In the early 1900’s, William Garner Sutherland, DO (1873-1954) discovered a previously-unidentified, very subtle movement in the body.
This movement was perceived to have a tide-like quality (welling up and receding) that was polyrhythmic (various pacings embedded in one another). It seemed to exist in all levels (bones, soft tissue, fluids) of the system. Despite repeated measurement and extensive study, the cause of the movement has not been definitively determined.
Sutherland and his colleagues experimented with palpating and interacting with this movement and found remarkable health benefits for their clients. Subsequent osteopaths, particularly Rollin Becker, DO (1918-1994), expanded the applications.
In the early 1970’s, John Upledger, DO, introduced the concepts outside the osteopathic world. Franklyn Sills and the Karuna Institute teaching team of Devon, England, have spent many years developing the biodynamic craniosacral model.*
For more in-depth understanding, please reference “An Overview of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy” by John Chitty, BCST, RPP.
*Used with permission of the authors, John and Anna Chitty, and freely available at www.energyschool.com.
Since the dawn of history, every civilization has sought to define life’s spiritual side. These efforts have led to diverse results, from a pantheon of anthropomorphic gods to the worship of primeval nature or of a single, great deity. To my mind, what is spiritual in the world is the universal source of this cosmic electrical energy, this life force that keeps us alive.
I suspect that this universal life force may well be another name for God, or the universal creator. And I believe that God, therefore, exists within all of us, embodied in this energy. Most people today have been schooled to believe that God exists without, rather than within themselves. I think this is a mistake.
Certainly, if you believe that God is within, you will start to take much better care of your body, for your body truly is your temple.
~ Robert Fulford, DO
Cynthia Schultz, RN, BCST, APP,