This year we very sadly saw the loss of one of the greatest contributors to the field of hypnosis and hypnotherapy, Gil Boyne. I included an obituary to him here on this site, there were very few people who are so highly regarded as he was by this professional field.

I once wrote in a forum about the benefit of developing niches, and Gil told stories of how he also started out running self-hypnosis seminars as I did and he regarded me for that… but he also told me that he got massively annoyed by hypnotherapists like me, because we sold hypnosis audios that people derived little benefit from and harmed the field of hypnotherapy.

He relayed his thoughts in this regard to me in no uncertain terms… And he demonstrated his desire and passion about the field of hypnotherapy and hypnosis.  I learnt many valuable lessons that day and had some other brief contact with him in his latter years.

It is funny, last night in the semi final of the Apprentice, Stuart Baggs walked in to one of the interviews and saw Ms Margaret Mountford, one of Lord Sugar’s previous business aides, and because he had seen her so often on previous series of the Apprentice, Stuart Baggs said “hello Margaret” to which she scolded him for calling her by her first name and not addressing her professionally… You see, he felt he knew her because he had developed a relationship with her via his television.

Likewise, I feel I know Gil Boyne much better than I do, because I have spent so much time studying his work at Gil Boyne Online here.

His legacy lives on through that website. He has a huge body of work recorded throughout the years which all hypnosis professionals can benefit from.  As well as a number of hypnosis inductions, another section devoted to hypnotherapy training, there are a number of case studies in there and several opinion pieces from Gil, some very pertinent when looking into the regulation of the hypnotherapy and hypnosis field.

One thing I love watching is his video demonstration of the direct gaze hypnosis induction. I have had permission to share the written explanation with you here today…

 

The Direct Gaze hypnosis induction is the most powerful technique of all, and also the most difficult to use because you have to express perfect confidence. If you have any doubt, or hesitation, or fear, it will show in your eyes; the subject will read it and it will inhibit their response.

Instructions to Hypnotist

If the subject is standing, you say to them, “All right, I want you to fix your eyes right here.” Take the index finger of your right hand and bring it up under your right aye. If they’re seated, say exactly the same thing. Or if they are lying down on their back on a couch or on a bed, say exactly the same thing:

Spoken to Subject

Now I want you to look right here. Don’t take your eyes from mine. Don’t move or speak or nod your head or say “uh-huh” unless I ask you to. I know that you hear and understand me just as you know it. If you follow my simple instructions there is nothing in this world that can keep you from entering into a very deep and pleasant state of hypnosis, and doing it in just a fraction of a second. Now, take a deep breath and fill up your lungs.

Instructions to Hypnotist

As you say this, take a asp breath yourself and take your right hand and move it in an upward motion in the air. Then say:

Spoken to Subject

Now exhale. That’s fine. Now a second and deeper breath.

Instructions to Hypnotist

Now again bring up your hand:

Spoken to Subject

Exhale.

Instructions to Hypnotist

Let your hand come down:

Spoken to Subject

Relax. Now a third deep breath.

Instructions to Hypnotist

Once again, hand up:

Spoken to Subject

Exhale. Relax.

Instructions to Hypnotist

Now take your hand once again up over their head, about three feet in front of them, about two feet above their head, with your index finger pointing out, just like you shake your finger at someone; hold it in an upraised position, about a forty five degree angle, pointing toward the ceiling. Say to them:

Spoken to Subject

And now, I’m going to count from five down to one. As I do, your eyelids grow heavy, droopy, drowsy and sleepy. By the time I reach the count of one, they close right down and you go deep in hypnotic slumber. Deeper than ever before. All right, Five—Eyelids heavy, droopy, drowsy and sleepy. Four—Those heavy lids feel ready to close. Three—The next time you blink that is hypnosis coming on you then. Two— They begin closing, closing, closing, closing, closing, closing, closing, closing them, close them, close them.

Instructions to Hypnotist

And at this point; as their eyelids begin to flutter and dose, you stand with your hand on their shoulder, move it around behind their head with a gentle pressure, say:

Spoken to Subject

They’re closing, closing, closing, closing. Sleep now!

Instructions to Hypnotist

Pull their head forward, say:

Spoken to Subject

Now just relax and go deeply into hypnosis. Deeper than you have ever been before.

Instructions to Hypnotist

When you’re looking the subject in the eye, It is important for you not to blink. You can learn the Direct Gaze by practicing in the mirror. Learn to narrow your eyes slightly, not enough to look ludicrous or funny bet enough to keep your eyeballs from drying out; because that is really what causes blinking. You blink to moisten the eyeballs because the fluid keeps evaporating from them. Now, also, just as in the arm levitation, time your numbers in response to what you see happening in the subject’s eyes.

When you say, “Five—eyelids heavy, droopy, drowsy and sleepy,” you may see that you just don’t feel any quality of response. Then stretch out your suggestion a little bit. You say, “Five—eyelids heavy, droopy, drowsy and sleepy, your eyelids feel so heavy. Four—your heavy lids begin to feel as though they’re getting ready to close. Three—the very next time they blink, that is hypnosis coming on you then. “Now, suddenly you see them beginning to blink and then you say, “And now they begin closing, closing,” and you pick up the tempo. Develop your pattern, your tempo, with what you see happening with the subject.

Now the Direct Gaze Technique is the most effective because of all of the imagery associated with hypnosis. All of the ideas that the person has learned from movies, novels, cartoons, and comic strips show that the hypnotist’s eyes have power. It is also in mythology as the evil eye. On the back of the dollar bill, right above the pyramid on the left side, you will see the image of the all-powerful eye or the eye of God. The eye traditionally holds great power. So when you develop your confidence, when you feel more certain, when you have achieved a number of successful inductions, then it is time to begin with the single most successful induction, that is, the Direct Gaze Process.

That is the end of Gil’s explanation.

Also, in the demo, I love the fact that Gil says to the subject “we don’t say ‘under’ hypnosis, ‘under’ is pejorative, we say ‘into’ ok?” I have said the same here many times before… I am influenced by him greatly it would seem. 😉

He also tends to establish a re-access resource/trigger for getting people back into hypnosis very rapidly on subsequent occasions, no messing. I love seeing him do that as a matter of course.

I hope you enjoyed that process and enjoyed celebrating Gil Boyne once again today. If you get the chance, go and investigate the Gil Boyne website.

Have a great day.