In an effort to begin to transmit some of what I learned this weekend regarding medical hypnotherapy, I went back to Nana I Ke Kumu, because I remembered Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel Elbert making mention of trance states, suggestibility, etc.
On page 140, Vol. II, they mention "the helpful, light possession to inspire that Hawai'i called ho'oulu ia." This in the context of a women suddenly accessing more of her language ability with 'olelo Hawai'i.
Page 165-166 of Vol. I talks about a woman in a noho state speaking "pure, very old Hawaiian," though this is not her usual way of speaking. Haertig makes a distinction between this and the "true hypnotic trance," which I am not sure is so accurate. It seems to me that these things kind of blur together, and that there is not as much cut and dried distinction as he might have believed. But that's just me. I'm still learning. There is a general discussion of noho states - and the references include Milton Erickson, a master of hypnosis who has since passed on.
There is also mention of ho'opi'opi'o - implanting negative suggestions, on page 58 of Vol. I, which is the reverse of the positive things we want to use suggestions for.
Akaku is the word given for trance in the dictionary.
All these things hint at a rich tradition of the recognition and use of trance states in Old Hawai'i. I have a hunch (just a hunch) that ho'oponopono in the old days probably made use of light trance states in the participants, to really effect a lot of the healing -- with the pule and processes of forgiveness.
Does anyone have mana'o to share? These scant references are a starting place, and I would love to know if there are any other sources we could all refer to and share.
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Aloha kakou,
I'll be adding to this thread of medical hypnotherapy as I can. Please, add your thoughts too!
Some basics I am learning: the "subconscious" (or whatever we can call it) takes language literally. So we use, in hypnosis, always very positive language and suggestions.
Also, studies are showing that the brain cannot really tell truth from reality - in one Stanford study everyone gets shown the color red. They are hooked up to MRIs. Parts of the brain light up. Later, no red color anymore but the test subjects are asked to think about red, or talk about it, or something. Same parts of the brain light up. So essentially, hypnosis and trance states are a way to "retrain the brain" which then affects the body and nerves and hormones and endorphins and cellular responses and all the rest of it.
Okay, that's it for the moment. Please, again, add your thoughts. Thanks!
I've heard it referred to as "Unihipili". In Hawaiian healing practices the influence of the subconscious on the physical body goes beyond what hypnotherapy understands and it involves not only suggestion but non-verbal imagery, a symbolic language if you will, through which spiritual beings, elementals can influence the subconcious. The subconcious has been described as the bottom part of an iceburg, the part below the water, out of sight, which is a much larger part of the whole. =)
Aloha e Kawika,
I have been neglecting MaoliWorld for the last several months, so I am sorry to have taken so long to acknowledge your response. Yes, of course I agree with you - hypnotherapy is just one technique to reach down into the bottom of the iceberg, which floats in the Po. But can be a good place for some to start exploring, as trance states are natural to people. I hope you post some more, please!
Warmly,
Amy
Replies
I'll be adding to this thread of medical hypnotherapy as I can. Please, add your thoughts too!
Some basics I am learning: the "subconscious" (or whatever we can call it) takes language literally. So we use, in hypnosis, always very positive language and suggestions.
Also, studies are showing that the brain cannot really tell truth from reality - in one Stanford study everyone gets shown the color red. They are hooked up to MRIs. Parts of the brain light up. Later, no red color anymore but the test subjects are asked to think about red, or talk about it, or something. Same parts of the brain light up. So essentially, hypnosis and trance states are a way to "retrain the brain" which then affects the body and nerves and hormones and endorphins and cellular responses and all the rest of it.
Okay, that's it for the moment. Please, again, add your thoughts. Thanks!
I have been neglecting MaoliWorld for the last several months, so I am sorry to have taken so long to acknowledge your response. Yes, of course I agree with you - hypnotherapy is just one technique to reach down into the bottom of the iceberg, which floats in the Po. But can be a good place for some to start exploring, as trance states are natural to people. I hope you post some more, please!
Warmly,
Amy