North American cicadas spend 17 years underground, as “nymphs”. Cicadas have evolved organs enabling them to dig up to the surface. Once above ground, they emerge from their exoskeletons with beautiful wings and soon begin singing their melodious, loud songs.
Read MoreA powerful song written by Silvio Rodríguez, widely considered Cuba’s best folk singer-songwriter, leader of the Nueva Trova movement for equal justice in Cuba.
Read MoreDuring lockdown, the reassurance of touch with and for animals brought me, and I think many others, hope and a heightened connection to all living things…
Read MoreScreaming, especially with joy, in this temple, on this planetary playground, makes perfect sense!
Read MoreWe can all think back and recall moments in our lives that have had enduring influence in our whole lives. These moments act as magical “fulcrums” which live within our conscious and unconscious forever.
Read MoreFrom 1970 through 1977, the Whole Earth Center in Evanston, Illinois was in many ways a life center for me and many others…
Read MoreFrom the nerve cell, to turbulent particles, to self-growth, to evolution itself, saltation represents a kind of saving grace enabling the transmission of change over chasms in time and space as we move through natural, historical and individual life.
Read More“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words…”
Emily Dickinson
Underneath our skin are second “skins”, deeper layers of body and mind. Underneath the surface of our consciousness there is the subconscious mind. Underneath the first layer of feelings and sensations, live deeper emotions and sensations.
Read MoreWhat really is a nerve? We know its basic anatomy and physiology, but how can we see it in a broader context, transmitting information and energy not only within but also between us?
Read More“Being human means throwing your whole life on the scales of destiny when need be, all the while rejoicing in every sunny day and every beautiful cloud.”
― Rosa Luxemburg
I have no doubt that virtually everyone now is more or less in a state of confusion re our culture and politics. We are in a more chaotic field nationally, worldwide, and often individually as well. The good news is that being reduced to a kind of zero state is the precondition for transformation.
Read MoreTo be truly sincere, in whatever we are doing, we need these capacities – to slow down, to pay attention, and the willingness to see the many sides of anything important – like the many facets of a gem. To be good therapists we need to practice that kind of sincerity.
Read MoreWhen you lay your hand on a body, please don’t think you know it already and just get to work doing massage. This person is like a whole new planet you are landing on…
Read MoreNew thoughts about boats and bones came to me recently, especially through the name and shape of the navicular bone in the foot…
Read MoreNavajo blankets often have a faint imperfection designed to let the creation breathe - a thin line that originates from the center and extends all the way to the edge, sometimes with a single thread dangling from its border; tellingly, the Navajos call this intentional flaw the “spirit outlet”.
Read MoreThe two most important books of poetry for me as a young man were my introductions to non-North American writers - particularly the poetry of César Vallejo…
Read MoreJoin, if you like, in a 6-week book club exploring “Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve.”
Read MoreThe spider “tunes” its web. Could we tune our clients through their connective tissues? And how does this relate both to music and to medicine?
Read MoreThe recordings linked below are just favorites of mine. I thought I’d share them with you. Some are just one song, others whole albums.
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