Discussion on Opening, "Body Armor" etc

[Sloppy Zhang]

I'm with you on this, Zhang. I used to have a great deal of resistance being "seen" when I was vulnerable, like in practice. And so that became a practice, within itself.

 

As I practiced in public, I started observing the dynamics that others' (apparently watchful) presence created in my mind. I realized that "other people watching" was just a story that would come up in my head. When I examined the evidence, all I could see was other people standing and facing in my direction, but my head's story would include what they thought, how I appeared to them, etc.

 

Eventually I realized that I could turn off the "other people watching" alarm and stories, at will. The alarms come back, of course, but they help me see that what I feared was not actually "other people watching", but rather the self-judge, inside my head. I.E. when I noticed others watching, I would project my wishes and fears, through them, back on my self. Every story that I told myself was about them, was really about how I wanted to appear, or was afraid I appeared.

 

Interesting stuff, and things I'm struggling to work out right now- what is real, what is just my perception, what is just my assumption? What am I projecting onto others? Etc.

 

Over time, I've pushed that practice, to include facing other self-consciousness alarms. A buddy and I started making "dare videos" for youtube, in which we would do things in public, that scared the crap out of us. The very things that made me self-conscious became the fodder for creation, and adventure. One of those videos is below, of me cross-dressing as a prostitute, and going walking on Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive; a big day, and an important step in facing my fear.

 

See I used to do stuff like that (not to your extent! hats off to you), you know, crazy stuff. Thinking, "I don't care what other people think" and "I'm just going to do my own thing". But then one day I was walking down the sidewalk, and I thought to myself, "what if I did something crazy right now?" And I realized I really didn't want to. Prior to that time, each time I did something, there were always people around me- talking with me, laughing at/with me, egging me on, things like that. Basically, it was validation- no matter how crazy I seemed, there was always at least one person who was around me. So, you know, as crazy as I was, I must have been normal, right?

 

But when I thought about what it'd be like if it was just me, no accomplice, no camera man.... I dunno, it just seemed very different......

 

 

And to the sexy saxman- AWESOME!

 

But I must admit, when I heard sexy saxman, I thought of this guy:

 

[Spectrum]

Hi Spectrum. Do you mean, a sexual/sensual partner?

 

Yes All Three

[寒月 Hanyue]

Again, excellent book recommendation Snowmonki!

 

Thank you very much!

 

You're welcome. When you read something what you get from it is very dependent on where you are at the time, so recommendations can be hard. You can't expect someone else will benefit, at least not in the same way.

 

I'm about halfway through it. Most of the stuff seems familiar to me from KAP or other qi-gong and just personal experience and practice and of course TTB's.

Also things in there that make sense of some weird old sayings.

 

I don't recommend it for the exercises (though I do like them), it is more the way she writes and explains the 'how' and the 'why' rather than simply the 'what', which can be found elsewhere. She writes from the approach of an understanding of and appreciation of energy and energetic relationship, not in teaching 'gongs and I found this useful. Like learning about the heart of art rather than having someone say "now this is how you paint in watercolour". Given her Tibetan teachers I am not surprised you find a familiarity to KAP.

 

However, gotta watch out for the (my) tendency to want validation in the first place so I'd be curious if other folks have read it and could do a proper critical takedown of what the author is on about.

 

You've lost me there Is the recommendation of Paul Ekman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ekman which I posted not enough? (There is more about Julie's working with Paul towards the end of the book.)

 

Hope you enjoy the rest of the book, as a supplementary book to get more out of a tradition it is one of the better books on energy I've seen.

 

Best,

[寒月 Hanyue]

Hi Kate. What's the title that you're reading? Or URL?

 

I visited her webpage and liked what I read.

 

The Lover Within. I got it on Amazon.

Don't be put off by the hokey title and purple/pink cover.

It's very "technically" sound IMO.

 

If you read the book the title makes sense and not in the way it first appears. But it is certainly not a book I'd read at work

 

RV, I was actually going to recommend this to you when we were talking. I don't think the exercises themselves are so relevant for you, certainly not with how you've been getting on with SM neigong. I did feel you may like the understanding and approach of the book in its description and discussion of energy, energetic relationship, and boundaries etc.

 

I think you'll like appendix B

 

Best,

[寒月 Hanyue]

I got the book too and am about half way through, I agree with what you say about the title, if it wasn't for what people said on here I don't think I would ever have even considered it, but it is a pity that it has been presented this way because it has some great information for working with energetic boundaries. There are many people I know who could really benefit from the information in this book especially those who are oversensitive or have inappropriate boundaries around people who take on other peoples feelings as their own. I'll have to wait and see if the exercises make a difference long term but it feels like an important area to work with.

 

Glad to hear you like it as well.

 

If someone hadn't pointed it out to me with a hearty recommendation then I would never have got it, or even realised it existed. This is why, when I think it will be well received and not simply sniffed at, I pass on that recommendation.

 

I agree %100 the actual information in the book is not well represented by the cover and the title, because of the impressions it creates. Which is simply that it appears to be just one of thousands of newage energy/sex books. Though as I posted above, if you read the whole book the title takes on quite a different meaning and actually makes much more sense.

 

Primarily in what the author is actually referring to as 'the lover within'.

 

It's just a hidden in plain sight thing.

 

I simply suggest that if you find it worthwhile and valuable pass on the recommendation and help people look past the prejudices the cover and title can evoke.

 

I also think it is worth pointing out that this book was originally written in 1986 and although it has been revised the author actually states that it is not the book she would write today if she was to write it. I think checking out where she is now is also worth it to help put the book in perspective.

 

Best,

[Birch]

You're welcome. When you read something what you get from it is very dependent on where you are at the time, so recommendations can be hard. You can't expect someone else will benefit, at least not in the same way.

 

 

 

I don't recommend it for the exercises (though I do like them), it is more the way she writes and explains the 'how' and the 'why' rather than simply the 'what', which can be found elsewhere. She writes from the approach of an understanding of and appreciation of energy and energetic relationship, not in teaching 'gongs and I found this useful. Like learning about the heart of art rather than having someone say "now this is how you paint in watercolour". Given her Tibetan teachers I am not surprised you find a familiarity to KAP.

 

 

 

You've lost me there Is the recommendation of Paul Ekman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ekman which I posted not enough? (There is more about Julie's working with Paul towards the end of the book.)

 

Hope you enjoy the rest of the book, as a supplementary book to get more out of a tradition it is one of the better books on energy I've seen.

 

Best,

 

Thanks again

 

Yes, whenever you read anything, you bring exactly...well I don't know what % of "yourself" to the text (a point that TTBs keep making on TTBs but it still doesn't seem as obvious as it is :-))

 

Why don't you recommend the exercises? The later ones about spontaneously letting things are very good :-)

 

Fun thing about (some) gongs is they sort of "teach themselves" in other words, you find out what they do (and much more :-)) by doing them :-) But I did very much enjoy the voice she gave to it (and did I mention I have often needed reassurance that I was not a basket-case about such things well I have to say that I'm not feeling quite as "basket-y-casey" post-reading this one )

 

When I referred to critical takedown, I meant it's not enough to have an academic specialist validate (too easy :-)) what I'd like is to get input from people who practice and are advanced enough in their practice to be able to see "behind" the technique. I don't think this takes away from the art or the beauty or the what's really going on but it might help some people approach it with less of the "woo-woo" - However, rest assured, there's enough "woo-woo" in there still :-)

 

Fun "nugget" (pun not intended ) about Kalahari bushmen muscle-control

[寒月 Hanyue]

Thanks again

 

Why don't you recommend the exercises? [/Quote]

 

Sorry, I've confused you. That's not what I meant. What I tried to say, was that they are not WHY I recommend the book, not that I don't recommend them. I actually prefer her versions of several types of exercise.

 

Best,

[Otis]

Interesting stuff, and things I'm struggling to work out right now- what is real, what is just my perception, what is just my assumption? What am I projecting onto others? Etc.

Yeah, it's not an easy line to draw. My policy now is to doubt any interior story which involves the contents of others' heads. I don't take hints too well, these days, because I'm determined to do as little projecting, as possible. I ask people to spell things out for me.

 

See I used to do stuff like that (not to your extent! hats off to you), you know, crazy stuff. Thinking, "I don't care what other people think" and "I'm just going to do my own thing".

Of course, the reason why I'm doing it is not because I don't care what others think. It is precisely because I do care. That's what makes it necessary. If it was easy, I wouldn't get that much from it.

 

But when I thought about what it'd be like if it was just me, no accomplice, no camera man.... I dunno, it just seemed very different......

Yeah, when I started exploring playing in public, I started on my own, dancing all over stuff all over L.A., with my camera on a tripod. I tried to get friends to venture into the social experiment side of things, but most were too shy to try it. Thankfully, I found a collaborator (now my roommate), who was a great cameraman and also a great improv performer. So we've done a whole bunch of videos together, usually interacting with the public in some outlandish way.

[Spectrum]

That sounds awesome! we see it?

[Otis]

That sounds awesome! we see it?

I don't know if this is addressed to me, but if so, you can see our vids at:

youtube.com/inspiredmayhem

[Birch]

Ok, I gave the book away already

 

I'll go get another one :-)

[Seth Ananda]

Ok, I gave the book away already

 

I'll go get another one :-)

Hi Kate

I have been meaning to read that book at some time. What are you getting out of it? It sounds like you like it.

 

Somatics seems to have some strong similarities to aspects of Tantra, so once I have finished my counselling course I would like to do some study with them...

Edited March 16, 2011 by Seth Ananda

[Birch]

[admin]

*bump*

 

i've finally picked up "the lover within" and working thru it. fantastic little book.

 

now i'm sure i'll pick up some of her other resources after i'm finished reading: zapchen somatics.

 

sean

[寒月 Hanyue]

*bump*

 

i've finally picked up "the lover within" and working thru it. fantastic little book.

 

now i'm sure i'll pick up some of her other resources after i'm finished reading: zapchen somatics.

 

sean

 

 

I still return to it and find it helpful, because its simply about relationhip to your energy body, and energetic relationship to others, the exercises support the view of energy and relationship provided, and so it doesn't matter what cultivation you are doing. I like that about it. And its playful and not preachy

 

Please come back on the Bums and review any other Zapchen material you find helpful.

 

All the best,

[Informer]

I don't know if this is addressed to me, but if so, you can see our vids at:

youtube.com/inspiredmayhem

 

Haha! Those are great! You guys have so much obv fun is obv.

Edited June 23, 2012 by Informer

[sean]

Yo! sean.e.sean, muchos gracias for the share. I just did some spontaneous somatic movements this morning. Sooooo good. Felt like a kid.

 

Hope u r well. _/\_

con mucho gusto, chica bella.

 

I still return to it and find it helpful, because its simply about relationhip to your energy body, and energetic relationship to others, the exercises support the view of energy and relationship provided, and so it doesn't matter what cultivation you are doing. I like that about it. And its playful and not preachy

 

at this point it feels almost as though all of the nei/qigong i've learned has been like applying formulas in calculus, and now i am finally being introduced to arithmetic.

 

Please come back on the Bums and review any other Zapchen material you find helpful.

will do.

 

sean

[寒月 Hanyue]

con mucho gusto, chica bella.

 

at this point it feels almost as though all of the nei/qigong i've learned has been like applying formulas in calculus, and now i am finally being introduced to arithmetic.

 

will do.

 

sean

 

 

Look forward to it,

 

All the best

[liminal_luke]

bump....

 

Sean, others....anybody gotten Julie Henderson's book Embodying Well-being or The Hum Book? I'm thinking about getting them and wondering about other peoples experiences. Thanks!

[Alchemistgeorge]

<snip> Read an interview of a practitioner teaching zapchen somatics in the East Bay that renewed my interest.

 

If it is handy, could you post a link to that interview? I'm in the east bay .....

[skydog]

ah fuck...

 

I feel like Kate in this thread..

 

Especially as a male, being sensitive in western culture is not always (seemingly) so cool, I really hate/cannot deal with work, really feel others negative energy, and feel validated by this thread haha

 

Will check out this book

 

Thanks friends

Edited October 4, 2012 by sinansencer