I'm including the following with permission from Jack Lu, who attended the
Intensive here in the US at which Chris introduced the work on shame, that I
incorporated into my video. Jack was born in Taiwan and asked me to share
this with CT:
"Good morning everyone (at least in the US),
On a side note, I'd add a few things about my experience with bows from a
cultural perspective.
In the Chinese culture (and other Asian ones as well), bowing is a ritual
used in practices (e.g. tea ceremonies, funerals, etc.) to demonstrate
varying themes (e.g. honor, respect, humility). It is a silent event that
carries deep meaning and communication without words. Depending on the
event and the ones who are bowing, the physical practice may be different.
I equate this to something similar to practices like prayer in Western
cultures (although, I've never learned to "pray"), so this is more of an
observation than an experiential awareness.
My other experience with bowing is in martial arts. Used mainly to
demonstrate respect, honor, and humility. The bow is also one of the most
vulnerable positions while practicing/training and one of the "safer"
moments during a practice session, if you are bowing with your head down in
front of an opponent that does not respect you, you may be harmed/killed.
For instance, sparring/fighting, doing forms, evening learning new
techniques may result in harm to oneself and another, even while discipline
is held to be paramount. Another "safer" or vulnerable moment is during
meditation. Bowing is done between practioners, before and after
demonstrations, to our teachers - current and deceased, at the beginning and
ending of every class. May be used as a greeting and farewell.
This has been my experience and I imagine there are inaccuracies and a lot
more to be said/stated.
I hope you are all well and I look forward to our next points of contact.
Take care,
Jack"
I will be happy to forward any comments to Jack. He is just starting a PhD
program today--I told him about CT, but he may be scarce for awhile. Thanks
Liz
-----Original Message-----
From: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Barbara Morgan
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 11:35 AM
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Shame, humility and bowing
Hi folks,
Just catching up on some of the constellationtalk discussions and was
interested to read that the theme of bowing has once again reared its head
(no pun intended!). If you take yourself back to issue 5 of The Knowing
Field (still known as the Systemic Solutions Bulleting at that time) you
will find a discussion between Hunter Beaumont, Eva Madelung Wilfried de
Philippe and Jakob Schneider on the subject of bowing which is still
relevant today. You can get a half price copy of this journal (or a pdf) on
www.theknowingfield.com.
Best wishes to all from a very sunny September afternoon
Barbara Morgan
On 18 August 2011 16:37, Liz Jelinek <lizjelinek@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
**
And thanks Chris!
From: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Liz Jelinek
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 11:29 AM
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ConstellationTalk] Shame, humility and bowing
Hi all, I just wanted to make it clear that this transcript I sent is my
creation based on Chris teaching and may not necessarily be a completely
accurate recreation. But you are quite rightamazing stuff!
Liz
From: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Thomas Bryson
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 11:10 AM
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Shame, humility and bowing
Dear Chris,
From the transcript of your intensive: "Bowing is a movement back into
self that precedes a genuine encounter with another."
Thank you for bringing this idea wider distribution in your teaching. It
is a gem.
The paragraph with this phrase from my post last year on Constellation
Talk is:
"The deeper purpose of bowing has nothing to do with recognition,
acceptance or acknowledgment of the other. It is an inner process for
the one who is bowing. It is a movement back into ourselves that
precedes a genuine encounter with the other. When we take a breath,
exhale and bow, we take a moment for ourselves alone, to move into our
own field."
I learned this perspective from Ursula Franke, who as a body therapist
has been researching systemic interventions on the physical level for
nearly twenty years. She has been looking into how to access a bow, to
gain the benefits of giving in, finding the position of saying 'yes' and
relieving the body of its often decades-long tension, without triggering
traumatizing or painful memories, particularly with clients who have had
biographical difficulties with their parents - which of course, often
points to trans-generational issues.
By observing and describing the body in the act of bowing, she peeled
off the psychological interpretations of the bow - by lowering the chin,
one turn towards one's self, get out of the field and the trance of the
one whose field is opened by looking into his eyes and by so doing, one
separates the fields, making it more possible to perceive one's own
being here and now. This is Presence which is free of personal and
systemic implications. It is the healing experience we want for
ourselves and our clients. An exhale carries and supports this movement.
Please read more about bowing and consenting in her book "In my mind´s
eye" (pp 126 to 131, Carl Auer 2003, or in German "Wenn ich die Augen
schließe, kann ich Dich sehen". Carl Auer, 2002). Currently we are
writing a book that describes the development and refinement of our
thinking and practice since we have been collaborating together.
All the best,
Thomas Bryson
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