Tag Archives: the power of suggestion

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Chuck’s Place: How To Assume Conscious Authorship Of Your Life

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You are the Dream and the Dreamer…
-Artwork © 2026 Jan Ketchel

Carl Jung once had a dream where he was hiking in the mountains and came upon a Christian chapel. He went inside to discover a Yogi seated in a lotus position upon the altar.

As he approached he noticed that the Yogi was himself, Carl Jung, dreaming himself into physical life. Jung also had the clear realization that when the Yogi woke up his life would end.

This dream reflects the simple truth that some thought-centered part of ourselves is creating the physical life we are living. That thought center is the conscious mind that, through its suggestions to the subconscious mind, dreams us into our current lives.

When we fully become lucid to this basic genesis of our lives we are empowered to fully create the life we so desire. The hallmark of this technology is the power of suggestion to manifest physical reality.

Jung’s dream did not place Christ at the expected place upon the altar. Nor did it replace Christ with a Buddha. The central character was Jung himself, directing the show, in a lotus position, as his mind meditated on creating his waking life. Here the dream affirms that the power of creation is not to be projected beyond the self. The lives we are in are fully of our own creation.

By being shown this creation dynamic, Jung was empowered to take fuller responsibility for the direction of his life. One of his greatest contributions to achieving fulfillment was his technique of active imagination, where, through conscious interaction with dream characters, the conscious mind advances the health and healing of the self.

To actively imagine, still your mind and body into a calm state and turn attention to the dream scene or character you wish to engage, to either learn more from or have a different interaction than previously dreamed. State your intention to engage, and then wait, patiently.

The character or image may spontaneously arrive. Be with it and interact with it. Don’t feel pressure to create an interaction. Be with what is. It’s fine to allow yourself to imagine the changes you seek, fully feeling them to be real. Be accepting of whatever arises and know that your efforts are well received.

Going to sleep itself offers the ideal entrée into creating the waking life one desires. When we enter the hypnagogic state—where we are still awake but on the brink of dreaming, such that we slip in and out of it yet are still in conscious command—we have the greatest opportunity to influence the course of our lives.

What we feel and imagine at these moments powerfully impresses the subconscious mind, which then sets about bringing our intentions to life. The hypnagogic state is a time to exercise the psychic power of suggestion.

Neville Goddard introduced a practice he called revision of the day as one moves toward the hypnagogic state of sleep. The technique has one, in a restful state but before sleep, review the events of the day just lived, first completely forgiving oneself and others for any judged failures of self, or other, in events lived through the day being reviewed.

Next he instructs one to choose events from the day one wishes to revise, that is, to have lived differently. In the imagination, one revises these scenes to become the ideal one would have had them to be. These edits are then fully acted out in the imagination.

This revision is completed as the hypnagogic state gains the ascendence and the subconscious mind takes up these revisions as suggestions to manifest the desired changes within the self and toward others, just as imagined.

This then positively impacts the feelings and judgments one wakes up to; inner changes that free one from yesterday’s limiting habits. In waking life, the conscious mind can also purposefully change the habitual internal dialogue, to state the new “I Am” that one intends to embody.

Habits are efficiency shortcuts that the subconscious creates for ease of functioning in life. The subconscious will defer to new instructions to form new habits. Take command of the suggestive power of the internal dialogue to form desired new habits that manifest a changed physical reality.

If, for instance, the prevailing automatic internal dialogue states: “It won’t happen for me.” Counter that by stating incessantly: “It is happening for me, it has happened.” State these words hundreds of times each day, especially when the old script grabs your attention.

Remember, always: “In the beginning is the Word.” Use the words of your internal dialogue to edit and create your life, as you desire it. Then, let go into the knowing that your subconscious will publish your intended life story. Let go knowing that it will certainly happen, when and how is best.

Jung realized that his inner yogi waking up meant the end of his current life. When we wake up from the sleep of our habitual lives we can no longer live the old dream. This is the essence of death and resurrection. We cannot author the life we desire until we sacrifice the old habits that composed the old chapters of our life.

Use the tools of active imagination, revision and internal dialogue to thoroughly script that desired new life.

Wake up and live,
Chuck

NOTE: I have started a new blog called: Chuck’s Conversations with AI, which you can find under the Blogs tab in the top menu bar. Postings in this series are sporadic, as the spirit moves.

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Chuck’s Place: Reconciling The Worlds Of New Thought And Trauma

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Phineas Parkhurst Quimby of New Thought

New Thought is a philosophical and practical healing paradigm that had its birth in America, specifically in New England, in the early 19th century. Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, a clockmaker, mesmerist and healer is, I believe, rightfully credited as the inadvertent founder of this movement.

Though locally famous throughout Maine for his miraculous healings, it was Mary Baker Eddy, one of Quimby’s patients, who founded Christian Science subsequent to his death, bringing his healing principles to worldwide attention. It should be noted that she took credit for his unique approach though largely misunderstood it and misrepresented it.

The essential principle that Quimby discovered and practiced was that one’s mental beliefs are fundamental to the state of one’s body. That is, you become what you believe you are. Changing a belief had the potential to effect a cure.

Quimby found organized religion largely abhorrent. However, he greatly appreciated Christ’s emphasis upon the state of one’s beliefs as the essential ingredient to one’s healing. Quimby used the term Christian Science frequently to define the exercise of a technology of unfettered consciousness, which emphasizes truth over illusion.

Great emphasis has been placed upon the power of positive thinking as an outgrowth of the New Thought movement, as evidenced in the 21st century by the 2006 bestseller, The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne. The tools of the Law of Attraction and the Power of Manifestation have woven their way into modern culture as a result of the popularity of this book.

One major criticism of New Thought is the notion that one can skip over trauma processing, or shadow integration, and achieve fulfillment and wholeness through positive intention alone.

By definition, trauma and shadow represent unprocessed lived experiences and complexes that create major divisions and sub-personalities within the psyche that defy wholeness. At best, these components are included in wholeness as triggers or in illegitimate suffering, as Jung defined neurosis, where necessary suffering is traded for a less painful obsession.

For the past few years I have highlighted the power of the subconscious mind to create desired change in one’s life. I was led to this emphasis through a variety of synchronistic phenomena and personal experiences that helped me to understand that we are in the midst of a major paradigm shift as a human race that explains the rock bottom Kali Yuga of our time. Kali Yuga is a spiritual season, of Hindu origin, which depicts humanity at its basest state of existence, much as we experience today. It’s the precursor to new life.

What is highlighted in our world now is the power of belief, right or wrong, and the warring competition to dominate the world’s belief system. This proves Quimby right. What we believe we become.

More fundamentally is the challenge to the belief systems that have governed health and healing. People are being empowered to discover their own latent healing powers. Certainly it is timely to wake up to the power of autosuggestion and the ability to have influence through the subconscious mind, especially in a time where many feel so outwardly powerless.

I have discovered that suggestions impressed upon the subconscious mind are indeed realized. However, the path to their manifestation cannot be controlled. Often the subconscious manifests challenges that appear diametrically opposed to the impressed suggestion.

However, it often becomes evident that solving the issue presented is prerequisite to fulfillment of a suggestion. Hence, if a trauma or complex must be encountered before a suggestion can manifest it comes forth to be processed.

I always suggest that intentions impressed upon the subconscious be for the greater good of self and other. This insures that the path to fulfillment includes and does not skip over needed integration of shadow.

Sometimes people present suggestions for selfish motives and the subconscious dutifully fulfills these requests. However, the karma or effect of those manifestations will inevitably ultimately be encountered. There’s no escaping, only postponing encounter with shadow.

The deeper we explore the shadow we may discover a black hole of trauma from past lives. If we take into consideration the 4th dimension of our being, our soul body, we are 3-dimensionally working with issues from prior lives at the behest of our soul.

From even more higher dimensions we are carrying the evolution of everything from the beginning. Trauma processing is processing and growing into coherence with our greater oneness.

Trauma, from this perspective, is necessary and normal and will likely always be present when we confront the unknown. To be able to be existentially fulfilled in the now of life while simultaneously carrying trauma to be processed is probably the true nature of all human life.

Of course, we could say there is trauma that’s come due and must be dealt with now if we are to proceed toward fulfillment, but it’s not necessary to push beyond what’s come due. The greater challenge that’s come due might be to dive deeper into life now with support from the subconscious manifesting the way.

The self-empowerment of New Thought and the processing of trauma from whatever source are complementary practices for greater individuation in this life and beyond.

Be so empowered,
Chuck

NOTE: I have started a new blog: Chuck’s Conversations with AI. Find it under the Blogs tab in the top navigation bar. Postings will be random.

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Chuck’s Place: Reason As Guardian Of The Subconscious Mind

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The Subconscious Mind Creates What is Impressed Upon It…
-Artwork © 2026 Jan Ketchel

A good hypnotic subject reveals, in dramatic form, the innermost workings of the human mind. Once in trance a subject will bark like a dog, get drunk from a sip of water or freeze like a statue, all in obligatory response to suggestions delivered by a stage hypnotist.

When, under the influence of a hypnotist, a hypnotic subject enters a state of trance, they voluntarily let go of their conscious mind’s controlling influence over their own subconscious mind. This controlling influence over their subconscious mind is transferred to the hypnotist who assumes control via the use of suggestion.

Although there is a broad range of receptivity among different individuals to entering such trance states, what is revealed in hypnosis is a universal dynamic operational in all human minds. Suggestions that are impressed upon the subconscious mind, from whatever source, will be expressed in the physical life of that individual. We are beings whose lives are completely shaped by the power of suggestion.

Take, for example, the common experience of being in a bad mood. A thoughtful reflection upon it might reveal a negative comment one has internalized that the subconscious mind dutifully expresses through a shift in brain chemistry, which results in depressed feelings and sensations. Belief becomes physical reality.

The subconscious mind is the absolute truth-teller. It treats the beliefs and feelings that reach it as absolute facts, which they are, in that they precisely reflect the beliefs and feelings the conscious mind is indeed experiencing.

The subconscious mind does not alter or challenge these facts. It is the divine creator that religiously creates the word or desire presented to it. Once the subconscious is impressed, it employs its creative powers to bring to physical life an exact expression of the impression it has received.

The events in our daily lives, the state of our bodies, the condition of our emotional well being, and the quality of our relationships are completely shaped by the beliefs and feelings we hold in our conscious minds that the subconscious mind is charged to make real.

In some mysterious way the subconscious mind has access to infinite knowledge and the ability to transform mental and emotional energy into its physical equivalents. The subconscious mind plays no favorites. It applies equal effort to bringing into physical life positive and negative suggestions. Its job is to bring to life the absolute truth of what we think and feel.

Obviously, responsibility for the life we manifest is pervasively lodged in the beliefs and feelings we harbor. If our goal in life is the realization of our greatest good, the conscious mind must align its beliefs and feelings with suggestions that will manifest such an intention.

The subconscious mind can only be protected by the conscious mind providing it with suggestions that employ its energy to manifest its highest ideals. Obviously, we often miss the mark with this intention, manifesting stumbling blocks that impede our progress.

Nonetheless, given the subconscious mind’s indifference to the morality of the suggestions it receives, our stumbling blocks are very accurately mirrored back to our conscious minds, offering us the opportunity to rationally discover our errors.

Typically, we project responsibility for our circumstances onto outer events and other people. The conscious mind can employ its reason to observe itself and reflect upon its beliefs and feelings that shape the suggestions that create its life.

If we can assume responsibility for our errors, we are freed to shift our beliefs and feelings to better manifest our truly desired state of happiness and fulfillment.

In my experience, as reflected in the knowledge of the shamans of ancient Mexico, the number one spoiler of beliefs and feelings is the pervasive hold of self-importance upon our conscious minds. Self-importance magnifies our sense of entitlement and renders us victims, based on its suggestions to the subconscious mind.

If we can truly call for the greater good of all in our beliefs and feelings our suggestions are cleansed of self-importance and our  subconscious mind is freed to physically create a fulfilled life for self and all.

May untainted reason guard the keys to the kingdom, the quality of suggestions impressed upon the subconscious mind.

The Greater Good only,
Chuck

Soulbytes

Soulbyte for Saturday June 27, 2026

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-Artwork © 2026 Jan Ketchel

A day of rest is called for again. A day to pull back and put your feet up. A day to retreat from the world outside and delve into getting yourself into a calm and quiet inner space where you can feel good, positive, whole and healthy. All of this is within your own power, for with your very words you can change everything about yourself; your mood, your physical body, your spirit within. With a positive frame of mind, and the words to match it, you can totally change your day.

All our love,
The Soul Sisters, Jan & Jeanne

Chuck's Blog

Chuck’s Place: To Be Special And Not Be Special

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The power of the dual mind is unlimited…
-Artwork © 2026 Jan Ketchel

I once had a professor hand me back a paper and say, “Yeah, you can write, but don’t get a fat head.” He was a weathered Irish alcoholic, a seasoned veteran of many a late night lecture at the pub.

He would write two sentences on the board from the current New York Times, then spend the entire class breaking it down, demonstrating countless violations in grammar, printed in this ‘revered’ newspaper.

He taught me to stay humble and play by the rules. I’ve never written anything since where I haven’t had his critical eye challenging my every word.

Christianity holds humility as a foundational virtue. “Pride goeth before the fall,” counsels King Solomon in Proverbs.

Certainly, the guidance to avoid ego inflation is central to psychological health. Its danger, in Narcissistic Personality Disorder, couldn’t be more evident than on today’s world stage.

Its prominence in Schizophrenia is also evident, where ego is often swallowed by the grander personality of a Napoleon or a Joan of Arc.

The struggle in Bipolar Disorder is often to take the elixir that renders one to the ordinariness of everyday life, surrendering a dip into the mania of infinite possibility, or a retreat into the utter inertia of depression.

This well-armed war on specialness requires us to knock on wood, to not tempt fate after making a boast. So great is the penalty for assuming even a hint of divine identification.

In fact, this overarching law to refuse all specialness has insisted that humankind disown and project any hint of supernatural power onto an outside entity, be it God, Goddess, or the Universe, as it fully embraces its unworthiness.

As they pray at the Catholic Mass, just prior to receiving Holy Communion, with its human ingestion of the Divine: “Lord I am not worthy, speak but the word and my soul will be healed.”

This preponderance of caution around assuming human specialness is not simply a conspiratorial effort to control the masses and create dependency upon manipulative prophets. To enter into one’s true specialness one must first defeat any attachment to self-importance.

Ego must be honed to handle the enormity of self found in the breadth of the subconscious mind. For much of life ego enjoys the falsehood of its self-importance. Its true task is to grow up and assume responsibility for directing its own inner divinity, the subconscious mind, to exercise its power for the greater good.

Rationality, the greatest achievement of the conscious mind, must be freed from its know-it-all fixation of ego certitude, to its necessary role of producing appropriate suggestions for the subconscious mind’s creation.

In this role, ego surrenders its self-importance to authentically serve the greater Truth. The truth is that we are beings with a dual mind. The conscious mind is assigned the role of leadership; the subconscious mind is the creator.

The subconscious mind can “heal your body and mind of all disease,” states Joseph Murphy in his epic, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. However, to tap into such power the ego must lose its obsession with its own specialness and fully embrace its actual superpower of suggestion, responsibly.

The ego must also exercise its powers of reflection to arrive at truth, then deliver its suggestions faithfully to the subconscious mind.

To believe in the power of the subconscious mind is to know its power through direct experience. The road to that knowing requires ego’s dedication to exercising this power of intent, without attachment to the outcome.

The power of the subconscious mind can be used for healing, manifesting, change, creativity, inspiration, intuition, telepathic communication, a whole host of positive intentions.

Simply, or not so simply, closing the door to distraction, and incessantly repeating one’s intent through suggestion, initiates the journey of cooperative wholeness between the dual mind in the service of the greater good. A more special relationship there could not be.

Continue to be well,
Chuck