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SelfinMotion
Intheearly1950s,thefoundersofGestalttherapypositedaradicalnotionofself.
Self,theystated,isaprocessemergentintheactivityofcreativeadjusting—
dynamic,fluidandchanging.Intheexperienceofmovingthroughtheworld,self
discoversandinventstheworlditismovingthrough.Similartoeveryrevolutionary
idea,thisradicalthinkingoffersustherichgroundforfurtherexpansionand
developmentofitsphenomenologicalstance.Itgivesusthefoundationfromwhich
tosaywhatisalreadythereandthefoundationtosaywhatisyettobesaid.
Asaphenomenologicalmethodology,Gestalttherapyisconcernedwithan
understandingofhowwelivethesituationweareliving:howtoanalyze,describe
andknowit.Inthischapter,Ihopetoilluminatemorefullytheorganizingprocesses
ofselfbypresentingacloserinvestigationornextstepintothedynamicsofhuman
movement.Iadvanceananalysisofthestructureandfunctionofmovement
progressionsandgiveaphenomenologicalaccountofcreativeadjustingbybreaking
downmovementintoitsmostbasicelementsandexploringthemeansbywhichwe
makemanifestexperiencebeforeitbecomesobjectifiedinreflection.Iarguehere
fortheunderstandingofmovementaspartofanyphenomenologicalanalysis
regardingself.Further,Iemphasizethesignificanceoffundamentalmovements
emerginginthetimeframeofthefirstyearoflifeandtheirconstitutive
participationinthemoment-to-momentexperiencesthroughoutlife:a
developmentalperspective.
Ingeneral,theessenceofmyworkhasbeentorecognizeandvalidatethe
importanceofinteractivemovementinthecreatingandorganizingofexperience.I
observeandidentifymovementpatternsinrelationshipdyads:specificallybaby-
parentandtherapist-patientdyads.Iexploremovementfromastructural-
functionalperspectiveandconsiderhoweachpersonintherelationshipcreatively
adjustswithintheirparticularsituation.Thatis,Iexaminethespecificsofhoweach
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movesandisbeingmovedinrelationtotheother.Thisbecomesanimportant
meansbywhichtheprocessesofcreativeadjustingcanbemadeknown.Asthe
authorsofGestalttherapysignificantlynoted,theprocessofcreativeadjustingisthe
essentialfunctionofself(Perls,Hefferline,Goodman1972/1951:247).Lookingat
theseovertandsubtlemovementtransactionsbetweenbabyandparent,therapist
andpatient,welearnsomethingessentialabouttheprocessesbywhichselfarises.
BeforeIcontinuetodiscusstheemergenceofselfasmovement,Ineedto
elucidatemyunderstandingoftheprimaryandfundamentalpositionmovement
holdsintheplayofhumanexperience.
Kinesthesiaandthefeelofourself-movements
Althoughmovementisthemostbasiccommondenominatortoourexistence,to
manymovementisoftenthoughtofasnomorethanalocationalshift.Movementis,
however,muchmorethanthisandneedsagreaterandmoreprecisedescriptionto
bemorefullycomprehended.Movementistheshapingofspacebybodiesinmotion
–onewiththeother–withinavarietyofcontextsfromwhichitsqualitative
characterarises.Movementisdynamic,relational,andsituational.Assuch,itmakes
sensetobeginwithmovementasthestartingplacetolookatthenatureof
contactingandtheemergingsense-of-self.
Sensitizingourselvestoourownmovementexperiencesis,tome,aprimary
requirementfortheorganizingofflexibleandcreativeadjusting.Through
kinesthesia,ormovementinawareness,weareindirectexperiencewiththe
situationweareliving.ThewordkinesthesiaisderivedfromtheGreekcineo,“to
putinmotion,”andaesthesis,“sensation”or“impression.”Kinesthesiaisthesense
orfeelofourself-movements.
Webecomekinestheticallyawareasweexperienceonepartofourmovingbody
inrelationtotheothers;senseourbodyweightandmusculartensions;andfeel
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variouspressuresagainstourbody.Throughkinesthesiawelistenorattendtoour
self-movementsandfeeloursubtlecreativeadjustingwithinthesituation.Welearn
thatweare,howweareandwhereweare.Kinestheticexperiencescaneitherbe
concealedfromusorbroughttoawareness.Andwhenbroughtforeground,valuable
informationregardingourconditionandthestateofourworldbecomesavailable.
Thesituationunveilsitselftousthroughavarietyoffeltqualitiesandcombinations
ofqualitiesexperiencedthroughmoving.Feltqualitiesarenotemotions,butrather
particularfeeling-tonesoraffects;i.e.thecontinuumsofbound-free,gradual-abrupt,
even-changing,high-lowintensity,andmanymore.Flowingonthestreamof
movement,theseaffectivehappeningsarepartofthestructure/functionfromwhich
“lived”experiencecomesintobeing.Bodiesfeltinmotionarecentraltotheco-
creatingofone’sexperiencedworld.
Iopenthedoorandseeyoursmile.Isharplyinhaleandfeelthewholeofmybody
riseupandtheareaofmyheartbulgeforward.IfeellightandItoosmile.Youlaugh,
leantowardsmeandgraspontomyshoulders.Feelingthefirmnessofyourhands
aroundme,Inowsensemyurgetomoveclosertoyou.Astheweightofmybodyshifts
fromheelstotheballsofmytoes,Istepforward.
Thiskindofinteractiveprocessistheintersubjectivedimensionofsubjectivity.
Andit’sbasedonkinestheticresonance--reverberatingfeelingtonesthatare
generatedfromonepersontoanother.Itisthephenomenonbroughtforwardmost
stronglyincontactingexperience:thesensed,thefelt,andthelived.Itishowwe
listentoourselveswithothersandfeel(thenknow)wearehere.Kinesthetic
resonanceistherelationalfeelofourrelationality.
Wheneverthereissomechangeinsituation,howevergrandorslight,thereis
somechangeinthefeltqualityofmovementandachangeintheoverallmuscular
toneofthebody.Ouroverallmusculartoneformsaposturalattitudeorthe
readinesstorespondandrelate:todosomethinginrelationtooursituation.
Posturalattitudeisthefeltgroundfromwhichactionsemergeandfeelingsarise.
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Again,wheneverthereisachangeinsituation,thereisachangeinthequalityof
movements,whichchangefeelings,andashiftinoverallposturaltone/attitude,
whichorganizesthenextaction.Andlikewise,asfeelingsandactionssurface,
posturalattitudesshift.
Movement,feeling,andposturaltone,then,areinextricablyintertwined.They
makeapparentourexperienceoftheworld.Suchexperiencesdonotrequire
mediationbythoughtsorconcepts,butratheraretheperson’simmediate
evaluationofthesituation.Thisdelicateinterweaving,alongwithfeedbackfromour
externalsenseorgansandtactility,formsthebasisofawareness.Kinesthetically
resonatingandinformed,weknowwhatweknowbeforeweknowit.Fromhere,
emotionsorganize,cognitiontakesshapeandwecanfurtherappraisethesituation.
Kinesthesiaisthemeansbywhichpsychotherapistscanmorefullyunderstand
thedynamicsoftheunfoldingpatient-therapistrelationship.Itis“….thepre-
reflectiveexperienceofempathy”and“…opensthepathwaytointimacy”
(Staemmler2011:3,14).Awareandresonatingwithothers,wearemorelikelyto
disallowourwell-practicedhabitualmodesofbeingandbehaving.Wecanmodify
ourmodeofcontactingbychangingthequalityofunderlyingsupportsasweshift
fromroutinizedbehaviorstothemorespontaneousandnovel.Indoingso,wehave
greateraccesstohowanothermovingbody—separatefromus,butnonetheless
similar—mightfeel.Thekineticsoftheothermatchesourownandwecanintuitthe
feelingsarecomparable.
Kineticsandtheperceptionofmoving
Thereisanothercomponenttoourmovement–thekineticsormovementitself.
Aswemoveinrelationtoothers,wenotonlyfeelourselvesmovebutwe
simultaneouslyperceiveourmovementsandalongparticulardimensions:
horizontal(spreading-enclosing),vertical(ascending-descending),andsagittal
(advancing-retreating).Movementformsorshapesspacealongthesethree
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dimensions.Thesekineticpathwaysthatareboundedbyspatialdimensionsalso
contributetothefeelofmovement.Inotherwords,wefeelthequalitiesofour
movementaswemovealongdimensionalspace,andwesensedimensionalspace
throughtheexperienceofthesequalities.AccordingtomovementtheoristMaxine
Sheets-Johnstone,“Spatialqualities...arefundamentaltothethree-dimensional
experiencemanifestedinself-movement.”(Sheets-Johnstone2010:114).Atany
momentandthroughanymovement,thefeelingof“inner”andperceptionof“outer”
canbedirectlysensed,andalwaysinrelation.
Allmovementshaveaspatialdynamic—aforceinrelationtocounterforcesorin
phenomenologicalterms,apushingagainstinrelationtoapushing-back.Wemove
tocompletesometask,i.e.satisfyaninterest,curiosityordesirecalledforthfrom
theenvironment,andindoingso,ourkinestheticself-movementsarerecognizedas
spatialmovements.This“situationalspatiality”(Merleau-Ponty2012/1945:102)is
foundedonourbeinglocatedinaworldthatiskinestheticallysensedandfelt.As
kinestheticresonancefacilitatesmovementandmovementisalwaysorienting:the
feelofintentionalityisunavoidable.
Beforethereisbody,beforethereisworld,thereismovement
Beforethereisrelationship,thereiscontact
Throughthefeeloftheirmovements,babieslearnwhattheycanandcannotdo
withanother.Theypracticetheirmovementpatternsrepeatedlyinorderto
accomplishanoveltask.Thisprocessoflearningisatotalexperience:moving,
sensing,feeling,perceivingandthekinestheticallyarrivedmeaningmadefromthis.
Intime,arepertoireoffundamentalmovementtransactionswillappear.Asthese
primarypatternsform,alwaysinrelationtotheworld,theyinformthebaby’s
growingkinestheticsense-of-self,whichinturninformsthecapacitytomove.
Movementofferstheexperienceofbeingabodyand,almostsimultaneously,beinga
bodyofferstheexperienceofbeingoftheworld.Therefromthestart,movement
criticallyorganizesthesense-of-selfthatweareandwillbecome.
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Imaginethatathreemonth-oldbabyliesinthearmsofherfatherandlooksupat
hisface.Father,holdingthebabywithafirmandgentlegrasp,gazesdownathischild.
Thebabylightlysquirmsinresponsetoherfather’sholdingandhisgaze.Asshemoves,
sheiskinestheticallyresonatinginrelationtoherfather.Thebaby’smovementsare
notsomethingseparatefromthesituationinwhichsheisliving,butratherexpress
thatsituation.Thebabyprogressivelyformstheexperienceof“Iseeyouseeme.”“Ifeel
youfeelme.”
Imaginethatthebabysmilesatherfather.Thefathersmilesbackandthebaby
wigglesandlaughs.Wemightinferforthebaby,“Isaw-felt-foundapartofmyselfin
yourface,thatIdidnotknowwasthereuntilthisverymoment.NotuntilIexperienced
asmilingfacerespondingtomysmiledidIknowitwasmineandthatitmattered.”
Nowthebabysoftlyandgraduallyreachesherhandtowardsherfather’ssmiling
faceand,kinestheticallyresonatingwithinthesituation,sensesandfeelshowthemove
willcompleteitself.Itsanticipatedachievementismadeknowthroughthedynamicsof
apresidingfeltexperience.
Throughmoving,thebabyrealizeshowherbodyin-formstheworldandhowthe
worldin-formsher.Movingistheprimarysourceofthebaby’semergingsenseof
agencyatapre-reflectivelevel,(Stern1985,Beebe&Lachmann2002).The
kinesthetic-kinetic-affectivedynamicofhumanexperienceiscriticaltoourfeelof
agency.“Reliablekinestheticexpectations,likethekinestheticregularitiesonwhich
theyarebased,arethefoundationtooursenseofagency,toourbuildinga
repertoireof‘Icans,’toourabilitytomoveandthenmoveinmeaningfulways”
(Sheets-Johnstone1999:145).Bodilypowers,then,arisefromourprimitivesense
ofaliveness.Intime,“IknowwhatIcandowithyoubecauseIhavedonewithyou,”
andsimultaneously,“Ilearnwhatyoucandowithme.”Thefeltpastisgroundtothe
feelingpresent.
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Sixfundamentalmovements:Themotionofself
Tounderstandtheexperienceofkinestheticresonanceingreaterdepth,wemust
explorethestreamuponwhichitflows–thesixfundamentalmovements(R.Frank,
2001,R.Frank&F.LaBarre,2010,R.Frank2013).Intheprocessoffindingand
makingthemselvesintheworld,babiesuseanonverbalvocabularyofmicro-
movements.Theyexperiencethemselvesyieldingwith,pushingagainst,reaching
for,graspingonto,pullingtowardandreleasingfromtheother.Co-constructed
withintheearlyrelationalfield,theseinteractionsareprimitivecallsandresponses
inongoingrapport.Theyorganizeanexperiencethatisspatialaswellassocial
(Hermans&Hermans-Konopka2010)andgivethebabyasenseofconnectingwith
whileseparatingfromothers.Movingthroughtheirworld,babiesdevelopapre-
reflectivekinestheticorientingthatletsthemknowtheexistenceofthatother;one
whosespaceisnotmine,butatthesametimeisformingmine.
Developinginthefirstyearoflife,thesesixfundamentalmovementpatterns
continuetobeessentialtoallourinteractionsthroughoutlife,supportingthemost
basicelementsofanimatedpsychologicalfunctioning.Althoughtheyarecontinually
perceived,theyremainperipheraltoperception.Theyarethe“forcefield”of
contacting(MichaelVincentMiller2015inconversation)andshapethebackground
fromwhichakinestheticresonatingsense-of-selfemerges.
Thelaterpatternsofanimatedbeingarefoundedontheearlier,whichinturnare
influencedbythenexttocome,andalwaysexpressedandexperiencedinrelation.
Althoughthesetransactionalpatternsmayappeartobelinearanddiscrete,by
naturetheyarenot.Onecategoryofmovementdoesnotoccurinisolationfromthe
others.Rathereachmovement,alongwithitsever-changingkinestheticquality,
interpenetratestheothersandcontributestoaspiralofexperience—onethat
expandsandcondenses,pulsatingwithlife.
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Subjectiveexperienceisyokedtothesemovingpatternswiththeiraccompanying
kinesthesia;akinesthesiathatispersistently“….reconstructedaftereachphaseof
movement.”(Merleau-Ponty2012/1945:118).Wecanpushagainsttheotherfreely
orwithagreaterboundquality,wecanreachabruptlyorgradually,wecangrasp
withlowerorhigherintensity.Thetasktobeaccomplishedcallsforwardthe
movementstobeperformed.Theperformance,inresponse,callsbacktothetask.
Eachnoveltasktobecompleted—contactingexperiencetobeconsummated—
offersapotentiallydifferentinvitationtobeaccepted(ornot),fromwhichthe
possibilityofadiversesequenceofmovementsandtheirvariedqualitiesappear;
co-createdwithinamotorarcofintentionality(Merleau-Ponty2012/1945:137).
Fromthebaby’sandthenadult’scontinuedpracticeoftheseinvariant
fundamentals—yieldingwith,pushingagainst,reachingfor,graspingonto,pulling
towardandreleasingfrom—variationsinpatternspringforthandcontactingis
modifiedbyamultitudeofkinestheticallyfeltqualities.Althoughlearnedinthefirst
yearoflife,thesepatternsfunctionhere-and-nowconstitutedbyandconstitutingall
presentexperience.
Throughbodiesinmotion,temporalsequencesevolve,spacetakesformandthe
babydevelopsaprimordialsenseofagency.Bodilyagencyisbasedonmoving
experience:“Ireachforyouthere,asImovehere.”“Igraspontoyouandfeelyou
graspontome.”Throughtheattractiveother,movementpatternstakeshape.Every
coordinatingpatternsupportsthesequencesofcontacting—fore-contacting,
contacting,finalcontactingandpost-contacting—fromtheincipientco-creatingof
interest,curiosity,anddesireuntilitsconsummation.Theprocessesofcontacting
andtheirprimarysensorimotorsupportsareinextricablylinked—onedoesnot
existwithouttheother(Perls1992:84.).
Iofferthemovementvocabularybelowasawayofanalyzingthestructureof
contactingandthebuildingofanemergentsense-of-self—kinesthetic,temporal,
spatial,and,ofcourse,dynamic.Verbsthemselvesdonotexistwithouttheirobject
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andsoIhaveplacedaprepositionfollowingeachofthesixfundamentalmovements
tobestdescribetherelationshipthatisalwaysalreadythereinthedirectedactof
moving.
Fore-contacting:
Asproprioceptiveawarenessdevelops,theexperienceofyieldingwith
(surrenderingwithorallowingtobewith)theothermovestotheforeground.Atthis
timeinthesequence,boundarieshavenotbeenwellclarified.Thelivedbody(the
bodyIexperience)hasagraduallyemergingsenseofweightandasenseofwidth
andvolume.Breathingisdeepandwide.Apre-reflectiveknowingofthesituation
springsintoexistence.ManypossibilitiesareavailableasIgraduallyorientmyself
withintheenvironment.
Contacting:
Yieldingwithnowbecomestheground,supportingthefurtheranceofthesequence
fromwhichpushingagainstnaturallyarises.WhereverandwheneverIshiftmy
weightinordertomove,thereispushingagainsttheother—separatingfromwhile
atthesametimeincludingthatentityinexperience.Apushfromanyofmylimbs
(head,baseofpelvis,arms,legs)enhancessensationsofmymidlineasmybody
coheres.Whatissensedattheperiphery,thelimbsinrelationtothatwhichthey
touchandwhichtouchesthem,canbefeltatthecenter,formingaunifiedwhole.
Possibilitiesofthesituationnownarrowandmyintentionclarifies–afigure
emerges.AsIfeelthequalityofmypushingagainsttheother,Iexperienceanactive
“pushing-back”asthesituationrevealsitself.Thereisamarkedtransitionor
greaterdifferentiationbetweenwhatis“me”andwhatis“other.”Thequalityof
pushingagainst,orresistingtheotherastheotherpushesbackandresistsme,
generatesathicknessofexperience.Excitementbuilds.
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Inthepushingprocess,desireclarifiesasanincipientreachingemergestowards
itsobject.Contactingprogressesandtheunfoldingofmyreachingfor,supportedby
mypushingagainst,bringstheotherintocloserrelationandIambetterinformedas
tothedevelopingsituation(orthechoicemaybetopushaway).
Finalcontacting
Thesequencecontinuesasreachingforbecomesgroundforgraspingonto.Inmy
grasp,whatIdesireisnowsensed,feltandknown.Fromhere,aninnatepulling
towardtheothertoincorporateemergesandthedifferentiationbetween“I”and
“you”isatitsgreatest.Myintentionandyoursisunderstood,sensedandfeltby
eachofus.Excitementpeaks.
Post-Contacting:
Thepullingtowardofincorporationisfollowedbyanexperienceofreleasing
from,whichmovesforegroundasthewelldifferentiated“I”spreadsandwidensand
anexperienceofrelativemergingfollows.Whatwasformerlyotherdisorganizesas
“I”and“You”become“I/You”sometimesknownas“We.”
Releasingfromthenmovesintotheexperienceofyieldingwithoncemore.
Excitementdiminishesandthefigureclosesandbecomesground.Withinthenowof
thisyieldingexperienceisthesupportofwhatwas,thepastexperienceonwhichit
nowstands.
Anotherwaytodescribethisongoingspatialtemporaldynamic:imagineavast
seawhenitiscalm,mereripplesonitssurface.Fromthisbackgroundofapparent
stillness,awavecollects,pushesupwardandinevitablyreachestowardthe
attractiveandattractingother,thesandybeach.Onceseameetssand,itgraspsonto
andpullsthisothertowarditself.Asthewavelosesform,thesandisreleasedand
graduallysinksdownwardtobecomepart/wholeofthesedimentationfromwhich
thenextwavearises.Ebbingandflowing,risingandfalling,expandingand
condensing–suchistheprimordialrhythmofalllife.
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Themovingprocessesdescribedaboveformthegroundofakinetic-kinesthetic
resonatingsense-of-self.Intheactofmovingwith,against,for,onto,towardand
fromtheother,wefindandmakeourselvesintheprocess.Wearethemoverand
themove.Theseunderlyingcurrentsarethecoreelementsthatcontributetofigure-
groundformation.Aswesee,sense,feelhowthesecurrentsflow,weknow
somethingimportantastohowweexistinrelation;howwemeetatthisvery
moment.
Ihavegiventheexampleofcontactingprocessesinwhichexcitementsariseand
diminishfluidly.Herethesemovingpatternsformthegroundforthenextonesto
emergeasthenext,inturn,feedbacktotheearlierinarhythmicallymovingspiral
ofexperience.Eachpatternmovesforegroundandbackgroundnaturallyinservice
ofthearisingorganizingfigure.Butthisexampleofafluidlymovingprocessisnot
alwaysthecase.Whenthereisfixation,oneortwopatternsmayappearheldin
foregroundwhiletheothersremainfarbackgroundseemingunavailableandalmost
irretrievable.Thesense-of-selfhardensandtherhythmicflownecessaryfora
fluidlybuildingexperienceishabituallyconstrained.Repetitionreplaces
spontaneityandcreativityisreplacedbythealltoofamiliar/habitual.
Previously,weimaginedababy-parentdyadinharmonyandreciprocityand
exemplifyingafluidlydevelopingsense-of-self.Nowweexamineadifferentdyad
illustratingthedevelopingofrepetitiveconstraints.
Asthefatherreachesdowntopickuphisbaby,henarrowstheskinalonghis
foreheadandpusheshislipstogether.Asheliftshisdaughteroutofhercrib,his
movementsarebound,high-intensityandabrupt.Thebaby,especiallysensitiveto
facialexpressions,isbothvisuallyandbodilyresonatingwiththekineticsofherfather
andrespondskineticallyandkinesthetically.Inotherwords,asshefeelshim
advancingtowardherandthenliftingherupandawayfromthesupportofhercrib,
shepullsherarmsandlegstogether,whichnarrowstheareasofherchestand
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abdomenandsheholdsherbreath.Shekinestheticallyregistersthesefeelingsas“not
good.”
Whileholdingontoherwithhisbound,highintensitygrasp,thebabyabruptly
reachesherheadandeyesawayfromherfatherandbeginstosubtlyyetfirmlypush
herpelvisandlegsagainstthelimitingresistanceofherfather’sboundembrace.
Misinterpretinghisdaughter’sdevelopingdiscomfortanddesirefordistanceand
imaginingthatsheiscallingforamoresolidcontainer,thefatherabruptlypullshis
daughtertowardshischest.Thebabythenwhimpers,andherfatherbeginsquickly
bouncingherup-and-downwithanunyieldingstaccatorhythm.
Inthisexample,bothparentandbabybringakinesthetic-kinetichistorytotheir
meeting.Perhapsthefatherwasnotwellenoughsupportedinhisinfancyand
throughouthischildhood.Ashereachesdowntopickuphischild,anenduring
relationaltheme(Jacobs2009:69)emerges.Theunawareandself-fulfilled
expectationofawkwardness:“NooneheldmeandmademefeelsafesoIdon’t
knowhowtodothatforyou.”Ortheunawareexpressionofresentment:“Why
wouldImakeyoufeelsafeifnoonemademefeelsafe?”Thefather’sdynamical
reachingaction,bound,abruptandhigh-intensity,wasatonetimewellpracticedin
reactiontothesignificantfiguresinhisearlylife.Thesehistoricexperiencesof
reachingandbeingreachedarenowre-stimulatedinthepresentandcreatea
familiarkinestheticresonancethatisonlyperipherallysensedandfelt.Although
thefather’sbehaviorisnotyetunderstoodcognitively,itisalreadygraspedinterms
ofbodilyengagement.
Imaginethatinthelifeofthebaby,atenuousholdingexperiencehasalready
becomeroutine.Now,evenbeforesheistouchedandmoved,shewillpredictwhat
iscoming–thattheholdingsituationwillnotbesupportive–andshereactsin
anticipation.Assheseesherfathermovetowardher,shepreparesbybindingher
muscles,holdingherbreath,andheighteningtheintensityofhermovements.
Kinestheticallyresonatingandpre-reflectivelyawareofhercircumstance,shefeels
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thecoming“next.”Shelivesthesituationathand,contactingthefullrealityofher
experience.Thesekindsofrepeatedoccurrencesbecomeetchedintothenewly
formingrepertoireofbaby-parenttransactionsandthebaby’spatternsofbreath,
gesture,postureandgaittakeform.Herongoingbodilyresponsestoherfather
confirmhowshewasreceived.Theparent’sbodyalsoisinfluencedintheseongoing
nonverbalconversations.
Asexemplifiedinthebaby-parentscenarioabove,theexperiencedpast
kinestheticallyresonatesineachnewmoment.Theunfoldingre-memberingis
neitherinthemusclesnornervoussystemofthechildnorparent,butrather
springsforwardintheco-createdformingofakinestheticallysituatedsense-of-self.
Patternsofkinesthetic-kineticrememberingarenotintheleastimpreciseor
abstractforbabynorforadult.Aspostural-gesturalpatternsareco-shapedinthis
nownewmoment,theearliercontactingexperiencesinrelationtopreviousand
significantothersinourlifeandtheirkinestheticvaluesareenfoldedwithin.The
earlierexperienceisalwayspart/wholeofthecontinuingemergingsense-of-self.At
everythresholdofexperience,welookfortheotherthatisalreadythere.
Imaginethepatientwho,duringsession,slowlyreacheshisarmstowardshis
therapistashesimultaneouslymoveshisupperbodyforwardandawayfromtheback
ofhischair.Ashisreachingpatternunfolds,familiarkinesthetic-kineticimpressions
nowinformandformhispattern.Feelinghimselfmovebeyondthepresumedsafetyof
hispersonalkinesphereandintoaspacewherehemaynotbelong,hesuddenlypulls
hisarmsinwardandpusheshimselfback.
Envelopedwithinbothhisreachingtowardandpushingbackfromthetherapist,is
thekinesthetic-kineticfamiliarandreliablehistoricexpectationofwhatheimagines
hecanandcannotdowithher.Witheverykinestheticallyfeltrelationalmove,the
sedimentedpastflowsintotheanticipatedfuture.
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Thetherapist,sensitizingherselftothedynamicsofsituation,seesandfeelsherself
movedbyherpatient’sreachingout-pushingbackgesture.Asshemakesherself
presenttothesubtleyetprofoundtransactionsofthisencounterandattunestohim,
shelaysthegroundfromwhichhecantakesupport.Thesituationrearrangesanda
novelco-creatingofrelationshipismadepossible.
Thekinetic-kinestheticallyfeltpastispartofpre-reflectiveconsciousnessthat
maynevercometofullconsciousness.Anditisnotalwaysnecessarytomake
consciouswhatisinthepre-reflectiverealm.Itisapre-cognitivekindof
understanding,notyetmadedistinct,andwhichsaysfarmorethanwhenwemake
itdistinctbyourinterpreting.
Thepriorparent-babyandadultpatient-therapistscenariosillustratethe
phenomenalpassageoftrans-generationaltrauma—developmentallyorotherwise
organized—anditbeginswithkinesthetic-kineticresonance.Intrauma,andforvery
goodreasons,wenolongergiveintoandtakefromtheworldspontaneouslyor
creatively.Theembodiedandrepeatingrelationalthemesthataccompanyour
limitedmovementrepertoiresaremoreoftenunawarebutneverthelessfelt.
Whereasonceitwaspossibletoclearlyattunetoandresonatewiththeintentionsof
theotherandrespond,inadissociatedstateoftraumawithdiminishedsense-of-
selfatthecontactboundary,kinestheticcapacityisdulledandthepossibilitiesof
thesituationclose.
Fromtheorytopractice:
“Asweawakentotheexperienceofourmovingbody,weawakentothe
experienceoftheworld”MauriceMerleau-Ponty
Astherapists,inourquesttounderstandthephenomenologyofdeveloping
humanexperience,whetherinthetime-lineofthefirstyearoflifeorthemoment-
to-momentofthepresent,weneedtoknowhowfundamentalandspontaneous
interactionsformakinetic-kinestheticresonantbackgroundfromwhichcreative
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waysofbeingandbehavingcanemergeor,conversely,howsuchprimary
interactivepatternsbecomefixedandformdistortionsinresonance.Insodoing,we
investigatetheformingandfunctioningofself.
Thecasevignettebelowisakindofmicroanalysisofthemoment-to-moment
structureoftherapybylookingatthefunctionofmovementtransactions.The
patient’semergingselfdevelopsinlearningwhatshecanandcannotdowithinthe
therapysituationasshediscoversherselfthroughmovement.
Justasbabieslearntheirbodiesandthemselvesfirstandforemostthrough
ongoingandco-createdkinetic-kinestheticexperiences,sotoocantheadultpatient
relearnhercapacitytomakesenseofhersubjectiveselfwithinthepatient-therapist
field.
Atthetimeofthissession,42year-oldSaraandIhadbeenworkingtogetherfor
severalmonths.Beforecomingtome,shehadbeenapatientingestalttherapyfor
approximatelyfiveyears.
Saratellsmeastoryaboutanuncomfortablesituationbetweenherselfandaboy
shedatedwhenshewas17.Theboyaskedhertodosomethingsexualwithhimthat
madeSarafeeluncomfortable.Butratherthansay“no,”shecomplied.
Asshespeaks,Saraslowlyhollowsandnarrowsherchestandshortensherspine.
Herheadnowpushesdownwardandshelooksatthefloor.Herhands,oncerestingby
hersides,nowgraspontoeachother.Herfeet,whichappearedplantedonthefloor,
nowsubtlypushbackwardleavingSaraprecariouslybalancedoneachsetoftoes.Her
thighsrotateandpressinwardasherkneespulltogether.Saraappearstobe
shrinking.
Sittingacrossfromandrelativelyclosetoher,IfeelfartherawaythanIactuallyam
andInoticeIamholdingmybreath.Itakeafullerexhale,bringmyhandstomylap
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andenjoythefeeloftheirweightonmythighs.Amemoryemerges,somethinglong
forgotten,andIfindmyselfidentifyingwithSara’sstory.
Whenshefinishes,webothpause.Ifeelasenseofemptinessaroundmeanda
sinkingfeelingofdefeatinmychest.Iadjustmyselffindingthebackofmychair
behindandtheseatunderme.Itakeaslowfullbreathandthenwonderaloudwhat
Saramightbefeelingaftertellingmeherstory
Sararaisesherheadandlooksdirectlyatme.“Ifeelshame.”sheresponds,andthen
glancesdownward.
Iwaitseveralmomentsandask,“HowmightIbepartofyourshamefulexperience?”
Saralooksdirectlyatmeandsays,“IalwaysfeelshamefulwhenItalkaboutthisor
evenwhenIthinkaboutwhathappened.”
Ipauseandaskagain,“HowmightIbepartofyourshamefulexperience.”
ThistimeSarawaitsandthensighsdeeply.“Well,thiskindofthingwouldnever
happentoyou,”shesaysconvincedandconvincingly.
“Whatmakesyouthinkso?”Iask.
“Yousitupsostraightandtall.No,thiswouldneverhappentoyou.”
Throughtheclarityofherstatement,ournextexplorationisconstructed.Atmy
invitation,SaraandIbegin“shrinking”and“growing”veryslowlyandincrementally
inrelationtooneanother.Withoutwords,weexplorethefeelofourmovementsandin
alldimensions.Ishorten,narrowandhollow,whileshelengthens,widensandbulges,
andsoforthasweexplorethiscontinuum.
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Aftersometimepassesinmutualfascination,SaraandIcometomirroreach
other—webothsimultaneouslygrowandexpand.Saralooksatme,momentarily
pauses,andthensuddenlyshrinks,“Icannotbeasbigasyou,”sheexclaims.
Intheexperiment,SaraandIreflecteduponourselvesandprimarilythrough
movementratherthancognitively.Weactedinconcertwithoneanotherandwith
nopre-conceivednotionsofwhatweweredoingorwhatweweretodo.Igaveas
muchattentiontomyexperienceofhermovementsandtomyownasIdidmy
visualperceptionofthem.Ifelt/graspedthesubtlemovementsofherbodyand
evaluatedtheiraestheticvalues.ByimaginingthefeelofSara’smovements,Icould
enterherworld.Inthecontinuingprocessoftherapy,thesekindsofongoing
animateexperiencesbecamewovenintothefabricoftherelationship,accumulating
insightsforbothSaraandmyself.
Noposture-gesturecanbecompletelyfreedfromitssociallyacquiredmeaning,
butwhenweattendtoarisingkinestheticresonancesproducedbyandproducing
gesturesofone’sownandoftheother,wecanseparatewhatweassumea
movementmeansanddiscovertherealityofthemovingsituationitself.Sara’s
familiarstuntedposturethatsheperenniallylabeledas“bad”tookonnewand
differentmeaninginthemomentasitsrelationalsignificanceclarified.Myupright
posture“said”somethingimportanttoSaraashershrinkingexperience“said”
somethingimportanttome.Inaddition,withaheighteningofkinesthetic
awareness,Saracouldexpandherposture-gesturalrepertoireovertimeand
experiencethenoveltyofourbuildingrelationship.
AsJean-MarieRobinestates,“Whenapatientsitsinfrontofmeandtellsmethat
heisanxious,Icanchoosetolistentohiswordsnotonlyaswordsinacertain
situation,butalsoaswordsofthesituation,asifthesewordswerebelongingtoan
undifferentiatedfieldwhichhastobeexplored,insteadoftoanindividual,theone
whotellsthem”(Robine2011:113).Similarly,ratherthanthemovementof
shrinkingbeingSara’sindividualsymptom,ittoobelongedtoanundifferentiated
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field.Asweexplored,attuningtotheemergingkinetic-kinestheticresonances,Sara
andIcouldspontaneouslyevaluateourrelationshipandtogethervalidatewhatwas
happeningbetweenusasrealandtrue.Fromhere,anewnarrativecouldemerge
andthroughmovementinawareness,it’smeaningcomealive.
Experiencesofkinesthetic-kineticresonancegroundoursocialinteractionsfrom
theverybeginningofourlivesandarecrucialinthemakingofmeaningthroughout
life.Suchbody-to-bodykinestheticallyfeltengagementsshapethebackgroundfrom
whichthepresentexperiencebecomesfigural.Inoureverydaytherapyexperience,
thisprocessbeginsassoonasourpatientspressourdoorbellwithacertainrhythm
andintensity,sayhelloandwalkintoourconsultingroomandseatthemselveson
ourcouchincharacteristicways.Thesetransactionsareessentialandfundamental
totheopeningdialogueor“startingsituation”oftherapy(Perls,Hefferline,
Goodman1972/1951).Ifwelistentoourbodilyresonancerightfromthestart,we
areopentothepossibilitiesofwhatisemergingbetweenourpatientsand
ourselves.Stayingclosetothefelt-qualitiesofamovingdialogueallowsthe
therapisttoremainopentowhateverunfolds.Wewaitwithutmostavailabilityand
listenforthenextstepratherthanmakingithappen.Thisiscrucialinallowingthe
relationshiptodiscloseitselfratherthanclosingitoffbyinterpretingthemoment
toosoonoratall.
Workingthroughmovementinawareness,were-findourlivedsensuality,the
motionofselfinprocess,whichsometimeshasfeltirretrievablylosttobothpatient
andtherapist.Wearenotmerelyawareofhowwesitinthechairorhowwe
breathe,commonandusefulinterventionsingestalttherapy,butfurtherhowwe
negotiatethequalitiesofoursensedsituatedspatiality.Inotherwords,alltheways
themicro-movementsofourexistencemovethroughtheotherastheothermoves
throughus.Thatis,wefocusonthecontinualdancewecallcontacting—thedance
ofthebetween.
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InSummary
Thesixfundamentalmovementsandtheaccompanyingaesthetickinesthetic
resonancestheyelicitarethephenomenalexperienceofanemerginganddynamic
functionofselfandaddamorecompleteaspecttotheunfoldingprocessesof
contacting.Theyprovidemultiplepre-reflectivemeaningsthatarepart/wholeof
thearisingsituation.Fromhere,reflectivecognitionismade.
Attendingtokinetic-kinestheticresonancewithintherapyisnotmerelytoattend
solelytothephysicalorsolelytothefeelingqualitiesofexperienceastheyarenot
separatefromoneanother,butrathertheprocessofresonanceisaholistic
apprehensionoftheemergingmoment.Intheprocessofcapturingtheother,
animatedfunctionofselfbecomesmanifest.Aswecomeintothiskindofdirectand
profoundcontactwiththeother,wealsobecomepartofagreatercollectiveprocess
commontoallhumanexperience,thatofcomingintobeing.
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