COLORFUL MONTCLAIR

COLORFUL MONTCLAIR

Freed Slave House

Photo Credit: Michele T. Fillion

  

2017

2019

December 12, 2020

October 31, 2023

November 8, 2023

May 18, 2025

Lord Ganesha Remover of Obstacles



xxx
A THEORY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS TO THE EXTENT IT SERVES

At the center of the universe there is a spot. It is everywhere at once. As such, it is mysterious and paradoxical to the mind. Yet, knowable, even though ineffable.

From one point of view the center of the universe is an infinitesimally small point—looking at it from the vertical orientation. From the horizontal aspect it is an infinitely long fine line originating at all points in space and time and extending out to the oneness of cosmic infinity.

These lines intersect to create the phenomenal universe.

Imagine that line as it is anchored to the center of the earth and extending out into cosmic infinity.

As human beings, we are given the conscious awareness to recognize and live in concert with that line. The human body is designed to align with that line. Some call it Gravity. Whatever the name, it is a living reality and it behooves us to consign ourselves to it.

Why? Because it is the central-most ecological fact. Once one has the imminent, direct apperception of it, the question of why one should align with it is tantamount to asking why one should breathe, or eat.

All activity is in the province of the horizontal. At the vertical, there is stillness, rest, and peace. It can arguably be said that a source of the problems and confusions of the world lies in an imbalance in the relationship of those two dimensions, the horizontal and the vertical.

Pick Up Line*

Sure Fire, No Fail

I am so moved by you, in every way, I must speak candidly or I will never forgive myself if I don’t. You, dear lady, are the kind of woman with whom I would share myself wholeheartedly and completely, and before whom I would unhesitatingly lay my soul bare.


* Cautionary Tale

Talking About Rolf and Rolfing

Dr. Ida P. Rolf: Of Grace and Gravity

Exploring Dr. Rolf's Life, Work, and Legacy

(Courtesy of: http://ofgraceandgravity.com/)

“Dr. Ida Rolf was undoubtedly one of the most significant women of the twentieth century. A great mind and pioneering thinker, a creative scientist years ahead of her time, she spent much of her life exploring the human capacity for healing. Her education, professional career and life circumstances led her to explore various modalities that gradually evolved into what become known as "Structural Integration" and then took on the name "Rolfing." Essentially, Rolfing seeks to address the development and liberation of an individual's innate human potential, with the palliation of symptoms an ancillary benefit. Dr Rolf was initially educated and trained within the empiricism of scientific academia and remained firmly rooted in those traditions. Her work was founded upon the physics of aligning the human body within the field of gravity. She integrated her scientific perspective with mind-body awareness without relying on an eastern mystical philosophy to justify her conclusions. It is clear from her writings and teachings that her studies of biological chemistry and physics provided critical insight, inspiring such statements as, "You cannot change the energy field, but you can change the man--the body will go as far as it will physically go, within the laws of physics." and "What would happen to behavior if you changed chemistry? The first way to change chemistry is to change physics." Dr. Rolf conceived of "Rolfing" as a gateway into making progressive changes within the human organism, encompassing the physical, intellectual and emotional aspects.”

Rolfing New Jersey
Rolfer New Jersey
Structural Integration New Jersey
Rolfing Montclair, New Jersey
Rolfer Montclair, New Jersey
Structural Integration Montclair, New Jersey

Listening to the Old Radio

On Human Balance

Balance is a big term these days. Who’s not for balance. What exactly then, is balance?

When it comes to balance in the makeup of the human body, the mere fact that one is able to stand on two feet may be proof enough that you have sufficient balance when it comes to negotiating the terra firma in the atmosphere of gravity. But, if you look at the general population of humans, you will notice a manifest level of architectural balance and order in the makeup of their bodies that is only a rough approximation of the design potential according the basic Anatomy and basic Physics.

Dr. Ida P. Rolf made this observation, [there is] “a single problem so prominent in their own structure, as well as others, that it has been ignored: they are off balance, they are at war with gravity.”

This proposition—that the balance in the structural architectural makeup of the body has a deep effect on health and performance—makes plain common sense. But, it is easy to move on from tacit assent and not give it any further thought. That one might want to do something about it gets passed over in the quotidian rush.

Balance is not a static end-point condition. It is a dynamic and living and evolving process. Like “health” it exists on a continuum. What passes for general health is too often merely the absence of symptoms. This may be usual; but it is most certainly not normal, however often the terms may be interchanged. The correlate to that in the domain of bodily “balance” would be the self-evident fact that one can stand on two feet. Is is minimal, but usual. Consider this question, how much of what passes for old age and decrepitude is attributable to the long term effects of living in an imbalanced body? The science may not be in on that, but we do have a full measure of common sense to draw on for the answer.

Here is a rather exotic image of balance. It is a depiction of Lord Krishna and the Nagas in Vrindiban. It is a complex and rich myth. It plays on many levels. I chose it to make the point that there are many signposts on the scale of balance. Plainly, young Krishna can surf with the best of them. Not only keeping his balance, but in command. The image also points to an inner balance that need not be commented on any further. Simply look at the serenity, it speaks for itself.



Rolfing New Jersey
Rolfer New Jersey
Structural Integration New Jersey
Rolfing Montclair, New Jersey
Rolfer Montclair, New Jersey
Structural Integration Montclair, New Jersey