On the beaten path

After a few jokes, such as, “Will I remember anything to write about?” the session proceeded.

I seated myself in a recliner-type chair and was invited to take my shoes off — fortunately, no holes in my socks — and close my eyes.

Germain asked me to think of a comforting and familiar place; the woods and desert came to mind.

I was told to forget that I was writing an article about hypnotherapy. This was the difficult part.

I was requested to train my thoughts slowly from the top of my head through my mental, external and internal organs.

Soft music played, and an occasional chime was struck. A few times with forewarning, Germain lightly touched my shoulder.

I’m sure that I was a difficult subject, due to my having the article to write and thus not wishing to miss anything. In addition, I was not focusing on any specific ailment, habit or problem I wished to alleviate.

I did find the procedure relaxing, and I lost any concept of elapsed time.

But, I often will transform myself into a period of relaxed consciousness by sitting quietly, daydreaming or going for a stroll in the woods.

Some might consider this a form of self-hypnosis.