Session 2. Embodiment

Dear Friends. It is surprising when we let ourselves drop into the body. Embodiment is quite mysterious. At first we may feel the physicality of the body: the aches and pains, the tensions, the sleepiness and dullness, the emotional pain. But as we settle in we discover that our experience can settle, slow down, open and begin to flow. We feel more in touch with ourselves, sometimes we feels more real. Perhaps we discover feelings that we didn't know or expect. Sometimes something subtle opens. Some you felt a sense of connection with your partners. Perhaps we felt less distracted, or we felt more compassion, or a simple relaxation. Our embodiment not only opens us to our own presence, a kind of simple hereness, or a kind of relaxed settling into some kind of inner support, but also our presence affects others and the field between us, the atmosphere between us. The practice of not engaging in the habitual social cues while listening to each other has a profound effect. How often in our lives do we have the undivided attention, simple embodied listening of friends? What a relief to the listener. I don't have to do anything. I don't have to come up with some brilliant advice. I can simply be with myself and simply listen. What a relief to the listener. To one who is exploring this means that this time is just for me! I don't have to take care of my friends. I don't have to perform. I don't have to censor. This exploration is for me. And the more embodied we are, the richer and deeper the exploration.

When we are embodied we have a chance to not only see the superego but also to push it away. No I don't want my parents, my teachers, voices in my exploration. I want to explore and understand my own experience. The superego does not want to be dislodged. It is simply doing its job, trying to get you back to the small contracted state of your familiar ego. The more we become embodied, especially in the belly, the more we will be connected to the ground of being, solid, welcoming, trustworthy. That will give us the courage to meet the superego with whatever it takes to dislodge it, push it away. Then there is space for our own experience, for our own unfolding precious presence.

Here are the exercises:  What does the word embodiment mean to you? Tell me a way you loose contact with your feeling of embodiment? Explore what it feels like to inhabit your body right now. How does being embodied affect your presence. 

I will post this on practicing-presence.blogspot.com. You can post questions and comments. 

A reminder: Spirit singing on Monday 24th. On October 1st we will focus on the embodied now.

Hope to see you soon. Alison