Paul B. Lister, M.A., C.C.C. offers an article in The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter issue from Summer 2005, Number 49 about his experience with Jin Shin Jyustu. This, and all issues of The Main Central, are available at http://www.jsjinc.net.

~ Paul B. Lister, M.A., C.C.C. Speech-Language Pathologist, Private Practice in New Hampshire.

Excerpted from an article appearing in The Ammonoosuc Times, New Hampshire, February 11, 2005, this is about the author’s observations and experience with Jin Shin Jyutsu on stroke and brain-injured adults. He has worked with Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, Irene Lambert, in Littleton, New Hampshire.

One of the most wonderful things about what happens in professions of healing is the unexpected. Some scenarios render a perfectly healthy individual defenseless and near death with expectation that can, at best, be called guarded. Head injuries are measured on scales of severity and many patients begin with the Glasgow Coma Scale that identifies levels of responses even when in a deep coma. The longer and deeper the coma, the more likely recovery will be diminished. Some patients never emerge from this deep valley of darkness, others do.

The second scale during recovery is applied to behavior, communication and mental status called the Rancho Los Amigos Scale from the rehabilitation hospital that developed it. At the worst and lower end (Level I), a patient has no response to pain, sound, sight or touch while at the highest and most desirable end (Level VIII) a person has nearly no detectable residual problems of cognition, behavior or communication. Unfortunately few patients achieve this status.

A current patient has returned home from hospitalization and rehabilitation following a devastating motor vehicle accident nearly a year ago. She has been blessed with a most remarkable family and support staff who took her home well before her residential rehab staff felt she was ready. I am very privileged to serve on her support team at home, but I was skeptical because of the intense level of care that would be necessary and the demands that confusion and agitation place upon a family. She was returning with a Rancho Los Amigos Scale Level IV, described as confused and agitated while remaining alert and very active. Behaviors are described as aggressive and often unusual.

Progress at this time has been exceptional, and there appears to be no foreseeable plateaus in the immediate future. Along her recovery road, many gains and responses have been predictable with incremental gains made in increased attention span, appropriateness of responses, improved processing, reduced paranoia, improved writing and math performance and improved memory of events that transpired more than two years ago.

That brings me to the unexpected gains that could not be accounted for in clinical therapy. Tension and aggravation subsided even in the presence of difficult treatment and social situations. If this had occurred as the only surprise, it could be construed as a clinical by-product (but don’t ask me to explain how). Something else occurred that at first had showed limited promise but now is returning beyond any reasonable expectation and that is short term memory. This is usually the last area to show recovery and in many patients never returns to a functional level. Things we did two hours ago or yesterday or last week fail to be stored or if they are stored, cannot be retrieved in a reasonable manner.

To be continued…

Petra Elmendorff offers an article in The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter issue from Summer 2005, Number 49 about her understanding of the Order of Creation. This, and all issues of The Main Central, are available at http://www.jsjinc.net.

The Order of Creation is the dance of the 12 organ function flows and their relationship to the 12 astrological signs. It is the natural sequence of light through the day as every 2 hours an organ function flow is in charge of body, mind and spirit.

At the zenith of the day, at 12 noon, the vibration of water shifts to Leo/Heart function energy, inheriting the powers of the sun. Once again vitality is released. As the powers and presence of the soul have been felt in Cancer, awareness mounts into an abundant radiation of energy – a release to express and create in order to sing the gospel of the divine. In Leo/Heart function energy, every expression becomes a celebration, a worship of the Creator. In the dance of the unfolding of the 12-ness of the light, this fifth star sign represents the culmination of man (five).

Virgo/Small Intestine function energy as the 2nd earth sign will now once again dedicate its skills to be service for body, mind and spirit. With craft, touch and a strong sense of healing the whole-ness of mankind, the energy of the divine, realized in Leo/Heart is surrendered to the improvement of earthly living.

As one half of the circle has been experienced, the focus of awareness is shifting now. For the first time in this journey, consciousness is created through the attention to relationships. The Libra/Bladder function energy provides an extreme sensitivity for harmony to stay in balance. A deep understanding and recognition of beauty in every expression of life is the heritage of this power. Equilibrium is established in every moment anew, by continuously balancing body, mind and spirit. Giving and taking in harmony will be the natural result of this awareness.

Once again the knowing of an air sign is delivered down to the toe/water flows. Awareness is now created through the Scorpio/Kidney function energy. As Libra/Bladder began to explore and open up the realm of relating, Scorpio/Kidney function energy will dive into the mystery of relationship and life to be transformed. An innate connectedness to the currents of life provides the trust in transformations. Metamorphoses and birth/rebirth experiences are under the guidance of the Scorpio/Kidney powers to provide the regeneration and renewing of our lives bringing back unity.

Here Sagittarius/Diaphragm function energy, as a 6th Depth flow, takes over. It is spirit itself that plays out its trust in creation – an abundant ability to see and express the divine in all appearances of life. Like an alchemist, the Sagittarius/Diaphragm focus is on the essence, seeing the underlying pattern of the Creator. The powers of Sagittarius/Diaphragm deliver meaning and truth in every situation and nourish a deep understanding of life and the laws of the universe.

Capricorn/Umbilicus function energy, fuelled by the 6th Depth vibration, will, from the point of view of earth, help to find the place on earth in order to achieve our highest intention. Therefore, being able to serve and function for the greater whole, the story is about ascension – a story of the birth of light in the midst of the densest earthy vibration to rise above limitations.

As Aquarius/Gall Bladder function energy opens up its hemisphere in the middle of the night to the cosmic song of the universe, the experience of Capricorn/Umbilicus is infused now with divine knowledge. Great sudden insight and universal knowledge will make sure life stays true to the message of the 3rd Depth of expansion and growth. Its consciousness is forever altering fixed structures and opening the horizon.

The journey that began with Aires daring to pioneer into a new morning of life, circles now into its completion. With the Pisces/Liver function energy, the fulfillment of all longing is promised – the journey to return home to the Source. Once again a reconnecting to the soul’s desire to melt back to oneness is the driving force. Transcendence and surrender are the skills to allow the smooth flow of life – a melting into the graces of the divine ocean of spirit…only to conquer with new consciousness the dawn of man in the next cycle around with Aries.

Thank you, Petra.

Thank you, Mary.

Thank you, David.

Gassho, Namaste, Blessings

Petra Elmendorff offers an article in The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter issue from Summer 2005, Number 49 about her understanding of the Order of Creation. This, and all issues of The Main Central, are available at http://www.jsjinc.net.

The Order of Creation is the dance of the 12 organ function flows and their relationship to the 12 astrological signs. It is the natural sequence of light through the day as every 2 hours an organ function flow is in charge of body, mind and spirit.

While Mary relates the depths on the level of the 6-pointed star to the powers of the planets, it is now the zodiac, with its 12 star signs that corresponds to the properties of the Organ Function Energy. Even though the division of this circle of the zodiac in 12 different segments is given, thus formulating a beginning and an end, in life it is an ongoing flow – one dance, just changing every 2 hours to a different expression. Oneness experiences itself through the 12 archetypes of the star signs and lives out in the 12 organ function flows. Consciousness is created through these 12 powers.

If we study their flow routes, we can also recognize this unity. Oneness in movement creates (in harmony) rhythm – cycles can be defined. For the Order of Creation this rhythm is displayed in the story of the 4 elements, as the dance of fire (chest), earth (finger), air (face) and water (toe) flows.

Coming from the awareness of the “I am” of the Main Central Vertical, the key element of the 3rd Depth will bridge Breath-essence to the birth of the first organ flow, creating the “little b” breath of the Lung Function Energy.

The archetype of every dawn, the first breath in life is represented in the Aries/Lung function energy – birthing into a complete “new” space, expelling and exposing of self to a virgin situation. Consciousness is created by experiencing the self in any given open space. Aires/Lung function energy is the breath as first action of the individualized being.

As one star sign follows the other, it is, as well, an ongoing story of life unfolding. Therefore each next sign following will already carry the information of the previous.

Taurus/Large Intestine function energy begins now to own and take into possession the space that had been opened up and explored by Aries. Formation of the vitality released takes place; substance and values are created for body, mind and spirit. The body as an expression of earth is owned and grounded through the utilizing of the 5 senses.

In Gemini/Stomach function energy, the earthy experience will find its “digestion” through the “mighty powers of the mind” (Mary). Communication and knowledge, quick wit and an ability to allow duality without judgment are skills applied when Stomach function energy delivers its consciousness through bust-, waist- and hipline.

At the toes, these insights become food for the waters of life. And it will be the Cancer/Spleen function energy that will absorb the impressions of light, reflecting on it to transform the experience from the inside. Cancer on a feeling/water level is in this journey the first awakening to the presence of the soul. This awareness is an invitation to come home inside of myself – nourishment for body, mind and spirit, allowing the soul to have gravity.

To be continued…

David Burmeister offers an article in The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter issue from Summer 2005, Number 49 about Ethics. This, and all issues of The Main Central, are available at http://www.jsjinc.net.

A Speech Made by David Burmeister

At the 2004 Porto Alegre, Brazil, Forum

“Compassion is what makes our lives meaningful. It is the source of all lasting happiness and joy. And it is the foundation of a good heart, the heart of one who acts out of a desire to help others. Through kindness, through affection, through honesty, through truth and justice for all others we ensure our own benefit. This is not a matter for complicated theorizing. It is a matter of common sense. There is no denying that our happiness is inextricably bound up with the happiness of others. There is no denying that if society suffers we ourselves suffer. Nor is there any denying that the more our hearts and minds are afflicted with ill-will, the more miserable we become. Thus we can reject everything else: religion, ideology, all received wisdom. But we cannot escape the necessity of love and compassion.” – His Holiness the Dalai Lama, from Ethics for the New Millennium.

The definition of Jin Shin Jyutsu, the Art of the Creator through man/woman of compassion which has sprung from Jiro Murai’s devotion to the Art, is anchored in compassion. Furthermore, Mary taught that the Japanese character for compassion means Man/Woman connected from heaven to earth. This suggests a balanced life that brings forth the inspiration of heaven, and all that we hold as sacred and beautiful, onto the earth.

It then becomes the task of any earnest student of Jin Shin Jyutsu to discover how they can best express the ideals of compassion through their Being. The following quote taken from the book Compassion in Action, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, serves as a guidepost for this exploration.

“Acting with compassion is not doing good because we think we ought to. It is being drawn to action by heartfelt passion. It is giving ourselves into what we are doing, being present in the moment – no matter how difficult, sad, or even boring it feels, no matter how much it demands. It is acting from our deepest understanding of what life is, listening intently for the skillful means in each situation, and not compromising the truth. It is working with others in a selfless way, in a spirit of mutual respect. Compassion is the basis of all truthful relationship.”

So, it seems that for students of Jin Shin Jyutsu, our ethical practice hinges upon our ability to surrender to the moment and be present with one another. It is when we don’t worry about the potency of our touch, and are not concerned about having something meaningful to say, that healing happens.

Mary often said that in order to go far with the Art, it must be practiced with a pure heart… As teachers, we can place ourselves humbly in the community, recognizing that we are all students. As students we can remind ourselves to exhale, so that we may receive cosmic wisdom. As practitioners, we can quiet the background distractions, inside and out, so that we may hear the secrets the pulses have to reveal. And as a community, we can work together cooperatively, not politically, to bring forth the greatest potentials of the Art. Letting compassion inform our actions ensures that Jin Shin Jyutsu will be guided by the highest ethical considerations.

Thank you, David.

Thank you, Master Jiro.

Thank you, Mary.

Gassho, Namaste, Blessings