The Cougar and Embodiment
An intent of Rolfing, and
the work that I do, is to help my clients more fully embody in this life as
themselves. In this regard the Cougar is symbolic.
The cougar expresses the
work at several levels:
- First, it is a very relaxed pussy cat who is
resting easily and alertly.
- Second, the cougar represents our basic nature as we embody into this life. To some
extent, most of us are alienated from that nature and finding it challenging
to live this life fully as ourselves, both humanly and divinely. Here, we see
the cougar fully embodied with presence on the earth and under the
heavens. He is very present, tension free, and available for whatever
may arise
- Shamanically, he could be a power animal, a guide
or an archetype for our dormant power and grace.
Some Definitions of Embodiment:
- Fully and happily inhabiting one's body.
- Not psychically disassociated or split from one's
body or one's psyche (they are the same). Simply Present.
- Accepting one's birth and life as the unique
vulnerable, powerful, and amazing individual you are. This includes
recognizing interdependence and accepting one's "proper place",
with "response ability", in one's family, group, society,
humankind, all living beings, the physical universe, and the spiritual
universe.
- Open to experiencing the sensations in one's body
as sensations and not fusing them with thoughts or emotions.
- Allowing the body to be effortlessly and naturally
supported in gravity with minimal unnecessary tension.
- The parts of one's body, arms, legs, head, neck,
trunk, etc. are well individuated, not stuck to neighboring parts,
including the layers not being stuck.
- And then, all one's parts are well integrated and
function well in motion as a whole
Or primary relationship is with our body,
which is essentially our relationship with Life (and with Death).
As we have met the challenges of this relationship with successes and many
partial successes we have developed inefficient and self perpetuating tension
patterns that are reflected in our myofascial system. Some of these are
emotionally charged, some are the result of trauma, and many are just poor
habits. They all contribute, to some degree, to of our felt experience of who we
are.
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