“Life Energy & the Emergent Therapeutic Paradigm:
A Balanced Approach to Body, Mind and Nature”
Berkley, California Oct. 24 – 26, 2007

Attending the first International Somatic Experiencing conference in Berkley, California was a real treat; not only that I would be there but that I would also be presenting Focalizing in an honored way. Long before I had the words for it, the super-tuned reading of life energy, “inner” radar, ran my life. It was what I needed and used to survive. The physical world met some of my most basic needs. Yet, for soul survival and even for some fun, I organically developed neuro-pathways that helped me negotiate the terrain in the safest way possible. One could say I became a very intuitive survivor. In either case, what seemed like a real horror show as a child through a lot of grit, inner work and spirit has been transformed into a gifted adulthood. I get to participate in my ongoing healing and that of my clients in quite profound ways that are beyond my wildest dreams, using skills I learned as a small boy.

The conference was much more scientific (all the neuroscience & neuron-plasticity behind energetic practices) than I expected, and this delighted me. The reality looms in that even though we have scientific evidence that energy & somatic healing works, it can only very gradually be mainstreamed as it moves from research and academic levels. There are not as many pharmacopeia in the emerging paradigms, but perhaps a common ground can be found soon. I trust that there are real smart in-touch people out there and it’s only a matter of time.

I was invited to present with brilliant long-time pioneers, educators and authors to an audience of about 350 colleagues. I learned so much from my co-presenters in fine-tuning my own skills. Among them were trauma healing beacon Bessel van der Kolk, Body Mind Center Director Stephen Porges, Somatic Experiencing Originator Peter A. Levine, and a New York Times neuro-science writer Sandra Blakeslee who just coauthored* a book called The Body has a Mind of Its Own. In this compelling, cutting-edge work, two generations of science writers explore the exciting science of “body maps” in the brain and how startling new discoveries about the body mind connection can change and improve our lives. It explains how our body maps are profoundly elastic and the self doesn’t begin and end with your physical body but extends into the space around you.

The more we can accept the message in the theme of this conference, the more likely we will be to access the non-visible, non-physical realities that our beings nest in. In doing so, we discover the luminous laughter that dissolves all darkness, all differences, all discord, all disharmonies, everything that weeps and wails. And this can deliver us to grace: a force, sweetness, something like a vibration of solace spread everywhere, but which an illuminated consciousness can direct and concentrate on specific points for further healing and awakening.

A closing aside: The Tartan book launch party at Saks mentioned last time was an enormous success. I extend big kudos to Jeffrey & Doria on their amazing accomplishment. And, thanks to those of you who brightened the evening with your presence.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I offer gratitude for all my inner and outer resources.

*Sandra’s coauthor was her son Matthew who represents the fourth generation of science writers in the family. The mother-son collaboration is heart warming for me and makes this book a real contribution of multidimensional perspectives for our time.