Ericksonian Hypnosis
Ericksonian Hypnosis is a powerful tool for exploring the depths of the unconscious mind, connecting with inner resources, and changing persistent patterns of thought and behavior through deep and subtle trances.
Unlike more traditional hypnosis, the Ericksonian approach is an open ended, collaborative process, with the Coach acting as a guide, and the client as an explorer of their own inner world. The client can access the same range of Trance phenomena as in more conventional approaches, but with much more influence over how the experience unfolds. This approach also emphasizes using whatever experience arises as an opportunity for learning, connection, and transformation.
You can learn more about Milton Erickson, and some of his students who are evolving this work in their own ways here.
Transpersonal (Holotropic) Breathwork
Transpersonal Breathwork is a powerful experiential process based on the work of Stanislov Grof, MD and Christina Grof, creators of Holotropic Breathwork. Dreamshadow Transpersonal Breathwork is an evolution of that work developed by two of Grof’s long term students - Lenny and Elizabeth Gibson. (You can learn more about Dreamshadow here.)
The practice itself involves a combination of accelerated and intensified breathing, evocative music, group process and focused bodywork, and can induce an extraordinary range of non ordinary states of consciousness.
Many people have compared the effects of Transpersonal Breathwork to Psychedelic experiences, and a similar range of intense somatic and visionary experiences are possible. One advantage of Breathwork is that the breath can act as a throttle on the experience, amplifying or subduing the intensity of the journey based on what the breather is comfortable with. Another advantage is the emphasis on preparation and integration of the experience, which is often deeply supported by the group process and work with a facilitator.
Breathwork is traditionally offered as part of a weekend workshop, with plenty of time to move into and out of the experience, and long (3+ hour) session times.
I also offer one on one Breathwork sessions for people who want to explore the experience in a more open ended way. I offer these sessions over Zoom, and once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, in person.
Journeying and Pathworking
Journeying and Pathworking refer to tools for deep inner exploration. Depending on one’s worldview, they could be seen as a form of vivid, active imagination, similar to a waking dream. One could also relate to them as ways of contacting and exploring the Spirit World - a Separate and often invisible reality which coexists (and in some ways gives rise to) our ordinary material reality. (I remain somewhat agnostic about whether or not this Unseen world has an existence outside of our minds, functionally, it’s activity can have real and sometimes shocking consequences in so called objective reality.)
The techniques of Journeying often use rhythmic sound (such as drumming, clapping, or chanting) and a combination of intentional visual and kinesthetic exploration which invite the mind out of ordinary reality and into a direct experience of what Terrence Mckenna called the “Invisible Landscape.” They can also involve meeting and communicating with Terrestrial and Celestial Spirits, Ancestors, and Wisdom Keepers which again, could be seen either as powerful and mysterious Beings, or as deep, autonomous aspects of the Psyche. These explorations and relationships can in turn give rise to powerful experiences of healing and learning, which in turn can support us in finding our place in the world, and how we might be of service to our communities.
(I will provide more detailed descriptions of Journeying and Journey Experiences in my Articles and Resources sections)
Pathworking is very similar to Journeying, however, it involves a more structured approach, and the exploration is driven more through dialogue and inquiry rather than rhythmic sound. Traditionally, highly ritualized forms of Pathworking existed as part of the Hermetic and Qabalistic traditions. Aspects of these techniques were then used by modern practitioners to create more open and personal approaches to exploring these “Highways of the Mind”
While the method is quite different from Journeying, I find they overlap quite a bit, and I will often use both approaches with my clients depending on which approaches they respond most strongly too.
I recommend these methods to people who are looking to learn more about themselves and develop a greater sense of power, relatedness, and responsibility in dealing with the trials and tribulations of everyday life. They can also be useful tools for people who are experiencing spontaneous activity or “contact” with the Unseen world, as a way to better understand and respond to these mysterious invitations and initiations.
Most of my training in these art forms have been through apprenticing with several Healers, Witches, and Sorcerers over the course of many years. The teacher I have worked most closely with is Michael Watson, who I hope to continue learning with for many years to come. Some of my teachers refer to their work as “Shamanism.” I have great respect for them, and their reasons for using this word to describe what they do. However, for my own reasons, which I hope to explore in a future article, I have chosen to not use this term to describe any of the work I do.
Archetypal Readings and Divination
Divination is the art of working with symbolic images (such as Tarot Cards or I Ching Hexagrams) and blank or reflecting surfaces (such as Scrying mirrors) in a trance state. The purpose of this work is to allow unconscious patterns to reveal themselves and begin to communicate their meaning to us.
Some people use these tools to try to predict future events, but I find them much more useful for gaining insight into the Archetypal themes arising in the present moment. Rather than telling my clients some fixed, prescriptive meaning of a Tarot card or symbol, my preference is to collaborate in discovering which of the endless meanings that these images evoke might apply to their situation.
These readings are most useful for people looking for new perspectives in a challenging situation, or who want radical insight into their own growth and development.