The
Caduceus
in
Cranial Fluid Dynamics
The practice of Cranial Fluid
Dynamics is based on understanding of the Caduceus, the
ancient symbol for medicine. The fabled wand or rod, the
caduceus, was carried by Hermes in Greek myths and Mercury
in Roman mythology as the messenger of the Gods.The
caduceus also originated from the iconography associated
with Aesculapius, the Greek god of healing. In the
classical depiction of the symbol, a staff or rod has a
pair of snakes entwined around it, and is topped by a pair
of wings. We can view this as a metaphorical symbol made up
of three components. Over the course of many yearsof
teaching and practicing osteopahic medicine, we have
introduced simple human terms to infer or imbed the
qualities inherent in this symbol. The three parts could be
summarized as:
[1] a single line: integrity (the staff),
[2] a wavy or curved line(s): flexibility (the snake) and
[3] a series of dotted lines as light or reflectiveness
(the wings).
The staff (integrity) symbolizes the willingness to be
connected and integrated, to stand firm with our own inner
power. The snake (flexibility) symbolizes the rhythm and
movement of life within us, and the capacity to transform.
The wings (reflectiveness) symbolize the ability to step
back and see the "big picture", to look at things from a
variety of viewpoints, or to be illuminated
Clinically we have noticed time and time again, that these
innate qualities in a human being are often ignored, absent
or vestigial. The client usually is holding onto something,
hence their state, and too often possesses a very low sense
of self esteem or value. Consequently having consistently
seen this we have utilized other symbolic representation
that augment both autonomy and freedom within. We have
added two additional components to this traditional model:
[1] A dove, symbolic of Grace. Thus in the course of their
process, the person can both 'let go' or surrender what
they have carried, but also to open themselves to further
guidance from within. This surrender to something else,
asks of the client to find their connection to Grace and
what they themselves would interpret as God, giving them
guidance as we work with them.
[2] Lastly we have employed the symbol of a gem, symbolic
of the sense of value that develops within us through the
direct action of the Divine; rather than the value brought
about by more tangible material things, that may actually
suffocate and prevent us from truly realizing our innate
value. This lack of value or self esteem appears to be one
of the great contributing factors to lives that are not
fulfilled.
Integrity and
the Staff
In CFD or in any bodywork the practitioner is normally
presented with a client who is not integrous - whose
tissues have lost some degree of integrity, or connection.
This may be in the realm of skeletal or structural
integrity or perhaps in the viscera that, held by
suspensory ligaments, has been torqued or twisted, perhaps
by postural changes. The neurological and fluid (lymph,
arterial and venous return) pathways, as a consequence,
lose their integrity as their 'housing' is altered..
This part of the symbol is the straight line within the
Caduceus, and is likened to the staff. Traditionally this
was seen as the staff of Aesculapius. The staff can be
drawn as a single straight line, which connects A to B. In
metaphorical terms this is the need for the client to
re-connect with why they are dysfunctional. In CFD we use
our hands to 'see' the tissues as a single unit, although
the forces held in the tissue actually initially distorts
that view. The training in CFD enables us to be
facilitators [from the French - to make easy] with the
client, enabling them to bring themselves back into rhythm.
This reorganizes the fluid nature of the bones, which in
turn supports the re arrangement of the physical structure
by itself. The structure of the body, and also in all its
components has an innate capacity to 'know' its position
and place within the whole organism. The tissues find their
own relationship to each other.
Flexibility
and the snake
The twin or single snake simply reminds us of aspects that
cold blooded reptiles possess. When a reptiles' metabolic
state is reduced they become inactive, in a state of rest.
When warmed they become fully engaged in life pursuits. Our
autonomic nervous system (ANS) is often symbolized by these
dual snakes, and is part of our house keeping capacity of
the nervous system. It is a homeostatic regulating
mechanism that basically 'listens' to our internal milieu,
and initiates responses based on primitive survival
mechanisms. Hence one half of the ANS - the sympathetic
nervous system (SNS) - prepares us for activity which is
known as the adrenergic function of this system, and its
complimentary half - the parasympathetic - slows all our
vital systems down so we can sleep, excrete, repair and
reorganize.
In clients who see us, the flexibility of this functional
system is altered by code - inherited predispositions - and
life experiences. We tend to hold-on or allow the field of
an influence to seduce or rob us of our own autonomy and
vitality. We appear to store this 'input' into the tissues,
and the ANS, as a consequence records the charge. These
abnormal sensorial, emotional and feeling states forces the
tissues into altered positions and relationships. The
consequent distortion of tissue as a result, further alters
the ANS which then sends small, incessant noise into the
higher neurological centers in the brain via the spinal
cord. This summation of 'noise' or input creates reactive
pathways back down through our musculoskeletal system as
adaptive mechanisms. In CFD we help people to become more
flexible, by engaging their minds to understand their
inflexibility or why they hold onto their emotional states.
As many of these are inherited, the protocol of CFD allows
for a deep understanding as to the familial patterns that
we inherit, and the strategies that they may adopt to
change their own behavior. Increased flexibility in their
structure, visceral components, motion and mental
activities, can be facilitated by the fluid mechanism. An
understanding and recognition of their emotional state is a
key to widening and putting back into rhythm an inflexible
body.
Reflectiveness
and the wings
The wings of the Caduceus reminds us of our earth bound
life. It is hard for most of us to soar, unfettered, to the
heavens as the eagle gliding through the thermals. The
metaphor of the eagle, so much used in native traditions,
especially here in the USA, reminds us of a place within
each of us, whereby we can see from afar, soar, free,
without strictures, or have our eyes fixed on the kill or
target. It is our mental acuity, sharpness of vision,
mental freedom and capacity to hold onto things and not let
go. The mind can let us fly, and the eagle serves to remind
us that as practitioners we have a duty to 'see' for the
client. That is, to step aside and allow illumination to
occur, so that the client is able to 'see' why they have
become ill or dysfunctional. So often, it is the
practitioner who becomes the eyes for the client, but we
may then put on them our particular slant, our own view of
the world. When our clients come to us, we must help them
to see what has occurred so they may not repeat the
pattern. In CFD we have the tools to augment this process,
allowing the client to metaphorically place their finger
upon the problem (integrity), and then to bring alive or
widen their understanding as to why (flexibility),
reflecting upon it, enquiring internally, and perhaps then
voicing an outcome (reflective). Through letting go of
these patterns (surrender) they can then feel (a dynamic
cranial rhythm) their own sense of self and value
(jewel/gem).