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Through the Open Door

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Through
the Open Door
SECRETS OF SELF-HYPNOSIS
BY
KEVIN HOGAN
AND

MARY LEE LABAY

FOREWORD BY

DWIGHT DAMON

PELICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY

GRETNA 2012
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Copyright 2000
By Kevin Hogan and Mary Lee LaBay
All rights reserved

First printing, August 2000

Romanian edition, January 2007
First paperback edition, February 2012

The word Pelican and the depiction of a pelican are trademarks of

Pelican Publishing Company, Inc., and are registered in the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hogan, Kevin
Through the open door : secrets of self-hypnosis / by Kevin Hogan and Mary Lee
LaBay ; foreword by Dwight Damon.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-56554-785-8 (alk. paper)
1. Autogenic training. I. LaBay, Mary Lee. II. Title.
RC499.A8 .H643 2000
154.7dc21
00-028476

Printed in United States of America

Published by Pelican Publishing Company, Inc.
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, Louisiana 70053
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To
Quincy and London,
Katie, Jessica, and Mark.
The loves of our lives . . .
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Contents

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Chapter One Understanding Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Chapter Two Accessing the Unconscious Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Chapter Three Overcoming Procrastination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Chapter Four Fear No More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Chapter Five High Self-Esteem and
Unshakable Self-Confidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Chapter Six Making Better Decisions . . . Faster . . . . . . . . . . .93
Chapter Seven Attracting Special People Into Your Life . . . . . .109
Chapter Eight Look Attractive Longer and Feel Better Forever! 121
Chapter Nine Ten Steps to Weight Loss through Hypnosis . . .137
Chapter Ten Putting the Cigarette Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Chapter Eleven Pain Relief through Self-Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . .171
Chapter Twelve Birthing Your Child Using Hypnosis . . . . . . . . .189
Chapter Thirteen Prosperity Consciousness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
Chapter Fourteen Accelerated Learning and
Memory Enhancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .223
Chapter Fifteen Interpreting Your Dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
Chapter Sixteen Remarkable Stories about the
Power of Self-Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .263
Resource Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265
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Foreword

As president of the National Guild of Hypnotists, I am also editor of

the Journal of Hypnotism, the largest circulation hypnosis publication in
the world. Kevin Hogan is a staff writer for the Journal which is read by
over 6,000 professionals in 40 countries and his columns draw a tremen-
dous amount of readers mail and interest.
At the National Guild of Hypnotists, for the past forty-nine years we
have been concerned with bringing an awareness and understanding of this
unique profession to the public. We want people to know that by using hyp-
nosis and the power of their minds, they can make big changes in their lives.
We recently launched a new publication for the public called Hypnosis
Today. This magazine is designed for you, the reader of this book, the per-
son who wants to utilize the tools of hypnosis and self-hypnosis to opti-
mize various aspects of your life. And, once again, Kevin Hogans articles
in this new magazine bring knowledge and arouse interest of the readers.
Hypnosis is not a panacea. Hypnosis certainly doesnt cure all ail-
ments, nor does it turn everyone into geniuses. Hypnosis does, however,
help you do just about anything you do, better. People who use self hyp-
nosis before and after surgeries tend to heal faster. Hypnosis is also pos-
itively correlated to accelerated learning, enhanced performance in
sports, improvement from chronic illnesses, easier childbirth, and dozens
of other major life issues. What a wonderful tool resides in all of us for
self-improvement and better health!
Self-hypnosis, as presented in the book you are about to read, includes
a wide range of techniques and strategies that can help you make big and
lasting changes in many areas of your life. The reason the authors present
such a vast arsenal of tools is because there is no single magic bullet for
change or for health. The authors have worked hard to present every

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10 THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR

imaginable solution to a multitude of challenges and they are to be com-

mended. It is rare that you see a self-hypnosis book, or any book for that
matter, meet such a standard.
Mary Lee LaBay has acquired a reputation as a dynamic instructor of
hypnosis and a fine hypnotherapist. She has been working in the field for
over 10 years and has really made a name for herself in the Pacific
Northwest. Her writing style is not only elegant but instructive. I think
you will really enjoy her immense contribution to this volume.
Kevin Hogan is an emerging star in the field of hypnosis. He has
helped create a bridge between complementary medical practitioners and
those in the traditional medical field. His work with people who suffer
from chronic illnesses is widely recognized and his contributions to the
field of hypnosis are impressive.
As you read this book you can know that your authors are not only fine
teachers but people who really want you to achieve all that you aspire to.
Mary Lee and Kevin offer easy to understand step-by-step instructions
in handling many of lifes most challenging experiences. This book sets a
new benchmark not only for self-hypnosis books but for self improvement
books.
DWIGHT DAMON, D.C.
President
National Guild of Hypnotists
Box 308
Merrimack, NH 03054
http://www.ngh.net
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Acknowledgments

This book was written by Mary Lee LaBay and Kevin Hogan, yet it
represents the work of not just two, but many, people.
We both would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr. Dwight Damon, the
president of the National Guild of Hypnotists, for writing the Foreword to
this book. His support is always gratefully appreciated.
We both would also like to acknowledge the three key contributors to
this book. Chris McAtee wrote the chapter addressing pain relief. Melissa
Barnes wrote the chapter discussing childbirth. And Lee Ater designed
our beautiful cover. Your work will now live forever.
We also would like to thank all those who contributed their stories to
this book. Katie Hogan, Kim Johnson, Giavonne Mitchell, Jeanie Taylor,
Susan Hedrick, Rose Rockney, Monica Piechowski, John Sayre, Rebecca
Phifer, Peter Gravestock, Craig Lang, Liz Heidenger, Mair Llewellyn
Edwards, Jo Ann Sunderlage and Sam Zeiler. Thank you for sharing your
personal and private experiences with the reader. They are transformed
because of you.
We both would like to thank Elsom Eldridge, the NGH Convention
Director and president of the International Guild of Professional
Consultants for his support for our work.
We also want to thank Dr. Milburn Calhoun, the owner and president
of Pelican Publishing, for suggesting this project.
Special thanks to Lynda Moreau, our publicist at Pelican. You are the
greatest, Lynda.
Thanks to Joseph Billingsley, Pelicans sales manager. Know that your
work is deeply appreciated. Thank you.
We also want to thank our friends and family who watched us fall off
the world while we wrote this. Were back!

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12 THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR

I (K.H.) want to personally thank a few people who I have both taught
and that I have learned from. Their friendship, support, encouragement,
dedication, and love is always appreciated. Devin Hastings, Will Horton,
Elizabeth Nahum, Holly Sumner, Wendi Friesen, Roy Hunter, Terry
Watts, Lee Freed, Joe Vitale and Richard Brodie.
I also want to thank Joe Keaney in Ireland for bringing me to Dublin
to share my work with all of his wonderful students.
I (M.L.) would like to personally thank my parents, Maurice and Marge
LaBay, and my brother, Jim, for always being there in so many ways. I
also want to give my special appreciation to David Thusat, Mike Garrett,
Nancy Adams, David Miller, Terry Musch, Kim Ambler, Jack Swaney,
Julie Mason, Patricia Baumann, Carol Jacobson, Nancy Parks, Dr. Patti
McCormick, Tess Sterling, Don Parks for your continued encouragement,
inspiration, support and opportunities. You have all made such a differ-
ence in my life!
I want to especially thank Kathleen Jones and Jann Finley-Epps who
insisted I attend the event where I first met Kevin. It has changed my life!
And a special thank you to all our clients and students.
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Introduction

Through The Open Door: Secrets of Self-Hypnosis

The Door is open. The door to your unconscious mind is The Door to
your future. Your unconscious mind is that part of your mind that is
unaware of what is going on at this moment. However, the unconscious
mind has been conditioned over the course of your life to pursue certain
goals and ignore others. The fact is that your unconscious mind brings
into your life virtually everything that you have and most of what you
experience. Therefore, our job in this book is to show you how to teach
your unconscious mind to pursue that which you now want, and stop pur-
suing the people and things it wanted when you were much younger.
Miracles happen. A miracle is an unusually positive result or experi-
ence. Miracles are more likely to happen when you can set the stage for
miracles to occur. We will show you how to prepare your life for these
potentially extraordinary experiences.
Dr. Milburn Calhoun, the president of Pelican Publishing Co., contacted
me (K.H.) and asked me to write this book. There is a universal need for
tools, strategies, and techniques of change that people can put into real
life use. I asked my partner Mary Lee LaBay to share in this labor of love
and she agreed. This book is a little different than most self-improvement
or psychology books. Here is how to get the most out of this book.
This book is like having an owners manual for you life and mind. You
will learn about what works in life as far as improving your health, over-
coming pain, and raising your self-esteem. We have been careful to cover
every major aspect of your life including relationships, prosperity, and
your psyche. We carefully map out specifically how to make a change in

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14 THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR

your life and then we give you at least one strategy or technique to create
that change in your unconscious mind. When you do the self-hypnosis
exercises in this book you will notice a fundamental shift in your mind
and body. This is how you know that changes are taking place in your life.
You will notice that there are many pages of guided meditations. These
self-hypnosis exercises are set off from the main text. We suggest you
record these on audio tape for your personal use. This will allow you to
experience certain trance experiences each and every day. Meditations are
different from other self-hypnosis techniques like the swish and the circle
of confidence that you will learn about. Meditations include stories and
structured scripts of suggestions that have been carefully designed for
your unconscious minds.

IMPORTANT: Notice that when you record a guided meditation that it

should be done in a slow, gentle voice. Please pause for several seconds
during the breaks and between paragraphs. The unconscious mind is not
to be rushed! Enjoy the experience and allow it to integrate into your mind
gently.
There a number of remarkably effective techniques that are easy to use
throughout this book. Do these exercises and you will reap the rewards of
your investment here.
Finally, we have included a number of stories throughout the text from
people who have had their lives changed from learning and using self-
hypnosis. It is our hope that these stories will inspire you to attain great-
ness and lasting health!
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Through the Open Door

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