Clip 1: 'In biodynamics, we attempt to meet the whole person. Over time we can settle. We can include the complexities without disappearing, without speeding up. One day you'll skilfully notice this bone, notice this shape, it's safe, there's no trauma. Wow. I can finally let go of that pattern as a whole gesture.

I shift from the inside. My breath changes. My heart changes. My gut opens. My head feels free and there's a movement and an expansion in the whole head, the whole person.

A deep, beautiful, incredible letting go from the inside. That's biodynamic craniosacral therapy.

We have to start in that place of safety, that wide deep relationship that acknowledges a whole person with all sorts of levels of stories.

That may sound inefficient and time consuming. It's absolutely not. It's the quickest way I know of working.

We're getting into this territory of aligning with the Dao. Aligning with an intelligence that's greater than our intellect. If we find safety, if we relate to these natural rhythms and forces, if we can pay attention in the right way, then we can facilitate these movements and directions.

We can facilitate these letting goes as sort of a shedding. Just an internal softening. Change in this model is about soft letting go rather than dramatic forcing.'

Episode Notes

'Non doing' is something I first learnt about from my study of Zen Shiatsu. 'Zen in the Art of Archery' (Herrigel 1953) opened up a whole new world for me. I still think this is the best book if you want to understand biodynamic craniosacral therapy.

From Zen I quickly discovered Taoism. My understanding was deepened by the teaching of Franklyn Sills. There was real joy in my time as a tutor at the Karuna Institute hearing Franklyn make links between BCST and his study of Taoism. There was a clear focus on change emerging from within facilitated by the presence of another. 

In his later writing, WG Sutherland, the founder of the cranial osteopathy, radically changed his early focus on biomechanics. 'Don’t try to drive the mechanism through any external force. Rely upon the Tide' (Sutherland 1990). This expansive model of trusting the tide, is foundational for the biodynamic model. 

The power of cranial work comes from its gentleness. The ability to facilitate change without force. In a session, when I feel something let go from the inside, it is one of the most exciting things I know. In this webinar I will try to draw out some of the principles and skills we teach in biodynamics that are rooted in non doing. 

Available as video podcast https://youtu.be/1S_2Bb3zSBU or https://vimeo.com/750070707