Hypnosis is a technique that has been used for centuries to help people overcome common issues such as anxiety, phobias, and addiction. But did you know that the origins of hypnosis can be traced back to the sleep temples of Ancient Egypt?
Ancient Egyptians believed in the power of sleep as a tool for healing, and they used a technique known as 'temple sleep' to induce a deep state of relaxation. Temple sleep was a form of hypnosis that was used to help people with wide range of ailments including physical pain, mental illness, and sleep disorders.
The practice of sleep therapy in ancient Egypt dates back to the Old Kingdom period (2686-2181 BCE). Egyptians believed that the god of sleep, Shai, had the power to heal the sick and restore their health. The sleep temples were built in honor of Shai, and they were usually located in remote areas away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The sleep temples were staffed by priests who were trained in the art of sleep therapy. They would use a highly effective combination of relaxation techniques, visualisation and suggestion to help their patients enter a deep state of calm. The patients would then be placed in special rooms that were designed to induce a deep and restful sleep. These rooms were often decorated with images of gods and goddesses, and the patients were encouraged to visualise themselves in these divine realms.
The temple priests would guide their patients through a series of images and suggestions, encouraging them to visualise themselves in a state of health and wellbeing. The priests would use music, incense, and other sensory stimuli to enhance the hypnotic experience, burning incense and oils that were believed to have magical properties.
The Greeks also had their own version of the sleep temple, which they called an Asclepion. These temples were dedicated to Asclepius, the god of healing, and were built around natural hot springs. The Greeks believed that the hot springs had healing properties, and they would bathe in the waters to help relieve their ailments. The Greeks also practiced hypnosis, which they believed was a form of divine intervention. The Greek physician Hippocrates, who is often called the father of modern medicine, used hypnosis to help his patients. He believed that the mind had the power to heal the body, and he used hypnosis to help his patients tap into their own inner resources for healing.
We use hypnosis today as a powerful tool for healing and personal growth, but not many people know that its roots can be traced back to the ancient wisdom of the Egyptian and Greek civilisations. As a self confessed history nerd, a student of Greek philosophy and a soulful hypnotherapy practitioner, I love the idea that my work has a direct line to the past, a grounding in this wisdom, a healing connection across thousands of years.
If you'd like to be part of this story, get in touch via shonie@theseartfulhours.com - and do please leave a comment with your thoughts on the Ancient Egyptian practice of sleep healing.
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