This collage was created in response to the template photo for LMAC Collage Contest #222.. Although I don't enter the contest (because I am on the jury that selects finalists), making a collage is a great mental exercise and wonderful way to relax.
Here is the template from which I worked, an image of the Black Forest, captured by 
I remember the hypnotist told me, as our session began, to focus on a place and imagine I was there.
When the hypnosis session was over, the practitioner told me he'd never had a subject as suggestible as I was. I went into the hypnotic state more quickly than anyone he had ever worked with. I believe this may have been the case because I had a go-to place, a spot I used to visit regularly when I was a child.
Here is a very old picture of that place.
This image might have been taken in 1956 or '57. There was a stream that you can't see in the picture. It ran along the dark shadow under the trees. I didn't know anything about meditation back then, but it seems to me I was almost in a meditative state when I sat under those trees,next to that stream. I certainly was in the moment.
A description of the meditative state and being 'in the moment', by Psych Central :"Present moment awareness is simply a stillness in thought, and external stimuli, to fully observe the here and now." The website goes on to explain: " Present moment awareness isn’t something you do or don’t do. Rather, it’s how you observe your inner self at any given moment in time."
I think the Psych Central statements explain my experience, when I was sitting on the stream bank. I wasn't doing anything. I was looking for quiet peace. Just to be, and feel the air, the sun, the grass. Maybe it wasn't meditating, but it was close.
My family moved from that rural childhood place in 1958. I knew when we left I'd never see the field again, the stream. I felt a powerful longing, almost a nostalgia even before we were gone. I looked out the rear taxi window and studied my home so it would be in my mind always. So, when the hypnotist said, "focus on a place", there it was.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, "Hypnotherapy is a heightened state of concentration and focused attention." There have been studies that compare the physiological and psychological effects of hypnotism and meditation. Both require focus.
Hypnotism has been described as "a state of very intense concentration". Both hypnotism and meditation bring about a "state of general well-being and relaxation, accompanied by deep concentration, and mental absorption". However, the effect of hypnotism and meditation on cognition is different. Meditation seeks to enhance 'metacognition', while hypnotism seeks to utilize the subconscious. By doing so, hypnotism actually interferes with metacognition.
MRI studies of the brain during hypnotic and meditative states show some similarities and some differences between the two. Both show enhancement of the central executive network. However meditative states show an increase in connectivity between different regions of the brain, which the hypnotic state does not show.
Before I read this material on hypnosis, I thought my receptivity to hypnosis was probably due to my ability to empty my mind of thoughts, to just relax and become focused on just being there, by the water, under the trees. I think that's probably right.
Did the hypnosis work? Did I have less pain? I don't remember that specifically. What I do remember is that I would come out of the sessions feeling relaxed and more capable of tolerating pain and other challenges. The sessions definitely worked on some things. I used to be afraid of flying. I asked him to work on that, and for a little while I could fly not with comfort but with relative ease.
Eventually I learned to hypnotize myself. I had a tape of one session and when I wanted to relax, or fall asleep I could listen to the hypnotist's voice and that would help me to achieve that state.
My Collage
This collage was inspired by my childhood experiences on the bank of the stream. The child in the picture is daydreaming, which is not how I would explain my memory of that time. However, daydreaming as a theme allowed me to include fanciful characters in my collage. Daydreaming was also the writing prompt for the Inkwell community this week, so I think that might have prompted me also.
I used GIMP, Paint 3D, Paint and Lunapic to make my collage.
Elements used:
Dwarf statue
https://www.lmac.gallery/lil-gallery-image/7187
Mermaid
LIL
Butterfly
LIL
Pegasus
jcoope12
Pixabay
Yellow flowers
LIL
Puppy
LIL
Girl in field
Pixabay
(These two elements were used in the collage I rejected)
Blue flower
syg_wtercolor
Pixabay
Mushrooms
Willgard
Pixabay
Here is process GIF to show some steps in making the collage.
I made another version but it was too fussy so I came back to the original, which is at the top of this blog.
LMAC now has two monthly contests: A Themed Contest, and the Traditional Collage Contest. The traditional collage contest is currently in progress. The Themed Contest will resume on January 25. Please join in the fun. I highly recommend the creative exercise to everyone.
LMAC is a welcoming community. We offer handsome monthly prizes, and curation for every collage submitted (must follow the rules spelled out in our announcement blog). Become a part of this community, especially if you are not an artist. You may be surprised at finding the artist in you.
Also, please note that our image library welcomes contributions from everyone on Hive, and anyone on Hive may borrow from the library. Procedures for borrowing and contribution are described in 
Peace and health to everyone. Hive on!