An enduring image in hypnotism is that of the spiral. This symbol was important to the ancient Celts and was said to represent the circling or wanderings of the soul, which eventually returns to the center or truth. Other ancient cultures believed that energy flowed in a spiral form.
Yet apart from the interesting history of the spiral, it in fact does have its practical applications too. Many hypnotic and meditative practices begin with you focusing your vision on a stationary object, taking a few deep breaths and then closing your eyes as you exhale. Have you ever wondered why this is done?
It's a little known fact of neurophysiology that the eyes move in relation to the thoughts you have. A parlor-type stunt that demonstrates this is called the "brain lock."
You first have a volunteer focus her vision on some immobile object like the tip of a pen or pencil. You then ask her to try to describe a visual memory such as "what does the front of your house look like?"
As long as her vision is fixed on that single unmoving point it will be difficult if not impossible for her to carry out this simple task because the eyes will move upwards first when someone is asked to recall a visual image. Blocking this motion interrupts the process.
People skilled in observing non-verbal communication will note the movement of the "eye accessing cues" of another person and can often engage in what seems like mind reading, being able to tell if someone is recalling or confabulating visual, auditory or feeling images and memories.
In focusing your vision on one spot you are minimizing conscious mind chatter (the part of the self that worries constantly) as you begin your self-hypnosis or meditative practice.
A moving spiral is an especially good fixation point and I have made one available that you can use on your computer along with a simplified user's guide that at:
Hypnosis Spiral Download
