Body as Soul Map-Step Two

Body As Soul Map-Step Two

                If you have been doing Step one last week, you will have probably found that focusing the mind is very difficult.

                Don’t worry. This is a lifelong practice.

                It is also an art because you must walk a balanced approach between firmness and compassion. It is similar to training an animal because the primate part of the human brain-the brain stem-  is essentially instinctual and directs the rest of brain from ancient memories of when humans lived in much more acute and difficult circumstances . Our cave people times and memories of the extreme violence that we have indulged in for the past two thousand years.  Unless the primate par of the brain is focused, the rest of the brain and therefore mind, will be in control using ancient memories as its reactive basis.

                If you apply too much discipline in this practice, the mind will rebel or sabotage the training in some other way (addictions, habitual coping strategies, reverting to ancestral  enviro-genetics tendencies). These kinds of resistances are very deep and entrenched and much trauma counselling if often aimed at healing these dysfunctional parts of ourselves. There is also the danger that with too much discipline, the natural intuitive wisdom of the body mind connection will be severed and we can turn into mechanised travesties of our sacredness.

                Too much compassion, and we can be tricked into releasing our attempts to change and grow. (I’m just too messed up for this kind of work! I think I turn on the TV and take a break.) Ha!

                The second step can be begun before the first step is perfected because you will probably cycle through these steps like climbing a spiral. You will revisit the same step over and over but each time you will be a little different, a little older, wiser (hopefully) and more evolved.  The second step is one that you probably noticed if you were practicing the first step earnestly. That is- as you focus the mind, you will start to develop an awareness of the emotional map within your body. Again, this awareness is a lifelong process. Each time you spiral through the steps you will notice something different but as you grow and change, each time your challenges will be a little less, a little easier to return to natural joyfulness.

                Identifying the emotional map within your body is the basis of much recent trauma therapy and various researches like Dr. Peter Levine have discovered this technique to release fear and habitual behaviour.

                First of all it is important to understand that the soul uses the body in the same way a secretary  uses a filing cabinet to store information. She doesn’t want to lose information because she may need it in the future and she wants to file it in a way that is easily accessible when she needs it. So she won’t leave her tax receipts from 10 years ago on her desk, that would just cutter up her working space and make it impossible to work in current projects. She will organize it as logically as possible and then file it in a place she can find it again-when she needs it. Maybe in a hanging file folder called “Taxes” and then in a smaller folder with the year (2004). If an emergency arises and she is audited, she can reach for the information and deal effectively with the situation.

                Our souls are organized in much the same way. For example, my first marriage broke up while I was pregnant with my first child. I was so broken hearted by this experience that my soul wanted to remember how this terrible thing occurred so it would never happen again! We always want to learn from our mistakes. We don’t want to bring un-necessary suffering to ourselves! Our minds are constantly assessing situations so we can avoid the unpleasant experiences of life-betrayal, loss, physical pain, emotional and spiritual pain.  It’s a full time job, and many people become infatuated with this aspect of themselves. This can lead to obsessional, compulsive behaviour (OCD), anxiety, burn out resulting in depression (I give up , I can’t keep myself safe.), and eating disorders (As long as I’m full of food, I should be OK.).

                At an intuitive level, I noticed that the pregnancy seemed to be associated with the suffering of losing my life partner. My body responded by storing that conclusion into my posture, the posture of a woman who is carrying an usual amount of weight in her belly. The weight of the unborn child was translated by my body into the weight of sorrow. My shoulders sank, (also protecting the heart area),my belly stuck out, my hips leaned forward, my chin dropped and my neck clinched up to prevent any further “love” coming into my life. And to prevent the grief I was feeling in my heart from coming up into my higher chakras. (You stay down there where I can ignore you! )

                Later in my life, I began to become aware of these protective body responses. I started to have migraines because I was constantly tightening up my neck area. My lower back and then shoulders developed pain because they were out of alignment. Lately I have been working with a chiropractor, a phsio therapist and a message therapist to physically corrects these messages that my mind put into my body to protect me. Emotionally, I first became aware of these areas of discomfort and then over many years, I gradually integrated these painful experiences.  I can honestly say that I am a greater person for these experiences. I understand how suffering is organized and then stored into our very DNA and I help other people make the same transformations that I have!

                Now, I have migraines much less often, and with a lot of yoga, swimming, and weight lifting my back pain has decreased dramatically. My shoulders are still sore often, that is also from an inordinate amount to time on the computer wiring. (That reminds to take break right now, go for a walk and finish this later. )

                Try This!

1.       This week, continue with the mind focusing practice. This can be the body scan, contemplation in natural environments , counting breaths, walking mediation-you choose.

2.       As you practice your mind focusing techniques,  notice what how different areas of your body feel differently. Especially focus on those areas which have been ill or are giving you discomfort in some way. Don’t try to interpret what you sense there, just focus lightly on the area and be open to what arises. (Ah, here in my belly I feel anger. Oh, no, under the anger there is a memory of…)

3.       Allow whatever images to arise in the areas that are unhealthy. Just notice, keep a compassionate but objective view.  Also allow any joy, fulfillment and goodness to arise in other areas. (Wow, my feet are really competent! They carry me around all day without complaining and I dance and swim with them too.)

4.       Record your experiences in a healing journal. The practice of recording your practice in this way will great enhance your efforts.

Next week I will discuss how to heal unintegrated experience that may be lodged in various parts o your body.