Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Levels of Knowing - the Body's Wisdom

      "If experience is not coming from the body, it is not known. You can say 'I know I am going to die', from your head. But it's something totally different to be told 'You've got 6 months to live' - then it's coming from the body that knows it's going to die. ... something totally different happens when it's experienced at the muscular level." Marion Woodman, Jungian Analyst

     Simple concepts are relatively quick and easy to grasp. But the cerebral cortex is much further from the marrow of one's bones than we suspect! Deep understanding of life's complexities, and full integration of valuable knowledge into one's life, requires decades of dedicated effort. I suspect the brains (not just bodies) of PhDs in physical education who don't exercise, differ radically on neuroimaging from the brains of high-level athletes. Of course top athletes can also have PhDs. But which group has the deepest, most complete understanding of phys ed?

     These "levels of knowing" differ not merely quantitatively, but are ascending, qualitative steps in ways of being in the world, with a corresponding impact on the world.

     "The success of a work depends on the interior 'state' (assuming the balance to be at the highest degree of tension towards wisdom) of its creator". Andre Breton, 1957
http://www.rireduciel.com/pages_autres_art_abstrait_contemporain/contemporary_lyric_abstraction_action_painting.htm




2 comments:

  1. Thought provoking and reasssuring all at once. Thank you.

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  2. Thank you for your steady, positive feedback Carol - much appreciated!

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