I love trinities. The process of cosmic emergence also seems to love threes. So, as we deepen our enquiries into the energetic realms of aliveness, we can add the cranial sacral cycles to the heartbeat and respiratory rhythm to create an energetic trinity of waves and pulses. I was first attuned to this possibility long ago (1979) by Itzak Bentov and his pioneering book “Stalkiing the Wild Pendulum when he described the meditative state manifesting standing waves in the aorta, rhythm-entraining the cerebro-spinal fluid, when the breath was still. (To feel this however has proven to be rather elusive.) Bentov’s next book, ‘A Cosmic Book”, published posthumously, took his explorations way out into the cosmic realms, but I did not yet see the connection to the csf. (Nor did I discover the magnificent sphenoid bone, or the spheno-basilar junction, the fulcrum of the cranial movements.)
The possibilities were further elaborated when B.K.S. Iyengar, is a rare moment of inner disclosure, described how he would monitor his poses by the height and temperature of the cerebro-spinal fluid in the spinal canal. (This might have been during the celebrations and classes for his 70th birthday in 1988.) Again, sensitivities still were behind the conception. It sounded great, but there was still a lot of noise in the system. Some energies I could feel, but not the csf!
A big breakthrough came about 5 years ago when I discovered Charles Ridley’s “Stillness: Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Practice and the Evolution of Consciousness. His bibliography included all of my favorite authors from both science and spirituality and it was like finding a spiritual dharma brother with info on this mysterious realm that has fascinated me for years. His approach is both hands on ad non-dual! Wow! I’ll cover his work in more detail in later posts and articles.
Most recently I am blessed to be the recipient of cranial sacral work from both my friend Caryn McHose, who needs hours for her cranial sacral training, and Pat Cunningham, an amazingly sensitive healer here in Arlington who uses cranial sacral work along with other modalities. The cosmic links are opening up as the causal body and the causal fields directly affect the cranial sacral energies.
From Caryn I discovered Franklyn Sills, founder of “Polarity” and ‘Cranial Sacral Biodynamics. (Just like the yoga scene, the cranial sacral world is full of leaders, followers and politics!) Franklyn, and Roger Gilchrist in Cranial Sacral Therapy and the Energetic Body”, offer even more perspectives and points of view of the energetic nature of aliveness, healing, trauma and awakening. In the coming months I am hoping more clarity will come and I will be adding a new section to the resources menu on this work. I have my new skull. Happy New Year!
