I have a confession. I, too, have been brainwashed, and it’s not by some evil cult leader – it’s ME!!!
Each of us repeats our thoughts over and over and we accept them as valid. But they are based on beliefs that we have held or that someone else programs us to believe and the validity might not be proven.
In my trainings to become a Master Hypnotherapist, I learned a lot about hypnotic technique and how it can be used to help someone change their thinking to improve their life. I found hypnosis such a powerful counseling tool that I studied and became a trainer of hypnotherapy. I also learned that some people try to use these principles to change another person’s reality. That’s what we call ‘brainwashing’ and there are a whole host of reasons why that is not a good thing.
Last year, Richard & I walked out of a 4-day seminar on the first day when the seminar leader explained that he was going to brainwash us but only put in good things. Sorry, chum, but you don’t get to do that to me even if I did pay for your seminar! I’m very careful about what goes into my brain! At least he was being honest. [Side note: My angels were with me that day. I went to sit down after a break and felt pushed out of my seat and onto the floor. I turned around expecting that my husband had bumped me and he was not even looking my way. A sign that I was protected! We left at the next break.]
Now here’s the truth about hypnosis. You can’t make someone do something they don’t, at some level, really want to do. If I could, with all my training, don’t you think I’d be working in prisons and rehab centers hypnotizing people to get them to quit crime and drugs? No, hypnosis can’t even get someone to put their hand into an imaginary aquarium holding an imaginary snake unless they really love reptiles! The person on the stage who struts around like a chicken for the stage hypnotist is the same one who, at a party after a few drinks, might put the lampshade on their head and lead karaoke. Some part of them wants to be the center of attention.
But the kind of brainwashing that’s done insidiously brings harm to those who unwittingly believe what they are told, especially when the same language is used over and over and over again so that their brain accepts the repetition as the truth. This is the purpose of so-called ‘talking points’ – say the same words repeatedly and with conviction and the unsuspecting populace will believe it. It bothers me that this modus operandi is being used in the world today and it’s masquerading as ‘news reporting’ and ‘politics.’
But the most insidious brainwashing is that which we are doing to ourselves. We keep telling our story to ourselves over and over and over again as if it is the only reality. In one situation or relationship, we focus on the negative or what’s missing or what we don’t want, and then we keep our attention focused on that by speaking about it.
‘My job sucks.’
‘He is a jerk.’
‘I can’t make any money.’
‘I can’t afford that.’
‘I don’t know how to _______.’
‘She doesn’t understand me.’
‘Nobody pays any attention to me.’
And so on.
We are actually brainwashing ourselves every time we think these thoughts.
STOP IT!!!! Catch yourself repeating a thought and ask yourself, ‘Is this true?’
Think ahead of time what your story is and what you would like to tell yourself instead. Picture what you DO WANT. Then, every time you catch yourself repeating the language about what you don’t want, tell yourself to, ‘STOP IT!!!’ and replace your thought language with the language about what you do want instead.
A little practice and you’ll be de-programmed from the cult of 1!
And ask for help in this if you need it. There’s no shame in needing de-programming after you’ve been brainwashed, even if you’re the only member of the cult.
Now you know.
PS: Please join us today at noon Eastern time as we meditate and activate the energy through this special day and time: Wednesday, 12/12/12 at 12:00. There is no registration for this, just dial in and be there with us!
The number to call is: 1-218-862-1300, and the code to enter is: 143201
Mystic Messages 
“You Have Been Brainwashed!” a commentary from Richard
December 13, 2012 — RichardBrainwashed? Yes, by one of the most powerful forces in my life (no, not Rosemary): my own ego!
As I have mentioned before part of my daily practice is to draw a couple of cards from my favorite decks to divine a sense of the energies of the day. One of my decks is the Crowley Tarot Deck and I use The Crowley Tarot by Akron and Hajo Banzhaf to continue to deepen my understanding of the cards. Today (Thursday) I drew the XVI of Trumps, The Tower. (I’ve included its image here). And my first reaction was: how cool to bring up this image of “destruction” as
I sit to write about brainwashing, its power and destructive potential and how to re-program from the brainwashing; in other words, destroy its impact and bring in the new images of self that are needed at this time!
This is 2012, and I am writing this on 12/12/12. Rosemary led a meditation today at 12:00 noon Eastern time, to activate and anchor the emerging energies of transformation as we draw near the Winter Solstice of 2012. What better time to let go of the old structures, the old energies, the old beliefs, the old brainwashing, those stories we’ve been telling ourselves for years, that may no longer hold any truth or power for us or over us.
And so I draw this card with its Tower, this burning, toppling structure that is an empty shell holding nothing for me as I move into the new energies at the end of 2012. Here are phrases from the guide book: “destruction of form…upheaval of values”, “enlightenment … that strikes like lightning and destroys … rigid ideas”, “overcoming one’s self”, “breaking open encrustations.” Wow, sounds like deprogramming to me!
The ego holds our beliefs, especially about ourselves. It is a wonderful friend, protecting us from both physical and emotional harm. It can also be our worst enemy holding us back when we are called to speak our truth, holding us to old beliefs when we receive new information that would help us grow, develop, evolve! The ego protects us but also holds us prisoner locked away in our tower. It is time for my tower to tumble!
And so I seek to burn down the current structures of my life, to sabotage my own ego, to break free of the bonds that fetter and hold me frozen in a place of safety but with little progress.
How? I will write more about my process and what is coming to me for tomorrow’s post. Meanwhile I continue all of my practices, which I have described in earlier posts. They serve me well and help me through the ego-generated blocks that no longer serve me. My practices are the “fire and kindling” I use to burn my imprisoning tower down.
Towers, so too brainwashing, can be good and bad. We need structures in our lives to hold us safe and help us hold the energy of the time; but when they impede our progress we need to burn them to the ground!
Burn your prisons down!
Oh, and happy New Moon (3:42 am EST, 12/13/12)! What better time to bring in the new energies of progress and transformation!