Elephant Whispering South Africa
Back from South Africa, I feel fortunate to return to my craniosacral practice, in Somerton. It lets me live and enjoy a simple life and allows for the opportunity to meet individuals and families; helping them to be well and lead more fulfilling lives. I find that people receiving treatments, make connections between the physical, spiritual and emotional. I feel continually challenged, excited and engaged in life, with the work I do.
Reflections of my time in South Africa
When I lose my way with the world and life can seem difficult to understand, it is heartening to see and acknowledge so much goodness. In South Africa, I felt safe and welcome, in exceptional external conditions. Most importantly, I had support for letting go and simply being. Of course, I experienced the spectrum of human suffering. My body became sick and I started to feel fed up, with myself and others; or I started yearning for things I experienced as being absent. Often, there was just resistance to what is, or what is not happening; or getting lost in views or moods. But somehow, I knew that all the emotions would come and go and I could achieve my goals more easily. There were natural ups and downs in energy levels and enthusiasm. Some days the momentum and ardour would flow with all the factors in balance and harmony. On other days, it all seemed to fall apart, as though my experience, in meditation practice, was ineffective. I have come to understand that my job is to simply show up, to sit and work, regardless of how I feel.
I experienced South Africa, this time, in a way that allows me to continue discovering the ways of ‘God’ and myself. In this place, I was more able to stay in relationship with myself and others. I have intentions of returning, to engage with this living process of listening to others and being heard and to remain curious and accepting of life.Healing happens when we know that we are ‘all one’ and connected to each other and this world. Here, I have moments of beliefs, thoughts, ideas, and feelings becoming something else, becoming one. My work is to get the parts of the body and mind communicating. When I achieve this, it resolves the energetic imbalance and promotes harmony. The feeling of ‘not knowing', I experienced at the start of craniosacral therapy, has transformed. I now have experience of sitting, with the uncertainty of the work and I would describe my approach as compassionate. The work focuses my attention to make friends with myself and accepting life as it is, with all the sorrow and suffering: sensing where being and doing, surrender. I have a developed a willingness to explore and make peace with myself, in a balanced effort, rather than a forceful endeavour. Keeping in touch with what is happening and returning to my awareness, in and out of the body, generates a sense of equilibrium. Beginning with whatever I am aware of, even if it seems trivial or mundane, then listening to the voices of the mind, without necessarily believing in them, without being led by them, I allow the natural balance to manifest.
What is Craniosacral Therapy?At the core of the body lies the brain and spinal cord, bathed in cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid has a “tide” like motion. When we meet physical and emotional stresses we contract. If the stresses are too frequent, or the shock too great, a blockage becomes gradually established and can lead to discomfort and pain. This disturbs and disrupts the flow of the “tide.” We may collect and disperse many different blockages; sometimes we are able to use our body’s natural healing abilities and at other times we need help. Listening physically with my hands allows the client to release restrictions and relax tightness in their body. I can encourage “stillness” in the client’s system, which is reenergising and regenerating.
The great mystery is then not that this love is always present, but that it appears hidden from us, that we have forgotten how we are made of love. That we are love seeking love. And life’s greatest gift is love waiting to be lived.
Sessions are quiet and still with people seeking me out for a healing, peaceful time. During the meditative treatment “something happens” to the client and they experience a feeling of well-being and an easing of symptoms. If you would like to know more phone Lynn on 0777 9535562 [email protected] or see www.lynnshorthouse.co.uk
Please read on if you’d like to know a bit more about my background.
I was born in Redcar, North Yorkshire, and the first born to parents who married at the end of the war. From an early age I loved nature, a theme that has remained throughout my life. We later moved to near the Yorkshire Dales, where I could walk alone, as a young person. I left home and school at seventeen having achieved early “A” levels and a place to study Social Sciences at Hull University. The costs of my degree course were covered by gutting fish in Hull. Coventry Social Services took me on as a new trainee Social Worker, and there I met my husband John. His work took us to Rolls Royce Bristol. My career continued, placing children with adoptive and foster homes. At that time Children’s Homes were closing in favour of family placements. Following the births of two sons
I taught at Bristol University in the Department of Policy Studies.
Throughout the 90’s my life changed gradually and slowly. The most significant influences at that time were my two sons and I learnt the skills of massage and meditation. I was supported by my husband, who did more than his share of looking after the children, to continue with my studies of anatomy and physiology and then in 1994 complete the post-graduate diploma in Craniosacral Therapy. Why then, did I leave Bristol University as a Lecturer to set up the Bristol Centre for Craniosacral Therapy? To quote a poem by Dr. John Crook, “all you have to do this minute is to stop - turn the mind upon itself”. I did stop and change what I was doing but the transformation was neither simple nor dramatic.
I moved with my two sons to Somerset in 2006, attracted to the market town of Langport and a new eco house. Great Bow Yard is a triple award winning sustainable and environmentally friendly development. The properties have been built using reclaimed and sustainable materials where possible, and incorporate numerous energy and water saving initiatives, which not only serve the environment but provide a sustainable lifestyle at reduced living costs.
Since being in Somerset, I have deepened, explored and studied the workings of the human body, health and disease. I am still involved with teaching and learning. At Bristol University, I was a Lecturer for the professional training of Social Workers and I have also taught at the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust, in London and continue to offer development of Craniosacral Skills as CPD.
Ladakh or "Little Tibet"
An inspiration for our own future
“Centuries of ecological balance and social harmony are under threat from the pressures of Western consumerism.” Helena Norberg-Hodge first published Ancient Futures in the 80’s which introduced me to ecological issues and inspired me to visit Ladakh one day. Twenty years later my youngest son George returned from a tour of India, including Ladakh, and told me I must meet the Ladakh grandfather Tashi Rabgyas with whom he stayed. When George’s own grandfather died last year he left one thousand pounds for each grand child. George and his brother Ed. said that they wanted to use their inheritance to take me to Ladakh to meet the family.
The main road to Leh from Manali is billed as the second highest and most dangerous road in the world. We travelled over this road by bus to reach Leh, and remembered those who did the journey on foot or horseback as we passed some on bicycles. Somewhat nervously equipped with warm clothing in case the vehicle broke down, we also carried bananas and coca, a homeopathic remedy for altitude sickness. The scale of this part of the journey was epic and impossible to convey in words.
On arrival, through the magnificent Leh gateway we finally emerged from the bus and I was left with the bags to drink Chai whilst George and Ed. went to find the Ladakhi grandfather’s home. In a surprisingly short time they escorted me and the bags to the family, where George was greeted like a prodigal son. As his mother, I received more tea and a really warm welcome. We were to “hot – bed” in the family’s spare room for the next week. I was able to go on an uphill climb to the Skanska Gompa early morning and so usually went to sleep not long after sunset; whilst my sons often walked into Leh old town in the evening and then joined us for freshly made flat bread at breakfast.
One of the first things that struck me on my arrival in Ladakh was the wide, uninhibited smiles of the family we stayed with. On the afternoon of leaving my home for Bristol and Heathrow some strong sensation made me run around my garden gathering seeds, naming, sealing and finding a safe place for them in my very small backpack. The family referred to me and the mother in the home as “Amelay” (as we are both mothers) and she was delighted to receive the seeds from my garden. As we left she gathered seeds from her garden for me. Her identity appeared directly linked with the close bonds with her family and community which are reinforced by the Buddhist emphasis on Interconnectedness. The family’s attitude to life and death seemed to be based on an intuitive understanding of impermanence and a consequent lack of attachment. Rather than clinging to an idea of how things should be, they were blessed with an ability to actively welcome things as they are…………………………
I had the privilege to experience another, saner way of life. I experienced living with neither waste nor pollution, where the community was healthy and strong, and the adolescent son of the family was never embarrassed to be gentle and affectionate with his mother. The respect that this family offered me as I practised meditation each morning changed how my sons saw me; and the journey gave me a much better understanding of the exploring and excellent young men who are my sons.
Healing happened in this intense and short journey both at the personal and ecological level. By leading the simpler lives of a low-carbon society, we draw nearer to the abundance of peace, freedom and true community. Leaving me with the question: what does simplicity mean in our complex world – is it a lifestyle option, or is it more than that?
To quote the Dali Lama on Ladakh “No matter how attractive a traditional rural society may seem, its people cannot be denied the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of modern development. However, development and learning should not take place in one direction only. Amongst the people of traditional societies such as Ladakh’s there is often an inner development, a sense of warm’ heartedness and contentment that we would all do well to emulate.”