Awakening to The Calling

[anart]

Hi Andrew,

My two cents: Maybe it would help to think of it like this: why expect a massage therapist to teach you to play tennis? If your therapist is good at the basic psychological stuff, why expect him or her to do other things?

If a regular psychotherapist can help you figure out your "family issues, issues with self-esteem, narcissistic character traits etc." well that seems to be WAY more than just scratching the surface of the problem. If your psychotherapist doesn't do past-life regression, you can always find someone else to do that.

But I think that all the esoteric stuff can only be truly approached when one has come to grips with the basic psychological stuff. Otherwise our messed-up psyches distort things and the esoteric information just helps us sleep. We all know new-age types who do this to an extreme. Why should we worry too much about past lives when we haven't figured out this life? But there is no reason you can't do therapy and hypnotic regression at the same time with two different practitioners.

I would agree with Mr Premise on this one - work with the therapist on what she can help you with.  As far as Pepperfritz's post:

Your therapy cannot be effective if you are not completely honest with your therapist.

While this may be true, the devil is in the details.  There are many more poor therapists out there than there are good ones. If one is lucky enough to come upon a good one, that still doesn't mean that they have clue one about esoterica - nor do they need to.  In fact, some esoteric material might very well seem insane to a clueless therapist, so just assuming that you should be completely honest about everything just because someone is a 'therapist' is neither realistic, nor vigilant.  As Gurdjieff said, "Sincerity with everyone is a weakness".

Andrew, I get the sense that you are looking for someone else to 'make you better' - you are looking for a regression, or a therapist, or a hypnotist, to make you better when you are the only one with the power to do that. If you put your well-being, learning and progress into the hands of another, it does you no good.  This does not mean that you cannot get assistance - assistance is important since no one can do this alone - it is the sense that you are fervently looking outside yourself for answers from others instead of taking it one step at a time and doing the internal work that WILL make a difference - the bulk of this is psychological and where one should start.

The idea that hypnosis or regression would prove to you whether something is 'real' or not is inherently flawed - how would you know the hypnosis or regression is 'real'? My point is that when it comes down to it, it is Work - 99% perspiration and grueling internal work and learning - all the while never having a guarantee that any of it is 'real' - other than the fruit it bears.

I would suggest you leave the esoterica out of for the time being and concentrate on the building blocks, of which Mr. Premise spoke above - but that's just my take on it. 

 

[Andrew]

Your therapy cannot be effective if you are not completely honest with your therapist.

I guess I should just give it a whirl then...just really hesitant on that issue, never opened up to anyone about how I feel in that respect.

Re past-life hynosis: You have already sought feedback on this idea, and were given the very sound advice that it is not only not "necessary" but potentially harmful, and can be used to avoid facing one's issues and problems in the here and now. The fact that upon discovering the discomfort you feel at the prospect of being honest with your therapist, you have regressed back to this idea, seems a pretty clear illustration that you are indeed looking for an "escape hatch" and practicing avoidance behaviour. And no one here is going to encourage you in that direction.

Hey,

I agree in all respects that it can be potentially harmful if used as an escape hatch from this reality, and from the here and now. That's not exactly my intent. It's difficult to convey over the internet, but what I'm trying to say is Im not looking for an escape, only a means to verify if what I feel inside is true or not? If my subconscious may hold some type of indication that im not losing my mind over viewing the world so differently. Not even sure if thats possible; just a thought I suppose. And that's really all.

I wouldn't be doing therapy and investing most of my time in reading the recommended psychology books if I was trying to avoid the real issues.

 

[Andrew]

[quote author=Mr. Premise]
Hi Andrew,
If a regular psychotherapist can help you figure out your "family issues, issues with self-esteem, narcissistic character traits etc." well that seems to be WAY more than just scratching the surface of the problem.
[/quote]

Indeed. I suppose your right. It is more. A lot more. Thank You.

[quote author=Mr. Premise]
But I think that all the esoteric stuff can only be truly approached when one has come to grips with the basic psychological stuff. Otherwise our messed-up psyches distort things and the esoteric information just helps us sleep.
[/quote]

I believe this has also been suggested to me before - maybe I'm just trying to work my brain to hard? Trying to maintain my studies while taking the appropriate psychological measures to better mental health. As has been mentioned in another topic "time feels short". Trying to do as much as I can.

[quote author=Mr. Premise]
Why should we worry too much about past lives when we haven't figured out this life?
[/quote]

I agree. I just would like to find a means of exploring my subconscious to search for some kind of verification to how I feel. Perhaps this is looking for an escape? I dont see how, but maybe it is. I don't exactly trust my feelings, so perhaps looking into that might be a better step to take then going for some type of hypnotherapy?

 

[Andrew]

[quote author=anart]
I would agree with Mr Premise on this one - work with the therapist on what she can help you with.
[/quote]

Ok this helps a lot thank you.

[quote author=anart]
As far as Pepperfritz's post:
[/quote]

Your therapy cannot be effective if you are not completely honest with your therapist.

[quote author=anart]
While this may be true, the devil is in the details. There are many more poor therapists out there than there are good ones. If one is lucky enough to come upon a good one, that still doesn't mean that they have clue one about esoterica - nor do they need to. In fact, some esoteric material might very well seem insane to a clueless therapist, so just assuming that you should be completely honest about everything just because someone is a 'therapist' is neither realistic, nor vigilant. As Gurdjieff said, "Sincerity with everyone is a weakness".
[/quote]

Yes this is exactly how I felt about the issue. External consideration I suppose. My immediate impression upon meeting my therapist, and after talking a little, I didn't really feel like I would be able to talk about such things. Makes sense.

[quote author=anart]
Andrew, I get the sense that you are looking for someone else to 'make you better' - you are looking for a regression, or a therapist, or a hypnotist, to make you better when you are the only one with the power to do that. If you put your well-being, learning and progress into the hands of another, it does you no good. This does not mean that you cannot get assistance - assistance is important since no one can do this alone - it is the sense that you are fervently looking outside yourself for answers from others instead of taking it one step at a time and doing the internal work that WILL make a difference - the bulk of this is psychological and where one should start.
[/quote]
I agree with you from the point of view of looking for a type of hypnotherapy, it is inherently flawed as you explained below. As for the rest of it, the psychological issues, I have been doing my darndest to do as much as I possibly can. However it was suggested that seeing a Therapist might do some good, and the psychology books on narcissism seem to advocate Therapy so I thought I'd take some kind of action towards self-development or potential positive self-change. It's however, difficult to do so much work with only oneself left to interpret ones subjective thoughts. Just seeking objective feedback and any kind of practical advice on things that I myself might not be seeing.

The idea that hypnosis or regression would prove to you whether something is 'real' or not is inherently flawed[/b] - how would you know the hypnosis or regression is 'real'?

I would suggest you leave the esoterica out of for the time being and concentrate on the building blocks, of which Mr. Premise spoke above - but that's just my take on it.

Its difficult to put down such fascinating material. But I suppose it will have to do.

Thanks again Anart

 

[anart]

I would suggest you leave the esoterica out of for the time being and concentrate on the building blocks, of which Mr. Premise spoke above - but that's just my take on it.

Its difficult to put down such fascinating material. But I suppose it will have to do.

Oops, that was a typo on my part, I meant 'leave the esoterica out of the therapy for the time being' - - not leave it alone all together. Sorry for the confusion! (But, yes, focusing on the psychology side of things is really important...)