosis technique between sessions in the best way to accelerate the process, integrate the information, and put into action all that your truly want in life.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Hypnotherapy is nothing like stage hypnotism. Kayla does not have a pocket watch, nor can she make you cluck like a dog or bark like a chicken.

All hypnosis is really self-hypnosis, and Kayla's role is simply to guide you into a relaxed, focused state of concentration. When in this "trance" you are completely aware, able to remember everything clearly, can communicate easily and are always in control. Kayla encourages her clients to record their sessions for home reinforcement.

Please check out Kayla's YouTube video "A Simple Self Hypnosis Technique" and decide for yourself if you would like to take the work to the next level by working with Kayla.

Call, email or text with your questions, and/or to set up your appointment today!

Warmly,

Kayla

Kayla Garnet Rose, PhD, CHT

www.KaylaGarnetRose.com
(831) 435-5182

My First Past Life Experience

The first time I experienced a past life regression was when I was a student at Twin Lakes College in 2005. To begin the trance, I imagined I was in an elevator, the hypnotherapist voice counting down the numbers: from 10 to zero to relax, from zero to negative ten to reach the place where I’d do today’s work. The doors dinged open and I stepped out into the corridor of The Galleria. I moved along to my therapist office, thinking to myself, “This ain’t no past life experience. This is a past week experience.” I stepped into my therapist’s office then literally flew over her head and out the window.

I found myself in a little row boat on a foggy moor, pulling the oars and listening to the splashes. I beached on a small island covered in green grass, a lonesome stone tower the only building in sight. I climbed the stairs to find a single massive bed in a cold chamber, piled high with blankets. I knelt by the bed and took the woman’s thin hand, knowing she had waited for me to come so now she could die.

A long time seemed to pass, and at last I carried her body down the stone steps. I could feel the bite of the shovel, the smell of moist dirt, as I dug deep into the earth. After I had buried her, I simply sat and waited, and after a long time, I noticed the grass was beginning to grow again.

When I came to, I knew the face of the woman, I knew what I felt I needed to do. The trance felt like days and weeks was really only 40 minutes long, and I can still remember it very vividly, as well as still appreciating the insights I gained in that journey, years later.

Transpersonal and Spiritual Hypnosis
“Much of hypnosis is oriented toward identifying and fixing symptoms and developing resources by utilizing the powers and wisdom of the unconscious mind, In this work, the ego or personality finds a particular symptom or behavior distressing, and wants to be rid of it - wants to return to its idea of health and balance, or the client wants to develop a new skill or attitude. This works well for instance, if someone wants to stop biting their nails, or pulling their hair (trichotilomania). Eating habits, sleeping habits, smoking habits can all change easily when the desires of the ego are met by the cooperation of the unconscious.
In Transpersonal and spiritual hypnosis, there is a subtle and radical shift in perspective and focus. The goal is not so much to be symptom free, or even happy, but to achieve higher consciousness. Symptoms are not to be understood as inconveniences or signs of imbalances but rather are appreciated and embraced as important signals from a place of higher wisdom. Carl Jung said “The gods speak to us through disease” but I have also head “All illness is initiation”.

In spiritual and transpersonal hypnosis, the client is searching for meaning. There is often the sense that a symptom that is upsetting for the ego may in fact be just what the soul needs to grow on its life journey. From a place of higher consciousness, change follows acceptance, healing is not always the same as cure, and wisdom is of the greatest value.

Past Life Regression/ Future Life Progression
Just as it is possible to move back and forth in time within one lifetime, it is also possible to move into other lifetimes - past and future - for healing information. A client (or hypnotherapist) does not have to believe literally in reincarnation for this work to be helpful, for it is possible to treat the experience as a meaningful dream. People often do past life regressions to explore persistent physical and emotional symptoms, to understand current life relationships, to access wisdom and skills - and also just for fun.

Some of my Experiences
• The demo in hypnotherapy school was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever witnessed. The teacher led an aide into a past life. Her whole body transformed before my eyes, her hands all bent and twisted, her body curled up almost fetal. In a deep, gnarled voice, she began to pour out a story of being a cobbler whose only daughter had been killed while out to fetch more leather. When she came out of trance, she felt that she had experienced a deep insight into her own personal path of forgiveness.

• I have done around a dozen past life regressions for my clients by now. I have had clients experience themselves as being the captain of a sinking ship, an African woman whose babies were kidnapped and sold into slavery; and one client who simply experienced being literally floating between the worlds. Her whole life was in limbo - job, marriage, etc. - so it ended up being the perfect place for her to hang out in for while, to feel at peace with transitions.
• One client came to see about a past life regression. After initial trance, I initiated ideomotor signals (letting the body communicate “yes”, “no” or “can’t/won’t answer”) and asked his body if it would be beneficial for him now. His body clearly answered “no”. We used the rest of the time to establish more inner resources instead.

• I recently attended Donald Michael Kraig’s workshop on Experiencing Your Past Lives. I thought my current stomach problems I have had this year, and set the intention to discover the deeper cause.

“And when I reach zero, you will be aware of your surroundings. Start by looking at your shoes…” I looked down at the coarsely stitched brown leather that had passed as my shoes for years. I was aware of vivid green grass, gray stones covered with paler green lichen, the feeling of a cow’s warm side, the fact that it was the year 800 in a borderland between France and Belgium (Rouen). I lived a simple life, making cheeses, laid out on wood slabs, needing to be turned each day, slowly ripening for market. “Now imagine it’s the day before your death, and allow an important message to come through…”

Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication about timing and the experience was cut short just when we got to the really juicy part, and I left feeling incomplete. Luckily I’m a certified hypnotherapist myself, and later that night I found it easy to slip into trance and really flush out the details of my experience.

I’m in a tavern, arguing with the inn keeper. I see a bone handled knife, very clearly. I see an abdomen, cut open, slippery guts sliding out - I don’t know if it’s the tavern keepers’ or my own. Later I am with my husband in our hut with no windows, just a hole in the ceiling for the smoke from the fire to escape. It is our last moment together, and I know I have made the right choices.

The message, so simple, so profound: Trust your gut instincts.

Experience a Shamanic Journey with Hypnosis

Walking into our local health food store, I am slightly dismayed to see the display of chocolate with the label of “shaman" with a claim that it benefits some indigenous people somewhere. Cultural appropriation aside, in a time where the earth is experiencing a healing crisis, where more people are learning Reiki in thirty hours instead of thirty years, I ponder what it is to walk the path of a modern day shaman.

   "The principle function of the shaman in Central and North Asia is magical healing. Several conceptions of the cause of illness are found in the area, but that of 'rape of the soul' is by far the most widespread. Disease is attributable to the soul's having strayed away or been stolen, and treatment is in principle reduced to finding it, capturing it, and obliging it to resume its’ place in the patient's body. Only the Shaman... sees the spirits and knows how to exorcise them; only he recognizes that the soul has fled, and is able to overtake it in ecstasy and return it to the body." (1)

   I find this an interesting contrast to modern day healing as one of the techniques I employ as a certified hypnotherapist is the "shamanic journey". After inducing trance, my role is to facilitate the clients’ journey, where they meet a spirit plant, spirit animal and spirit guide with messages and assistance for their current situation. The main difference here is that rather than me doing the journeying for the client, the client is doing the work themselves, in particular in contacting their own inner resources. "Shamanism offers a means of support and comfort for these dark emotions through contact with our spirit guides and power animals... Supportive, wise and loving energy around us... Our guides and animals actually become bored when we do not call upon them and drift away looking for something to do... Our guides can provide a sense of comfort and remind us that we are connected to energies much larger than we are." (2)

   I decided to do a shamanic journey specific to this time in my life in becoming a holistic healer. I am entering a different phase of life, now in my late forties, noticing the ways in which my energy longs for simplicity. I have been reconnecting with my spirituality in particular, creating time and sacred space for myself. As my daughter grows to womanhood and is looking at colleges, I find myself looking at this time of moving from being the mother to being the crone, the wise one, the elder. Astrologically speaking, I am entering my Chiron return - Chiron, the wounded healer, who changed his wounds into his greatest gift. As Sandra Ingerman writes in Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self, "In the shamanic tradition of the 'wounded healer,' I began not by learning theory or observing others, but by coming to terms with my personal distress." (3)

   I had recently done a past life regression where I experienced being a midwife in China a few thousand years ago. Then, in looking through my journals, I discovered a dream I had in my twenties that included meeting a warrior and carving the words, "I Am Initiate" into my arm. Almost a decade later, once I was in a trance state and I remember I looked down at my body which half was skeleton, half flesh, and I hearing Ani diFranco sing, “You have your whole life to do something, and that’s not very long.” Similar to the what Kenneth Johnson describes as a distinct pattern of shamanic initiation, where the “shaman undergoes a visionary experience, sometimes brought on by illness in which he or she suffers death and dismemberment, only to be resurrected and reborn” (4) . I found these potent and significant passages in my spiritual growth, and was now ready to explore more.

   The hypnotherapist had me get comfortable on the couch, close my eyes and do a basic relaxation to induce trance. I found myself in the backyard with the cats, sitting at a table made from the stump of the old plum tree. A part of me - the part that felt tired, needed rest and repair, curled up on my mom's old blue jean quilt and went to sleep. The cats went over to stand guard of my physical body while another part, my dream body, journeyed.

   I began to walk on a path, leaving the garden, first going upstairs to my altar area filled with the smell of colored pencils, down the stairs again, out the front door, up to Henry Cowell woods, down to backyard again, walking around the house to the front yard, where I met my spirit plant.

   A tall, slender birch tree greeted me. I ran my hands on the trunk, seeing and feeling how the bark was shed as the tree grew bigger and stronger. The shedding bark so clearly told of the need to let go of the past in a natural and organic way, whether donating clothes and unused possessions to goodwill to releasing old outgrown friendships. The roots reminded me it was okay to be anchored here, in my home in Santa Cruz, there is no need to move, I can stay rooted, grounded. I perceived that the roots were as large as the branches, so important to draw up nourishment from the core of the earth, creating stability through the winds of change. The trunk was tall, supple, slender and flexible, again shedding what it had outgrown, but this time growing up towards the light rather than down into the earth. I traveled into the green leaves, which sparkled and shimmered in the light. Here I felt reminded to stay light and sparkly, a contrast to the Chinese Elm in my yard, which had cracked in the winter after being too top heavy. Metaphorically this resonated in my being as a message to stay light in my head as well as my heart, not to be too heavy in my thinking.

   More insights poured into me: Always look for the three layers in healing: root, trunk and leaves, each has a medicine of its’ own. I had a memory from first grade come up, my first crush, a seven year old boy named Birch who had blonde hair, blue eyes ,a freckled nose, and always wore tennis bands. Two baskets made by my Swedish grandmother, both woven out of birch bark, now holding beads and crystals on my altar. A vision, first of my back bone, then my whole nervous system, my spinal cord being like the trunk of the tree, noticing all my nerves branching outwards, from the tips of my fingers to the tips of my toes. Birch whispered that it is good right now that I am doing chiropractic and cranialsacral therapy as they will help to reset my nervous system. I had been thinking about quitting coffee completely lately, having reduced my consumption considerably, and this seemed like a way to shed this habit easily and effortlessly, simply by calling upon Birch.

   After thanking Birch for its gifts, I continued on my path. I meandered past the bottle brush tree, taking a moment to sit on the bench on the porch. Instantly there was a hummingbird in my face, darting around, twittering furiously, finally landing on my outstretched hand and gently resting. I could feel its’ hearts warmth on my finger as I observed its’ iridescent green feathers, so sparkly, bright, shiny, and playful. I wanted to stroke the ruby red throat, and in its’ beady black eyes glowed the message: trust your voice, keep speaking your truth. Better yet, sing your truth. Hummingbird showed me that it is territorial, and interesting message to fight for what is mine, to fight for my current relationship, to know it is worth the effort and what it is to to feel fierce and proud, not in an ego way but as an assertion of life force and my right to be. I saw Hummingbird visiting flowers, in particular hibiscus blooms, a gentle reminder to try new things, to sip the nectar of life and enjoy the sweetness, to really savor each moment rather than busily humming along to the next, allowing me to stay in the moment, be present with myself. Hummingbird also has a reputation for nervous energy, and I can use my own nervous energy to propel myself forward, backward even sideways at times, and how to balance that with periods of rest. Here I saw my heart's nest, in my own heart beat the fluttering of wings.

    I thanked Hummingbird for his presence today and continued on my path. From the front porch I walked down and around the house, returning to the back yard. I observed my sleeping body still being guarded by the cats, and continued to the garden table in the corner. Here I met my spirit guide who was wearing a long white  dress painted with pink flowers, quite sparkly, her long hair down to to her waist, very feminine, with a filmy veil that revealed a crescent moon tattooed between her eyebrows. She kept vibrating between being in her mid twenties to mid sixties. She said she was my True Self come to guide me.

   True Self showed me the sacred tools of the four elements sitting on the garden table: an athame, a wand, a crystal ball, and a conch shell with a hole in the top. She reminded me to sing songs, say prayers, remember chants, pay attention to dreams, notice all that is spilling out of me. I was filled with a feeling of reconnection, much like my recent visit to sacred grounds in Hawaii, feeling back in touch with the earth and the ancestors. The messages seemed to tumble as a litany, touchstones to return to after having wandered: breathe, drink water, accept the current form, nothing to do differently except to do it with intention, keep simplifying, rather than getting caught up in the next step, focus on your current step.

   Suddenly the "real world" crashed in: there were loud ambulance and fire truck noises outside the office. I asked my True Self: Is there a fire in my soul? Am I responding out of habit? Addiction? I check in with physical body, the crisis has passed, there is no trauma. As it is noisy outside I am quiet inside, at peace. I started to send energy to the situation but my True Self said no, it is being taken cared of, stay here, be present with your process. More messages tumbled forth: take more cat naps, enjoy the garden rather than work in it, twenty minutes of hypnosis is the same as two hours sleep. More cat cues - stretch when waking up, rest when tired. True Self kissed my forehead, put a jeweled bindi on my third eye. True Self reached into her robes and gave me a pouch filled with extra sands of time, whispering the simple blessing: You have all the time you need.

   I felt deeply peaceful, full of gratitude and appreciation, showered with blessings, on my path, clear, calm, compassionate and curious. After coming out of trance, I left the office to go write down my experience at my favorite local cafe. I then discovered that the sirens I heard earlier were emergency vehicles were responding to Shannon Collins, a local business owner, who was stabbed repeatedly and killed just a few feet from my first house in Santa Cruz. I have thought about this repeatedly, that a death was occurring during my journey, and I comfort myself in the belief that so were many births happening too.

   In both ancient shamanic practices and modern, “the shamanic ‘miracles’... stimulate and feed the imagination, demolish barriers between dream and present reality, open windows upon worlds inhabited by gods, the dead, and the spirits”(5). Rather than taking on the role of the magician, priest or heirophant, my role as a modern shaman is to empower my clients “for if that which you seek you find not within, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am all that is attained at the end of desire.”(6)

End Notes

1. Mircea Eliade, Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1972), p.5

2. Ann M. Drake, Psy. D, Healing of the Soul: Shamanism and Psyche, (Ithaca, NY: Busca, 2003) p. 169.

3. Sandra Ingerman, Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self, (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1991) p.15

4. Kenneth Johnson, Witchcraft and the Shamanic Journey, (St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 1996) p.36

5. Eliade, p. 505

6. Starhawk, The Spiral Dance: Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess (New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1979) p. 76

Pre-Surgery Hypnosis

I worked with a client who had lost one of his eyes to cancer. He was going to have an intensive surgery procedure to seal the empty socket shut so that he could go back to surfing. He was going to be sedated for ten days and in the hospital for thirty days.

We did eight sessions of "acu-hyp" - hypnosis during an acupuncture session. He focused on letting go of his anger at the failure of his five past surgeries and the stress of his divorce, as well as affirming that he had always been a fast healer and that his body would respond to the new grafts.

Well, he was only sedated for one day and out of the hospital in ten days! You can imagine the enormous savings on the hospital bill. It is amazing to me that insurance will not pay for hypnosis when it is so effective in accelerating the healing process.

If you or someone you know is going into surgery, consider the benefits of hypnosis as a part of your process. Feel free to call or email with any questions!

Warmly,

Kayla

Dr. Kayla Garnet Rose, PhD, CHT

www.KaylaGarnetRose.com
(831) 435-5182

Hypnosis for Trichotillomania

Have you heard of trichotillomania? It is the compulsion to pull out your eyelashes, eyebrows or hair. I had a 14 year old client come in, who had been engaging in this habit for about a year. Her smart parents decided to try hypnosis instead of putting her on medication. She stopped completely after just five sessions!

Hypnotherapy helped give her the insight that she was dealing with the stress of her parent's divorce (one year ago, hmmm) and she felt she was being "picked on". We discussed nervous energy being just that, energy, and she decided she'd rather pick on a guitar than pick on herself. She discovered she could take the turmoil in her heart and put it into words and music, allowing her an amazing way to share and express her feelings.

This is why I love what I do - guiding folks to discover their own solutions, for truly all healing is self healing, and all hypnosis is self hypnosis. If you have a nervous habit - such as biting your nails, chewing your lips or cheeks, picking at zits, or pulling/chewing hair - that you are ready to transform, give me call and discover your own personal, long-term, successful solution. I believe in you!

Warmly,

Kayla

Dr. Kayla Garnet Rose, PhD, CHT

www.KaylaGarnetRose.com
(831) 435-5182

Halloween Hypnosis

        

In the hypnotherapy class that I teach, we did a technique called "container", where unwanted feelings, experiences, etc are either contained and disposed of or shelved for a later date. I was to be the demo person, and thought a lot about this on the way to class.

     The issue I wanted to dispose of was my basic frustration with shlockiness of Halloween and my feelings of turning into the Halloween grinch in the last half dozen years. I so hate the tacky decorations, the clutter of plastic crap and handing out of tooth rot. I have been looking forward to packing up the decorations and gifting them to Amber, who of course loves Halloween as her favorite holiday. I realized I could pack it all up today, even hand out the tawdry snakes and skeletons instead of candy, when I thought, wow, I am a snarky cranklepuss, where is my Halloween spirit?

     I lay down on the futon and got relaxed and comfy while my assistant initiated trance. She brought me to safe space, and I found myself in my office reviewing my last client's tarot reading, the cards very clear before me, my cat June sitting on one of the chairs. She asked if I wanted to do the work there or move someplace else, and my gut said to shift. I found myself being 6-7 years old, living in McLean Virginia. I was walking down the street trick or treating, stopping at the Wilson's house who always had the best candy. Mrs. Wilson served us kids thin slices of candied oranges from a silver tray with tiny tongs. I could feel the saliva in my mouth at this memory.

     Kimberly asked my inner mind to discover a symbol of the frustration and shlock of Halloween. Instantly I saw my hard plastic mask, Cinderella, with her empty eyes and fake blonde hair. I remembered crying as I realized I could never be a real princess because I had brown hair, not blonde hair. I remember the edges to the mask cutting into my face and the thin elastic getting tangled in my hair, the feelings of inadequacy and not good enough.

     Kimberly then asked me to find a container for the mask. I saw a silver chest, four feet wide, two feet high and deep, very streamlined, sharp corners, on four ball and claw feet. Inside was lined with deep purple velvet. After taking out a sharpie and coloring Cinderella's hair brown, I added beads and feathers, personalizing the mask. I placed it in the container, locked it with a silver padlock, then sank it to the bottom of the ocean.

     The lid popped open and I observed fish nibbling on the feathers and mask until it had completely disappeared. It looked more like an aquarium, with a sunken pirate ship in the background, tiny silver bubbles escaping from the chest. Kimberly asked me how it felt to be free and how my life would be now that I was free. I saw myself sitting on the front deck, handing out tarot cards, still some candy for the kids, but really connecting with my neighbors in a way that is meaningful for me. Then I saw his and I creating an altar to honor the dead - a photo of his mom, his dad's ring, a basket from my grandmother, my great aunts locket - telling stories and toasting our ancestors, and for me, honoring the millions of women killed during the inquisition.

     Kimberly had me explore this feeling one year from now, five years, ten years. The word that summarized my feelings was "organic". How can I celebrate this time of year in a more organic way, noticing the pull of the moon, the feel of the fall leaves, the smell of autumn in the air, the patterns of life in the spider webs, the abundance of the harvest. I felt more at peace and more excited about Halloween than I had in a very, very long time. Blessed Be.

Crystal Healing Meditation

I began the meditation by sitting quietly in my office and doing some deep breathing, moving into a body tour for complete relaxation, then finding myself in my usual "safe space" when I go into trance. In my minds eye, I could see myself sitting in the backyard at my favorite table, sun on my skin, the sound of hummingbirds in the air. A dozen strands of gemstones were heaped up on the table, a little knotted and confused. I began to untangle them, separating out the strands and putting them in order of the rainbow.

When I asked for a guide, my friend Cheryl came through the gate. Cheryl and I had worked together at a metaphysical bookstore about twenty years ago, when I first started learning about crystal healing. We held hands briefly, and then she started to pick up the various strands and put then around my neck.

First was a strand of golden amber, and I felt my solar plexus responding to the warm tones, filling me with a sense of timelessness and vitality. My daughter's name is Amber, and I have also been working with the norse goddess Freya, who wears an amber necklace, so there were many layers of meaning to this gemstone for me. Next was a strand of pale purple amethyst, and felt both my crown chakra and third eye vibrating with the soft lavender, feeling a clearing of my mind and all of my worries. I have several large chunks of amethyst in my house, placed according to feng shui principles to enhance the flow abundance and prosperity. Last was a long strand of deep red garnet which went all the way down to my belly button. I felt both rooted and grounded, purified and cleansed. Seven years ago, I choose the name "Garnet" to be my middle name, a stone I have always loved more than rubies, one that I associate with passion, vitality and the ability to thrive.

I wound the three strands together and pondered how I could use these three gemstones on working with my clients. Raising my own vibration to the highest frequency is clearly important, but I could also see myself laying the strands on my clients' bodies during both hypnotherapy and reiki sessions. I saw myself carrying the necklaces down to the ocean and using the salty sea water to rinse them of past vibrations. I thanked Cheryl for the visitation and the messages, pleased to connect with my friends, human and mineral, after so many years. I began my count up, eager to go home and find my gemstone strands.

Over the next three days I made six different necklaces, five bracelets and six pairs of earrings combining the amethyst, amber and garnet chips with crystal, tigers eye, orange carnelian and sterling silver beads. Next I plan to make some jewelry using green peridot and to find some blue stones to complete the chakra set. I really loved this meditation and feel it is one of the ones I will apply the most, both in my personal healing and in working with clients. Blessed be.

Power of Hypnosis

Discover the Power of Hypnosis

Did you know that traditional psychoanalysis has a 38% success rate after 600 sessions? That's once a week for twelve years. Behavior therapy has a 72% success rate after 22 sessions, once a week for about six months. Hypnotherapy has a 93% success rate after 6 sessions. (American Health Magazine study).

Usually I recommend a client start with three sessions, although they will know after the first one if hypnotherapy is right for them. The first session is 90 minutes long, and we easily spend an hour doing an intake, ie listening to the client tell their story, define their goals, and create an action plan. Simply telling one's truth to an attentive listener is a form of hypnosis known as open eyed trance, much like being on a road trip and conversing with a good friend. I teach a simple self hypnosis technique and usually guide the client into three short trances of 5-10 minutes each.

In a typical session, we chat for 15 minutes to define goals and intentions. The client then sits or lies down on massage table. I do a basic relaxation and a count down to deepen trance. We spend 25-45 minutes exploring the inner landscape. Then I do a count up and check in. Homework is assigned.

The second session is devoted to establishing inner resources. This can mean guiding the client to what is called a safe space, connecting with sources of strength, and anchoring any feelings of well being in the body. Sometimes we do a fantasy vacation, where the client enjoys feelings of peace and deep relaxation, sometimes we do a shamanic journey, in order to meet spirit guides including animals, plants and Divine beings.

The third session is often when the real work begins. By now the client and I are used to each other, they know what to expect, and the real layers of the onion begin to unfold. Here we may do work to put unhealthy habits or negative emotions in what is called a container, to either be disposed of or put away for later. Also an imaginary screen is often used to create emotional distance for the client, yet away to review the past and envision the future.

Subsequent sessions serve to further peel the layers, reinforce desired states of being, and continue to teach self hypnosis techniques to the client. For example, we may examine the inner critic and change it to an inner coach, get in touch with an inner nurturer as well as the inner child, or reactive ideomotor signals, a technique to really tap into our inner wisdom. As well as age regression and progression, we can do both past life regressions and future life progressions. Dream work often comes up in hypnotherapy, as here is a natural state where the subconscious is speaking to us through symbols and metaphors.

Indeed, much of hypnosis feels like being in a lucid dream. It is easy for the client to communicate and to remember everything that they experienced while in trance. Most clients record their sessions on their phones, so that they can review the material and in fact take it much further. All hypnosis is self hypnosis, just as all healing is self healing. Working with a hypnotherapist is helpful in the process of being gentle guided and being given the heartfelt encouragement you need. Try some hypnosis today!