Some notes on Empathy... ... and highly related topics that are particularly "indicated" (as the practitioner says :) for practitioners of any type of healing, whether simply via prayer, or while using a complex array of techniques, whether for someone near or far away. Topic Summary 1 Empathy and Clearing Cords 2 Caring & 'Compassion vrs Sympathy' 3 Empathy & Water, and a great web page 4 Dealing With The Emotional Body ========== Empathy and Clearing Cords =========== ...referring to psychic/empathic "cords" or ties to other people -- some are much more healthy than others, and it's the others that you want to cut, or modify. So it's good to become aware of all of them. For you I'm probably referring to those that have you feel responsible and/or obligated to give various kinds of energy or power under various circumstances, in such a way that, if you were fully aware of what you were doing, certainly of the implications/ramifications, you would terminate the connection. So... there are ways or techniques for doing this. .... IE: A simple but effective "Chalice-Streamlining" imagery exercise when you feel you need an energetic clearing of your body systems. (I call essential aspects of the vessel the "Chalice," in case you wondered about the name.) [editg note: if not pasted below and you would like it, please ask for "TubeOLite.txt" or "ChaliceStreamg.txt." -bcp] The essay, "Questions for Boundaries," pertains most directly to the solar plexis chakra. And the most commonly recognised challenge that I have associated with this center is that of boundary integrity, "cording," and the more basic levels of empathy. ========= Caring & 'Compassion vrs Sympathy' ============ 'How to define what caring is' is always a difficult step, and it can be a challenge to try to teach that to someone else. To illustrate: Just ask yourself how a) your father would define it, and what he expected from others, b) how your mother would define it, and what she expected from others, c) how you would have defined it before your latest "phase shift" in self-improvement, and what you expected from others, d) how you would define it now, and what you expect from others now. To further illustrate, after you have done that, you might try to gleen how any one of your associates would likely define it and what they seem to expect from others. Then you might notice if/how your notion of the various 'Compassion vrs Sympathy' concepts might differ. Well, maybe not drastically afterall, but when you ask these questions of/to yourself you may notice some things you didn't before. "How am I coming to enjoy extending the love That I Am through my hands, and LETTING IT GO, trusting that the results are in God's hands, and releasing all attachment to how others respond to me and/or in their lives ?" .... Meditation / Contemplation ... ============ Empathy & Water ============ Water is essential to maintaining the electrolites, and thus the health of the "electrical body," thence the electric nature that relates to the "emotional body," thence the empathic capacities to read your emotions, discriminate them from others, keep energies moving thru you appropriately without them getting stuck, etc. A most incredible and wonderful research has been done on water and it's "response ability" even to vibrations of the most subtle nature (including to "Thank you's"!). The photographs of the water crystals say it all. Enjoy this page: http://www.wellnessgoods.com/art_wat_messages.html AND... since water is the most naturally programable crystal, what does that say about our own thoughts and energywork on ourselves and others? "Thank you cells for being all that you are, you know what to do and you do what you know connected to the Universal Life Force Flow, My Divine Blueprint, and My Higher Power that inspires your DNA to do what works most efficiently in the most loving alignment with All That I Am, each moment, each day. Thank you, thank you, thank you!" ========= Dealing With The Emotional Body ========= Dealing with the emotional body is not so much about "levels" (of one's being, let of spirituality, or even of personal growth) as about the phases of shifting or weaving, as any number of aspects of an issue can have components on any combination of levels (eg: phys, emot, mental, or etheric bodies). Inner children will be inner children ;) I believe it's a waste of time and energy to put judgement on the transient emotional content accessible by the feeling body, or on the profuse clutter flowing through the creative mind. How much time and energy one focuses on it, and what is done with it determines the character of the person. A good sense of humor is the best friend in this regard. As per Buddhism and the various schools of New Thought, it's not good to create or maintain destructive thought trains, but as per Gestalt Psychology, it IS necessary to process old repressed stuff (well, if one wants to heal something that has repressed stuff as it's core and motivation for doing one's spiritual homework, etc), which therefore necesitates feeling what could otherwise be destructive thought trains. These are not destructive when consciously processed, leading to development/enhancement of compassion and understanding -- not to mention whatever learning the (original Soul-designed) setup was designed to accomplish in that life, etc. And the process work is especially constructive with appropriate re-parenting of those cells, or "celldren" - inner-children, that is. Phil Laut has some most insightfully useful commentary on the emotions. I've included an excerpted short list of these in the "SelectedHW.zip" file. ====== RELATED WRITINGS ====== -available via email (chaliser@iinet.com) or on the web- _@_ "Compassion, Healing, and The Practitioner - and Detouring 'Burn-out'" at http://members.aol.com/bridge22/Compassion.html" === Key Body-Mind References === A Semi-Technical Treatise on the Storage & Release of Tension: "Body-Mind Integration in the Personal Growth Process" -- THE BASIC HOW'S AND WHY'S OF PSYCHO- EMOTIONAL STORAGE IN THE BODY-MIND (published in MASSAGE MAGAZINE, July-August 1992) (at http://members.aol.com/bridge22/BMIessay1.html) "Putting It Together" An Annotated Index of Essays & Links on Body-Mind Integration --- A letter-formated Overview, describing most key essays and how they relate (6/99) (at http://members.aol.com/bridge22/EssayIndex.html) ============================================================= =============== Key Body-Mind References ==================== A Semi-Technical Treatise on the Storage & Release of Tension: "Body-Mind Integration in the Personal Growth Process" -- THE BASIC HOW'S AND WHY'S OF PSYCHO- EMOTIONAL STORAGE IN THE BODY-MIND (published in MASSAGE MAGAZINE, July-August 1992) (at http://www.chalicebridge.com/BMIessay1.html) <========= Open Window This Wide For Best Results Reading the Below ==========> _____________________________________________________________________ ¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤ AUTHOR INFORMATION, COPYRIGHT REGULATIONS/POLICY & DISCLAIMER [4'08] Chris Pringer, Reiki Master Chalice Productions * Specialist in Energy-Body-Work (Integrative Art & Writing) * Personal Coach in Mind-Body By Appt Only: 206-286-0899 Preventative Health Awareness Seattle, WA 98119 * Ordained Minister Chaliser@iinet.com Chalice Bridging Ministries: Body-Mind-Soul Integration for a Healthy Planet =========== ///\\\ ============= Essays, Art, Professional Info, Links, FTP via: Body-Mind-Chalice Integration Website: http://www.chalicebridge.com: Essays, Poetry, and Art for Bridging the Mind-Body Connection, "Body-Parenting", Psycho-Spiritual Self-Healing, Consciousness, Theology, Practical Emotional Intelligence, and Psycho-Social Trends & Ideas for Evolving. http://www.chalicebridge.com/Chalice-Integration-Index.html: (Chalice Art, Mandalas, Sacred Geometry, & Related Philosophy: via http://www.chalicebridge.com/4C-Publishing.html: Chalice Creations & Concept Charting - Desktop Publishing for Vibrant Greeting Cards, Logos, Display Ads, Promotional Presentations, Charts & Web Books, Mandala & Prayer Cards __________________________________________ COPYRIGHT REGULATIONS/POLICY & DISCLAIMER: REPRODUCTION: I welcome my writing/artwork being reproduced, provided that it is in it's original and complete form (or an editing or excerpt by agreement with the author), and contact info are intact and readable ("Chris Pringer, chaliser@iinet.com, www.chalicebridge.com"), and so long as the following conditions are applied: a) Hardcopy reproduction is ok so long as it is for personal or non-profit organizational use only; b) Distribution and posting on web pages, blogs, and forums with my permission (mostly because I want to know where it's been put, and I'd be most honored to be asked). c) Any distribution of my writings or artwork must be w/o charge unless with prior agreement in writing with the author. d) The only exception to that regards the World Healing Prayers (at http://www.chalicebridge.com/WorldHlgPrayrOnSacredGeo.htm), which I encourage people to make all the copies they think will be used effectively - without obligation to get my permission or even contact me. DISCLAIMER: None of my writing, chalice art, or PolyPsyArt is intended to be, to replace, or discourage the appropriate use of, medical attention and/or treatment, but as educationally informative for the purpose of overall health enhancement and preventative maintenance. So far as I know, I have not quoted any other person without saying so. I have emulated a number of writers and teachers, so I wouldn't be surprised if many of my statements have very similar words and meanings as they. In any case, I have always tried to say what I believed. If you find that I have plagiarized anyone to any degree, please let me know -- by noting the complete published reference, and including the full quote and a few sentences of text before and after). This given, I will duly correct the writing. AUTHORSHIP: Unless otherwise noted under the titles, all essays, artwork, prayers, pages at my web site (as at my previous site at AOL), and with exception of some of the solid color and cloudy-sky color backgrounds and logo/headers for others' sites as noted) has been composed, rendered, and/or web-authored © by myself, Christopher Pringer, practitioner in Body-Mind Integration since 1984, and ordained minister (Chalice-Bridging Ministries) since 1987. Most of the personal health-oriented essays at this site were written in the early 90's, and tend to use a more generalized in approach than I would when working with an individual. ________________ Professional Bio I began my studies in multi-level self-healing when in the service, in Thailand in the Winter of '73. The focus then was on self-help psychology, consciousness, and eastern and western mystical perspectives. This continued through my university studies in Norman, OK '74-'79. 1980 took me into naturopathic studies, primarily nutrition and herbology when I lived in Oklahoma City. Not seeing the naturopathic doctor route as affordable at the time, I found direction via a five-evening massage course, Fall '83. That led to a six month professional practice, followed up with the training in Sante Fe, NM, '84-'85 (described in the next paragraph). Since then I have practiced massage and/or healing facilitation for others, initially in Santa Fe, NM (during/after my training), then San Louis Obispo, CA, and Seattle, WA. This includes exploring personal challenges and self-healing methodology. A session may include various energy work modalities, Body/Energy-Awareness based Preventative Health Maintenance Instruction, or only Reiki or relaxation work in total silence. A client chooses based on whatever stress, pain, or concerns are present at that session. A client may request a "Body Pattern Reading," as well as various massage/bodywork therapies, all of which techniques are listed & described in my brochure. Individual, program, and 3-6 week interval-based rates are available. My interests have primarily centered in three areas: 1) Body-Centered Psycho-Spiritual Process (as in "Hakomi" style of) counseling and bodywork, including as assessing an individual for the most efficient means of addressing connective tissue injury, short and long term, and the most efficient application of the results of that assessment (on physical and/or emotional levels); 2) in The Basic How's And Why's Of Psycho-Emotional Storage In The Body-Mind, and in the related fascia memory storage dynamics - referring to the technical aspects of neuro-physical interface between connective tissue, emotion, and the brain); 3) "Chalice-Bridging" style chakra balancing - based in the perspective that the chalice, far more than just a cup in this interpretation, is about the human embodiment of Spirit into the three "lower bodies" (mental, emotional, and physical) which compose the "Body-Mind". Which is also a "cauldron" for the balancing and integrating of Humanity with the Divine - individually and communally. My training includes over 1370 hours of classes and practicum, including with the New Mexico Academy of Massage and Advanced Healing Arts in Santa Fe, NM (1984-85), and with various accredited bodywork and therapy workshops (`86-present), as well as 100 hours training with the Alchemical Hypnotherapy Institute (1989), over 100+ hrs apprenticeship with healing practitioner Robert "Mitra" (`85-`86), and 150 hours apprenticeship with Silena Heron in Herbal Studies (`83-`84). For the detailed version my training, you may go to the latter half of my Reiki Therapy Practice Brochure. Which also includes (and relates context for) links to essays elaborating on aspects of imbalance and injury, assessment, and healing. ________________________________ Some Body-Mind Quotes From Chris BODY-MIND AWARENESS, at the core of preventive health awareness, is one of the most simple, efficacious, & cost-effective forms of HEALTH INSURANCE there can be. Hence, massage is far from just "a luxury item," and bodywork therapies can be indispensable for the healing of certain conditions. MUSCLES RELATE TO ATTACHMENTS - to what we use to take our stance, to hold our place, to perceive and respond to our environment, and to extend who we are and/or want to be. Or used to be (in too many cases, perhaps). That speaks not only to the body's condition and function, but to how it communicates awareness of where one is along one's path (of becoming who one truly is). THE BODY IS . . . among other amazing things, a unique communications system --intimately linked with one's TOTALITY. Establishing rapport with one's body can be a PATH to self realization. ONE OF MY DREAMS is a society where/in all children are taught how to feel/see/read their own body-mind communications such that preventive health maintenance eventually becomes second nature. And actually, for the most part, they would be encouraged to re-awaken and build upon what I believe to be a NATURAL INCLINATION - conscious self-healing and continuous expansion of awareness.