Craniosacral biodynamic therapy is to a large degree perceptual in nature. The practitioner settles into a deeply relaxed state with an orientation to "listening".  In a heightened state of awareness it becomes possible to observe very subtle life forces that are constantly in motion throughout the body. These motions are expressed as patterns, rhythms and fluctuations which maintain health and vitality. It is organized by a primal evolutionary intelligence millions of years old and is called the “Breath of Life” in craniosacral biodynamics as it "breathes" motion into every cell of the body.

This innate intelligence is accessed and facilitated by the well trained practitioner who is able to remain present to the creative intention behind these life sustaining forces. The skilled practitioner provides a centered and stable fulcrum of perceptual awareness that the breath of life then uses to process unresolved issues and conditions. In the processing of “inertia” or cysts of blocked energy are released to reorganize into more efficient patterns.

The term "Primary Respiration" is used to describe the expression of a natural inhalation/exhalation movement in the body. This movement of rhythmic motion is called “motility” and can be palpated or felt by the hands of a sensitive practitioner. Motility is a tide like phenomenon with a welling up and then receding quality similar to that of the ocean tides. It is a “longitudinal fluctuation” that manifests on inhalation as a widening and shortening of the body and head. The inhalation phase terminates with the head subtlety rolling forward during flexion. On exhalation the reverse happens with the head and body lengthening and narrowing along the midline axis as it recedes on extension.

The motion of the primary respiratory system is perceived to arise from the cerebral spinal fluid that is produced within the ventricles of the brain. The motility of the primary respiratory system circulates cerebral spinal fluid up and down the brain and spinal cord to bathe and nourish the entire central nervous system (CNS). The dura tissue that forms the reciprocal tension membrane that envelopes the CNS and supports the interior structures of the brain itself, also expresses this rhythmic motion. The individual bones of the skull articulate at the sutures to allow micro movements that accommodate this subtle motion of the primary respiratory as does the sacrum within the pelvis bones.

The expression of the tides is a cyclical phenomenon of inhalation/exhalation phases. It is perceived to function at different rates depending on the state of mind of an individual. Initially, early into the session the client will typically express a faster more chaotic rhythm. Usually after some 10-15 minutes the system will slow down and settle into what is known as the “holistic shift”. This is a settling and deepening from the superficial and fragmented condition into a more relaxed, calm and integrated state. At this point a slower rhythm known as the “mid tide” will begin to express itself. Usually after some processing of inertial patterns a “neutral” or “stillpoint” may manifest as a shift into deeper levels of stillness takes place. There is another even slower third rate of primary respiration that may arise which is known as the “long tide”. The long tide is a deeply organizing and integrative healing cycle. One could say that it feels to be in a state of grace while experiencing the vast spaciousness of this slower and very tranquil rhythm.

Within the fluctuations of primary respiration stillpoints can occur at different levels or depths depending on the needs of the system. These are differentiated by their qualitative nature in relation to the healing intentions of the “Breath of Life”. Stillpoints are natural states and may be experienced by an individual spontaneously without effort anywhere and at any time. They may last from a single moment to several minutes in duration. This is a primary function of health whereby the system accesses stillness in a process of revitalization. A depleted, congested or traumatized system may lose the capacity to enter into stillness easily. During the session the practitioner can facilitate stillpoints to access life energy or “potency” in the optimization of healthy function.

Beyond the depths of a stillpoint and the expression of the various cycles and tempos of primary respiration resides a profound state of “Dynamic Stillness”. This stillness is not in relation to the physical manifestation of form or any particular healing intentions. It is in actuality the unity of source from which the Breath of life emerges into the polarities of physical form. In this realm there is no subject-object relationship. Consciousness becomes profoundly still, deep and wide. Perceiver and perceived are united in a state of pure perception. There is a spiritual resonance in which fragmented time bound conditions are transcended. In this state, even when facing dire circumstances of impending death the realization that life and death are polarities of expression within a greater whole bring with it serenity, acceptance and trust. The deepest most profound healing that can happen to a person is spiritual in nature. It is the dissolution of fragmentation into a state of universal wholeness.

It is helpful to understand a few more aspects of the biodynamic principals. After conception in the very early stages of human embryonic development the “midline” begins to form. This midline serves as an orientation for the physical structures of the body to develop around. The biodynamic forces at work in embryonic development continue as creative life sustaining impulses throughout the lifetime. From the embryo thru fetus, infancy, childhood, adult and stages of old age biodynamic forces are creatively manifesting to sustain life. The midline serves an orientation and connection to the original stillness from which the Breath of Life springs. The inhalation/exhalation cycles of the primary respiration system are the ongoing recapitulations of these embryological forces.

The motion of the primary respiratory system with its "potency" or vitality, expresses its longitudinal fluctuation along this midline. It is an organizing force within the fluid, cellular, tissue, membrane and bony structures of the bio-organism. In the course of life, various genetic, pathogenic and traumatic experiences such as the birth process or accidents etc. and our personal history of suffering in its many forms influence the expression of vitality.  These external factors or “biokinetic forces” that are not completely processed, and thus held, are contained by the biodynamic potency to minimize the impact of disturbance on the system. When biodynamic potency centers the biokinetic forces it creates what is known as an “inertial fulcrum”. The inertial fulcrum centers and maintains order within the system despite the disturbance. If accumulated disturbances are left unattended they will eventually overwhelm the system and can seriously inhibit coherent function. The primary respiratory system will be directly affected and the potential for the full expression of health and vitality is thereby limited.

An inertial fulcrum is a held pattern of energy that is organized around a center of biodynamic potency. The engaged potency is focused and centered as a kernel of “health” which manifests as a stillpoint at the heart of the disturbance. The pattern is slowed down and then for a period of time held in a “state of balance” to manifest as a systemic psycho/physiological stillness. Something very interesting can happen in this dynamically poised state of balanced tension. The amplitude of potency centering the disturbance shifts into a deeper realm of stillness. This “threading of the needle” is a precision process of micro proportions that releases or liberates the centering potency at the heart of the inertial fulcrum and the biokinetic forces it contains are released to be discharged.

Thereafter a reorganization or augmentation process spontaneously occurs in which a new more efficient order comes into being. The disturbance has cleared and potency is again made available to flow with the longitudinal midline fluctuation of primary respiration as a free expression of health and vitality. The “Inherent Treatment Plan” or sequence of therapeutic processes is a natural outcome of intelligence operating within the liberated potency to resolves inertial patterns. In this way it is clearly understood that the solution to an issue will to be found at the very heart of problem itself. The innate intelligence manifesting as potency disengages from the biokinetic forces to resolve whatever it is holding according to its own directives.

The practitioner’s role is to provide a stable position of support which helps to deepen the resources of the client. This effectively re-orients the clients system to its own innate healing powers. The priorities of the inherent treatment plan come to the forefront as a specific sequence of healing dynamics. The practitioner does not involve himself with any gross manipulations in an attempt to “correct” and thus force change onto the client. If such external forces are induced by the practitioner the subtle patterns perceived will be the provoked defenses of the system itself in response to unwarranted probes. In this case the therapeutic process is lost and the practitioner simply ends up “chasing shadows” as a result of his own interference.

The intelligence of the breath of life expresses its healing dynamics in a therapeutic setting only when it is safe. Physical contact is subtlety negotiated in response to the qualitative changes the client undergoes while shifting thru different states of consciousness. The focus of attention and the intent of the practitioner must be accurately modulated. If either of these is too strong then even a very light touch is felt by the client to be invasive. The nature of therapeutic contact is adequately supportive and yet spacious. This spaciousness must be in accord with the appropriate boundaries as expressed by the needs of the system itself.

It is very important for the practitioner to have the capacity to differentiate the quality of a condition, expression or state intuitive awareness rather than to project the habitual need for a mental interpretation motivated by intellectual compulsion. The faulty approach of applying thought to draw conclusions is similar to trying to remember a dream, the harder one tries the further it disappears. If one is to recall the dream at all it is with a relaxed spacious attention and only then it comes. Similarly any attempts by the practitioner for comprehension of these subtle energies with crude mental thought processes simply ensures that the perception of such completely escapes him. The Breath of Life phenomenon is absolutely alive and creative in each and every moment. It is continuously in an adaptive state that responds effectively to evade efforts by the practitioner if he attempts to interfere and meddle with its process.

To maintain clarity in this brief introduction to the basic principles of craniosacral biodynamic therapy it has been necessary to organize the information into a very simple, concise and linear format. The reality is much more complex, as primary respiration “cycles”, “inertial patterns”, the various “stillpoints”, “states of balance” and “Dynamic stillness” are not always clearly expressed or easily perceived and are often layered and thus can be misinterpreted. The practitioner is best advised to, at the most simply observe what is happening and to allow the intelligence of an intuitive knowing to operate unimpeded by mundane thought processes. It is critical to leave any sort of analysis behind and create the space for a discerning awareness to develop which can make distinctions that are more inclined to simple recognition based on practical and informed experience. In “light” of an clean external source of perceptual awareness which effectively act as a mirror, the innate primordial intelligence of the client uses this reflection to mysteriously initiate the execution of powerful healing adaptations within the compensations held.  This self correcting response optimizes psycho-biological homeostasis for the “health” of the patient at all levels

The nature of craniosacral biodynamic practice is oriented towards supporting health and wholeness. It is not so much about the storied details of problems and symptoms manifesting out of illness etc. Here we are moving in a very different direction that works directly with supporting the forces of health that underpin the system itself. The liberation of the previously engaged potency centering the disturbance then naturally, effortlessly and with amazing intelligence organizes the particulars of any condition and its compensations held into more efficient patterns of expression. The aim is to support the potential of life forces to express optimum health.

This does not necessarily mean that problems will just go away overnight. It is a natural and important aspect of life that we all suffer our pains, but a critical component of healing is to become aware of how we relate to these challenges. Do we make enemies of them and try to escape by wishing they would simply “go away” in an effort to avoid them, or do we slow down to acknowledge and address them? It is the most amazing thing when one discovers that the solution to a condition is found to be at the very heart of the problem itself. The problem is there for good reason and that reason is to become self aware. In this way the healing process is, in its essence… a sacred one.