Body postures...

As we read in the Anderson/Foley book for today, ritual is intimately bound up with narrative. Underlying that statement, or perhaps strengthening it, is new neurological research that points to the myriad ways in which memory is stored in our bodies, literally inscribed in our flesh -- and often not directly in specific brain materials; so that distributed memories can be accessed when "activated" via familiar body postures, or postures that have for some other reason been inscribed particularly strongly. The memories women have of giving birth are often of this nature, because they have been inscribed at a time of great hormonal and other chemical flux.

Communities of faith have for centuries involved people in various kinds of body postures as a way of further inscribing meaning into their practices. We have tended to ignore or downplay this aspect of religious belief recently, but I'm convinced that part of the reason why Christian people are drawn to yoga and other forms of embodied meditation is because they have not found them in their native religious practices. Here's an exercise I'd like you to try. I will give you a series of pictures of body postures. I'd like you to find some time when you can try out these postures -- in private would probably be easiest! -- and hold each one for several seconds. While you're holding the posture, try to feel what memories, ideas, images come into your mind.When you've had enough time to process one posture, click where I've indicated and you will come to the next body position. My guess is that you'll need about 30 minutes to do this well.

One other note: if there are two positions depicted, then begin from one and move smoothly into the other. I will also point out any other explanatory notes in the left column.

One other, perhaps more important note: trying a physical exercise like this requires some caution. If any of these body postures are painful for you -- either physically or emotionally -- don't hold them! Don't even try them if you think they might be too problematic. If after trying one of them you feel something strongly, please seek out someone to talk with about it.

Welcome!

This first image is not one to practice, it's an image of Apollonaire. Click here for the first body posture to try.