What is this thing Mano does in nature?

I will let my teacher Jamie Mchugh describe it, since he has been on the somatic journey for 30 years, discovering, integrating and teaching what he knows from his own body.  For more info about Jamie and what he teaches you can visit his web sight HERE

“Somatics" (from the Greek, soma, body) is an approach to the human body that emphasizes the interrelatedness of your body, mind and spirit. You focus on your body from the inside out, giving attention to your inner experience of sensation, emotion and thinking. You combine this inner awareness with functional knowledge of the body and universal principles of human movement. Somatics is a path for becoming more awake to your life through conscious awareness and mindful action of your body. This differentiates Somatics from other body disciplines, like dance or fitness training, that focus more on a performance outcome or a particular look.

Somatics is the art and craft of conscious relationship with your own body."

"We are nature. Our bodies are a microcosm of the outer landscape. Leaving the modern world temporarily behind, we take the time to encounter the living dreamscape of our bodies and the natural environment in order to renew and regenerate. Each day begins somatically, exploring your inner landscape with breath, vocalization, contact, movement and stillness. Then, we venture out into the landscape, using the somatic tools as springboards for opening up your sensory mind, interacting with your surroundings, and allowing spontaneous expression to emerge. These embodied interactions with the environment are a moving meditation for becoming more present to both life within and without."

Sea Ranch Day 4

Home Base is Here

Touching self and breathing

Less throwing self out to seek

Now there is more of an anchor inside

When I do seek other, a part of me stayed

Here

Mano Stay Here

Overwhelmed with my capacity to receive other at great distance

From across the beach

I receive cave man,

legs and pelvis respond with O

mouth opens and closes in strange shapes silently yet dramatic

All at once through out day,

Moments of becoming unexpected elements.

Was filled with a sense of oneness with all place,

Arms becoming seaweed, torso waves, laughter their eyes

And in the center rests I as all

Sea lion calling out to all those selves that belong close to me

“Time to come home!”

Seaweed woman’s hair washes away all sorrows endlessly

Watch out; don’t get swept away into the sea!

Sea Ranch Day 2 Sun Set

Bouncing on succulents like a faun. 

On the hillside I enter into the environment with willing playfulness.

The call of the cormorant sparked curiosity in my own breath

Whistle as I exhale with a jerk up of the sternum.

Once I started, didn’t want to stop, joy lived there.

Bobbing like a seal came naturally after that, toes pushing in earth to raise sternum and head higher out of the ocean waters that filled my imagination.

All become so real.

Opening to undulating ocean movements loosened spine and all a sudden the joker manifested with wiggles and waggles as if my bones were made of rubber.

Jamie and Kate stood at a distance between the setting sun and myself; the front of their bodies open like flowers bathing in light, receiving and giving becoming one.

I know I have been avoiding facing that ball of light, I know there is a story projected there.

With caution I mimic my teacher and friend, willing to witness what rises, tired from avoiding.

Sternum that felt so open and buoyant tightens like a fist, pulling jaw into clench with it.  Body folds into itself till I become a ball on the ground. 

But I want to see.  Rise up again and look!

Standing tall and open memories can’t help but to flood in filling chest with pain and rage. 

“I don’t want you here!”  I yell inside, outside now gone, descending into darkness.

“You have stolen my sun!  It’s not yours to have!

Take your white sari off her!  I don’t want to see you there anymore!

Where am I in all this?  What have you done to me?  Give me back!”

Of course under the rage is something even harder to feel, don’t want to feel it again; afraid if I allow that feeling She will steal me away again.

“You can’t have me anymore! 

It was so easy to belong to you; I used to rest in the safety of the soft folds of your skirt.  You don’t understand; you made it impossible for me to open again.  That was my bliss; my openness, you took it as yours!  How can I ever open this cavity again?

Everything that is essential and dear to me I found with you; I thought was you!  And you let me believe it!  And in that way, stole what is mine! 

I know I gave it to you willingly, but I was like a child offering to my mother, you should have known better.  Why didn’t you say,

‘This is yours to keep and honor, I am just a mirror to all that you are.’”

“Guru be gone, pure Sun rise before me!”

Sea Ranch Day 2

Waves in and out, in and out

up and down merry go round

Felt so good

Push -->

Release again

dig dig dig dig dig

Wood in mouth

Shake it, bight it, throw it

Watch it

Spiral in and out

Pick it up again

Breath

Sigh

Don’t want to eat this pie

Here we go again

Must get this done

Touch this one and that one

No, Wait

Rest in the shade

-       Rest -

….. rest….

maybe more contact?

Witness and wait for right touch

Breath

Receive you exploring me like you did with the rocks

I thought I was exploring you

But you found me

She cried, I stayed

Up and down, in and out, round and round

Watching wood

On oceans merry go round