The Archaeology of Healing
Every body is born with a story. A story that is wise and profound and mysterious. Its beauty stretches from far before us, and travels far beyond us. As a parable that is fabricated from the myths of others, this story helps us to develop, test our character, and validate our truths. Our stories construct the reality that we experience and invent our future. We live them, dance them, and dream them as the main character, director, and producer.
Stories are made each day as we interact, and are the footholds of the past that mold us. Stories can blind us and bind us to repetitive circumstance, as well as embolden us to rise above adversity. Some are sweet, some tragic, but all stories are teachers and have hidden meanings for us to explore. Potent and accessible in our bodies, we can remember our stories, uncover their trail, and find their origin with Somatic Archaeology™.
Although it may appear that the words somatic and archaeology are an odd combination, they weave together into a model of healing that impacts our past, present, and future. Our bodies, likened to our Earth, are the keepers of memory. Just as the Earth contains the historical library of life in its ruins, graves, trees, rocks, and oceans, our body inherits the archives of our ancestors in its cells, muscles, blood, and bones. Adopting the attitudes, patterns, and dynamics of our families, communities, and environment, these elements shape and define us. We become what we've inherited, what others have said we are, what our teachers have taught us, and what Earth rhythms have modeled for us. Our Earth, our body, remembers all.
When we wish to examine how we evolved as a culture and a species, and remember the events that brought us to this moment in time, we dig in the Earth. The Earth is the link to times past, and is the battleground for our evolution. The Earth stores the symbols, the skeletons, and the shadows of our lives. Excavating the information the Earth stores helps us to piece together our lineage and illuminates for us the wisdom of the ancients, the fruits and folly of our forefathers.
When we wish to examine how we evolved as a person or a familial system, and explore the social and spiritual influences that have shaped us, we excavate our bodies. Our body is the link to our inherent wisdom, cycles, and perfection, and as well, stores the symbols, skeletons, and shadows of our personal life. The stories in our body furnish us with understanding to witness the imprints of memory that have manifested into our accomplishments, struggles, symptoms, emotions, beliefs, and limitations, as well as our tenacity, courage, and potential.
In this archaeological excavation of our body, we find that the search itself is as valuable as the artifacts that emerge; that our desire to know more about ourselves is the true driving force. History may predispose the future, but examining history gives alternatives to the future. The remains in our body directly influence our personal health, thoughts, relationships, and actions-and unearthing these memories can eventually lead to our greatest well being, and hence, social change and global harmony. Where we have been can tell us much about where we are going.
REMEMBER YOUR STORY
The practice of Somatic Archaeology™, simply stated, is the process of becoming whole by curing your amnesia and remembering your stories. When you dig, you remember; and when you remember, history is revealed; and when history is revealed, you clearly recognize the trail of stories that formulate your life. This knowledge affords you choice, and restores you with the power to consciously manifest your unique destiny.
Right now, you are simultaneously making stories and history. You are living and breathing within the blueprint of your ancestors, and modifying it with each choice and action you take. You are a living testament to your words, your beliefs, and your family. Each day you move within the expansion or restriction set forth by your past, diligently establishing it in your future. Life exists as a mirror image of your efforts, influenced by those around you, those before you, those above you, and the Earth beneath you.
Approaching healing from this circular viewpoint is what is needed to address the accumulation of history that is perpetuating our collective distress and personal anguish. We spend so much time suppressing our stories and sidestepping our afflictions that many times our lives are spent in recovery rather than in living. We have effectively forgotten how to remember the genesis of our suffering and the origins of our truth.
The occupation of our generation is to remember. As a bridge between bodywork, psychology, and spirituality, Somatic Archaeology™ can help you unearth in your body the origins of your stories in order to create awareness and reconciliation of tragedies, life patterns, and cultural myths. With recognition and resolution of your past, you can move forward and heal your life story.
Click here to read about a few Somatic Archaeology graduates.
