Disclosure: I have used hypnosis for most of my life and have been deeply involved in the study and practice of hypnosis for well over a decade. I have earned certification as a clinical hypnotherapist, certification as an instructor of hypnosis and hypnotherapy, and certification in several specialties. It's Back…In a New Way When people get interested in learning hypnosis, their focus is frequently on the induction, moving from non-hypnosis to hypnosis. Usually, the first style of induction learned is the progressive relaxation (or progressive muscle relaxation) induction. It's the "relax your feet, relax your ankles, relax your calves, relax your thighs" etc. induction. It takes a

If you've been following and working through this "Magick 101" series, you're probably not yet ready to design your own rituals. If you've been following this series for added information—or just to see what I'm talking about—you may already know all of this. In either case, you can use this as an overview in order to either see where your training will go or understand ritual design in a linear, step-by-step order. All magickal rituals follow a certain order. Some magickal systems or individuals may go through certain sections rather quickly. Others may choose to bypass certain sections. However, in my experience, the following structure can lead to great success. Step One:

As you get more and more into your study of magick, metaphysics, and the occult, you're going to hear about Tantra. For most Westerners, Tantra is just "that sex stuff." Some think it's all revealed in the book, The Kama Sutra. So how could I even ask if Tantra is a religion? Sources Tantra is either relatively recent or many thousands of years old, developing before there was writing. It developed out of the Hindu holy scriptures, the Vedas, or is a source of the Vedas. Or maybe it evolved out of Buddhism. Or maybe it evolved into Buddhism. So the problem is that Tantra is closely linked to religions, and some members of those religions are rather dogmatic. If anyone dares disagree with

Yes, later this week we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving, when many will get together with relatives and learn yet again why they aren't closer, pig out on too much food, and retire to watch football on the widescreen. This is the time when bloggers from all over will be sharing what they were thankful for and desperately trying to get more interactivity by asking you to share what you're thankful for. Well, I say, "Forget that!" Remembering the past and being thankful for it is like sending flowers to a funeral. Hey, if you don't want to send me flowers when I'm alive, don't send flowers now that I'm dead and can't appreciate them! Instead, think about the past year based on a few