2. Body language
The Body
Is not an object
It's not even
A concrete event,
It's not even
Materialistic.
It's a molecular process,
It's a moving event
Stanley Keleman Emotional Anatomy
When one bodily expression is exaggerated, there is a hidden polarity.
Consciously or subconsciously we often lie to ourselves, and to others. A common
example is the everyday question How are you?, and the ritual answer: I'm fine. Stanley
Keleman has in his book Emotional anatomy elaborated on how we bodily harbour more
than one approach to situations, here illustrated with one outer and one inner, but there
may as well be more.
Our body speaks our Mind (Stanley Keleman)
3. Stanley Keleman Emotional Anatomy p 151
When one bodily expression is exaggerated, there is a hidden polarity.
Never uncover this hidden polarity in a client unless you already have a qualified idea of
what it is about. Before you uncover unpleasant or difficult material which is unknown to
the client himself / herself, make sure that he or she also has the means to work
constructively with it.
The Character armour
The CHARACTER is the totality of the mechanical, automatic and unconscious ways of
4. reacting, by which the individual maintained his or hers psycho-physical balance; a
balance that makes sure that the feelings, emotions and bodily impulses which from
various reasons have been blocked, remain separated from the consciousness of the
individual.
According to Alexander Lowen
Reich named this CHARACTER STRUCTURE - the Character armour, because of its
function as a defence. This armour has a bodily side in the form of chronic muscular
tensions, where the repressed material is hidden.
Alexander Lowen: "Bioenergetics", page 73-81.
Stanley Keleman Emotional Anatomy p.77
A habit pattern
To live, move and have ones being within an attitude
5. "An individual experiencing temporary fear, grief or Anger, all too often carries his body in
an attitude of that muscular emotion. If he persists in this dramatisation or consistently re-
establishes it, thus forming what is ordinarily referred to as a "habit pattern", the muscular
arrangement becomes set.
Materially speaking, some muscles shorten and thicken, others are invaded by connective
tissue, still others become immobilised by consolidation of the tissue involved. Once this
has happened, the physical attitude is invariable; it is involuntary; it can no longer be
changed basically by taking thought or even mental suggestion.
Now what the individual feels is no longer an emotion, a response to an immediate
situation; henceforth he lives, moves and has his being in an attitude."
Dr. Ida Rolf: "Structural Integration" (Here from "Bodymind")
Suppression:
Don't wait for a catastrophe to happen
Suppression [...] is the house where you go on throwing into the basement things that you
want to do but you cannot because of social conditions culture, civilisation.
But they go on collecting there, and they affect your actions, your life, very indirectly.
Directly, they cannot face you - you have forced them into darkness, but from the dark side
they go on influencing your behaviour. They are dangerous, it is dangerous to keep all
those inhibitions inside you.
It is possible that these are the things that comes to a climax when a person goes insane.
Insanity is nothing but all these suppressions coming to a point where you cannot control
them any more.
[...] The real message [...] is to find a healing outlet for this potential explosion. It is
essential to find a way to realise whatever tensions and stresses might build up inside you
right now.
Beat a pillow, jump up and down, go out into the wilderness and scream at the empty sky -
anything to shake up your energy and allow it to circulate freely. Dont wait for a
catastrophe to happen.
Edited from: Osho Zen Tarot;
Conditioning
Unless you drop your personality you will not be able to find your individuality. Individuality
is given by existence; personality is imposed by society. Personality is social convenience.
Society cannot tolerate individuality, because individuality will not follow like a sheep.
Individuality has the quality of the lion; the lion moves alone.
The sheep are always in the crowd, hoping that being in the crowd will feel cosy. Being in
the crowd one feels more protected, secure.
If somebody attacks there is every possibility in a crowd to save ourself. But alone? - Only
the lions move alone.
And every one of you is born a lion, but the society goes on conditioning you,
programming your Mind as a sheep. It gives you a personality, a cosy personality, nice,
very convenient, very obedient.
Society wants slaves, not people who are absolutely dedicated to freedom. Society wants
6. slaves because all the vested interests want obedience.
From: Osho Zen Tarot;
There are 5 Character structures
According to Alexander Lowen
THE SCHIZOID
THE ORAL
THE PSYCHOPATHIC
THE MASOCHISTIC
THE RIGID
The human body has six major areas of contact
with the external world
7. Changed into a dynamic diagram the six areas
will from an energetic point of view look like this
1. THE SCHIZOID CHARACTER STRUCTURE
Basic conflict: Isolation; if I express my need for intimacy and relatedness, my very
existence is in danger.
Background: Lack of bonding, rejection within the very early months of life.
Psychology: Inner frozenness with disassociation or withdrawal of feeling and energy;
fragmented or fragile ego structure often compensated by high intellectual achievement or
hidden arrogance.
According to Alexander Lowen
8. Treatment: Working with the spine and Pranayama
2. THE ORAL CHARACTER STRUCTURE
Basic conflict: Needs versus dependency. The world owes me a living
Background: Deprivation in early infancy. loss of warmth and support during the
breastfeeding period.
Psychology: Feelings of disappointment, longing and self pity. Weak and dependent ego
often compensated for by false independence and exaggerated growth.
According to Alexander Lowen
Treatment: Gardening
9. 3. THE PSYCHOPATHIC CHARACTER STRUCTURE
Basic conflict: Need of closeness versus independence; denial of feelings and experience.
Background: Power games for dominance and control between (sexually) seductive and /
or abusive parent and child.
Psychology: A complex character structure. Strong investment in self-image. Bullying or
undermining others through a seductive approach. Need of never being subject to the use
and needs of others. Denial of feelings and of experiences.
Treatment: Emotional releasing therapy, preferably within the frames of an enlightened
being. The counsellor or therapist has to take care of own safety.
4. THE MASOCHISTIC Character Structure
Basic conflict: Need of closeness versus freedom and self-assertion.
Background: Conflicts of submission and opposition during the toilet training period that
starts around 18 month of age. Feelings of suffering, humiliation, guilt, hidden hostility and
of being stuck are common experiences.
Psychology: The stagnation of energy charge owing to the strong holding-in leads to the
feeling of being unable to move freely, to being stuck in a morass. On the conscious level
the masochist is identified with trying to please; on the unconscious level however, this
attitude is denied by spite and negativity.
According to Alexander Lowen
Treatment: Love - in whatever form.
10. 5. THE RIGID Character Structure
Basic conflict: Freedom versus surrender: I am free as long as I do not loose my head and
surrender fully to love.
Background: The right to wants and to move directly and openly towards the fulfilment and
satisfaction of these wants. Immature sexuality and erotic sensations is activated between
three and six years of age, and are mixed together with (/mixed up with) love.
The parents rejection of this love is a (/causes a feeling of) betrayal and hurt.
Psychology: On guard against being taken advantage of, being used or trapped. Fear of
giving in and loose his freedom, equating it with ridicule, submission and collapse.
Characteristics as ambitions, worldly orientation, pride and aggressiveness are present.
According to Alexander Lowen
Treatment: Massage
MAJOR ASPECTS OF EACH CHARACTER STRUCTURE
PERSONALITY MAKEUP
According to Barbara Brennan, Hands of Light, p.111
SCHIZOID:
Arrest of development: Before or at Birth.
Trauma: Hostile mother
Pattern: Hold together
Sexuality: Sex to feel life force, fantasy
Fault: Fear
Demands the right to: Be / Exist
Presenting complaint: Fear / Anxiety
11. Negative intent: I will be split.
Devices behind negative intend: Unity vs splitting
Needs to: Strengthen Boundaries
MAJOR ASPECTS OF EACH CHARACTER STRUCTURE
PERSONALITY MAKEUP
According to Barbara Brennan, Hands of Light, p.111
ORAL:
Arrest of development: Babyhood Feeding
Trauma: Abandonment
Pattern: Hold on
Sexuality: Sex for Closeness and Contact.
Fault: Greed
Demands the right to: Be Nurtured and Fulfilled
Presenting complaint: Passivity (Fatigue)
Negative intent: Ill make you give it, I wont need.
Devices behind negative intend: Need vs. Abandonment
Needs to: Own Needs and Stand on Own Two Feet
MAJOR ASPECTS OF EACH CHARACTER STRUCTURE
PERSONALITY MAKEUP
According to Barbara Brennan, Hands of Light, p.111
PSYCHOPATHIC:
Arrest of development: Early Childhood
Trauma: Seduction, Betrayal
Pattern: Hold Up
Sexuality: Hostile / Fragile, Homosexual Fantasy
Fault: Untruthfulness
Demands the right to: Be Supported and Encouraged
Presenting complaint: Feelings of Defeat
Negative intent: My will be done.
Devices behind negative intend: Will vs. Surrender
Needs to: Trust
MAJOR ASPECTS OF EACH CHARACTER STRUCTURE
PERSONALITY MAKEUP
According to Barbara Brennan, Hands of Light, p.111
MASOCHISTIC
Arrest of development: Autonomy Stage
Trauma: Control, Forced Feeding and Evacuation
Pattern: Hold in
Sexuality: Impotence. Strong interest in Pornography
Fault: Hatred
Demands the right to: Be independent
12. Presenting complaint: Tension
Negative intent: I love negativity.
Devices behind negative intend: Freedom vs. Submission
Needs to: Be Assertive, be Free. Open Spiritual Connections
MAJOR ASPECTS OF EACH CHARACTER STRUCTURE
PERSONALITY MAKEUP
According to Barbara Brennan, Hands of Light, p.111
RIGID:
Arrest of development: Puberty. Genital.
Trauma: Sexual Denial, Betrayal of Heart.
Pattern: Hold back
Sexuality: Sex with Contempt
Fault: Pride
Demands the right to: Have Feelings (Love / Sex)
Presenting complaint: No Feelings
Negative intent: I wont surrender.
Devices behind negative intend: Sex vs. Love
Needs to: Connect Heart to Genitals
DEFENSIVE ASPECTS OF THE Character structures
According to Barbara Brennan Light Emerging, p. 206
SCHIZOID:
Main issue: Existential Terror
Fear: Living in human body as an individual
Experienced: Direct aggression
Defensive action: Leaves body
Results of defensive action: Weaker body
Relationship to core essence: Can experience unitive essence;
is afraid of individuated essence
Human need: To individuate; to surrender to being human
Spiritual need: To experience individuated essence
Time distortion: Experiences universal time; is unable to experience
linear time or to be in the now in the physical world
DEFENSIVE ASPECTS OF THE Character structures
According to Barbara Brennan Light Emerging, p. 206
ORAL:
Main issue: nurturance
Fear: Not enough of anything
Experienced: Lack of nurturance; abandonment
Defensive action: Sucks life
Results of defensive action: Inability to metabolise own energy
Relationship to core essence: Experiences individuated essence as not enough
Human need: To nurture self; to know self is enough
13. Spiritual need: To experience individuated essence as infinite source within
Time distortion: Never has time enough
DEFENSIVE ASPECTS OF THE Character structures
According to Barbara Brennan Light Emerging, p. 206
PSYCHOPATHIC:
Main issue: Betrayal
Fear: Letting go and trusting
Experienced: Was used and betrayed
Defensive action: Controls others
Results of defensive action: Aggression and betrayal drawn to self
Relationship to core essence: Is afraid that essence is bad or evil
Human need: To trust others; to make mistakes and still be safe
Spiritual need: To recognise and honour core essence and higher will of others
Time distortion: Rushes into the future
DEFENSIVE ASPECTS OF THE Character structures
According to Barbara Brennan Light Emerging, p. 206
MASOCHISTIC:
Main issue: Invasion and theft
Fear: Being controlled; loss of self
Experienced: Invaded; humiliated
Defensive action: Demands and resists at the same time
Results of defensive action: Dependence; inability to differentiate
between self and other
Relationship to core essence: Individuated essence is not differentiated
from others
Human need: To be free to feel and express self
Spiritual need: To recognise self's core essence as self's own and claim
God within self
Time distortion: Experiences the unfoldment of time as stopped
DEFENSIVE ASPECTS OF THE Character structures
According to Barbara Brennan Light Emerging, p. 206
RIGID:
Main issue: Authenticity; denial of real self
Fear: Imperfection
Experienced: Denial of psychological and spiritual reality
Defensive action: Acts appropriately rather than authentically
Results of defensive action: Inability to experience self; world is false
Relationship to core essence: Does not experience individuated essence -
it doesnt exist
Human need: To put self into life; to feel real self
Spiritual need: To experience unitive and individual core essence in self
Time distortion: Experiences the constant rigid, mechanical movement of time forward
14. Grounding and integrity - Psychologically speaking
That the individual is able to be present and partake in everyday life with its duties and
joys.
Ungrounded Psychologically speaking
Inability able to be present and partake in everyday life
Grounding and integrity Spiritually speaking
Openness for the higher with the integrity of the Mind intact
Ungrounded Spiritually speaking
Do as you please and lament the consequences Spiritual and or psychological
ungroundedness will also show up as physical ungroundedness, cold feet or hands, Lack
of balance.
Here from Basic counselling Skills
The spine
The base of your body and Mind
Shiva said: Consider your essence as light rays rising from centre to centre up the
vertebrae, and so rises livingness in you.
Many yoga methods are based on this. First understand what it is, then the application.
The vertebrae, the spine are the base of both your body and Mind. Your Mind, your head,
15. is the end part of your spine.
The whole body is rooted in the spine. If the spine is young, you are young. If the spine is
old, you are old.
If you can keep your spine young, it is difficult to become old. Everything depends on your
spine. If your spine is alive, you will have a very brilliant Mind. If the spine is dull and dead,
you will have a very dull Mind. The whole of yoga tries in many ways to make your spine
alive, brilliant, filled with light, young and fresh.
Osho: Meditation the First and Last Freedom. P. 193 - 194
Energy gushing out from the spine
This is an aura-reading of someone with a sincere commitment to growth, but with quite a
few integrity problems.
This illustrates graphically the predicament someone with integrity problems is in - The
build-up of your own energy, necessary for you to have stamina and push in your own life,
is impeded by energy leaking out from your aura, making you less able to stand up for
yourself, more in need for one or more people to lean on.
The energy leaving your spine does not just leave you - it attaches itself onto whoever you
believe is a support for you, meaning that you loose your own energy, and give someone
else power.
Integrity problems can be worked with on many levels
• A good start, before difficult psychological work is attempted, is to strengthen the
connection with our backbone, the physical spine via hatha yoga, swimming,
running, gymnastic, massage etc.
• Psychologically by working with projections in psychotherapy
• Meditatively by consciously connecting to the feeling in each vertebrae, and
contemplating the different feelings etc the invariably discovered gaps will uncover.
16. Multiple Choice questions
For Week 4
Body language
Multiple Choice Answer 1: True / False (Cross out the wrong answer): When you communicate
with others the main thing is to in fact understand the words the other person says. Understanding
the words is enough in order to understand someone,
Multiple Choice Answer 2: True / False (Cross out the wrong answer): If you counsel someone that
appears rigid and unemotional, that is a sign of them being strong so you can give it 'full blast'.
Multiple Choice Answer 3: True / False (Cross out the wrong answer): THE SCHIZOID THE
ORAL THE PSYCHOPATHIC THE MASOCHISTIC THE RIGID
These five categories describe psychiatric diseases.
Multiple Choice Answer 4: True / False (Cross out the wrong answer): Body language is a direct
message about what needs to be worked with for someone to become free, to become who they are
rather than a history book of their identification with the past.
