Although I have branched out considerably over time in my practice and studies, I want to share a little bit about the primary model I have studied and trained in and what first captured my enthusiasm for working in this way with people. This has led to a profound respect and practice of deep listening to my body and inner-self, others in my work and friendships, and nature.

Jung conceived the term Collective Unconscious which he may also have derived from extensive studies of various traditional animist cultures with a similar understanding of universal consciousness which all beings have connection with.

Stemming from Jungian roots, Process Work was born from Arnold Mindell's work with people dying. Through exploring and amplifying people’s body symptoms nearing death Mindell witnessed people not only spontaneously remembered big dreams from over their lifetime but also were able to understand them as if they were inside them. 

When supported at this ultimate time in their life to more fully enter in to the actual sensory experiences they were having (versus their own conditioned interpretations of it) people were organically discovering and embodying the deep essence and flow of their mythical selves giving them profound awakenings to their deep inner nature, and with this a sense of meaning and connection at a soul level.

As a result Mindell extended Jung's concept of the Collective Unconscious and developed the term Dreambody signifying our bodies raw sensory experiences, as well as our dreams, are also powerful doorways to our unconscious and finding meaning and connection to our deeper selves. Mindell’s work in the 1960’s was pioneering in demonstrating our minds' integral connection with our bodies.

Developments in neuroscience and trauma work has led to the understanding that the mind is both embodied and embedded (Dan Siegel ‘Pocket Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology: An Integrative Handbook of the Mind, 2012):

Embodied - Just as our nervous system is distributed intricately through our whole bodies, our mind and our memories or ‘felt experiences’ are stored in the tissues of our bodies - our issues are in our tissues so to say!

Embedded - Our minds are not confined to our bodies. We all experience our minds and feelings profoundly altered when we sense someone has entered the space where we were previously alone, and vice versa. Evolving as social/group animals we are deeply attuned to the various states of excitement and relaxation of others. This has been core to our survival and ‘thrival’ as a species. It is what creates a sense of atmosphere in groups and makes anxiety contagious or contrastingly calm if there are people present who can simultaneously demonstrate an awareness and understanding of pending threats but also capacity to tolerate and deal with them - experts or elders. 

As individual and separate as our modern culture pushes us to be, we are deeply wired to be referent and responsive more as a group or collective. Isolation is harmful to us and yet, through our social structures, we are losing the skills to ‘get along’ and create belonging. We are being pressed into a bind solvable either by: death; endless distraction; or being forced through to make deeper connections with ourselves, others and place.

Listening to my body and how better I feel when connected to those close and important to me and my environment gives me a glimpse into the wisdom we can draw from older cultures.

A deeper and more sophisticated understanding has developed over the years of people from First Nations relationship, knowledge, and connection to land. I can imagine a deep inseparable bond and attunement to country and awareness of subtle changes in any one moment created this interwoven, dynamic, and alive connection. Like ‘Bush Radio’ I’m guessing, except sophisticated and complicated like Beethoven and happening on multiple frequencies or senses.