Wisdom in the Body

by Michael Kern

  So you see you are going to spend time learning how to listen and how to be with what you find, getting to know the territory, developing your perception based on experience. Get familiar with the embodied forces and their different qualities: dark, light, luminous, heavy, dense, clear, congested or compressed, etc. The main danger for you is to end up chasing shapes; you would only be chasing ghosts. Remember the Knight’s example: always look for the heart of the dragon. If your sword cuts pieces, limbs and parts, you would be so exhausted that by the time you get to the core, you wouldn’t be able to see the door. You would have used up all your resources in the fight, as well as run down your friend’s battery. Always work with potency, even at the heart of the fulcrum. Always look for the origins rather than the effects. Learn to collaborate with the inherent plan that unfolds its priorities for you, rather than trying to order the chaos. Chaos will always ultimately reinstall its supremacy, unless … you discover the inner principle present at its heart. And trust this luminous darkness that will unfold between your hands and know perfectly how to achieve balance and integration.

  Wait until you are invited

  What do you have to do now? Follow an elder’s advice. He’s been there before and knows what he’s talking about: “Trust the Tide and get out of the way!” Dare to participate and be contemplative; a humble servant always ready to engage. Don’t be afraid of inertia, as it always leads you to Health. And wait, wait for a mysterious gateway into the unknown. Yes, you have come to a point when you feel your heart is longing for something more to happen, for the presence of the beloved. And you suspend your breath with both anguish and joy.

  But wait, wait, wait … until you are invited. Get to rest. Be alert, be passionate, hold your quest and your faith deep in your heart.

  The gateway is quite unexpected, it is as small as the eye of a needle but has the power to create stillness in the whole environment. Now there is a pause, as if everything is holding its breath. Something happens, quick! Go with the potency and fluids, take a deep breath, hold on and close your eyes. Open them now. Through this infinitesimal, localized place you have arrived at the infinite Realm. You are at the heart of Life’s organizing forces, at the heart of cellular information. There is an incessant activity and there is stillness. This is where the airy and infinite space meets with the dark and deep ocean. From this meeting, form is generated!

  You don’t know where to go. You’re lost and overwhelmed. But you know this place, you remember it. Information seems to explode at the heart of your cells as the original blueprint within you meets the blueprint within the universe.

  Come now, a presence is taking your hand. Many beings are welcoming and engaging you. They’re so happy you’re here! They are leading you to a lotus flower at the center of which you sit. At this point, you realize you are naked, like at the beginning and at the end. You explore this realm, its infinite space, its spirals and its uni-directional, centripetal and centrifugal forces, its vacuums, its majestic darkness, its musical silence, its darker and darker yet dynamic stillness. From this stillness, you see life arising, materializing all shapes and forms, filling them with potency. You also see these shapes, forms, fluids and potency being reabsorbed back into the heart of stillness. Can you see these midlines from which everything seems to be suspended in perfect balance? You observe the different rhythms of unfoldment, cycles of life and death and how all forms are bound together by a subtle liquid substance, a crystalline matrix. Yes, this is this subtle network that maintains form and dissolves it. And this is just the beginning of your exploration.

  Tell me, do you feel lonely in this place where you feared to go to? Open your ears, can’t you hear the murmur of a song that seems to be meant for you? You feel wrapped by a presence; a presence that comes closer as you surrender your fears. Now look—facing you, omnipresent. She is here, holding you in the palm of her hand that is also the center of your heart. Now you know she is looking both at you and within you. You see majesty, beauty, silence. You see what you will never be able to describe.

  GLOSSARY

  Active alert A state of heightened awareness triggered when there is a possibility of danger.

  Allopathic A system of medicine where remedies or drugs are prescribed to produce a condition that is the opposite of those produced by the disease being treated.

  Alzheimer’s disease A degenerative condition of the central nervous system that causes dementia.

  Anatomy The structure of the body.

  Anterior Towards the front of the body.

  Aqueduct of Silvius A long, thin channel that connects the third and fourth ventricles of the brain.

  Arachnoid The middle layer of the meningeal membrane system that surrounds the central nervous system. It resembles a spider’s web.

  Arachnoid villi Microscopic finger-like projections of tissue in the arachnoid layer of the meningeal membrane system. Cerebrospinal fluid is reabsorbed through the arachnoid villi into venous sinuses.

  Asthma A respiratory condition that causes wheezing and shortness of breath, marked by contraction of the bronchial tubes. Sufferers usually have more difficulty in breathing out than breathing in.

  Autism A condition (which usually begins at birth) marked by disorders of communication, withdrawal from contact and self absorption.

  Autonomic nervous system The part of the nervous system that controls the functioning of the body’s organs (including cardiac muscle, smooth mucle and glands) and is not typically under voluntary control. It is comprised of sympathetic and parasympathetic branches.

  Axis (plural: axes) An imaginary line around which a structure moves. Horizontal or transverse axis—an axis that goes from side to side. Anterior-posterior axis—an axis that goes from front to back. Vertical axis—an axis that goes from top to bottom.

  Ayurveda (adj. Ayurvedic) Basal ganglia The traditional medical system practiced in the Indian sub-continent. Groups of nerve cell bodies in the cerebral hemispheres and upper brainstem involved with motor coordination.

  Bevel The type of joint or suture that has an angled surface and mainly allows for a gliding motion.

  Biodynamic potency/force The basic energy of wellness, the intrinsic force produced by the Breath of Life that is conveyed in the fluids of the body.

  Biokinetic potency/force The added forces of stress and conditioning that the biodynamic forces have to accommodate for.

  Biosphere The whole sphere of physical and energetic functioning of a person, including the field immediately around the body.

  Boundary 1) the demarcation between patient and practitioner; 2) the physiological edge of a tissue’s pattern of motion, before any strain is added to make it move further.

  Breath of Life A term used by Dr. W.G. Sutherland to describe our essential life-force; an invisible element, a “fluid within a fluid” that contains an innate intelligence. It is essentially expressed as a slow, tide-like rhythm, the long tide, which then unfolds into the faster rhythms of the mid-tide and the cranial rhythmic impulse.

  Caduceus The entwining energies that are located along the central “rod” of the spine, used as a symbol of the medical profession.

  Caesarean section Delivery of a baby from its mother’s pelvis by abdominal surgery.

  Cartilage A type of fibrous connective tissue, out of which much of the bony skeleton becomes formed. This resilient tissue lines many of the freely movable joints of the body.

  Cerebellum Part of the brain, located at the lower, posterior part of the skull. It consists of a central area and two lateral hemispheres and is chiefly concerned with balance, movement and muscle tone.

  Cerebral palsy A group of disorders caused by damage to areas of the brain that produce or affect movement (i.e., motor functions).

  Cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F.) A transparent, slightly yellowish fluid that bathes the central nervous system. It acts as an essential conveyor of biodynamic potency and was called by Dr. A.T. Still “the highest known element in the body.
”

  Cerebrum The main portion of the brain, consisting of the cortex—which is formed of two lateral hemispheres, connected in the middle. It is responsible for conscious thought and behavior.

  Chakra A Sanskrit word referring to a center or gateway through which energy or vital force is distributed. It literally translates as “wheel.”

  Choroid plexus (plural: plexi) Projections in the blood capillary system of the brain that produce cerebrospinal fluid and secrete it into the ventricles.

  Clinoid processes Small projections of bone on the upper surface of the sphenoid bone that provide the anterior attachments for the tentorium cerebelli and surround the sella turcica (saddle) housing the pituitary gland.

  Coccyx The small tail bones at the base of the spine, formed of two to four bones, which are usually fused.

  Collagen fibers Microscopic hollow fibers made of protein, contained within connective tissues, which allow for the passage of small amounts of cerebrospinal fluid.

  Colic Acute abdominal pain. This can sometimes be caused by irritation of the vagus nerve.

  Compression The movement or forcing of structures closer towards each other.

  Conceptus The single cell or aggregation of cells of the embryo resulting from the fusion of an egg and sperm at conception.

  Connective tissue Tissues that surround and connect different parts of the body. Fascia is one important type of connective tissue.

  Core link A term coined by Dr. W.G. Sutherland referring to the spinal dural membrane that connects the sacrum to the cranium.

  Cortex Literally means “outer layer.” This term is often used to refer to the hemispheres of the brain (cerebral cortex).

  Cortisol A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands as part of the body’s response to stress. It helps to provide energy and is an anti-inflammatory.

  Coupling The association of an emotion or attitude with a physiological response in the body.

  Cranial base The floor of the skull that is embryologically formed from cartilage. This term is often used to refer to the sphenoid and occiput.

  Cranial concept The philosophy and practice developed by Dr. W.G. Sutherland that involves an appreciation of the rhythmic motions produced by the Breath of Life and the significance of the primary respiratory system for the maintenance of balance and health.

  Cranial osteopathy The study and practice of the cranial concept that is considered to be a part of osteopathic health care practiced by osteopaths.

  Cranial rhythmic impulse (C.R.I.) The outermost expression of the Breath of Life, which has a rhythmic motion of an average six to twelve cycles per minute and can be palpated throughout the body. This term is sometimes shortened to “cranial rhythm.”

  Craniosacral concept Same as “cranial concept.”

  Craniosacral motion The different motions produced in the fluids and tissues of the body as a result of the cranial rhythmic impulse.

  Craniosacral rhythm Same as the “cranial rhythmic impulse.”

  Craniosacral system Same as “primary respiratory mechanism.”

  Craniosacral therapy A system of holistic health care that places an emphasis on supporting the expressions of primary respiratory motion.

  Cranium The bones of the skull.

  Crista galli A small projection at the top of the ethmoid bone providing the attachment for the anterior aspect of the falx cerebri. It resembles a cock’s comb.

  Decompression The movement of structures away from each other; the creation of space between structures.

  Direct approach A treatment approach in which inertial patterns are facilitated to move out of (i.e., away from) the direction of their strain.

  Direction of preference The direction in which tissues can still move most easily around the presence of an inertial fulcrum.

  Disengagement The separation of two bones that have become compressed.

  Dissociation A fragmentation of function that happens in states of overwhelm as part of a protective response; a state of being “out of touch.”

  DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) Coiled protein strands within the nucleus of a cell containing the information of our inherited (genetic) tendencies.

  Dura mater The tough and relatively inelastic outer layer of the membranous lining that surrounds the central nervous system. It is composed of two layers of tissue, largely fused together.

  Dynamic stillness The intrinsic ground of stillness from which all expressions of life and motion arise.

  Dyslexia A condition marked by difficulty with comprehending written language.

  Elastin fibers One of the constituents of connective tissue, made of fibers of protein. They are found in different connective tissues in varying quantities, providing varying degrees of flexibility and elasticity.

  Embryo Embryological The developing human being from about age two weeks to eight weeks after conception, during which time all the major body structures are formed.

  Pertaining to the period of embryonic development.

  Embryonic disc A flattened area in the fertilized egg in which the first traces of the embryo are seen.

  Endocrine Pertaining to the glands and secretions of the hormonal system.

  Endorphin A painkilling chemical secreted by the brain.

  Energy cyst A walled-off area of kinetic energy that develops in response to a physical trauma whose force the body has been unable to dissipate.

  Entrapped force vector Same as “energy cyst.”

  Epilepsy A collection of transient symptoms characterized by seizures and caused by abnormal electrical activity of the brain.

  Ethmoid bone A light, airy bone of the cranium located behind the brow and forming part of the walls of the nasal cavity and the orbit.

  Eustachian tube The canal that links the middle ear and the back part of the mouth just above the soft palate. It regulates pressure in the ear.

  Exaggeration The encouragement of tissues further into their inertial pattern.

  Exhalation The phase of primary respiration during which there is a receding motion towards the lower part of the body and a narrowing from side to side. Within the cranial rhythmic impulse, it coincides with the extension/internal rotation phase.

  Extension A movement that increases the angle between two structures. This term is used to describe the motion of single midline bones in the exhalation phase of the cranial rhythmic impulse.

  External rotation A rotation away from the midline. This term is used to describe the motion of paired structures in the inhalation phase of the cranial rhythmic impulse.

  Facilitated segment A hypersensitive segment of the spinal cord, which fires nerve impulses with a minimum of stimulation.

  Falx cerebelli The smaller vertical partition formed of dura in the reciprocal tension membrane system, dividing the two hemispheres of the cerebellum.

  Falx cerebri The larger vertical partition of the reciprocal tension membrane system, formed of dura and shaped like a sickle, which divides the two hemispheres of the cerebrum.

  Fascia A type of connective tissue that covers, supports and connects all the different structures of the body, forming a continuous network throughout the body.

  Fetus The developing baby from the end of the embryonic period of pregnancy to the time of birth.

  Fight or flight response A physiological response to threat or danger during which the body is put on alert and its resources are mobilized to either fight or run away.

  Flexion A movement that decreases the angle between two structures. This term is used to describe the motion of single midline bones in the inhalation phase of the cranial rhythmic impulse.

  Fluid drive The strength or force behind the longitudinal fluctuation of cerebrospinal fluid, which varies with the amount of potency carried by the cerebrospinal fluid.

  Fontanelle A membrane in the vault portion of the skull of a fetus or young child, covering areas that have not yet hardened into bone.

  Foramen magnum The large opening at the base of the skul
l, located in the occipital bone, providing a passage for the lower part of the brainstem and upper part of the spinal cord.

  Force vector The pathway in which kinetic energy enters the body as a result of a physical trauma.

  Frontal bone The bone that forms the forehead and the upper part of the orbits.

  Fulcrum (plural: fulcra) A point around which motion takes place. Inertial fulcrum—a place of stasis where the Breath of Life is unable to find expression and containing unresolved forces that organize patterns of restriction in the body. Original fulcrum—the first fulcrum that forms at conception and through which the potencies of the Breath of Life are transmuted into the fluids of the conceptus to initiate the process of incarnation. This later becomes the site of the third ventricle. Practitioner fulcrum—a focus around which the practitioner can operate and orientate.

  Ganglion (plural: ganglia) A collection or bundle of nerve cell bodies. (Also a form of benign tumor located in a muscle tendon.)

  Gastritis Inflammation of the stomach.

  Glossopharyngeal nerve A cranial nerve that exits the skull through the jugular foramen. It supplies some of the muscles of the throat, the taste buds and the largest salivary gland.

  Glue ear A build-up of fluid and catarrh in the ear that more frequently affects young children. Occurs because of obstruction of the eustachian (auditory) tube.

  Groundswell The centrifugal and centripetal motion that is produced as the Breath of Life emerges from the ground of dynamic stillness.

  Healing crisis An acute reaction occurring as part of a healing process, when the body attempts to dissipate the elements that cause and maintain disease.