The Psyche Lives in the Body

I find bodywork to be the most sacred space for bringing the psyche to the surface.

Daily I work with clients one on one using my Core Sequencing system and daily I find that regardless of previous exposure to the concept - people, when they are ready, will open up into extraordinary altered states of consciousness, regress into ealrier stages of development, process traumas that have been held unconsciously in the body for years, even decades,  unwind deep layers of tension, shift physical structure,  and open up to new levels of insight and desire to live more fully, set goals and express their creative voice…

It is truly extraordinary.

I do find that creating space for dialog and also ongoingly being in my own mind-body process helps me to facilitate an inttgartion of what arises on the massage table, and that unless there is a bridge between the somatic process and the cognitive awareness it is often not as realized in it's transformational potential..

I am curious to hear from bodyworkers or clients who also do therapy and from psychotherapists who receive bodywork and/or work with clients who also receive bodywork as part of their process/practice…

~julian

Re: The Psyche Lives in the Body

It truly is astounding–the depth of change that can come about with an integrated approach.

When I first started doing bodywork (just 5 years ago), I was only addressing the physical body and had no idea what the possibilities truly were… After receiving some jin shin do sessions, where dialogue was included, I experienced breakthroughs I never imagined possible. I felt like I had experienced months or years of talk-therapy in the course of an hour. So, of course, I had to learn more, and embarked on my study of jin shin do, which is a synthesis of acupressure technique, reichian segmental theory, taoist philosophy and western psychology (after all, it was formed by a licensed and practicing psychologist).

And that was, of course, just the beginning of the never-ending journey. I am so grateful to have learned enough to make me comfortable using dialogue during sessions. To facilitate and observe my clients' process, allowing them to move through their emotions, instead of trying to force something to happen or offer advice…it is simply awe-inspiring.

And so it continues…both experiencing the depths of this therapeutic process, through many varied techniques and approaches, and offering it to others.

I am looking forward to hearing others' experiences and any good class/book/etc recommendations!

Re: The Psyche Lives in the Body

nice contributiion shivon! where did you study? you seem to have a divererse and well-integrated toolbox…

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Various places…IPPT, The Shiatsu School of CA, The Jin Shin Do Foundation, with private instructors (why do i always seem to learn the most from classes that i can't get CEUs for?!?) and am currently taking classes with the Milne Institute for CranioSacral.

What about you? I realize that I have heard about you through the grapevine…Ellen Heed was a teacher of mine (and an amazing one, i might add) at Shiatsu School a few years back and I know that a group of students in my class had an amazing weekend-long workshop of sorts with you, Ellen, Dr. Saporito and others. I always regretted not going to that, because I could tell by the looks on people's faces the next time I saw them who went and who didn't!

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yea i thought so! yea me and ellen taught bodywork and anatomy together for about 8 years - she's an old friend…..

vinnie is a mad genius for sure… :O)

ellen has since moved oin to teach something she has been creating called women's sacred anatomy. i still train people in the work we developed and that i have continued elaborating upon.

i went to IPSB and studied with vinnie, also got trained by ana forrrest - but i would say that most of my training has come out of studying wilber, grof, lowen etc, as well as doing a lot of holotropic breathwork. all of the beaten path non CEU stuff…

also did some stuff with milne…

do you know my friend bruce schoenfeld in santa monica?

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i don't know bruce…but his name sure sounds familiar…

a teacher training with ana was on my “list of things” that i've wanted to do and i was actually contemplating doing her summer one, but now the center is closed… i guess i'll have to wait until another time.

i LOVE lowen's books. i haven't gotten to wilber or grof yet though. might be time to bump them up on my long list….

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A few months ago I had a bodywork session which led to sudden sobbing when she got to a place under my scapula.  I had never experienced that before although, as a massage therapist I have been exposed to it with my clients and colleagues.

She definitely knew what she was doing to help me create a space to be with my pain and relieve the emotional pressure in my body.  It was marvelous!

As the days went by and I let whatever emotion that was express itself, I became aware of fears that I hold and how I make decisions based on those fears.  It's been a remarkable time of observation and discovery for me.

I had been interested in providing this type of therapeutic work, which is a reason perhaps why I sought out the experience for myself.  But in researching the types of body psychology modalities out there, I am feeling a bit stumped.  Which one?

I have been reading about Hakomi Therapy and there is a training facility within a few hours of my home.  Have you heard of this therapy?

Julian, your work is very similar to what my broad vision is for my career, so it's great to be able to pick your brain and discuss with you and others of like mind.  Thank you for starting this discussion group!

As far as yoga, I am but a novice.  However, at my most “ruffled feathers” state after my bodywork sessions, I tended to have a strong craving for asana and breathwork as often as possible to give my body support to learn to be something new.

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hey ms redskirt

thanks for talking about your experience.

isnt it a revelation when one first discovers the mind-body connection in that way?!

i think it has the potential to be a turning point - a key initiation into a more integrated and authentic life…

i have heard hakomi is good, but have no experience of it - sounds like it's somewhat conveniently located for you though…

i highly recommend reading alexander lowen's bioenergetics, as well as stan and christina grof's the stormy search for the self,. stan keleman has a great poetic book about body process called the human ground; self, sexuality and survival.

i think that freud is a also a great starting point. calvin hall has a 100 page primer on freudian psychology. he also has one on jung that is a nice start too…

more than anything else i reccomend my most highly valued book of all time by donald kalsched called the inner world of trauma; archetypal defenses of the personal spirit. i refer to it with links to exceprts and an interview with him in my movie review of pan's labyrinth here.

the other very important work for me is peter levine's trauma book - waking the tiger.

Re: The Psyche Lives in the Body

Thank you for pointing me in the direction of these authors/books.  I'll keep this list handy!

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Hey Julian,

Great Pod! Thanks for putting it together. Much to explore here. I love reading about all the different modalities and reading resources you all have been discussing. Great stuff!

I feel that integrative medicine is a powerful force and a necessary healing movement in our current age.

Here's my I.M. background in this life thus far:

I am a student of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture at Emperor's College in Santa Monica. Currently, I'm on a temporary one-year leave of absence while attending an accelerated nursing B.S.N. program at the University of Texas - Health Science Center at Houston. Also, I have a Master's in Spiritual Psychology from Univeristy of Santa Monica, and offer spiritually centered life coaching services (part-time due to school schedule). Summer of 2007, I am tentatively set to return to Los Angeles for nursing work and continued study of TCM and acupuncture towards that licensure.

It's all still coming together…we'll see what happens. Life is quite surprising I am learning. I'm open to the adventure. That's for sure.

I have a deep love for people, and see so much creative possibility in how we experience illness/challenge in our lives. There is such a strong and beautiful connection between our bodies/minds/spirits. Chinese medicine has recognized this for thousands of years, and I love studying this medicine.

Since studying nursing and working clinical rotations in acute care settings (eg. hospitals), I have become more and more inspired regarding the application of integral healing modalities in the treatment of acute care patients. It's amazing the response patients have had to simple acupressure I have had the fortunate opportunity to offer them. Patient's have found it so incredibly empowering to learn just a few simple points here and there that can alleviate their symptoms and pain, while on many occasions speeding their recovery. It can give patient's back a sense of control in an environment where so many feel out of control and helpless.

I'll likely begin to carry chopsticks in my scrubs along with my stethoscope! So much fun. I often feel like a diplomat for TCM. Even the doctors and other nurses enjoy learning the acupoints. :)

Persons in spiritual crises with somatic symptoms (not necessarily acute) also have a special place in my heart. This is likely due to my own personal experiences with kundalini energy and awakening. I usually work with these people through life coaching.

Due to legalities, it is often necessary to draw definite boundaries regarding what services one is offering at any one time. Touch vs. No Touch. Have you found this to be the case, Julian? Anyone?

I would love to hear some input regarding this.

Again, heartfelt thanks for this great pod! :)

-d

Re: The Psyche Lives in the Body

delia

thanks for sharing - please tell more about your kundalini awakening and about how you hold space for this with others…

yes certainly different licensing requirements have legalities regarding wether or not touch is allowed, depending on the field….

Re: The Psyche Lives in the Body

Kundalini…

Hmm…

Okay, here goes:

Kundalini awakenings are probably far more commonplace and widespread across this beautiful blue globe than people in “spiritual communities” are likely to admit to themselves. One does not have to be doing yoga or practicing meditation or following a particular guru for this experience to occur. These practices and methods can help facilitate it, quicken it, move it along, and integrate it, yet they do not absolutely and necessarily precipitate it. Eastern philosophies have beautifully described this awakening transformative process and assimilated it into teachings and practices for thousands and thousands of years. Yet which came first? The teachings and the practices? Or the awakening?

Many people go to the teachings and the practices for the awakening, yet is that where it comes from? Where does the awakening come from?

Like many others, I currently view kundalini as an evolutionary process. One of a spiritual nature. It is part of who and what we are. When it's your time…it's your time. And this type of spiritual emergence can manifest in numerous ways and intensities. And when it does manifest…well…thank the gods for teachings and practices and true gurus who have been well versed for thousands of years in the intricacies, twists and turns of the shakti and who can assist us on the path.

My perspective on spiritual emergence is that in many cases, it can be metaphorically likened to a physio-psycho-spiritual adolescence of sorts.

To expand on this metaphor: some people suffered more during adolescence than others. Some people went through dramatic and intense changes (eg. acne, weight gain, disproportionate limb lengths, etc.), and almost resembled nothing of their former selves when the whole thing was said and done. For others, it was effortless and well…their skin was flawless, and they were never gawky. This difference of experience may determine whether a spiritual emergence becomes defined as being either a spiritual “awakening” or a “crisis.” How much is the person able to gracefully integrate this experience free of ego bumps in the road for the individual? How much junk and what kind of junk has to be cleared out? Kundalini performs a complete remodel and retrofit in many cases. And this can be overwhelming if the person is not prepared for it or supported during it.

Personally, kundalini took me by complete surprise. I had no background for it in this life. I was raised in a small town in Texas in a fundamental Protestant religion. There were many bumps in my road. It was very challenging for me to accept what was happening to me. Let's just say, I spent quite a while fighting it tooth and nail.

For the time being, I'm going to kindly decline to say much more in detail about my own personal experiences of awakening. I haven't really considered talking about the specifics of it in a public forum, and I'm not sure that I'm prepared for that experience yet. Although, I have contemplated it, and others have encouraged it. Thanks for being accepting about my current status on the subject. I really appreciate your understanding. I will offer up two creative writing pieces on my experience of awakening, however: here and here.

I will also say this: kundalini has definitely been an evolutionary maturation process for me. And from others I have spoken with or read about, it seems to be the same.

Part of a spiritual emergence is the melting away of old personas and karmic tendencies…like a butterfly molting. And while this molting is occurring, it can be terrifying, painful, wondrous, miraculous, infuriating, and inspiring…all at the same time. It's a boon to know that we are not the only one's who have ever gone through this. It's a boon to awaken within a welcoming paradigm that is respectful, caring, understanding and calmly reminds us that the pain is temporary (like adolescence), and yet the state is indeed permanent. Our bodies do not shrink back into childhood once we've gone through adolescence. When it's time to grow up, it simply happens. The sooner we accept this process, often the less we suffer. It's also great to develop a sense of humor as soon as possible in the case one is lacking. There is a saying that the delusional lunatic and the enlightened saint swim in the same sea. I feel that the difference is that the saint developed a buoyant sense of humor and doesn't take the psychic energy personally. He gently floats on waves of laughter and just swims in it.

To your question, “How do I work with others?”… My work as a spiritually oriented coach/counselor is to assist people with this transition/emergence, reminding them of the temporariness of the “awkwardness” and the benefits of integration. Essentially, I'm a tailor. Nothing fancy. Very practical. I assist people to re-fit their lives and lifestyles to the spiritual growth they've experienced or are currently experiencing. Some people get “bigger/expressive” and their lifestyles need to adjust to accommodate this. Other people get “smaller/refined” and their lifestyles need to adjust to accommodate this as well. In the end, it's a custom fit. So the best thing I can do is compassionately facilitate the person to create a life that reflects their current growth. And I refer them to specialists (eg. body workers, healers, therapists, shamans, teachers, authors of relevant books) as needed.

Overall, my approach to working with kundalini/spiritual emergence is very pragmatic and simple. Grounding is essential. Wilber calls it the ability to “unpack the suitcase,” I believe. Grounding work can be very disappointing at first for some. There is no ego glory in grounding work. My own personal “homework assignments” often included, and continue to include, household asanas like: wash the dishes, clean the floor by hand, and sweep…a lot. These are very soothing practices for the spirit/shakti, grounding for the body/mind, and take the edge off the ego/illusion of separateness, which often wants to run into delusions of grandeur amongst all the fireworks of visions, sounds of tinkling bells, lucid dreams, and other mystical phenomenon. You see, in the end, phenomenon is just phenomenon. Astral, material, ethereal…no phenomenon is more “grand” than any other. Comparisons are pointless. Washing the dishes is as equally divine as light-filled visions experienced in meditation. And experiencing light-filled visions is equally as normal and acceptable as washing the dishes. Establishing equanimity is essential to healthy integration of a spiritual emergence. This is one aspect of how I work with people within a coaching paradigm. Again, it's all tailored to the individual's needs at that moment.

As it is specifically related to kundalini, I recommend reading books by Gopi Krishna for one. I discovered his writing when I was about 22. His awakening was a complete surprise as well. He was just an ordinary family man who experienced a spontaneous kundalini awakening that demolished his former self and awakened him to an entirely new physiological, psychological and enlightened state. Reading his writings and discovering his experiences often inspired in me the hope and determination to surrender to this healing and transforming maturation and integration process. Gopi Krishna viewed kundalini as an evolutionary process, also, and he heavily emphasizes the transformations that occur at the physiological and biological levels along with the psycho-spiritual components of change.

As a yoga teacher and body worker, what have your experiences been with kundalini/spiritual emergence, Julian? Anyone else? I'd love to hear others' experiences and perspectives as well. There is so much for me to learn.

Thank you for your genuine interest, Julian. It's actually very lovely to discuss the subject quite directly and simply. So again, many thanks. :)

Re: The Psyche Lives in the Body

hi delia!

fantastic gift you just gave the pod - a million thanks!

yes, i agree  the process of authentic energetic awakening (kundalini being one name for that) is of course prior to any of the systems and beliefs that get created around it - the process itself is beyond and before names and beliefs and occurs in many cultures and across history, and is as likely to be revered as holy, as to result in internment in the madhouse.

yes, i also recommend gopi krishnas book to people - though it is quite scary. i usually also include a recommendation for stan keleman's book the human ground, sexuality, self and survival as well as the grof's book the stormy search for the self - to round out the perspectives…

i also offer several caveats to the GK book - which i will get into in a moment.


in my work with others, the last 9 years or so have been all about energetic awakening. using bodywork, yoga, dialog and cleansing, i guide people through a process of mind-body integration that includes the energetic processes variously referred to as kundalini, unwinding, somato-emotional release, dural release etc…

i find it funny that so much of the alternative community talks about energy in such light and fluffy “subtle” ways - because when energetic initiation really occurs, as you say, it is a powerful and daunting experience in which you have no choice but to face your demons, work through layers of mind-body blockage and learn compassion for your fragile humanity.

my sense is that this kind of cathartic, ecstatic, potent initiation into an intelligence deeper than the ego that, as you say, evolves your consciousness - has always been at the heart of certain esoteric practices that orthodox religion has rejected and villified.

i have been through multiple layers of this energetic process from my early experiences with psychedelics, to later holotropic breathwork, to deep tissue/shiatsu/craniosacral bodywork giving and receiving, and finally to the yoga i co-created with friends and colleagues who were exploring cutting-edge anatomical and energetic principles as applied to kind of shamanic asana practice…which is now the core of my group teaching work. ironically i find that 99% of contemporary yoga talks a lot about energy without any substantial experience of it happening in the work…

so to return to my caveats on Gopi Krishna's book:

when i recommend it i do so with the following insructions.

a) bear in mind that this is a man with no supervision and no physical practice to help circulate, discharge and process the intense energy that he is opening up.

b) bear in mind the cultural context that he is in which, for example means that he feels he has to repress the intense sexual dimension of the experience.

c) bear in mind that this too means that he does his damndest to repress the intense emotional and psychological component of his experience.

i say these things because:

i think the lack of guide, practice ,and lack of sexual expression and emotional outlet create a process for GK that at times is pretty dissociated and semi-psychotic. It does not have to be that way. i think that having a guide, having a physical practice (yoga, tai chi, dance…) having a self-loving attitude about the beauty of sexuality, and having an emotional outlet in terms of feeling, expressing processing etc allows for a much smoother, more grounded and integrated ride.

nonetheless GK arrives at a deep place of what he describes as spiritually awakened  awareness by the end of his ordeal.

so for me the “kundalini” process is one of dissolving energy blocks, the body unwinding layers of with-held tension, emotions being processed, the beauty and horror of the psyche revealing itself, and a new orientation viz self and reality emerging.

it's a big deal, and it points toward the incredible self-correcting, self-evolving power of what we innately are!

i find the process extraordinarily life-affirming and truth revealing.

it is such an honor.

i LOVE that you have an integrative grounded sense of referring out to a mandalic support network that includes therapy, reading, bodywork etc…. i think that is exctly the way to go!

~julian

PS: have you heard of stuart sovatsky? he is an extraordinary yoga scholar who calls kundalini awakening the “post-genital puberties of the spine…” and makes much of the cross-cultural occurence of kriyas….

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i just wanted to say…WOW…what wonderful journeys and experiences people are sharing. I'm looking forward to sitting down with some time to really delve into each person's story and hearing from others as well! what a wonderful pod!

Re: The Psyche Lives in the Body

Hey All,

Shivon, I totally second your enthusiasm for this pod! :) Also, I would love to hear more about your personal experiences with the Jin Shin Do Foundation. I love practicing acupressure, especially within an acute care setting via nursing care. Do you integrate acupressure into another form of bodywork, or do you offer it as separate sessions? And any particular point combinations that you recommend for assisting others with the process of spiritual emergence? [since we've recently been on the subject. ;) ]

And RedSkirt, I've googled Hakomi Therapy, and would love to hear more of your experience with it once you get going. :) It reminds me of Tai Chi deconstructed with ongoing purposeful cognitive inquiry and application. Have you spoken with others regarding this process? And if so what have the benefits/outcomes been? Super curious. :)

Okay Julian…so, I am taking your reading recommendations to heart, and will fit them into my library as soon as possible. I do mean that. These books/authors look great. :) However, since I'm currently working on “Priorities in Critical Care Nursing” and “Leading and Managing in Nursing,” it may be a little while. Ha! Thanks for your patience. :D

Also, I hadn't actually thought about Gopi Krishna's books as being scary. I guess in a way you are correct. (LOL) For some people, they might be… Again, it depends on the nature and quality of the awakening a person is experiencing.

For me, GK has been sheer confirmation. My rock in the storm at times.

Also, my purpose of recommending reading GK in this pod was specifically for body workers, therapists and healers. I don't necessarily recommend him to clients. Again, depends on the person.

Your caveats to reading GK, btw are very right on, Julian. I agree. Yes, no need for sexual, emotional, physical or any other kind repression. Repression is a poor substitute for sublimation. In fact, I found that taking a repressive stance only made things worse quite often. The lights get brighter and the volume gets louder and the inner fractals spin more colorfully…yet, then it can become difficult to do basic things like eat, sleep and hold a job. ;)

Classical kundalini awakenings of the nature Baba Muktananda describes in his book “Play of Consciousness,” for example, may require a full-time commitment and (often) a constant support network usually only accessible to religious professionals (eg. monks, nuns, sadhus, etc.). In the case of a householder, non-stop states of samadhi can be a bit intrusive and obstructive to the demands of daily life. Therefore, the pace at which one moves through and with the awakening are crucial. It is noteworthy to consider the option that there is no hurry. Sometimes a challenging concept in this very quickly moving society, which has perhaps at times possessed silly notions of microwaveable enlightenment.

Overall, I have found my experience of Kundalini to be compassionate and patient…or conversely…demanding and intense–all depending on how I personally approach Her. The pace and quality of my unfolding process is ultimately my responsibility. And wow, what a mirror into self that is! Amazing.

Like you say, Julian, we face our angels and our demons once a spiritual emergence is in full-force. And yes, it is truly an honor. A deep honor to participate in this process.

To draw upon another metaphor (often my only way to describe this experience is with poetic analogies), spiritual emergence/awakening transforms a 2D (or even IMAX 3D) experience into a full on interactive virtual reality wherein all of one's senses are engaged with a mind that has truly come to life. Therefore, if one has a mind rife with thoughts/archetypes/imaginings of demons, sins, atrocities, and cruelty–one is forced to interact with demons, sins, atrocities, and cruelty in a very somatic reality. Likewise, if one has a mind abundant with thoughts/archetypes/imaginings of angels, blessings, miracles, and compassion–one is able to interact with these same angels, blessings, miracles, and compassion on all levels of existence, including the physical realm. Yes, the physical realm.

And perhaps for the first time, we realize that we do indeed shape our lives with our minds. Manifestation speeds up and lag-time between spiritual inspiration, emotional desire, mental imagining, and physical reality often disappears. Immediate feedback becomes a reality.

Suddenly, you are not alone–the Universe/Self is now playing basketball with you, and you are forced to look at your relationship with the Universe/Self. Are you two friends? Acquaintances? Strangers? There may be a great deal of healing to do to establish a loving relationship and a dynamic harmonious bond constructed of acceptance, trust, and respect. All vitally important. Essentially, spiritual evolution/maturation of relationship to self begins.

With our minds and our intentions, we create our own heaven and hell, and we enjoy/suffer the same. Yes, yes…we were already doing this before, its just that with spiritual emergence, it's less in our heads and more in our lives. More of a “reality.” Avoidance of self is no longer an viable option. A door has closed, and yet it has closed in the divine service of opening a million more indescribably beautiful doors we previously may not have been able to access.

What is this door that has closed? There is no more waiting.

The present moment is born, and now it is kicking and screaming–wanting to be fed and have its diaper changed.

Our divine child of possibility. The present moment.

There is no more waiting for aging, physical death and transcendence into “heaven” to viscerally experience the power of Chiti–the mind.

I feel that this concept of everything existing in the “now” mindset is very well depicted in the film “What Dreams May Come.” Characters and story-line aside, this film draws a picture that is quite close to the reality of living a spiritual awakening. The perception of separation disappearing as we see a grassy meadow melting into an open sky and then into a pristine lake. People morphing and taking shape within our lives as symbols of our own virtues/vices and archetypes. Relationships offering a multitude of opportunities to heal and grow and deepen into evolutionary possibility.

The world becomes our spiritual gym/playground, and all the objects, people, places, and circumstances–our Nautilus machines and jungle gyms for growth and healing.

For example, currently I am sharing all of this with our wonderful pod community. And who am I speaking with? Truly? And who is speaking? Truly?

And so it is with great care that I speak. Because I am speaking and I am listening. Both together. Feedback is immediate.

I can intuitively perceive that I am communicating with Compassion. And what would I like to share with Compassion? How would I like to interact with Compassion? What does Compassion have to share with me?

Yes, there has largely been a strong anthropomorphic tendency within my own experience. And why not? We can experience the Infinite impersonally or personally. Both are legit.

What did the Universe create the ”person” for anyway? What is the purpose of having ”persons?”

I would suggest that it is story. Like a flower, story is our fragrance and our color. It is part of our nature, and there is nothing to take personally in our being persons. It is our shape and our function.

I once asked a friend of mine if she thought that her dog, Mabel, imagined us to be weird looking dogs? Or did Mabel imagine herself to be a person? In the same way, do we imagine this Universe/God to be a weird looking person? Or do we imagine ourselves to be a Universe/God?

What is it that we imagine? And moreover, who is doing all of this imagining?

With spiritual emergence, there is golden opportunity. We experience quite simply: immediate feedback and options. Lots of options.

Thanks so much for listening with so much care. It is wonderful to share in this discussion. :)


-d

Re: The Psyche Lives in the Body

delia your words are resonant with such intelligent poetic inquiry and initiated experiential  knowing - it is great to hear these reflections.

~j

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hey delia,
hmmmm…the Jin Shin Do Foundation. I could probably talk about Jin Shin Do for hours…or even days…so I will try to keep it somewhat short and hopefully relevant, but please feel free to ask me more specific questions if you'd like!

As for whether I integrate jsd with other forms of bodywork or do separate sessions, the answer to both of those questions would be “yes.” Some people want a pure acupressure session, others want craniosacral or more “massage.” What they're looking for definitely sets the flow for a session, but I can't help but integrate various tools into the session, no matter what i'm doing. It seems unavoidable!

As for my JSD journey…I was just out of massage school and ended up working with someone who did jsd. I had no idea what it was, but when we traded sessions, I came out of mine thinking/feeling “I have no idea what just happened, but i know that i feel different. more centered. grounded.” and i was hooked. i got more sessions and we went deeper and deeper. i had so many wonderful emotional breakthroughs and physical shifts during that time that i needed to learn more about it. I first studied at the Shiatsu School, thinking that learning acupressure would satisfy the craving (at the time, Iona was only offering classes every other year or so). Well, I learned a lot there, but there was a much different quality to it. Jin shin do simply spoke to *my* heart in a very direct, and different, way. I also really enjoyed the western psychology aspects and body focusing. So, I eventually took all of the jsd classes as well. It was quite an interesting experience and I definitely learned a lot…and continue to do so. I stayed on Iona's ranch and studied with her, which added another interesting dimension to the whole experience, that's for sure!

Hmmmm…particular point combos for spiritual emergence…I'm not sure I have a specific set that I would recommend. (And I suppose it might also beg the question of what is considered a “spiritual emergence” by different people? could be a very interesting topic indeed.) Anyway, I think a lot of the spiritual emergence comes from them having breakthroughs that are specific to their body/emotional state, so it would really depend on what is going on with that person…at that time. Of course, the diaphragm does hold A LOT of power during such times….

I love knowing that people are doing acupressure in acute care settings! Are you also a nurse? what kind of setting are you working in? I would love to hear more about that! I've recently started volunteering to work with hospice patients and am in the process of getting into the children's program to work with infants in the critical care unit, as well as kids in a rehab/pain management setting. Not only am I looking forward to getting to work with the population because it'll just feel so meaningful, but I am really looking forward to learning a lot from the experiences!

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Once again, thank you for your kindness and generosity, Julian. I look forward to contributing more on the subject after doing some juicy reading by the authors you have recommended.

-d

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I am so delighted to discover this dialogue. I practice a form of Bodywork called Osho Rebalancing which encourages an exploration of all facets of being. To even attempt to separate out the physical from the emotional or the psychological has always seemed more than a little odd to me. I know of massage therapists who will leave the room or end a session if the client starts to cry. To me, that is an invitation to retraumatize. We are each a rich tapestry of sense, idea, and emotion, and all expressions need to be honoured and nurtured.
Deepam

Re: The Psyche Lives in the Body

nicely said deepam!


i was in pune at the ashraam in '94 - amazing place!

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hi everyone - especially new members!

welcome…

click here have a look at my new video about my bodywork!


let me know what you think…

namaste
~julian

Re: The Psyche Lives in the Body

Hello Julian and all,
I just joined this pod when I found it on a comment someone left on a blog that linked to a thread here.  I have been doing Jungian analysis for about 18 months and have felt so many times how much is locked into my body.  I very much appreciate this information and the exploring of this Julian.  Ive been drawn to yoga and found on retreat that poses allowed me to release some things that I didnt even know I was holding.  I am fascinated by this work and want to experience more.  The portion where you talk about when the person is ready so resonated deeply with me right now where I am in my process.  I am feeling ready to move more into this bodily releasing and would appreciate your giving me some ideas on where to start.  I am an avid reader so will continue to weave my way through this pod as the sharings here are wonderful and so rich and ripe with wisdom and new ideas and things for me.  THank you for this pod and to all for your deep sharing.
Blessings
Julia