by William S. Dean
(03/01/06)
Almost everyone seems to agree that humans' biggest sex organ is the brain. In your mind, however, reside all those other things that can prevent you from enjoying your best sex life: guilt, hang-ups, taboos, excess emotional and psychological baggage.
For centuries, if not millennia, other people have been trying to prevent you -- through social condemnation, censorship, and Puritanical "rules" -- from reaching the maximum quality of your own erotic potential. So, what if you could find a way beyond all that useless palaver and hysterical hogwash and unleash the fuller, deeper pleasures you deserve? Of course, you want to! Hypnosis may be your answer.
Formally introduced as scientific technique by Anton Mesmer, a lay doctor (as he was called, but the pun is applicable), sometime in the later 1700s, mesmerism was the practice of "curing" maladies by "moving the body's ether" or fluid through magnetic manipulation. Mesmer's women patients invariably were outfitted in a loose smock to insure a freer transference of his magnetic powers, and it is quite likely that his technique included the hands-on kneading of their breasts, thighs, buttocks, and wherever the good doctor deemed the flesh appeared to be knotted up with unnatural concentrations of etheric fluid.
Long before Freud, Mesmer seemed to realize the effects of sexual repression and nervous hysteria. His seductive techniques released many neurotic patients to a refreshing feeling of freedom. They reported, at least temporarily, to feel freed from the host of mental and sexual insecurities which repressive society encouraged.
The discovery of the actual hypnotic state, however, was stumbled upon by accident by one of Mesmer's disciples, the Marquis de Puysegur, one day in 1784. When trying to magnetize a young shepherd boy, Puysegur rubbed the boy's head and put the lad into a hypnotic, or spasmodic sleep (as he called it). Trying to arouse the boy to consciousness, the Marquis gave several commands, such as stand up, walk, and sit down, and was astounded to observe the boy obey, yet still remain in his sleeping state. When the shepherd boy finally woke up, he had no memory of these events.
Developed further by Dr. James Braid in the 1840s, the techniques of trance state were finally dubbed "hypnosis," from the Greek meaning "to sleep." Since that time, hypnosis has been used by therapists as well as stage performers for both its "curative effects" and entertainment.
And so we arrive at the current day's offerings of hypnosis. There are many leading figures and pioneers in the world of hypnotism today working on new and exciting discoveries in "add-on" techniques that complement hypnotherapy, many of which have their roots in remote-control hypnosis. These are continually being developed, and the list of psychological problems, phobias, and fears that can be put in their place by hypnosis seems endless.
Which finally brings us back to erotic hypnosis. While the Internet abounds in various Web sites promoting everything from "How to Seduce Anyone Through Hypnosis" to mind-control fantasy fiction, there are, as well, several hypnotists who are eager to help you unveil your erotic self.
I chanced upon one practitioner, Lady Izzabelle, through my erotica.writer blog on the Beta version of Yahoo 360 and she agreed to be interviewed. Let's step behind the curtain with this hypnotic Domme and see what erotic hypnosis can spell for us all.
Clean Sheets (CS): How did you begin developing your practice of erotic and femdom hypnosis?
Lady Izzabelle (LI): I have been trancing from as far back as I can remember. I just did not realize it had a name. As I grew into adulthood, I also began my exploration in D/s and BDSM. While living this lifestyle, I have seen many go in and out of trances, realizing they were in their own space. Such as when a submissive goes into subspace, or a dominant goes into their space, while scening. Seeing the euphoria in their eyes and faces is a beautiful experience. Knowing the endorphins are rushing through their minds and bodies was all very exciting to me.
Then one day, by chance, I came across a man who was not in the D/s lifestyle. He is a Certified Hypnotherapist/Master NLP Practitioner, who has a fetish for erotic hypnosis.
He saw a natural ability in me, and decided to take the time to mentor me with his knowledge and experience. He spent many, many hours teaching, training, and trancing me. Hours turned into several years. He is very persistent in his teachings, but I was also a very eager student. I just could not consume enough information. To this day, I still turn to him for questions, or to run a technique by him.
Hypnosis and femdom just seem to naturally go hand in hand. I love to seduce a mind into submission. Knowing that person has given me control of their mind, gives me an endorphin rush, just as it does for the subject. Everything naturally flows in the right direction, in doing something I love to do. It is a huge fetish for me, and I can't imagine this particular fetish will ever subside.
When going into many kinds of trances, I find there is an automatic eroticism about it. All your senses become heightened. The subconscious has stored every sensation your body has ever felt, and with hypnosis, those sensations can be accessed, and intensified.
CS: For the uninitiated, how would you describe the introductory phase of your erotic hypnosis techniques?
LI: Generally speaking, a person comes to me in one state of mind, and while listening to my trance, that person begins to relax. As they feel that relaxation, they enter into a different state of mind. What that state is, is dependent on what scene is being played out, what is going through your mind, as you enter into that state, and just exactly where it is that you feel yourself guided. I say that because trances and the role taken on by the subject are unique to each person.
As the relaxation continues to deepen, through the use of both NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and hypnosis techniques, the person is given an opportunity to continue on that journey. Guided imagery is employed at this point to further enhance the trance experience.
CS: Freeing your subjects from a lot of their hang-ups about sensual pleasure, emotional guilt, and so forth -- is there any average on how long the process may take? Or is everyone pretty much different in their response time?
LI: The majority of subjects I encounter are open-minded, and have already taken some steps to explore their desires. Response time varies depending on the individual. I find that people respond at their own pace, whatever feels right for them.
CS: Once a subject is in a trance state and "primed," are their attitudes about sensuality and sex really changed?
LI: Again it depends on what the subject wants. It's their choice. When in trance, a person will only accept suggestions that are right for them. If a person wants to change an attitude about their sensuality and/or sex, they will be more likely to take those types of suggestions, than someone that doesn't want a change. For those not wanting a change, what is already there is amplified to enhance their experiences.
CS: Let's talk about the femdom side of things. Do you think there is a difference between men's and women's response to your material and techniques? Are some people more naturally attuned to a submissive role, and what might be the signs someone is more readily submissive than non-submissive?
LI: More men approach me than women. However, the response from both men and women is very strong. The only distinction between the response from a man or a woman is their mindset.
Yes, there are people that are naturally submissive, while others just want to explore it as a fantasy. Submissives, I find, usually have heightened responses to correction, criticism, disapproval, humiliation, praise, and especially isolation. They have an internal need to please, to be understood and be appreciated. This is apparent in their actions and words.
CS: Once you have a subject under control, so to speak, what are the types of commands you might issue for their erotic enhancement and sensual pleasures?
LI: Commands and/or suggestions I give a subject are dependent on how long I have had a relationship with that individual. It's through the relationship that I know what commands or suggestions are right for that person.
Someone might ask, "How can this be accomplished in a recording?" For example, a person starts with Slave Series One. In Slave Series One, suggestions are given at an introductory level. Slave Series Two builds on that, and the bond is strengthened. So stronger levels of suggestions are given in each series. This process increases from there with each recording. Each recording builds upon the other, intensifying, and strengthening the bond and control.
CS: As you continue to develop your materials and techniques, what do you project for future work in erotic hypnosis and hypnotic femdom?
LI: I will be gearing more towards specific fetishes, and continue to build in the Slave Series. I'll be adding additional trances to the Twisted Mind Section, which is for a general audience that just enjoys going into a nice, deep trance. There will also be flash inductions available in the near future, and I have thought about doing a video induction. I continue to learn new techniques everyday, and usually employ them in my next trance session. As with anything, we strive to learn. It is a continual process for me.
CS: For people who are curious but don't know anything about erotic hypnosis, what words of encouragement and confidence would you offer them?
LI: Anyone that comes to me and is inexperienced with hypnosis, whether it be erotic or not, I refer them to some basic reading material on hypnosis, so that they have an understanding of how hypnosis works before they plunge into it head first. Once they have a basic understanding and the myths about hypnosis are alleviated, then I develop an understanding of where they are at, and what their desires and needs are.
I encourage anyone, after having read the basics of hypnosis, to understand that it's a choice. It's up to them what suggestions they follow, while in trance. It is a safe medium to explore deep desires which some experience as real as their mind can imagine.
CS: In your experience, what is the "best case scenario" of someone who gets involved in erotic hypnosis? What benefits to their sex lives might they experience?
LI: In erotic hypnosis, there is a freedom to explore. In that exploration, people can make an informed decision about what is right for them in real life. When people have sex, it is a state of mind, like trance. When they become more familiar with the trance state and the enhancing effect of it, it's almost impossible not to enjoy it even more. For some, it might mean being comfortable with who they really are, and being able to express it physically.
You can visit Mistress Izzabelle's Web site for more information.