Sunday, August 30, 2009

Feng Shui with Sharon Rothman on Saturday, September 26

Saturday, Sept 26, 2-4pm - Please save the date for a 9-Star Ki Feng Shui group with Sharon Rothman, certified Intuitive Feng Shui consultant and expert 9-Star Ki Astrologer, followed by refreshments, hosted at Mary Beth Del Balzo’s HoHoKus, NJ space. Cost is $35.

RSVP or info please contact Mary Beth at 201-394-2319 or sootie71@aol.com, www.marybethdelbalzo.com.

For more information about Sharon Rothman, visit her site at www.fengshuiwei.com

Monday, August 24, 2009

Selective Hearing....What?

I had an appointment today with an ENT, an Ear Nose and Throat Physician. Interestingly, in my life, so much is always mind body connected. Dr Katz and I had a chat about the hundreds of rock concerts I have attended, and how my daughter Julia tells me that I cannot hear her as well as I used to.
The doctor popped me right in to meet with Judy, the audiologist, who checked my hearing. No preparing for this test. I hear the faintest of tones first in my right ear, then in my left. I know I missed a few, but turns out, basically, that I can still hear. Cheers to that.
Here is the thing, however. While I have lost some of the most high tones, the kind doctor told me, will make it just a tiny bit tougher to hear small children or women with very high voices, that I am basically ok. He warned me to wear earplugs to the concerts or I might actually lose my hearing.
My daughter, Julia, had been urging me to have my hearing tested. I think this is frustrating for her that there is no simple answer to this one. She says that I pretend I know what she is saying. The truth is, my sweet voiced girl says things and I hear something else, and sometimes respond to the wrong thing I think I hear. She is soft spoken and has a somewhat high voice, though not tinny or squeaky. Why don't I hear her?
What would I ask a hypnotherapy or therapy client? What don't you want to hear? What is your mind shutting out, since the problem is not malfunctioning ears? I'll be asking myself that, and, meanwhile, paying extra special attention to everything that Julia says to me. Yes, she is that special.

Monday, August 10, 2009

10 Misconceptions About Hypnosis

I always field at least one or two questions and concerns from clients during a first session. I hope this brief list will help dispel some common misconceptions about what hypnosis is, and what it is not. Changes come about only when they are for your own highest good and wellbeing. And those changes can feel magical, even as they are within your reach!

1. You will bark like a dog. Corrective statement - You will not do anything to embarrass yourself. Most of us have seen stage hypnosis shows, seeing a friend acting out of character. Stage hypnosis is very different from therapeutic hypnosis. In stage hypnosis, your friend actually gives permission to themselves to give up their inhibitions in order to participate in the show. They decide ahead of time that it would be okay to bark like a dog in front of all of those people! In therapeutic hypnosis, you decide for yourself what you will and won't do.

2. You will be out of control. Corrective statement - You are always in control! All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Nothing happens unless you decide that it will. For example, I can tell you to close your eyes or breathe deeply, but you will not do either of these things without deciding for yourself.
3. You won't remember anything. Corrective statement - We retain and recall information even more clearly in a trance or hypnotic state. Some people hypnotize themselves while studying for a test or exam especially to recall info. You may feel as if you have relaxed deeply and that your mind wandered, but you will retain all information that is for your highest good and wellbeing.
4. Someone will implant negative thoughts or commands in your head. Corrective statement - You will only accept suggestions that are for your highest good or wellbeing. A thought or statement that is not good for you will go in one ear and out the other. For example, when working with someone who had one kidney (though I did not know it), I suggested that they would look forward to drinking lots of water. This individual needed to restrict their liquid intake and did not drink more water than was good for her.

5. Hypnosis is like truth serum - you will blurt out all kinds of weird things. Corrective statement - You are always in control and can still decide what you will or will not say. However, you will be more true to yourself, and your subconscious mind will dive deeper to consider information that you know, deep down, but may not have considered before in your conscious mind. This shift from subconscious to conscious mind only happens when the time is right for you to consider this information.
6. Hypnosis is a magic pill. Everything will magically change after one quick session. Corrective statement - While positive change can be very swift, it sometimes takes more than one session to reinforce and shift into the changes you seek.
7. The changes you make in hypnosis last forever. Corrective statement - The changes you make in hypnosis can last forever, but just as with any therapy, they sometimes require practice to be permanent. For example, if you are prescribed physical therapy, you can make permanent changes, but only as you continue to exercise the proper area. It is the same in hypnosis. Using the tools you learn in hypnosis sessions can help create permanent change, but only with your commitment.

8. Hypnosis is something that is done to you - you do not have to participate. Corrective statement - Hypnosis is a therapy that requires your engagement. Step one is showing up. The best results happen when you participate in your own wellness.
9. If you come for hypnosis one time and you are not "cured", you are a failure and unhypnotizable - or - conversely, if you are hypnotizable you might never wake up. Corrective statement – hypnosis is a natural state that we slip in and out of every day, giving us relaxation and peace that we all need. That feeling when we are drifting off to sleep is a trance state. It follows that as we slip in and out of this state naturally, that if you are in a therapeutic hypnosis session and somehow you are left in that state, you would gently come back to the here and now.
10. Hypnosis is a deep mysterious process which most people will never be able to understand. Corrective statement – Hypnosis is a useful tool that is available to us all and is a natural state in between full wakefulness and sleep.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Crackberry at Newport Folk Festival - what's different and what is the same - 50 years later

I was talking to my sis, Jenn, as we sat and listened to the great music at the Newport Folk Festival. We couldn't help but reminisce about this being the 50th year of the festival and how it has changed from 1959 to now.

The biggest change - We were all checking our palm pilots, cell phones, crackberries, or in my case, "Crackette" - the lovely Blackberry Curve in Cotton Candy Pink, which allows me to remain connected to work and all of my websites, blog, and contacts at all times, even while listening to the incredible Judy Collins during the festival.

Sadly, the main thing I would like to have been different would to be in a time of peace NOW. Technically, we were not at war in 1959 when the Folk Festival began, but I do know that we were recently past the Korean conflict, and that Vietnam was already brewing. I wish that the war protest songs were just nostalgia, not so timely and profound to today's world. I found myself bitterly weeping while Collins sang the "The Weight Of The World", about a brother going off to war and coming home in a box.


photo courtesy of NPR.org
The entire concert was magical, as a 50th anniversary should be. Judy Collins' voice sailed about the huge crowd, permeated the rain and fog, like a beacon of light bringing us back to what is important; love, family, peace, music.

The festival was truly without preachy political overtones or undertones. Instead, it chose to practice. Recycling was consistent and thoughtful. All of the artists kept saying that they were honored to be a part of the festival.

Ben Kweller was a favorite, The Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes, the Decemberists, of course the great Arlo Guthrie, Guy Clark, Tim Eriksen, Elvis Perkins. Deer Tick rocked, and Balfa Toujours made us want to all board the next plane for New Orleans.

Joan Baez was sweet and reminscent also. She actually performed at the first folk festival in 1959. What a great treat to see her and hear her. Pete Seger led sing-alongs both evenings. On Saturday, his third sing along song was a song first popularlized in 1921, and made famous by Bing Crosby, "Blue Skies". He even went for the verse, not just the chorus.

I'll let the reviewers and NPR give the full lowdown on all of the artists and their music (click here - http://www.npr.org/music/newportfolk/index2.html. I will say that for me, every second was savored, those moments in the beating 90 degree sun of Saturday and the warm rain of late Sunday afternoon. We got it all!

Newport Folk Festival

After day one at Newport Folk Festival, attended by me, my daughter Julia and sister Jenn, we are a bit sunburned, have sampled great foods and have heard much awesome music. The music has been consistently great, and the venue, while leaves us bare to the heat of the sun, is right on the water and allows a nice breeze. Some highlights, for me, included Pete Seger, of course, though the crowd seemed shy and really took some time to warm up and sing along. His musical selections are as relevant today as they must have been when the folk festival started 50 years ago.

Ben Kweller was wonderful, a breath of fresh air, and Julia's favorite. She has loved Ben Kweller's music for a long time. He incorporates a steel pedal guitar that is so special. Fleet Foxes were my favorite, and reminded me of some of CSN's early acapella, complex harmonies. Since this is my thing, I absolutely loved them.


Some other notables include Brett Dennen, The Decemberists, the really fun Avett Brothers and Iron and Wine. My sister Jenn caught Mavis Staples and said she was awesome. I honestly could not get around to every stage, but heard that Ramblin' Jack Elliott inspired many of the younger musicians there yesterday. Today should be another great day of tunes! To listen live, click here http://www.npr.org/music/newportfolk/index2.html