A few days ago a local station aired a beautiful song in Spanish. The melody and the voice of the singer went so well with the shower of golden leaves all around. Her voice was strong and gentle, it said, “the autumn leaves of my ancient loves are flying away in the wind. I am that wind that makes them swirl and wonder about as they disappear, clearing the space for my present. I am free of the past and ready to move forward, as my old pains fly away further and further, with each breath I take today.” You too can be an autumn wind of change. Let go of the old pains. Autumn is a perfect time for letting go.

In hypnotherapy we use NLP with guided imagery, Ericksonian and Kapassinian approaches, behavioral and cognitive therapy. My personal favorite is dream analysis. If you want to keep record of how your subconscious mind operates, and how it solves your everyday problems, start recording your dreams now. Include the time you woke up and the date. Your subconscious mind uses the most unsuspected materials to craft meaningful images. You will learn how to interpret them, and what lessons they bring you. I will give you a hand.

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

Just remain in the center; watching.  And then forget that you are there.

Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher in the quotes above describes the state of mind that we seek in hypnosis. It is a combination of complete relaxation and utmost concentration. Nowadays, both states can easily be measured. A neuroscientist Chris Berka of Advanced Brain Monitoring does just that. She works with athletes and performers to help them tap into a state of extreme mental focus, called being “in the zone.” The zone state (which amateurs can achieve too) has a particular signature in the brain activity: alpha and theta waves. It is the combination of the two that we access in hypnosis as well. Chris Berka turns laymen into experts in one day through a series of exercises bringing their alpha and theta waves to the prominent levels while monitoring these frequencies while her clients focus and relax.

Alpha waves are a type of brain waves usually detected either by electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetoencephalography (MEG). They predominantly originate from the occipital lobe during wakeful relaxation with closed eyes.

Theta waves generate the theta rhythm recorded either from inside the brain or from electrodes glued to the scalp. The function of the hippocampal theta rhythm is attributed to arousal and sensorimotor processing, learning and memory.

In order to achieve the results described above you need to experience a state of light trance and relaxation (alpha waves), and concentrate (theta waves) in a very relaxed way on the goals for which you are striving. This is exactly how hypnosis works.