Today, we have countless movies that depict the concept of past lives. This phenomena has been explored by many throughout the years, and is accepted as cultural fact by others. Regardless of what is or isn’t true about our human experience and the soul that lives within it, it is important to see how it comes up in a therapeutic setting. Let us explore the images that we get from movies that are semi-consistent. A character, usually dissatisfied by the status quo embarks a journey of self-realization in which often accompanies with it, the sense doubt and confusion. Very distinct fascinations are often a theme.
In the therapuetic setting, we often see the distinct fascinations as adversions. Fear of X, Y, or Z. Some people share such detail in these fears that may or may not have any direct root in this life, however the person still feels very overwhelmed or consumed by this (or many) fears within their psyche and/or bodily reactions. Craniosacral Therapy, might not touch on this concept, however, when people take longer to gain results, we will inetivably begin exploring the SomatoEmotional Release process, which goes from a tissue-based practice, into more esorteric and systemic influences. The quality of the tissues go from one specific thing at a time, to now a multi-dimenstional process in which takes an enormous amount of sensitivity from the practitioner.
As a practitioner of CST, SER, and bodywork, we track what is called a Significance Detector to ensure we are efficient in our practice, we track the Craniosacral System for clues as to where to go or stay on the body, we track the pressure of the air to detect where a person is and when we feel that pressure change alongside the Significance Detector coming to a palpable pause, it may warrent an opportunity for dialoguing and imagery. Once this process of communication between client and therapist begins, the practitioner now has to juggle another layer; following the words and the SD to see what is actually meaningful to the individual and what is mental filler. The only way to know how tangible it is, is by following the SD, because this is the wild west. When we expand from mere tissues, into the world of Soma, Emotion, and Mind, it is easy to get lost in the stories that may or may not be a protective mechanism. Another layer, which to me is the hardest layer, is knowing what words to expand on, how to word open-ended questions that can help the client get closer to self-realization about their specific issue.
As you are now beginning to see (hopefully), severe or complicated cases require an enormous amount of patience, presence, and nutrality. This Trio of qualities are rare in today’s individual; which is a huge tragedy if you ask me, however makes sense when I zoom out, into the collective conscious. It is also these 3 qualities that create legitimate change in an individual. It allows us the opportunity to expand and create from our own imaginations, something that has been deeply meaningful to the quality of our daily lives. Some of which, come up as “Past Lives”, where someone was in a war scene, drowned, ran from or ran to something, where escapism was the only way, to the more desirable stories such as being important figures; once upon a time. They may or may not have directly been experienced by the individual, but somewhere inside (or outside??) of them, lives a story that has yet to be seen, heard, and integrated.
The integration is where all the Gold actually is. It is where a person can get closer to that sense of relief, peace, or conclusion to this very small detail that once infiltrated into multiple layers within us.
SomatoEmotional release gives us an opportunity to become whole. It gives us an opportunity to experience self-governance and allows us to integrate certain experiences so that we may proceed forward with our lives; actually moving on from the past. So whether or not Past Lives are real or fairytale is not for us to judge, rather it is worthy of exploring. Not to create fantasies from them, but to integrate a story that is so desperate to be told and integrated.
Thank you for reading. If you are a CranioSacral Therapy practitioner or are curious to know more, please contact Jessica Ramirez or visit the Upledger website to begin your journey, today. For those who are not practitioners, a great place to start is by reading the book, “Your Inner Physician and You” by Dr. John E. Upledger. Thank you; until next time. Take care.