Biodynamics and Being in the Face of Stress

People often speak of Craniosacral Therapy as being like meditation, both for practitioner and client. We often close our eyes, settle into a deep, restful state of subtle awareness, and allow the healing process to unfold.

As stress in the world seems to be multiplying, I am reminded of the essential value of being able to meet what arises from such a profound state of stillness and peace. Meditators, however, may be asked, or even ask themselves, at such times, why are you just sitting there doing nothing?!! Craniosacral practitioners are often questioned on how their work can be so effective when they seem to be doing nothing.

Recently, I had an image come to mind of treading water. I thought about how a person who doesn’t know how to swim might struggle if they fall into water above their head. A swimmer, on the other hand, knows how to stay afloat, but they don’t necessarily look very active in that process. If land is far away, they might refrain from tiring themselves with active strokes and instead allow themselves to restfully float, keeping their nose out of the water. It occurred to me that Craniosacral Therapy, particularly Craniosacral Biodynamics, is a bit like staying afloat without effort.

If we struggle against the currents, whether they be waves in the ocean or news of political events, terrorist attacks or severe illness, we may find ourselves in over our heads, struggling to find the breath we need to survive and thrive. Instead, Biodynamic practitioners learn to settle themselves, resting in the breath, orienting to what supports them, including the deep, subtle forces of health at work in all of us from the moment of conception on. We may seem to be doing nothing, but our state of quiet presence is important work, facilitating a mysterious Intelligence to do its work. William Sutherland, founder of cranial osteopathy, spoke of it as “intelligence with a capital I.” We may not understand every aspect of what is occurring, but we can support what needs to happen in an inherent treatment program through how we orient our attention.

We all have probably all heard that what we focus our attention on tends to manifest. If I am afraid of falling, I am more likely to fall, as we see frequently in the frail elderly. If I am focused on not having enough money, I am more likely to have that experience. Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? Where do you put your attention? In Biodynamics, we orient to the health, recognizing that dis-ease is only part of the picture. The whole includes universal Biodynamic forces always acting upon and through us to form and maintain health. If we focus in on the problems, we lose touch with the great resource of those deeper forces. If we widen our perspective to include the whole and its health, there is more chance of it being clearly expressed.

In the midst of far too frequently witnessing “bad” news – more terrorist attacks, another round of shocking election results, more friends and acquaintances with cancer or other devastating illnesses – we need more access to resource. What can support us in these challenging times? What can remind us of the underlying health, ever-present, always waiting for our welcoming embrace?

I witness all around me people struggling to stay afloat and I wonder, what could be more helpful in these times than practices that remind us of our ability to settle, deepen and return to our essential Intelligence (with a capital I)? I cannot believe that the hurtful, selfish kinds of behaviors we see around us can emerge from a peaceful, mindful state of being. Instead, when we are able to return to this deep state, our hearts naturally open. We spontaneously encounter compassion, empathy and love, and want to share it.

It is from this place I write this blog. While there are many meditative and supportive practices available, Biodynamics is a wonderful way to quiet ourselves and remember health. I encourage all of us to engage in our practices in these stressful times, to remember what helps us to stay afloat, and to offer support to those who may forget.