Ferocious & Unrepentant, He’s Back! – 20 Massages in 2 Months (Massage #17)

A pile of laundry!  This process has been so demanding certain things - like laundry - have had to wait!

I received Massage #17 from Rose at the Well-Being Center for Health in Monroe, WA.  As this massage marathon draws to a close the energies driving what has been a wild ride of self-discovery are also beginning to slow.  While the massages continue to move energy and bring realizations, the emotional impact is lighter.  As a result, each day I feel more energized and optimistic.  I also have more energy for other activities –  other than maintaining the focus necessary to stay balanced and relaxed in the face of intensity. 

As a rule, Rose’s technique is effective, deep and often mysterious.  For instance, in Massage #10, Rose penetrated into unexamined areas of self laying the groundwork for the dramatic kundalini release of Massage #11 and also for the advent of backward & right-handed writing evident in the wake of Massage #14.

In Massage #17 Rose applied her unique technique and brought forth new awareness.  Whereas the first half of a massage often happens with the client lying face down on the massage table, and the second half with the client on their back, I remained lying face down for the whole of Massage #17.  This did not negatively affect the massage.  Instead, it addressed my unique needs.  (One quality I admire in Rose is her willingness to listen to the body and honor its requests – even where the body asks for unusual things.  This willingness enables Rose to coax that which has not been seen or touched – or sometimes even suspected - to the surface for healing and examination).  

Rose started on my left leg and I will admit that for the first part of the massage I dozed off.

“How are you doing?”  Rose asked.  Her voice pulled me out of a dream.

“Good, but I keep falling asleep.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Yes, although I’d like to remain alert since I have blog about this later!”

Rose laughed.  In retrospect, sleeping during this part of the massage may have been exactly what I needed. It is possible that the sleep state created opportunities.  For instance, in my own work, I have noticed that sometimes when, during a session, a client talks about or analyzes their experience it forwards healing. At other times, this mental activity causes the mind to take over and the emotional body to become immobilized.  When this immobilization happens, healing energy cannot penetrate the body as easily and necessary movement of trapped emotion is reduced.  A sleep state during healing sessions disengages the conscious mind and can allow for healing that might otherwise be resisted or suppressed. (It is also possible that I was just tired!)

When I woke, Rose was beginning work on the right foot and ankle.  There she found soreness I had not noticed before.  At one point she pressed a fingertip into what felt like a series of dots arranged in neat semi-circle lining the bottom curve of my right ankle bone.  The geometric arrangement of these tender spots intrigued me although, as with previous massages and energy moved in the lower half of the body, the message of the dots was cryptic and I was unable to discern their meaning.

Prior to working on my right leg, Rose had spent time digging deeper into emotion stored in my right torso – arm, shoulder and lower back (QL muscles).  Though my right arm is no longer numb, muscle groups on the right side of the body have again become tight in comparison to counterparts on the left.  

Likewise, my inner attorney - the energy responsible for arm numbness - was expelled in Massage #6.  (He was reclaimed in a massage under the theory that his weaknesses could be reformed and his strengths utilized.)  Nonetheless, I again found this inner-attorney, ferocious and unrepentant as ever, in my right arm, shoulder and QL muscles!

(for more, see next post)