Multimodal Hyperempiria

More on hyperempiria . . . a process that works well for a wide variety of trancework contexts . . . therapeutic imagery and changework, simple recreational relaxation and imaginary freedom, entertainment, and more.

Recently, on the Hypnosis Technique Exchange, Dr. Don Gibbons posted about some very interesting therapeutic and recreational adaptations or processes for Multimodal Hyperempiria which incorporates imagery of film as therapeutic jumpstart. If you are unfamiliar with hyperempiria and it’s applications for therapy, changework, recreation, and plain ol’ entertainment, take a look at the umpteen million posts I’ve made on this and related subjects, starting with this simple answer to the question of What Is Hyperempiria? and that will get you started with links to other discussions with some very powerful and incredibly unique applications (all of my posts to this blog related to the topic are here. If you’re unfamiliar with Dr. Gibbons, he is the man who coined the term hyperempiria and began the first formal discussion of this type of induction. While I tend to use the term in reference to highly associated suggested sensory experiences, there may be some variations in our approaches.

In any case, as part of my response to the post by Dr. Gibbons where he discussed using a suggested sensory association into a scene from the film Black Beauty for a therapeutic change, I suggested some further adaptation for both therapeutic and recreational trance work . . .

Don, if you have access to an X-Box or a PS2 or some other console game or computer game, you might give a variation of the film piece you did a try. First setup a posthypnotic reinduction trigger that when they begin playing the game, they will become associated to the character in the game so that they experience everything the character experiences.

Now, be sure to setup positive rider suggestions so everything is appropriately experienced as a fun game and positive recreational activity, we don’t want anyone REALLY experiencing exploding ships or zombie attacks.

I would suggest start with something simple but nonviolent to get a feel for how to handle the environment.

When playing X-Box Live, I put in my copy of Crimson Skies and did a session with someone to experience that game. Of course, as that game involves a LOT of flying and aerial combat I didn’t want to associate anyone into real dogfights or the like that become hyper-real in hyperempirial or hyperacute hypnotic experiences, so we setup the game to dogfight mode and I ran one plane just to fly around and the subject was in the other plane and he experienced real flying and real maneuvers without the added initial stress of dodging bullets or missiles.

Obviously, never do this with someone who has a fear of flying or of heights (use hypnotherapy or the like and get rid of those issues first) albeit, it is a real eye opener as ratification of therapeutic success for those who used to have such fears to show them how successful they have been.

For the daring, once they’ve gone through initial experience training, you can switch to simple combat mode with suggestions that it’s just a really intense and fun game just as a roller coaster is perfectly safe but very exciting.

It is very immersive and very experiential.

Of course, you could also do the visual association method with a film or video . . . with the appropriate person, have them watch the film and then associate the experiences and feelings of the subject to one character in the video . . . appropriately, of course . . . also with the positive rider suggestions. Those who wish to do modeling work could model via video in this way . . . I have used it with very good results for folks working on Tai-Chi, Aikido, swimming, dance, skiing, and running skills . . . for deep trance identification type work, it really is a wonderful tool (works with photo books as well, one young man who used a series of photos of martial arts moves felt as if his muscles had gone through intense workout after the experience) . . . for recreation, it can be a thrilling experience . . . depending upon film choice . . . let the person being hypnotized choose the film though . . . while you may like the "artistic" and highly entertaining "Leather Bound Bisexual Babes in Prison" . . . your straight and decidedly non-bicurious wife may not want to be "surprised" by such an experience. 🙂 Very bad idea for a relationship to slip in that sort of surprise. However, there are plenty of interesting experiences that can be shared and experimented with that would be very welcome for many folks.

As I have discussed this type of an approach to trancework and exactly how to achieve it in the past, folks are free to explore the archives for more . . . I am creating a category link specifically for hyperempiric type entries to make searches more convenient as I do seem to post on this a lot . . . see Hyperempiria, Hyperacuity, and Suggested Amplified Sensory Association.

If anyone else does the videogame or film bit, please let me know. I include it in the SET curriculum and demonstrated it as part of a modeling technique in one of my recent workshops with a young man who studies Tai-Chi so at least the folks participating in that could see how it works (and interview him afterwards regarding what he felt in his body and how his muscles feel during the process – quite "worked out" as part of my process is to have him associate into the person in the video and then close his eyes and "as I count from twenty down to one, with each number I say, it feels as if you have done the entire form ten times, and at the last number, this knowledge and experience becomes a permanent part of yourself, twenty, etc."). I haven’t taught this as a "recreational" activity . . . yet (sometimes I do regret not moving to LA as we have considered as the possibilities for certain types of workshops – even of a couples affirming nature as I present it – are limited here . . . honestly, while I LOVE a lot about living here, there is so much very kool very powerful stuff I would love to do live workshops on and share with real live persons that aren’t really possible in context here and now so I have to content myself with writing and sharing in other less immediately gratifying ways) . . . but I have done "personal" research and the results can be quite . . . um . . . interesting. 🙂 I would be very interested in the experiences of others in this regard. I know a number of you are also gamers or enjoy a good film now and again, so if you could run an "experiment" with a willing cohort, your results would be of interest. Those who use the method as a DTI technique, I would also love to hear your results. It has worked very well with the folks I’ve worked with but I would like to know how it works for others.

Of course the "Bisexual Leather-Bound Babes in Prison" is not something you would want to spring on your wife . . . it’s not an experience anyone should "spring" on their wives as "springing" something like that inappropriately can lead to some very very bad juju in a relationship, not to mention potentially missing "members" the next time one falls asleep 🙂 . . . but I am certain there are wives out there for whom a consensual experience of that type would be . . . interesting. However, such relationships are also of the non-"spring" on ’em type.

In one of his later responses in the thread, Dr. Gibbons suggested that while the "Bisexual Leather-Bound Babes in Prison" experience may not be appropriate for most folks, he is certain that many men would find their wives would be a willing partner if they asked . . . as they are lying in bed together . . . whether or not their wives would like to go back and re-experience their wedding (wedding, not wedding night . . . that comes later).

While I agree with Dr. Gibbons that many wives would find this to be very worthwhile . . . it needs to be clear that one’s wife actually enjoyed the wedding before asking. Some folks may assume their wives had a wonderful wedding day but some women don’t. There are also a certain number of women who marry as part and parcel to their view that they are "settling" for this guy rather than marrying for love or other good feelings or reasons. In such a case, it might come as a shocker for the husband to discover that his wife doesn’t want to re-experience the wedding (whether or not she has now learned to love him despite her poor reasons for marriage). If you’re not absolutely certain that your wife had an incredibly wonderful experience when she married you (regardless of context or reasons for those feelings which may range from she just doesn’t like you to her mother objected to the color of the dresses).

So . . . as Don says . . . ask.

If your wife is less than enthusiastic, then let her choose another event to relive or imagine or experience (real or imagined events are fine). DON’T PUSH IT as that’s a whole bad idea and a half. Sometimes feelings are private, so let them stay that way. If she wants to tell you why she likes this or that experience, she will.

While I have great confidence that such an image would be fine with MY wife . . . 🙂 . . . I’ve met some folks who have had godawful wedding experiences and even worse honeymoons. So, keep things context specific to your own relationship and experience.

For the appropriate persons . . . one could suggest reliving the wedding night but experiencing it in an even more positive, even more romantic, and much more passionate way. This can be done by future pacing to knowing the wonderful experiences in store for her or him that are now a shared past and knowing that by rekindling this passionate flame that even more wonderful experiences are in store for the future . . . and escalate those feelings, really make ’em "wow" feelings through building suggestions and even simple count ups "as I count from one to ten, with each number, feel this wonderful passion, romance, and dynamic positive feeling much more powerfully, really feel it double with each number as the love washes through you and around you within you and through you . . . one, etc." and when you get to the last number do a "ten, explode, feel your entire, body, mind, and spirit explode with joy, explode with love, explode with passion, EXPLODE, etc." or whatever. It’s kind of like the recent announcements from James Cameron that he will no longer make 2D films but that all of his new movies will be produced in full stereoscopic 3D and from George Lucas that he is also producing 3D films and that beginning in 2007, he is going to re-release all of the Star Wars films in enhanced versions in full stereoscopic 3D . . . so too with consensual hypnotic enhancement of positive memories . . . why settle for simply reliving an old experience when you can really relive it in a full-on raging passionate WOW experience! 🙂

Dr. Gibbons suggests that when a couple explore this process in the context of re-living a wedding, one can then note that with the love and romance at the highest possible level, one can then easily move on to the wedding night experience and re-experience it too, prefaced with what he would suggest as all the aphrodisiac enhancement that a blissful wedding experience can bring to the heart of a woman.

See my statements above regarding context and individual response to the setting. Either be sure to enhance the experience to make certain it is a positive one you are amplifying or rewrite history as a romantic imagery to emphasize the positive elements of the experience rather than the negative ones that may be in there.

Another thing you can do is a process I usually refer to as "open imagery" . . . I’ve talked about it here somewhere but can’t think of the specific reference off-hand with the description, surf the categories to find it . . . but, basically, do an open invitation to the subconscious to create a positive, romantic, passionate fantasy image that is experienced fully but which is undirected . . . the hypnotist partner simply suggests "in a moment, I will count from five to one and at the number one find yourself in a beautiful romantic passionate moment [note: you can add "with me" or leave it open, depending upon context] . . . real or imagined . . . fantasy or experienced . . . no need to think about it, your unconscious will provide a time, place, and context . . . and as you experience this moment, this special passionate loving moment or desire, passion, and raw sexual energy, allow yourself to experience it fully, feel what you feel in this fantasy, hear what you hear, smell, taste, experience everything within this special passionate moment AS IF IT IS REAL AND HAPPENING RIGHT NOW . . . as I count from five to one feel the passion and sexual energy building and building, stronger and stronger with each number, stronger than you have ever felt it before . . . five, etc."

During the experience, the hypnotist can throw in deepening suggestions to increase the sensory depth and sensuality of the experience. However, at no time direct the experience. Don’t tell him or her what to experience, just deepen it. Then, as is often nice for many folks, after you’ve gone into it for awhile, throw in a "and as I count from one to five, with each number the sexual/romantic/passionate/whatever feelings increase [whatever is appropriate to the context – this is NOT a covert seduction technique, it is a consensual method for appropriate imagery within a context-specific relationship] and at the number five, explode" (there’s that word again) in whatever way is appropriate for the situation. Then do the count up, explode for the big climax, then "and as you . . . relax . . . let a gentle wave of love, romance, and gentle deep relaxing love wash over you and through you as it is now time to return to the here and now . . . as I count from one to five with each number coming back to the here and now remembering this wonderful positive experience and feeling comfortable, relaxed and deeply loved . . . etc".

Then . . . shut up. IF she or he wants to talk about what exactly happened, then she or he will. If not, then shut up and let your partner have that private experience, you are reaping the benefits of the emotional experience and have provided your partner with a wonderful fantasy experience. Don’t go pushing into the experience unless she or he is interested in sharing right then.

Certainly . . . never suggest other partners or the like or leave that possibility open for the imaginary experience if you’re going to go all jealous on ’em later (sad but true . . . a fellow asked his wife to imagine making love with Brad Pitt and then he became rather jealous when she climaxed with Pitt in her imagination which caused him to feel that she had been cheating on him . . . it was his suggestion in the first place . . . but even if it hadn’t been, treat these experiences as playful imaginary games and don’t take them beyond the comfort level of both partners . . . this sort of thing should ONLY be used to strengthen your relationship not to create experiences that might weaken or destroy trust) . . . so, no "Bisexual Leather-Bound Babes in Prison" unless that is explicitly what both partners would be interested in and only if it’s REALLY something both partners are absolutely comfortable with and be very very sure of that as there’s no going back later. If you’re not sure, it means "no" . . . if there’s any doubt, then "no" . . . that means stick to vanilla monogamous fantasy . . . which can still be EXTREMELY rewarding. You can always try new things later when you’re more secure in the method or with your relationship. In the meantime (or, forever, if that’s your preference), enjoy the possibilities of just exploring one another’s joy and happiness and passion with one another.

All the best,
Brian

Brian David Phillips, PhD, CH [phillips@nccu.edu.tw]Certified Hypnotherapist
Executive Director, Society of Experiential Trance
Associate Professor, NCCU, Taipei, Taiwan
http://www.briandavidphillips.com