• Read time 5-6 minutes

• Musings on the Spine's role in physical and energetic health

• Ancient Wisdom and modern science of spinal function

• Upcoming lecture at Pilgrim's Way Bookstore in Carmel
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Dear Friends,

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Imagine shrinking down to the size of a cell, embarking on a fantastic voyage through the rivers of your own bloodstream. Picture a world where emotions manifest as swirling mists and thunderous storms within your body's landscape. These aren't just flights of fancy—they're powerful images that have captivated our imaginations for generations, from Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time" to films like "Osmosis Jones."

But what if I told you that the fantastical realms depicted in these stories aren't so far removed from reality? What if the key to unlocking this inner world lies in something as familiar yet mysterious as your own spine?

The spine has long been symbolized as a tree of life in various traditions, and it's easy to see why. This central column not only supports our physical form but also serves as a conduit for the flow of energy and consciousness. Like a tree with deep roots and reaching branches, our spine connects us to the earth beneath our feet and the sky above our heads, embodying the link between our physical and spiritual selves.

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The Wisdom of the Body

Our bodies are marvels of engineering, and nowhere is this more evident than in the intricate design of our spine and nervous system. Each vertebra is like a building block, carefully stacked and cushioned, allowing for both stability and flexibility. But within this bony fortress lies an even greater wonder: the spinal cord, the central highway of our nervous system.

Think of your spine as a bustling metropolis, with the spinal cord as its main thoroughfare. From this central column, a vast network of nerves branches out, extending to every corner of your body. These nerves are like the city's communication lines, carrying messages to and from the brain, coordinating every movement, sensation, and function of your being.

This intricate network forms what we might call a "web of awareness" throughout your body. Every touch, temperature change, or movement is detected by nerve endings in your skin and muscles, then relayed back through this network to your spinal cord and up to your brain. For example, when you touch a hot surface, this network allows you to react and pull away almost instantly, often before you're even consciously aware of the heat.

But our spine's thoroughfare isn't just a uniform highway. Along its length are specific locations of particular significance - energetic hubs that have been recognized in various traditions for thousands of years. These are the chakras, as well-known in energetic practices as the books of the Iliad and the Odyssey are in literature. Each chakra, from the root at the base of the spine to the crown at the top of the head, serves as a unique junction point, processing and distributing energy in its own distinct way.

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The Serpentine Fire Within

Now, imagine a serpent of fire, coiled at the base of your spine, waiting to awaken and surge upward through these chakra points, illuminating your entire being. This isn't just a vivid image from an album cover or a fantasy novel—it's an ancient concept that has captivated mystics and movement practitioners for millennia. In Kundalini yoga, they call this energy the "Serpent Power," a force of transformation and enlightenment.

Even if you're not into esoteric practices, there's something undeniably powerful about imagining your spine as a conduit for this serpentine fire, a channel for vitality and awareness. This image of awakening energy aligns beautifully with our modern understanding of the spine's role in our overall health and well-being.

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Bridging Ancient Wisdom and Modern Practice

Consider the story of Juliu Horvath, the creator of the Gyrotonic system. Before developing this method, Juliu experienced a series of Kundalini awakenings—powerful surges of energy moving up his spine, often associated with profound spiritual experiences.

However, his goal in creating the Gyrotonic system wasn't to induce these awakenings. Instead, Juliu designed it to ensure that if someone did experience such an energetic surge, their body would be capable of handling it in a grounded, integrated manner. It's a beautiful example of bridging the mystical and the practical, preparing the physical vessel for potential spiritual experiences.

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Grounding the Spiritual in Science

This approach of grounding spiritual experiences in physical reality aligns perfectly with the evolution of our scientific understanding. As our knowledge of physiology, anatomy, and neuromuscular connections advances, we're able to root what were once considered purely mystical or spiritual experiences in grounded reality.

The difference between spirituality and religion is that religion requires you to have faith, to believe what you are told without proof. Often we are met with the same expectation of "faith" when we engage in a spiritual or energetic discipline linked with a movement practice. But when we understand how the spine, the nervous system, and areas such as the "gut brain" (enteric nervous system), the vagus nerve, and the adrenal glands are activated in movement practices, these previously mystical energetic releases or emotional shifts become accessible in a whole new way.

For instance, practices like deep breathing exercises can stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain stem through the spine, potentially triggering a relaxation response in the body. This scientific understanding doesn't diminish the power of these practices; rather, it helps us integrate them more organically into our daily lives. Effectively harmonizing our meta and physical.

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Unlock the Mysteries of Your Spine: Join me this Thursday

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Ready to dive deeper into the fascinating world of your spine? Join me for an enlightening lecture where we examine the spine from the perspective of body, mind and soul.

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Date: Thursday, September 26

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Location: Pilgrim's Way Bookstore in Carmel, CA

Duration: 60-minute lecture followed by a 30-minute Q&A session

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In this engaging session, you'll learn:

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• Practical Anatomy : understanding how issues like sciatica and slipped discs can be prevented and controlled with simple exercises and why they work.
• Understand how your spine supports the neuromuscular connections throughout your body, and learn nerve glides that can reduce pain and improve mobility far beyond the reach of the spinal cord itself.
• How energetic practices s work with the spinal cord to shift your energy and emotional state, and how to apply these techniques on a daily basis, whenever you need a “change of state”

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Don't miss this opportunity to gain practical tools and deep insights that will enhance your daily life and overall well-being.

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Local to Carmel ? Click the button below to secure your spot for this intimate, in-person experience.

Can't attend in person? Click here to be notified when the recording becomes available for purchase.

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As we explore the multifaceted nature of our spine – from its role in our nervous system to its spiritual symbolism – we begin to understand why it truly is the core of our being. By caring for our spine, we're not just preventing back pain; we're nurturing the very essence of our physical and energetic selves.

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Until we meet, may your inner world be rich with discovery, your energy flow freely, and your spirit soar through the cosmos of your own being.

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With warmth and wonder,

Domini Anne

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