2.14 Goal

The Sacred Voyage: a holotropic perspective on mental health

The goal of our work is to help thaw, heal and revive the somatic centre, the seat of our soul. Accomplishing this is a process, in which every step is equally important. We treat whatever issue seems to be vitally important at that particular moment. For this very reason it is essential that our clients develop pure awareness. This is not aimed at any particular goal or outcome but merely at attempting to remain close to whatever issue asserts itself at that point in time. Awareness, in this context, is explained by Hal and Sidra Stone as: ‘The ability to observe life in all its aspects, without judging or forming an opinion about the energetic patterns being observed, and without feeling the need to control what occurs.’

Thawing what we call the ‘frozen plains of the soul’ can only be undertaken as a complete process, in which no step can be skipped. It is a process of transformation and every step, no matter how large or small, is of vital importance. Every time a client successfully employs loving attention from a state of pure awareness, to remain close to whatever issue asserts itself at that particular moment, the process (frozen by fear and trauma) can proceed. The work we do is not based on regression, we do not employs means to return to someone’s past. On the contrary, clients are assisted in developing mindfulness, directing their attention and feeling comfortable in being present here and now. The cognitive self, the adult the person in question has become, gets in touch with the somatic self, an aspect often underdeveloped as a result of trauma experienced while growing up. This is why the somatic essence is often pictured as an Inner Child. Our approach is not based on reliving this Child’s pain through regression, but on tackling the Child’s frozen energy from the adult state of awareness, and attempting to thaw, heal and revive the qualities that are part of the unique essence of this Inner Child. It is not solely about thawing the physically frozen elements, but also about welcoming and accommodating the vulnerable aspects that have come to life. In other words, building a relationship with what Hal and Sidra Stone refer to as the disowned selves. These manifestations of the disowned self are energy patterns that are part of our essence but have not been able to grow up with us, as a result of traumatic occurrences.

Transformation as a goal

The act of fully becoming is a result of the thawing of the frozen somatic energies and accepting and welcoming the energy patterns that come to life. This principle can be seen as the process of transformation.

Robert Stamboliev about transformation: ‘The transformation process is the natural unfolding which takes place at the level of each individual energy pattern, and is suited to the nature of this particular pattern. Transformation is called on as a result of accepting and nourishing the energy patterns as they are. If we do not accept our patterns the way they are, and try to alter them instead, the natural transformation process, the natural unfolding, will become blocked.’

Back to Previous Level