The Power of Metaphor in Hypnosis
Look at the picture and what do you see?
St Michael is an archangel, representing goodness, purity and faith. A warrior in armour with his sword drawn. A dragon subdued. The scales of justice. He’s also framed as a hero, with his golden flowing locks and well defined muscles - rather like a Marvel comic book hero!
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy uses metaphors within the structure of hypnosis to create change.
We use metaphors all the time
There’s nothing new about metaphors of course. We use them every day.
“Every cloud has a silver lining.”
“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
“Out of the frying pan in to the fire.”
We know what these mean. They are a simple way of explaining changes of emotional state, of reassuring, comforting, reminding, educating and illuminating.
We use metaphors all the time in our anecdotes and stories. We grew up with parables, fables and fairy stories.
Metaphors and dreams
The subconscious mind processes the challenges of the day in metaphorical dreams, changing emotional memories to narrative memories and helping us unscramble and make sense of each day’s challenges during our REM sleep.
REM Dream Sleep and Metaphors
Hypnotherapy is a unique state of deep relaxation that in some ways replicates REM sleep, allowing the body and mind to rest, recharge and renew, thereby helping to create profound changes in the subconscious mind.
Metaphors are key component in that process.
So what has St Michael got to do with that?
Gods and saints as metaphors
I was bought up as a Catholic and the panoply of saints and their stories were part of my childhood. Most have pagan or pre-Christian roots, including the stories of angels. They were stories of sacrifice, suffering and triumph.
Some stories were told to control our behaviour and they weren’t all, by modern standards, helpful. But as examples of the power of metaphors, they are interesting and St Michael (along with St Anthony the Patron Saint of lost things and others) has a very useful role to play.
St Michael is the patron saint of paramedics, the police, warriors, the sick and the suffering (and not knickers as some believe).
The psychology of saints
The role of saints, and the pagan gods that came before them (in this case think Ares and Mars) was articulated around faith. They also played a psychological role in processing fear, confusion, isolation, grief, and in changing states by making us fearless, brave, strong, hopeful, resilient or calm in the face and fear.
My Catholic friend had been having a hard time so I sent her this wonderful picture of Michael. As soon as she saw it, she understood its meaning and understood I was sending her my best wishes and best hopes for her.
St Michael - metaphorical protector
The idea that St Michael is batting on our side feels rather wonderful. Sword in one hand, scales in the other, standing on the metaphorical Dragon that has been tormenting us, St Michael is our metaphorical protector.
Imagine him standing by your side when you face the next confrontational meeting, or deliver your next presentation. How much more powerful would you feel?
Imagination is rehearsal
You don’t have to believe in angels to have St Michael by your side; you just have to imagine.
Although it is true to say that faith has a powerful role to play in our mental and physical health. Many people do believe in angels, and god of course. They have an advantage over those who don’t.
Nevertheless, the imagination is the rehearsal room of the mind. To imagine St Michael by your side is to imagine you have more resilience.
To imagine you have more resilience is to rehearse that belief, in a Solution Focused way.
Your unconscious mind has started to make the shift that changes your behaviour, feelings and action.
That’s the power of metaphors.
Jane Pendry
www.sense-ability.co.uk
jane@sense-ability.co.uk
+44 (0) 7843 813 883