More Than Stone

When I received the email that said our next syncroblog was going to be on altered states of consciousness, I must admit that I thought “What the heck will I write about?…arghhh!” As I mulled this over for a few days I came up with ….zip. Nada. Nothing. I was simply going to drop Phil an email and tell him I didn’t have anything to add to this oh so unique and controversial topic. But at the last minute, something did occur to me. You see, I work with expectant families and those that work with expectant families. I teach childbirth classes, am a doula and a teach others to be doulas. I teach relaxation techniques and talk about hypnotic states all the time. Hypnotic states, relaxation techniques, visualizations….ahhhhh….it’s coming to me now.

Over the course of my career, I have had to come to terms with phrases such as hypnotic states, and visualizations. There are methods of childbirth education known as “Hypnobirthing”, which uses hypnosis as a method of pain control during labor and birth. I have come across many a Christian that refuse to hear any of these terms when talking about their upcoming births. “Hypnotic state? Visualization? Ummm…no thanks, I don’t want to be infested with demons. I’ll take the Demerol.”

I am no expert on hypnosis. There are many schools of thoughts about what hypnosis is and what constitutes a hypnotic state. However, since I am somewhat familiar with EEG’s and brain waves, due to my daughter’s epilepsy, I will fall back on this definition.

We all have 4 major brain wave patterns:
The Beta (alert/working) State with 14-32 cycles per second (CPS)
The Alpha (relaxed/reflecting) State with 7-14 CPS
The Theta (drowsy) State with 4-7 CPS
The Delta (sleeping/dreaming/deep sleep) State with 3-5 CPS

One physiological definition of hypnosis might state that the theta state is required, others the alpha state required. A less technical definition might be that daydreaming type of state we all enter into when thinking, relaxing, or sometimes driving (called highway hypnosis).

What are the arguments against hypnosis for believers?

One argument against hypnosis is that it has been an integral part of pagan religious practices and world religions including Assyro-Babylonian exorcism, Egyptian soothsaying, Jewish Mysticism, Byzantine Catholicism, Chinese, Taoism, and Hinduism forms of Buddhism (Tibetan and Zen), and Yoga.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Many of our spiritual practices are also used by other belief systems. Prayer, laying on of hands, healing, gathering for worship. In my opinion, that argument is weak at best, sheer crap at worst. I don’t feel that I need to say much more.

So, is hypnosis actually charming or enchanting, as outlined in Deuteronomy? Are we participating in the occult if we use hypnosis? If we take the words “enchanter” and “charmer” and randomly apply them to anything we are not comfortable with, then yes. I have searched and not been able to find a valid biblical argument against hypnosis for the believer. The arguments I have found are extraordinarily circuitous. Even those opposed to hypnosis state that the exact meanings of the underlying Hebrew words of enchanter and charmer are debatable.

However, this doesn’t explain how we took the GIANT leap that hypnosis is part of the occult. Find me any place in scripture that speaks about about hypnosis. Now, the scriptures do speak about divination and occultism but hypnosis isn’t divination - it [the assumption that hypnosis is divination or an occult practice] is a category mistake. Of course, we must be careful about anything we do that puts us in any type of situation that makes us vulnerable.

In my research, what I have seen is much solid evidence on the benefits of hypnosis.

Stress Managment (hypnosis, visualization, yoga, relaxation) in the treatment of high blood pressure.

Psychological interventions for needle-related procedural pain and distress in children and adolescents.

Adjunctive self-hypnotic relaxation for outpatient medical procedures: a prospective randomized trial with women undergoing large core breast biopsy.

Systematic review of hypnotherapy for treating symptoms in terminally ill adult cancer patients.

Hypnosis for pain relief in labour and childbirth: a systematic review

Women in labor, if in a deep state of relaxation, usually are in a semi-hypnotic state on their own. I use hypnotic suggestion and visualization with women giving birth all the time. “Your body knows how to do this. You are safe. God created you to give birth. You have grandmother after grandmother after grandmother that have gone before you.”

Am I dabbling in the occult? I think not. Am I speaking truth? I believe so. I also think I’m being quite biblical.

Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

In my opinion, that is much of what hypnosis is. Thinking of the things that are true, just, pure, and lovely.

So, what do you think? Is hypnosis an occult practice? Why or why not?

Check out the other syncrobloggers blogging on Alternate Consciousness from a Christian Perspective.

Shamanic Vision and Apocalyptic Scripture at Phil Wyman’s Square No More
Can prayer be an example of Alternate Conciousness? at Eternal Echoes
Better Than I Was [at times], Not Better Than You Are by Mike of Earthsea
emotionalism vs rationalism at Adam Gonnerman’s Igneous Quill
Consciousness of the absurd and the absurdity of consciousness at Steve’s Notes from the Underground
The Unconscious Christian by Matt Stone
Hypnochristians at Jamie’s More Than Stone
The extreme consciousness of the Spirit by Les Chatwin
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me at Mike’s Musings
What is reality? by David Fisher at Be the Revolution

Trying to Play Along by Cindy at Tracking The Edge.