Ideomotor Response& Automatic
Writing
by Charles Wm Skillas, PhD, DD, BCH, CI, FNGH
Properly trained Hypnotherapists have
many diagnostic techniques available to them to help determine
the kind of negative forcing functions within the client that are
at the root of his problems. Two of the diagnostic uncovering
techniques that I often use in my practice are the ideomotor response
and automatic writing. I also use shamanic techniques, energy
suppression, the Rossi Technique, Parts Therapy and other techniques
as a way of communicating with the subconscious to find the festering
sores within the client that are causing his symptoms.
The ideomotor response and automatic writing are both variations
of the same subconscious response phenomena, getting the subconscious
to help us figure out what is wrong with the client and how to
fix it. These two automatic subconscious communication techniques
are quite valuable in figuring out which treatment approach is
most likely to succeed. The higher level of consciousness prefers
to communicate by either ideomotor finger response or automatic
writing, but will, if it chooses, communicate verbally. In the
idiomatic finger response, the critical factor of the conscious
mind is by-passed and access to the subconscious mind is achieved.
The subconscious then uses the autonomic nervous system to activate
the appropriate finger of the client’s hand and provides
a yes or no answer to the hypnotherapist’s question. If the
idiomatic finger response does not work then I try automatic writing.
“Hypnosis is only the revelation of the subconscious. Hypnosis
is also communication with the very limits of imagination and the
unknown world.” This extract was given to me in answer to
a question I asked a 16-year-old boy while he was in a hypnotic
trance. I had been working with this client for several sessions
clearing entities and was not attempting to tap into his higher
level of consciousness, which Jung called the “Super-conscious
Mind” or the “High Self.”
“Jeffery,” a boy of average intelligence had come to
me initially with a severe complaint, which I had been treating
with Spirit Releasement Therapy and he had improved greatly, but
was not entirely out of the woods. He proved to be an individual
who could go into a very deep trance and hence my attempt to explore
along these lines.
After providing him with pencil and paper, he produced the above
extract in “automatic writing.” I have found that the
left hemisphere is the controller of writing. It would also appear
that the right side of the brain functions through creativity,
visualization and intuition.
I now believe that
this area is where dreams are produced. Because of this, it seems
logical to accept that this is the focal point for hypnosis.
Therefore, a successful trance induction occurs when the activity
of the left hemisphere (the critical, logical section) is subdued
and the opposite portion is stimulated by hypnotic suggestion.
When “Jeffery” wrote the words “communication
with the very limits of imagination and the unknown world,” could
he have been referring to that part of the individual, which is
the divine within, the High Self, the Self, which uses imagination
or image-making to create its own reality? Carl Jung said “Our
unconscious existence is the real one and the conscious world is
a kind of illusion, an apparent reality constructed for a specific
purpose, like a dream, which seems real as long as we are in it.” Hindu
philosophy describes the physical world as Maya or illusion. Could
it be that what we perceive as “real” is actually an
extended dream of our High Self?
Previously, I had been able to achieve a similar level of consciousness
with a 19-year-old client “Denise.” This individual
was of average intelligence and had come to me seeking treatment
for a nervous problem. I removed the negative forcing functions,
but her nervousness continued. I again employed automatic writing
to tap into her High Self. When asked whether the High Self could
write answers to questions as whether hypnosis would be harmful
to her she wrote. “The Divine Self and High Mind have certain
intervals wherein hypnosis may be beneficial both to client and
hypnotist. However, certain times are more favorable than others
are. You see, the mind, as powerful as it may be, has its profitable
moments as well as the correct cooperation of individual mind and
practitioner. You must understand the mind is such a potent structure
and must be treated with respect.... “
It was obvious to me that “Denise” had had no prior
knowledge of this, therefore it would seem that she had obtained
information from some greater source than what she would normally
use. I then asked for a diagnosis of her nervous troubles. She
wrote the following. “Suppressed emotions. Finds difficulty
in expressing herself, due to childhood and mixed background. These
feelings are tense and unyielding, mainly because of fear and confusion
due to parental guidance. Mother had a great effect on her emotions.
