In talking recently with a fellow BodyTalker, this person shared methods they use in their treatment room to "protect" themselves from clients. This certainly wasn't the first time I've heard something along these lines. I've heard everything from cutting cords, to surrounding oneself with white light or rainbow light, to using special blessings or intentions, to energetic clearing, to visualizing an energetic pyramid around oneself. While these practices are used in many other alternative healing modalities, ALL such practices are deeply out of sync with BodyTalk philosophy. And far from being neutral practices, they invoke a fear-based culture that our founders, John and Esther Veltheim, specifically did not embrace.

It seems that there's a gap between what the BodyTalk Fundamentals manual teaches and what some practitioners feel they need to add on in the treatment room. As a result, it seems necessary to shed clarity on the very sacred practitioner-client dynamic. 

If we go back to the Fundamentals of our system, Practitioner Permissions is designed to address situations where our practitioners have not done the self-care needed to anchor a session (get grounded, tap out cortices, drink water, let go of agendas, attachments to outcomes, etc.). Some practitioners may think that self-care may include cord cutting, blessings, intention setting, or pyramids of light, but if we apply the philosophy presented in Principles of Consciousness (Mod 3)--the concept that we are all part of the Absolute and there is no separation between us and them--then we are essentially showing up to the session to work on ourselves, not a client who is separate to ourselves. To adopt a theory of separation is the antithesis of BodyTalk. Our core philosophy is "everything is connected to everything," right down to the quantum-particle level, so every piece is responding in a dynamic dance respectful of every other piece in the universe.

To overlay a concept or application of "disconnecting" from our clients to "protect" ourselves does not hold respect for the dynamic interactive system to which we all belong. "Clients" are only ever a mirror for us into the work we can do as an integral part of the whole. However, the concept of separation and the need to "cut cords" or isolate ourselves in a "pyramid of white light" perpetuate a concept of disconnecting from Self, rather than a reconnection in the philosophy of mirroring. The concept of separation also invites blame/victim mentality so that we project onto another the blame for our own experiences (Have you ever heard a practitioner blame their exhaustion or sensitive mood on a long day of treating?). By holding ourselves accountable for our own work (that may also be the client's work), we are able to step out of the blame/victim consciousness and be inspired to heal on all levels.

When we discuss the concept of mirroring in our BodyTalk Fundamentals manual, energy transfer does not actually occur. We are simply showing up to the energy in front of us (the client) to see what is there. The client is mirroring what actually already exists inside the energy field that is us and is now visible because of the mirror. Another practitioner may not "see" what you see because it doesn't exist within them, therefore they cannot see or understand it. So, if we experience lasting "effects" after interacting with a client, it is because the work needed on ourselves has been highlighted. Our conscious awareness can then inspire our own innate wisdom to figure out what balance will look like now that we have this new awareness. When you look in a mirror, you can see many things, but you cannot step into that mirror and take it on. You simply are aware now of what was already there. There is no energy transfer. It's like trying on a new shirt, you put it on, but unless it resonates with you, you aren't buying it.

If a practitioner is "giving" their healing energy to the client, they are undermining the ability of the innate wisdom of the client. The client heals themselves. We are simply observers. If what we observe also resonates for our own deeper healing, then that will begin spontaneously as well. The practitioner likely will be unsuccessful in resolving any issues when they approach the session from an egoic perspective of being "the Healer" as they will be unable to see what is asking to be healed from within themselves. From this non-neutral, ego-based perspective of conducting sessions, the practitioner will always feel exhausted at the end of the day. They will feel as though they have offered their own energy to the client, or that the client has drained it from them, due to their misunderstanding of mirroring, the natural connection between all things, and also the natural boundaries between us. A practitioner who shows up to their practice from a neutral space, free from ego, is far more successful, and the shifts are often incredible, as the client's innate wisdom is inspired by the neutrality and clarity of the mirror, the practitioner.

If we look at intention versus attention, when we set an "intention" it indicates that we are not pleased with the current trajectory we are on. Thus, we intend to change something for a better outcome. When we attach ourselves to any outcome we immediately limit the possibilities of anything we have yet to consider. For example, imagine a client who comes in for fertility issues, and we set the intention for healing to create space for conception. It "seems" perfect, as it's an intention in alignment with the client's goals, and we get to feel like great practitioners once conception happens (feeding the ego). But what happens when it fails? Are we as practitioners failures? What happens when we have not considered that the client has an undiagnosed adrenal tumor that will only be found upon autopsy after the client delivers the baby that the shared Ego (ours and the client's) worked so hard to conceive? Is that the intention we unknowingly want or set out for? Death? 

Consider "attention" rather than intention. How different would sessions look if we truly showed up "in the zone," completely neutral, empty of ego and ready to observe only? What if we sat down next to the client ready to pay attention to what was already working well? I always tell students, "The clinic room should feel emptier with you in it." This means that the practitioner has done their very best to leave any and all baggage at the door, to be non-attached to outcome, to be heart-centered, compassionate and completely present to whatever miracles await them in that moment. You can use a tool like MindScape and visually see yourself setting down your bags and walking through the white light of your workshop to gain more clarity. This is the epitome of clearing your space and energy field and getting out of the way. The need to bring in extra devices like "energetic clearing," "protective fields," "cord cutting," "intention setting" and so forth are ego-dictated needs that simply do not show up when we are truly in the zone and just neutrally observing.

With the prevalence of such defensive practices, John always emphasizes the importance of BreakThrough training for BodyTalkers and all the Life Science courses. From the BreakThrough perspective, the only thing the practitioner needs to bring to the treatment room is their curiosity, the Protocol and their ability to observe. When we enter our sessions filled with curiosity, our neuroses and their defenses are nowhere to be found. 

It is only from this space that innate wisdom can show up to show us the way. We are all just doing our best to walk each other home, and ideally we can all walk progressively with less ego, less separation and less fear.