*Hello friends! This may be one of the most important newsletters you will ever read. Enjoy 2 more answers to questions from newsletter readers:* 1. *How can I choose a qualified hypnotist or hypnotherapist?* Here are some questions you should be asking… - What is your experience with my type of challenge? - Tell me about your professional training/qualifications/memberships - How long have you been in practice? - Do you have references or letters on file from satisfied clients that you are able to share? - Have you written any books or articles I can read? - Do you also teach self-hypnosis for self-reliance, self-control, self-discipline? - Do you offer personalized, individualized, customized help? - Do you sense the helper to be trustworthy, respectful, sincere, attentive and knowledgeable answering questions? Are you feeling comfortable with the helper? What does your gut instinct tell you? - Is a hypnotist referral available from physicians, friends or professional associations? 1. *I have heard that even intelligent people can be influenced and tricked to join mind manipulation groups, religious cults, quirky “therapeutic” groups, “exclusive” or “secret” clubs that use mind-programming or some type of brain-washing methods that end in control of the person’s mind, money and freedom for independent thinking. I’m thinking about successful, intelligent, educated members of the Nxivm group where women allowed themselves to be branded with the initials of the leader, end of the world groups, etc. How is this done and how can someone protect himself from this type of influence?* Many things in life can be used for good or bad. Food is good, however used to excess, it is bad. Money is good for hospitals, schools, roads and libraries, but can also be used to buy bombs that murder innocent people. Love is wonderful, but if a lonely person is lured on the internet with adoring poems to send all their lifetime savings, that can end with poverty and a vanishing admirer. Mind programming techniques can be used to break habits, overcome pain and to become your best in athletics, but may also be used for evil purposes. The understanding and recognizing of mind control and manipulation methods can help protect you from them. They are regularly applied by governments, military, dictators, politicians, religious and spiritual groups, conspiracists, advertisers, “offbeat” therapeutic groups and in many other diverse gatherings of people. Some of these groups are international and some are hidden in a home in your neighborhood. They practice mind manipulation for one or several reasons including control, power, fame, money and sex. Here are some of the methods used by the thousands of nefarious groups in existence: 1. Isolation, lack of privacy. “Come to our retreat (in the middle of nowhere), with the nicest people in the world. Free food, singing, dancing, drumming, games, chanting, rituals, long extended meditation sessions, exercise, nature, fresh air, helping others.” Oh, by the way, the next bus from here is not scheduled for two weeks, or it’s a “marathon weekend with long days” for a “higher mind”. 2. Overwhelming attention and love by individuals and by the group, also called “love bombing”. Often one or more people are “assigned to you to keep you on track”. 3. Encouragement of participation in child-like behavior and confusing games to encourage child-like non-analytical thinking, dependence, subservience and mind control. 4. Sleep deprivation from long days of constant and confusing activities to disrupt rational thought, to dismiss critical thinking. Random punishing and rewarding of similar behavior. 5. Confusion methods: Long confusing discourses, lectures. Overstimulation of all the senses, perhaps flashing lights, strong incense, objects for visual fixation, unique hats and elaborate clothing, stimulating or meditative music, display of wealth including gold, expensive cars, private jets, helicopters, a luxurious mansion; possibly even drugs to increase dissociation of mind and body for increased suggestibility. The leader may dazzle you by overvaluing his wealth, possessions and number of followers. 6. Blaming, finger pointing: “We have the way, all the answers. Your family, society, other groups are all losers, mistaken, sinful, or evil. You are privileged to be in the know. You must stay away from all others. We will all disown you if you do not follow our cause, doctrine.” Your failures are not your fault because all your bad luck is caused by all those other people. 7. Discouraging all questioning of the leader, who is often charismatic. He is often an amateur “magician” who sets up events to make him appear to have magical or god-like powers such as an ability to predict the future, to heal, or to improve your prosperity. He may claim high intelligence, to be in contact with aliens or to be the “chosen one” by the gods. He may also be a great poet, talented with words, a funny and entertaining magnetic speaker or even a musician and singer. Good looks and a strong physical presence help, but are not necessary. 8. Subliminal/subconscious thought planting: Stressing key words in lectures by vocal intonation, pauses and body language. Speeches have plenty of metaphors, junko logic, lies and words with strong visual imagery to affect emotions. The subconscious responds more to emotion than logic. Dramatic, theatrical and passionate speeches exciting the emotions are common. 9. Group peer pressure, co-operation by not wanting to feel out of place. “Mob mentality.” A larger number of followers or huge audiences give a false sense of legitimacy and credibility to the “guru”. More members and larger audiences will be claimed than actually exist. 10. Repetition: Messages are repeated constantly for “brain-washing”. Lies are believed because of constant repetition causing a loss of critical reasoning. The leader will use all forms of promotion so that his picture and messages dominate your thoughts. 11. Promise of rewards: You too can have salvation, control, leadership, wealth, power and advancement in the organization by unquestioning dedication to the doctrine of the leader, enthusiastic hard-work, recruiting more followers, etc. “Follow me and you can have all the rewards too.” 12. Low protein, nutrient deprivation to increase disorientation and suggestibility with acceptance of thoughts that would normally never be accepted by the individual. 13. Rubbing out individuality: For example, having everyone dress the same, same haircut, same hat, same tattoo, etc. 14. Confession of inner secrets to increase vulnerability and possibly to hold with the threat of releasing later if the “devotee” becomes uncooperative or wants to leave the group. 15. Exaggeration and maximization of guilt or accusations of extreme sins to increase vulnerability. 16. Creation of fear: threat of being excluded from the group, friends, maybe even family who are group members; threat to reputation by release of inner secrets revealed; threat to soul or even life for lack of agreement with the group or wanting to leave the group; threat of loss of emotional and financial support by the leader and group members. “The leader owns you.” 17. Recruiting of misguided famous people or celebrities who have many fans attached to them who will want to do what their celebrity hero is doing. 18. Having the member donate all personal money and material possessions to the group, making them even more dependent on the group. Having increasingly expensive levels of “spiritual” development so the member is even more indoctrinated into the group and maybe financially indebted as well. What people or groups come to your mind that are using some of the above mind manipulation methods? Healthy therapy or group memberships teach you to stand on your own feet, respect your individuality and develop independent coping skills that help you to reach your goals. They encourage you to develop your self-acceptance, self-esteem, self-love, confidence and happiness. Healthy relationships do not control you, but teach you self-control, empowerment. *In the News!* Long time smoker, 76 year old Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones said he quit smoking last October to keep the band on the road for as long as possible. For smokers everywhere, what time is it? Time to quit. I stand behind my stop smoking program as the most comprehensive program you will find anywhere, the “Multiple Method Approach.” I have spent over 50 years developing this program and can happily say I have saved thousands of lives. That’s why I started the program way back in the 1960’s when my father lost a small part of his lip from pre-cancer due to tobacco use. Do you know anyone who can benefit from the use of my hypnotic recordings on CD’s, DVD’s or MP3 (audio) or MP4 (video) downloads? This approach can be personalized for anyone and covers control of cravings, stress and most any other challenge when quitting. You can even use the same methods to stop using electronic cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Visit my main website for past newsletters, blogs, a full list of hypnosis recordings and much more. I invite you to email your questions to: romane@vanceromane.com. Please share my newsletter with anyone you know who smokes, needs to lose weight, or who can benefit from this newsletter. Let me know if you wish to attend a weight loss or stop smoking seminar in Edmonton or Calgary and we will let know if they are scheduled. *Stop Smoking and main Website: www.vanceromane.com <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/79729dbba9ca665cce44afa68c30d490466232b1?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanceromane.com&userId=2047633&signature=549eebba9cb114e4> * *Dedicated Weight Loss Website: www.romane.ca <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/216b843689dfb8bbbcd2a5ca9b09ad4de605fc3f?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.romane.ca&userId=2047633&signature=dc83c837d36a1ac7> * *Wishing you joy and the best in health, success and happiness! Find a smile on your face, laugh a lot and be good to yourself. Put your arms around yourself and give yourself a big, warm hug while saying “I love myself! I’m a good person. I deserve a joyful life.” * *M. Vance Romane* M.V.P. Ltd. (Romane Seminars) Box 75177, RPO White Rock Surrey, BC V4A 0B1 Phone: 604 538 1111 or 1 800 665 4656 Fax: 604 538 8477 vanceromane.com romane.ca Copyright 2020 M.V.P. Ltd. – Romane [image: Mailtrack] <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/b4b03b4e02385d64d95d5b6b7d100ce5e41ca233?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmailtrack.io%3Futm_source%3Dgmail%26utm_medium%3Dsignature%26utm_campaign%3Dsignaturevirality5%26&userId=2047633&signature=322241044204a8c1> Sender notified by Mailtrack <https://mailtrack.io?utm_source=gmail&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=signaturevirality5&> 02/19/20, 07:46:11 PM