The Mentalist

Painting Legs on a Snake

By Jason D. Varga

There is an old saying “A picture tells a thousand words” and, when it comes to the subconscious mind, this is very true. Symbology and metaphors are a clinical hypnotist’s best friend, especially when creating the clients desired changes at a subconscious level, thus these becoming a part of their program.

A few times I have had the experience of a client who would not go into traditional hypnotic trance - eyes closed and so forth - so I just chatted with them. Eventually, I could tell by the many signs of expanded awareness, their physiology, breathing and blink rate that they had gone into what is known as waking trance. At this point, had I used direct suggestions, such as “And you will no longer smoke,” they may have snapped out of the trance state. However, by hiding the suggestions in symbology and metaphor, by simply telling them stories, the suggestions were taken on and they gained their desired behavioural change. When we have dreams, or are in a meditative or trance state, we may obtain information via feelings and symbology. Most of us have a tendency to allow our logic brain to get in on the act, which inevitably corrupts the information. To learn to trust the information without doubting ourselves can be difficult, so allow me to explain this by painting you a picture using symbology and metaphor.

There was once a great master of Gung Fu who was nearing the end of his mortal existence. Tradition dictated that he would hand down the secrets of his style and school to his most senior student. The problem was that the master had two students of equal time served and equal skill. To choose which student would become his successor, he devised a test.

He told the two students to go outside and draw an animal in the sand. The first student to draw an animal that was instantly recognisable would become the next master. The two students grabbed a stick each, ran outside and began to draw. The first student drew a long letter S in the sand and was about to stand up, until he noticed that the second student was still drawing. Feeling worried that perhaps he had been too hasty; he began to add to his drawing. He began drawing a series of strokes that were meant to represent legs and feet. He was

“There is an old saying “A picture tells a thousand words” and, when it comes to the subconscious mind, this is very true.”

“Most of us have a tendency to allow our logic brain to get in on the act, which inevitably corrupts the information.”

just about to begin the final leg when the second student finishing his drawing stood up. The master walked over and assessed the second student’s drawing and proclaimed him the winner, earning him the inheritance of the school and title of master of the style.

The master turned to the first student and asked “Why did you keep drawing after you had finished what was clearly a snake?” The student, with his head bowed low, explained that after having thought of the snake and drawing it so quickly, he had doubts that the master would recognise what it was meant to be, due to its simplicity. Therefore, he decided to paint legs on the snake so it would resemble a lizard. The master put a hand on the student’s shoulder and said, “The doubt in your mind, the hesitation created; cost you the position of next master of our style.” From that time on, the saying “Do not paint legs on a snake,” has been used when it would be pointless to try to improve on something that is already perfectly adequate. Here in Australia we have a saying “Use the KISS method”, when we include unnecessary additions to something that already works. KISS stands for Keep It Simple Sweetheart.

So, when you receive information in dreams or meditation in the form of symbols, try not to corrupt that information by allowing the logical brain to become involved. Instead allow your subconscious mind to interpret freely the meaning without conscious effort. In older times, when I was with a client intuiting pictures in my mind, I may have tried too hard to interpret the images to make sense to me. I have found over time that this is unnecessary. When I simply relay to the client what is coming to me without my own logic brain thoughts, generally it will make sense to them and give them what they need. The information does not need to make sense to me; the information is for the client. So why should I corrupt that information by Painting Legs on a Snake?

ESPecially best wishes The Mentalist

“…we have a saying “Use the KISS method”, when we include unnecessary additions to something that already works.”

Jason D. Varga is available for Hypnotherapy, Intuitive Counselling, Corporate and Private shows.

Photo Credits: Pixabay, J. D. Varga