Stillness/Emptiness.

The origin of the Breath of Life is entrenched in profound Stillness, a foundational concept that gains increasing significance for practitioners as they develop a deeper connection with their clients' systems over time. Stillness, in this context, evolves beyond a mere cessation of tidal motion; rather, it encapsulates a more profound truth that lies at the heart of all clinical processes. This nuanced appreciation of Stillness is not only acknowledged but revered within the cranial field.

The foundational principles articulated by early figures in cranial work, such as Sutherland and Becker, emphasise the imperative for practitioners to attune themselves to the stillness that underlies the Tide. It transcends the cessation of movement, delving into a more profound understanding of the dynamic and vital stillness that permeates all aspects of life. This essential stillness is commonly referred to as Dynamic Stillness within the cranial framework, reflecting its dynamic and alive nature.

Parallel to these insights in craniosacral biodynamics, the acknowledgement of stillness holds a prominent place in various spiritual traditions. Contemplative practices across cultures often initiate with an intentional descent beneath the conditioned movement of the mind, leading individuals into a realm of profound stillness. As this contemplative journey deepens, the practitioner discovers that stillness is not just a temporary state but an ever-present and pervasive ground of emergence for all of life, serving as a portal to its deepest mysteries.

The resonance of this appreciation for stillness echoes across different spiritual landscapes. In Christian monastic practices during the middle ages, the cultivation of inner stillness, often described as a "darkness of knowing," was considered an essential step toward unity with the divine. Similarly, in the Buddhist tradition, stillness is a cornerstone, and teachings emphasise the emptiness inherent in all forms.

Expanding upon this idea, many Eastern spiritual traditions, including Buddhism and Taoism, delve into a deeper mystery referred to as Emptiness. Emptiness, in this context, is perceived as an unfathomable ground of life. The Buddhist assertion that all forms are inherently empty and that emptiness is the essential truth of existence resonates with the Christian tradition's expression in "The Cloud of Unknowing." The medieval spiritual text beautifully articulates that knowing God involves an unknowing of all things in love, revealing the profound Emptiness that is God in a state of total balance.

Figures like Meister Eckhart, a Dominican friar in medieval times, echoed these sentiments by describing the godhead as the Unknowable Emptiness. These understandings are not rooted in beliefs or religious forms but are born out of direct contemplative and meditative experiences.

In the realm of craniosacral biodynamics, these spiritual insights find a parallel in the belief that health is "neither produced nor destroyed" and is constant and ever-present. This understanding challenges societal and medical conditioning, asserting that health is never lost and does not die.

Ultimately, the Breath of Life, rooted in the Dynamic Stillness, manifests as Creative Intelligence throughout space and time. The awareness of Dynamic Stillness thus brings the practitioner to the very essence of life, serving as a guide to the profound mysteries that underpin our existence. In acknowledging Dynamic Stillness as an explicate expression of a deeper mystery, often termed Emptiness in spiritual traditions, practitioners embrace a holistic understanding that transcends conventional boundaries and offers profound insights into the nature of life and health.