Hello Friends,
One of my great joys and curiousities is in similarities between ancestral medicine and current evidenced based care.
For example, there are cross cultural patterns of practices in connecting oneself to the earth. You have likely heard the term ‘grounding’ exercises, in traditional Tibetan Buddhism there is a practice for one to lay on the ground and practice sinking into the earth. In Asian medicine there is a focus on connecting your Dan tien into the earth, in Celtic practices there is the tree of life meditation, to name but a few.
Having integrated some of these practices into my own life over the years I am constantly curious of the finer details of what happens within. I would like to share some of my observations, and what makes sense to mebased on my understanding of neurophysiological processes.
As I relax into a deeper connection to the land beneath my feet, I feel the support and the inner settling of my kidney/adrenal glands. In the right environment, it can take 15 minutes for adrenal to metabolise in the body. As the presence of this hormone lessens I am met with the settling of the stress response, a deeper exhalation, softer muscle tone and presence thoughout my body. The piriformis and pelvic floor musculature no longer hold on as tight for fear of threat. My sacrum can now move some more.
With this continued settling into the earth, I notice my breath rate slows, and the accompanying meditative qualities of presence signal permission for the fascia of the parietal pericardium (or Heart protector) to let go its protective bracing.
A deeper essence of the heart and it electromagnetic and circulatory capacities breath once again. The decent and ascent of the aorta and vena cavae signal increased connectivity and venous/arterial return throughout. Within the cranium, this exchange, is signaled at the temporal bones at the anatomical landmarks of the transverse venous sinuses and proximal jugular foramen. The temporals begin to unwind. And an opening occurs.
I become curious of this feeling of 'opening'. I sense the 8th Cranial nerve, the vestibulococlear nerve, the epicenter of my vestibular system. The system that is responsible for balance posture, my relationship with the earth, (and without it vertigo, balance issues and falls become problematic).
Consciousness changes, and I am to my initial surprise met with a sense of feeling ‘in the right place’, an invitation from within to 'be here now'.
It feels as though I have come full circle. Surrendering into the earth beneath and through the cascade of physiological reactions provide the very information for my intercranial sutures and vestibular processes to orientate me back down to that earth. A two-way signal of presence.
A resting in presence.
....St. Catherine of Sienas words come to visit me;
'The sun hears the fields talking about effortand the sun smiles,and whispers to me, "Why don't the fields just rest, forI am willing to doeverythingto help them grow?"Rest, my dears, in prayer'...
Online Webinar presentation
“Land ancestors and origins” A visionary approach to craniosacral work
For those who are curious in a deeper exploration of this two way system, this Tuesday coming, February 18th at 7pm Irish local time (11am PST) , I will be co-creating an online presentation with the Irish Association of craniosacral therapists (IACST) titled:
“Land ancestors and origins” A visionary approach to craniosacral work
In this talk I will be exploring the ‘individuals and origins’ beneath the healing modality of craniosacral work and how recognizing this lineage informs our work today in good ways. Like a two way signal inviting us as practitioners to be more fully here for our clients on their healing journey.
To register free as a member of the IACST
• Members: Free! Register now through your membership account under the Events & Courses tab.
• Non-Members: €25. To register, email info@iacst.ie
With well wishes,
Daithi
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