Christianity and Hypnosis?!
This is actually quite an intelligent question, and it does come up from time to time here at Hypnobabies! It is important to remember that hypnosis is a state of mind that we are all already in many times a day, so it’s a very natural thing in our lives and is not an “altered state”.
We are all automatically in hypnosis when driving, swimming, doing other sports, sitting in church or a lecture, reading, watching television or movies or on the computer (a screen of any kind) and when waking up or going to sleep. In Hypnobabies we are simply guiding that process in a very positive way to create an easy, fear-free comfortable childbirth experience. Since our program is designed for women of every faith and belief system to use, it contains no “new-age” or other content that would offend anyone. Many of our Hypnobabies moms are Christian and have had wonderful success with Hypnobabies while incorporating their beliefs into our hypnosis scripts and practice as well as adding prayer into the actual hypnosis when giving birth. We have come to realize that that women know what they need and will find it in Hypnobabies, adapting it perfectly and serenely to their own religious or non-religious belief systems. They always do. Below are two articles written by Christian hypnotherapists, for you to consider on your hypno-journey, and below them are comments and birth stories from Christian Moms who have used Hypnobabies and had wonderful births.
Christianity and Hypnosis by Janet Field, CHt, HCHI
A significant percentage of my Hypnobabies students are Christian – as am I! The way many of my Christian students choose to use hypnosis is to add to the more general birth-related suggestions given in class by using the scripture verses which mean the most to them and are deeply encouraging for them. During pregnancy and birth both partners find this extremely comforting and a very valuable assistance to a peaceful birth.
Because of the nature of hypnosis, women are in a deeply relaxed state when their partners read the scriptures to them. In this relaxed state, the subconscious mind imprints those words of scripture deeply and directly and responds to and acts on the encouragement – even in the face of possibly difficult circumstances. For my Christian students, prayer usually becomes an integral part of the birth process, just as prayer is an integral part of their lives. The only difference is that, with the relaxation of hypnosis, prayers are taken in much, much more deeply and the heart responds to them that much more deeply.
Occasionally someone has expressed concern to me that hypnosis would leave them open to “evil” forces. Let me assure you – when you are using hypnosis, you are the one in control. You are simply relaxed. I say “when you are using hypnosis” because all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Nobody does it “to you”. You are always in full control of your own thoughts and actions. In fact, I let people know at the beginning of a hypnosis/relaxation session that, at any time, they can bring themselves back to their full awareness – much the way you would open your eyes and discontinue a prayer or meditation if you needed your attention on a suddenly pressing matter at hand. Dr. Larry Nims, a PhD psychologist with over 30 years’ clinical experience, works with clients using hypnosis.
Dr. Nims’ works and articles about forgiveness are for a general audience, yet one can see the Lord’s hand in Dr. Nims’ work. Following is a paragraph from Dr. Nims. Through his words, I find one very positive description of the way some Christians use hypnosis for themselves.
“At the end of each hypnosis counseling session with all of my Christian clients, I ask them to say a prayer. The prayer focuses on the negative attitudes and actions that were involved in each of the problems that were treated in the session, and it invites the Lord to occupy these places and be the Lord of them. I always encourage Christians to use this prayer every time they use hypnosis on their own or in my office.”
Before and during my own work with students and clients, I like to stop and call on God in prayer, asking that I be used as an instrument of His healing love. A simple search of the web will provide an abundance of additional information on Christianity and hypnosis.
We are all automatically in hypnosis when driving, swimming, doing other sports, sitting in church or a lecture, reading, watching television or movies or on the computer (a screen of any kind) and when waking up or going to sleep. In Hypnobabies we are simply guiding that process in a very positive way to create an easy, fear-free comfortable childbirth experience. Since our program is designed for women of every faith and belief system to use, it contains no “new-age” or other content that would offend anyone. Many of our Hypnobabies moms are Christian and have had wonderful success with Hypnobabies while incorporating their beliefs into our hypnosis scripts and practice as well as adding prayer into the actual hypnosis when giving birth. We have come to realize that that women know what they need and will find it in Hypnobabies, adapting it perfectly and serenely to their own religious or non-religious belief systems. They always do. Below are two articles written by Christian hypnotherapists, for you to consider on your hypno-journey, and below them are comments and birth stories from Christian Moms who have used Hypnobabies and had wonderful births.
Christianity and Hypnosis by Janet Field, CHt, HCHI
A significant percentage of my Hypnobabies students are Christian – as am I! The way many of my Christian students choose to use hypnosis is to add to the more general birth-related suggestions given in class by using the scripture verses which mean the most to them and are deeply encouraging for them. During pregnancy and birth both partners find this extremely comforting and a very valuable assistance to a peaceful birth.
Because of the nature of hypnosis, women are in a deeply relaxed state when their partners read the scriptures to them. In this relaxed state, the subconscious mind imprints those words of scripture deeply and directly and responds to and acts on the encouragement – even in the face of possibly difficult circumstances. For my Christian students, prayer usually becomes an integral part of the birth process, just as prayer is an integral part of their lives. The only difference is that, with the relaxation of hypnosis, prayers are taken in much, much more deeply and the heart responds to them that much more deeply.
Occasionally someone has expressed concern to me that hypnosis would leave them open to “evil” forces. Let me assure you – when you are using hypnosis, you are the one in control. You are simply relaxed. I say “when you are using hypnosis” because all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Nobody does it “to you”. You are always in full control of your own thoughts and actions. In fact, I let people know at the beginning of a hypnosis/relaxation session that, at any time, they can bring themselves back to their full awareness – much the way you would open your eyes and discontinue a prayer or meditation if you needed your attention on a suddenly pressing matter at hand. Dr. Larry Nims, a PhD psychologist with over 30 years’ clinical experience, works with clients using hypnosis.
Dr. Nims’ works and articles about forgiveness are for a general audience, yet one can see the Lord’s hand in Dr. Nims’ work. Following is a paragraph from Dr. Nims. Through his words, I find one very positive description of the way some Christians use hypnosis for themselves.
“At the end of each hypnosis counseling session with all of my Christian clients, I ask them to say a prayer. The prayer focuses on the negative attitudes and actions that were involved in each of the problems that were treated in the session, and it invites the Lord to occupy these places and be the Lord of them. I always encourage Christians to use this prayer every time they use hypnosis on their own or in my office.”
Before and during my own work with students and clients, I like to stop and call on God in prayer, asking that I be used as an instrument of His healing love. A simple search of the web will provide an abundance of additional information on Christianity and hypnosis.
Comments from some of our Christian Hypno-Moms:
Sarah C: As a Christian, I believe that Christ suffered in Gethsemane so we wouldn’t have to feel pain unnecessarily. He gives us a way out. To me Hypnobabies was the method that felt inspired. It embraces the power of our God given bodies and helps eliminate fear (the opposite of faith/hope) through natural means. Charity is proclaimed as the greatest quality which is love in its strongest, purest form. There is so much focus on love for your mind, your body, and your baby that it felt like what Christ would want for mothers.
From Emily F: As a Christian myself, I believe that hypnosis is a wonderful tool given to us by God, that has gotten a bad rap from people who have misrepresented it and/or misunderstood it. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. No one will be exerting mind control over you to get you to do evil things. Some people are concerned that being in hypnosis opens up the subconscious mind to demonic spiritual control or influence. In fact, while in hypnosis you are in complete control of the experience. No one can cause you to act in a way that conflicts with your core beliefs or values. Choosing to enter hypnosis does not remove the covering of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe that as a Christian you are protected from all evil and the devil cannot lay claim to your mind even in a relaxed state. I can say wholeheartedly that my God is much bigger than that!
There may be a few hypnotists and/or hypnotherapists that incorporate occult practices into their scripts but I can guarantee you that this is NOT the case with Hypnobabies and is completely separate from the art and practice of hypnosis. I have listened to (and used!) all of the Hypnobabies scripts myself and they are spiritually neutral. There is no mention of chakras, past life regression, remote viewing, leaving your body or any other similar thing. The founder of Hypnobabies has worked diligently to ensure that Hypnobabies is based on medical hypno-anesthesia techniques without all the extra spiritual froofroo. These are the same techniques patients use to undergo major surgery when they are allergic toanesthesia. If you are still skeptical I encourage you to listen to the Hypnobabies free “Relax Me!” hypnosis track to get a better idea what learning Hypnobabies will be like. You can even choose to listen to it consciously (instead of entering hypnosis) while you are around the house washing dishes or vacuuming or such. Please do not listen to it while driving however!!
From Crystal I: As a Christian, using Hypnobabies was the most natural thing in the world for me. The slowing of brain waves that occurs with deep relaxation and hypnosis is the same state that occurs when we pray. That to me says that there is no conflict between hypnosis and Christianity, because God would not leave me vulnerable when praying, when praying is something I do so often! Since you are always aware while in hypnosis, only thoughts that you desire will be accepted, you are always in complete control of your mind, just as you are when praying. While some segments of Christianity feel that pain is still a necessary part of childbirth, others feel that since Christ died for our sins, we are no longer required to experience pain during birth. Since the vast majority of women choose some form of anesthesia, and most churches support them in this, hypnotic anesthesia is no more in conflict with our theology than an epidural. In short, I can find no theological reason not to use Hypnobabies.
From Emily F: As a Christian myself, I believe that hypnosis is a wonderful tool given to us by God, that has gotten a bad rap from people who have misrepresented it and/or misunderstood it. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. No one will be exerting mind control over you to get you to do evil things. Some people are concerned that being in hypnosis opens up the subconscious mind to demonic spiritual control or influence. In fact, while in hypnosis you are in complete control of the experience. No one can cause you to act in a way that conflicts with your core beliefs or values. Choosing to enter hypnosis does not remove the covering of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe that as a Christian you are protected from all evil and the devil cannot lay claim to your mind even in a relaxed state. I can say wholeheartedly that my God is much bigger than that!
There may be a few hypnotists and/or hypnotherapists that incorporate occult practices into their scripts but I can guarantee you that this is NOT the case with Hypnobabies and is completely separate from the art and practice of hypnosis. I have listened to (and used!) all of the Hypnobabies scripts myself and they are spiritually neutral. There is no mention of chakras, past life regression, remote viewing, leaving your body or any other similar thing. The founder of Hypnobabies has worked diligently to ensure that Hypnobabies is based on medical hypno-anesthesia techniques without all the extra spiritual froofroo. These are the same techniques patients use to undergo major surgery when they are allergic toanesthesia. If you are still skeptical I encourage you to listen to the Hypnobabies free “Relax Me!” hypnosis track to get a better idea what learning Hypnobabies will be like. You can even choose to listen to it consciously (instead of entering hypnosis) while you are around the house washing dishes or vacuuming or such. Please do not listen to it while driving however!!
From Crystal I: As a Christian, using Hypnobabies was the most natural thing in the world for me. The slowing of brain waves that occurs with deep relaxation and hypnosis is the same state that occurs when we pray. That to me says that there is no conflict between hypnosis and Christianity, because God would not leave me vulnerable when praying, when praying is something I do so often! Since you are always aware while in hypnosis, only thoughts that you desire will be accepted, you are always in complete control of your mind, just as you are when praying. While some segments of Christianity feel that pain is still a necessary part of childbirth, others feel that since Christ died for our sins, we are no longer required to experience pain during birth. Since the vast majority of women choose some form of anesthesia, and most churches support them in this, hypnotic anesthesia is no more in conflict with our theology than an epidural. In short, I can find no theological reason not to use Hypnobabies.
My additional two cents!
In regards to this topic, one thing came up during our Hypnobabies instructor training that made me go WOW! In the Bible in Genesis 3 addresses the fall of Adam and Eve. In our English translations it says something about woman's childbearing being painful and man toiling in the field. We learned that the original word used to describe those two things was the same word and it meant "work". Man will have to work the field for it to bear fruit, and woman will have to work through childbirth to bear her children. So if you were feeling like the Bible "commands that birth is painful", that is not the truth. Yay! :)
