HYPNOSIS, AN THE UNSEEN WORLD.

Hypnosis is a tool that allows us to explore the unused potential of our minds to accomplish the goals we desire. Not all medical experts of Hypnosis would agree that Hypnosis is a state of increased suggestibility during which ideas and instructions become readily acceptable to the subconscious mind.
Hypnosis can eradicate and replace long-established habits and attitudes that the patient wishes to change.
Although modern scientific and medical hypno-therapy is 2 or 3 centuries old, Hypnotism itself dates back for millennia. Although no named as such, some elements of Hypnosis are indistinguishable from certain trancelike states induced during ancient religious ceremonies involving rhythmic drumming, chanting, or deep meditation.
Hypnosis has been used in United States since the mid- 1800s, and was the subject of deep studies to many psychologists of the time like Sigmund Freud, Pierre Janet, and Alfred Binet among others.
The origin of hypnosis are inseparable from the history of the ancient cultures, including the Sumerian, Persian, Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman. All of them used Hypnosis in some form.
The Sumerian practiced Hynosis 4000 years before the Time of Christ, as described on cuneiform tablets. The 'priest of Erech' had a manuscript that proved that 'cures had been achieved' through Hypnotic therapy. The practice 3 levels or grades of Hypnotherapy: Light, Medium, and Deep.
In Egypt, the 'Ebers papyrus,' found through excavations in their sacred places, shows methods of Hypnosis that were used as a therapy tool. Priests were regarded as doctors in ancient Egypt, and they used the 'Power of Suggestion.' Patients would stare at metal discs, which created a 'fatigue' that would cause them to fall into a hypnotic sleep. This technique came to be known as 'fixation' and is commonly used in Hypnosis today.
In Greece, the individuals affected by some sort of unknown frequencies in their brains, went to sleep temples that were used as healing places, to restore the brain health or other maladies. The patients followed special diets, took special baths, and participated in special cleansing rituals. The priest told them about cures that helped others in their condition, which encouraged them mentally and stimulated their expectations for the same healing to occur with them.
In ancient Rome, doctors served as middlemen between the gods and the ill. Certain philosophers also began to use the 'power of suggestion' that  was used by physicians.
In India, the Sanskrit book known as 'the Law of Manu,' the ancient science of India, defines 3 different levels of Hypnosis as the sleep-waking, dream-sleep, and ecstacy-sleep states.
Many of the healing techniques documented in the Old Testaments in the Scripture have been linked to hypnosis. In pre-Christian times, the Jews used professional exorcists. These practices are described as what we know today as Hypnosis.
In the 2nd century BC, a poet named Porphyrus reported an argument between 2 students, Plotinus and Olympius, over the beliefs of their masters regarding Hypnosis. To settle the disagreement, Olympius challenged Plotinus to prove his gift in the 'art of hypnosis.' People gathered around and watched attentively. Plotinus stared at Olympius for a few minutes, in an intimidating way, and called out (using the minds of the audience as a resonance and at the same time unifying the thought), 'Behold, his body shrivels like a purse!' Olympus, receiving the suggestion mentally, felt a great pain shoot through his body, and agreed that the mental strength and the power of suggestion of Plotinus was far superior to his own.
- Paracelsus (1493-1541), famous for saying, "the deciding factor in a cure is the Inner Doctor," was an alchemist, a doctor of medicine, and possibly a time traveller as well. He discovered the usefulness of mercury as a mean of allaying and ameliorating some of the symptoms of syphilis, and his innovative medical skills included stroking a patient's body with a natural magnet - a lodestone. This technique have been closely allied to an early form of proto-hypnosis, in which healing suggestions accompanied the moving magnet. He was at risk of being executed because of the various treatment methods he used, being Hypnosis one of them, were considered satanic.
- Valentine Greatrakes, known as 'the great Irish stroker', continued with Paracelsus' magnet techniques. He actually worked with Robert Boyle (1627-1691), who carefully noted Greatrakes's method of magnetic stroking. The technique consisted of drawing the pain from the afflicted part towards the end of the limb and then out of the body altogether.
- Maximilian Hell (1720-1792) was an astronomer and Jesuit priest who achieved cures through the use of magnets. Maximilian's healing methods consisted of applying magnetized steel plates to the patient's images of diseased organs or places where pain existed in the body, and 60% to 80% improvement were obtained in his patients' physical condition.
- Johann Joseph Gassner (1727-1779) was a Catholic priest at Klosterle and later at Pondorf, now part of Winklarn in Bavaria. He firmly believed that illness was caused by demons and evil spirits. Working as an exorcist, he cured patients by a process that involved driving out the evil spirits responsible for their illnesses.
- Friedrick Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) studied Hypnotism under Father Maximilian Hell, who despite his unusual surname, was a Jesuit. Mesmer believed that he could cure sick people by magnetizing their fluids. This was achieved by passing a hand along the length of the patient's body, from the top of the head to the soles of the feet. This would cause a convulsive effect, and the patient would then fall into a deep sleep. In 1774 , Mesmer gave one of his patients a dose of 'medicine' that contained a significant quantity of iron. He then ran magnets over her body, and the patient described her strange feelings. She said it was as if tides, or streams, of fluid energy were running through her body and she reported that she felt much better for several hours afterwards. Memer was not convinced that the magnets were solely responsible for her improvement. He developed a theory of 'animal magnetism' that involved healing power flowing from him to the patient. Louis XVI commissioned the 'Royal Academy of Sciences' to examine Mesmer's doctrines. He was discredited, ridiculed, and called a quack by the 'commission.' The patients' convulsions were considered 'immoral', despite the healing impact afterward. Mesmer died discouraged and in poverty.
- James Braid (1795-1860), and English ophthalmologist, observed experiments conducted by the magnetist, LaFontaine. He studied these experiments to disprove the ancient theory of Hypnosis that dealt with the view and behavior of the unseen world. After practicing the techniques on his wife, friend, and servant, however, he was able to make them fall asleep by staring at the button on the tip of his nose.
- Sigmund Freud confirmed the occurrence of Hypnosis, but was unable to perform it successfully on his clients and therefore discourage the use of it.
- Emile Coue developed the doctrine of self-hypnosis or auto-suggestion. He believed any individual can be a powerful hypnosis-therapist. He also proposed 3 laws of hypnosis-therapy: concentrated attention's law, the dominant effect's law, the dominant action's law.
- Jean Martin Charcot (1825-1893) was a neurologist who worked with many illnesses. He used a 'shock technique' to startle groups of people and cause them to fall into a hypnotic state.
- I.P. Pavlov believed that Hypnosis and the 'power of suggestion' are phenomena that are inherent in daily life.
The British Medical Association 'approved the study of hypnosis' in medical schools and postgraduate curricula, and 'approved its use' for psychiatric and surgical purposes.
The American Medical Association followed suit and integrated hypnosis into its curricula.
Doctors in World Wars I and II used Hypnosis to treat neuroses.  During the Korean War, hypno-therapy and psychology became connected together.

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS.

The seven deadly sins in their current form are not found in the Bible, however there are biblical antecedents. One such antecedent is found in the Book of Proverbs, chapter 6, among the verses traditionally associated with King Solomon, it states: "There are '6 things' which the Lord hates, '7' which are an abomination to him: - Haughty eyes, - a lying tongue, - and hands that shed innocent blood, - a heart that devises wicked plans, - feet that make haste to run to evil, - a false witness who breathes out lies, - and a man who sows discord among brothers."

Another list, given by the Epistle to the Galatians, chapter 5, includes more of the traditional 7 sins:

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the Flesh, for the desires of the Flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the Flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. ... Now the works of the Flesh are plain: -fornication, -impurity, -licentiousness, -idolatry, -sorcery, -enmity, -strife, -jealousy, -anger, -selfishness, -dissension, -party spirit, -envy, -drunkenness, -carousing, -and the like.  ... But the fruit of the Spirit is -love, joy, -peace, -patience, -kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such there is no law."

Still another list of things that God hates comes from Revelation, chapter 21. This list has 8 items, and includes 7 sins listed previously which states: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

There are 7 deadly sins in the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy (Dante's Hell). The story begins with the narrator, who is the poet himself, being lost in a dark wood where he is attacked by 3 beasts which he cannot escape. He is rescued by the Roman poet Virgil who is sent by Beatrice (Dantes ideal woman). Together, they begin the journey into the underworld or the 9th Circles of Hell. 

Ranked in order, the 7 deadly sins are: 

-Lust (Fornication), unlawful sexual desire, such as desiring sex with a person outside marriage. Dante's definition was 'excessive love of others,' and this reduced the love that a person could give God. Lust is placed in the 2nd circle of Hell, by Dante, where the punished souls, are blown around by a strong wind, without the hope of ever resting. This is because lust is so powerful, that it can blow one around without need or aim.

-Gluttony, wasting of food, either through eating too much food, drink or drugs, misplaced desire for food for its taste, or not giving food to the needy. 'Excessive love of pleasure' was Dante's definition. It is placed in the 3rd circle of Hell, by Dante, where the souls are forced to lie in a kind of slush, made by freezing rain, black snow, and hail. This used to symbolized what they made with their life.

-Greed (Covetousness, Avarice), greed is when somebody wants more things than the person needs or can use. Dante wrote that greed is too much 'love of money and power.' They are in the 4th circle. There, they are boiled in hot oil, it is the best oil that money can buy, but it is still pretty hot and they are turned into gold.

-Sloth, as a laziness, idleness and wastefulness of time that a person has. Laziness is hated because others have to work harder. Delay what God wants a person to do or not doing it at all. Makes the life of that person harder, because useful work does not get done. Like gluttony, it is a sin of waste, for it wastes time. Sloth is considered a state of equilibrium -one does not produce much, but one does not need much either. In Dante's theology, sloth is the 'failure to love God with all one's heart, all one's mind, and all one's soul.' They are in the 5th circle, where they are thrown into a snake pit where the indolent will have to move around to get the snakes off them eternally.

-Wrath (Anger, Hate) defined as an inappropriate (not right) feelings of hatred, revenge, or even denial, as well as punitive desires outside of justice. Dante's description was 'love of justice perverted to revenge and spite.' They are in the 5th circle as well. It is a combined circle of sloth and wrath. Their limbs are ripped apart, because the furious use their arms and/or legs in their act of violence.

-Envy (Jealousy) defined as hating other people for what they have. Dante wrote that envy is 'love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs.' In other words, thinking that the person himself should have more, even if it means someone else will have less because of him.

-Pride (Vanity) defined as the desire to be important or attractive to others or excessive love of self. Dante's definition was 'love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor.'

Some of this sins are connected. For example, 'pride' (love of self out of proportion) is needed for gluttony (the over-consumption or waste of food), as well as 'sloth', 'envy', and most of the others. Each of these sins is a way of not loving God and not loving others as much as oneself. 

In philosophy, especially that of Aristotle, there is a desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency. For example, in the Aristotelian view, 'courage' is a virtue, but if taken to excess would manifest in recklessness, and, in deficiency, turn to cowardice.

The opposite of these 7 deadly sins are the 7 virtues: -chastity, -moderation, -charity, -zeal, -meekness, -generosity, and -humility, in corresponding order.

THE 7 SPIRITS OF THE 7 CHURCHES OF REVELATION.

In Revelation, in the vision of John, on the Greek Island of Patmos, Jesus Christ instructs his servant, to "write on a scroll what you see and send it to the 7 churches of Asia Minor: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
The purpose of the letters is to communicate with them and meet their needs revealing 7 different types of individuals in the form of churches throughout history and instruct them in God's Truth.
Each of the 7 churches describes issues that fit Christ's Church in any time in its history.
- Ephesus: the church that had forsaken its first love.
He speaks of the 7 stars and 7 lamp-stands. The lamp-stands symbolize the expectation that each of the 7 individuals have as a bright and shining light. The seven stars symbolize the 7 Guardian Spirits. Jesus emphasizes that he holds these stars in his right hand and they are secure in Him as well as dependent on Him.
Soul's Insight: "I know your deeds, hard work, and perseverance. You have not grown weary. I know what you are doing, and you are doing it well (and I know what you are refusing, and that you are right in your refusal). "
- Smyrma: the church that suffer persecution.
Jesus is the first and the last, the one who died and came to life again. He is the alpha and omega and everything in between. Jesus lives in the power of endless life.
Soul's Insight: "I know your afflictions and poverty, and yet you are rich. I know the challenging circumstances under which you live, and are destitute in material things, but are strong in faith and rich in spirit. Be encouraged."
- Pergamum: the church that needed to repent.
Jesus has the sharp, double-edged sword. He is in the position of authority and power and when he wields authority, it is a blessing for those who follow and a condemnation for those who do not.
Criticism: "Yet I hold this against you, 'You have held to teachings of traitors, ate food sacrificed to idols, committed sexual impurity, etc. You are leading (encouraging even) people away from the teachings from Jesus and moving people toward idolatry -putting created things before the creator (to be interested more in the temporal than in the spiritual). This leads to immoral behavior.' "
Soul's Insight: "I know where you live, where Satan has his throne, and you remain true to My Name."
- Thyatira: the church that have a false prophetess.
Jesus is one whose eyes are like blazing fire and his feet are like burnished bronze. He has penetrating insight and wisdom in all things. He is also swift to move and in action, and will perform quickly to do what needs to be done.
- Sardis: the church that have fallen asleep.
Jesus holds the 7 Spirits of God, the 7 stars, and the 7-fold Spirit of God. He holds those in leadership in his hands, and also provides the 7-fold Graces of the Spirit.
- Philadelphia: the church that endures patiently.
Jesus is the one who is Holy and True, who holds the key of David. What He opens, no one can shut; what He shuts, no one can open.
- Laodicea: the church with the lukewarm faith.
Jesus is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Jesus is the exclamation of what God is saying. He is faithful to all God is, totally true, and is the ruler of all God's creation. He has glorious authority.
Criticism: "Yet I hold this against you, 'You have such an exaggerated opinion of your importance and effectiveness, that it has become misleading. You are not even close to being the church that you think you are.' "
The letters follow identical formats, and each letter has 7 sections: 1) Greetings, 2) Descriptive title for Jesus, 3) Insights into the personal life, 4) Constructive criticisms, 5) Warnings and instructions, 6) Final exhortations, 7) Promises and assurances.
Jesus promises that, for those who overcome, there are untold blessings to come, and Jesus assures the individual, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Anyone who hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in, I will eat with him and they with me."