Back in April Steven contacted me about a client I treat off-and-on in Santa Fe whom he has also seen.
When he last saw this person, he “thumped” the client at the sterno-manubrium “sm” junction, aka the “Angle of Louis” in our circle. A week later I saw the same client and was called to do the same procedure in my treatment - the “thump”.
The client seemed to have issues following treatment from the “thump” and Steven was generous enough to provide some additional thoughts on this procedure – the thump taught in course 8. Apologies for not sharing this sooner, I have been “going from all ends” moving, packing, renting and selling my places in Santa Fe as well as studying for my first exam that occurs during the first week of classes.
Steven’s feedback and thoughts verbatim:
“i probably did not emphasize this as much as i would have liked to in retrospect, however you know how much i eschew the application of external force (even though sometimes it is admittedly necessary)... there is unequivocally something potentially shocking and dishonoring and irreverent to the body in its application! and i bear that carefully in mind when i am forced to make the clinical decision to apply it, from non-duality; from my hooks, kneeling at the Altar of Creation; when it is clear that the Being requires this action in service of its healing! kind of a fixed grimness sets in and a kind of warrior’s focus (from the hooks of course) while i complete what is being asked of me. i am doing the least amount i can get away with… carefully observing that what i have done is also sufficient for the necessary changes! a knife’s edge of paradox! action/non-action… dualistically engaged force from a seat of non-duality! never take the application of external force into the Living, Self-Healing, Self-Correcting lightly or casually and you will be ok.
when you (Walter) performed the thump on me in the session you all gave me for which i was grateful… your thump was strong and deep, a little aggressive and as such exactly what i needed in the moment. it was perfect for me then. the question is whether you are taking enough “off” of it when you do it to people who are not as dense i as i am there.
You (Walter) are strong, so do not use any muscular engagement at all (or very little) unless you have a specific reason to do so consciously; and make sure your hand is soft- barely rolled into a fist; and then control the actual amount of force you apply by how much off the body you lift your hand before you softly essentially passively let it fall and drop. practice accuracy and modulating the forces by tweaking these variables until you get very precise and specific in the application of the procedure. remember that the arc goes through the table into the earth.
ultimately learning and applying it is a learning curve… a discernment curve… and then, remember that the mark of a true gentleman may be in knowing how to thump… and not… or maybe just not very hard.”
End of Steven’s comments.
On this last point, Steven also suggested for me carefully consider, is the thump procedure the best for this particular person. My big take homes:
If thumping is required, consider
Is it right for this person?
Hand should be held soft with intention to go through to the earth
Most important … modulate thumping for each individual.
One thump force does not fit all.
Hope this helps everyone,
Walter
