Perhaps so.
Have tended to find, though, that where there MIGHT be a demonic explanation or involvement . . . wariness is usually wise.
About Milton Erickson . . . Have had mixed feelings . . . but have certainly been wary.
There were cases where a mother would bring a 6 or so year old boy by for treatment and the first time the boy entered the room, Milton would tell the parent to get him out of the building and never bring him back. I've always assumed that Milton knew some level of the demonic when he sensed it, saw it.
Certainly he was a hyper effective 'manipulator.' He evidently did it always in behalf of the patient's good. I do'nt believe he'd use his skills to teach Shrillery et all anything. He had too much horse sense and probably would have detected the evil associated with them. Of course if he was also in cahoots with evil . . . however masquerading as good . . . Then about those associations, what would I know!
He was certainly a fascinating character.
I just could never get that deep into NLP. Toooooo much focused work. I prefer to fly intuitively and prayerfully, trusting Holy Spirit to guide me as I go.
I don't know 100% for certain in 100% of the cases that RV would be associated with the demonic. And, you could be right about it being an inherent capacity. I just don't think it is. I suspect much more the former explanation. Not sure why all.
THX.
As for the "for your own good" business, I always head for the door when someone says that. Liberals and other manipulators ALWAYS do things for YOUR own good, doncha know?
I do'nt believe he'd use his skills to teach Shrillery et all anything.
You know what, Quix? You have a very literal mind. Please don't miss life's metaphores
Fascinating that he threw out the "evil" six-year-old. Sounds like he did see something in the child or in the mother that he did not want to deal with. Evil? Or mental illness so perplexing he knew he had no answers?
I think other forms of hypnosis are basically more honest and honorable. The hypnotist first asks the client for permission to hypnotize him, then goes into an induction that's clearly an induction. But as you know, Ericksonians try to get you "under" before you know what hit you, thereby taking over your mental space without your permission. Someone tried it on me once, maybe 30 years ago, and it still gives me the CREEPS. Literally turns my stomach to think of someone manipulating me into submission. Naturally, I did not get hypnotized.
(continued rant)
In fact, I'd go so far as to say that Ericksonian methods verge on the demonic.
In ancient Chinese mystical literature, extreme yin (passive, feminine, indirection, dampness, shapelessness, etc) is considered the home of "demoniacs," and is a state that must be avoided or madness might ensue.