Table Of ContentOther books by Franklyn Sills
Being and Becoming: Psychodynamics, Buddhism, and the Origins of Selfhood
Craniosacral Biodynamics, Volume One: The Breath of Life, Biodynamics, and Fundamental
Skills Craniosacral Biodynamics, Volume Two: The Primal Midline and the Organization of
the Body
The Polarity Process: Energy as a Healing Art
Foundations in Craniosacral Biodynamics, Volume One: The Breath of Life and Fundamental
Skills
Copyright © 2012 by Franklyn Sills. All rights reserved. No portion of this book, except for brief
review, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the written
permission of the publisher. For information contact North Atlantic Books.
Published by
North Atlantic Books
P.O. Box 12327
Berkeley, California 94712
Cover photo ©iStockphoto.com/SABarton
Cover design by Jan Camp
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: The following information is intended for general information purposes
only. Individuals should always see their health care provider before administering any
suggestions made in this book. Any application of the material set forth in the following pages is
at the reader’s discretion and is his or her sole responsibility.
Foundations in Craniosacral Biodynamics: The Sentient Embryo, Tissue Intelligence, and Trauma
Resolution is sponsored by the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences, a nonprofit
educational corporation whose goals are to develop an educational and cross-cultural perspective
linking various scientific, social, and artistic fields; to nurture a holistic view of arts, sciences,
humanities, and healing; and to publish and distribute literature on the relationship of mind,
body, and nature.
North Atlantic Books’ publications are available through most bookstores. For further
information, visit our website at www.northatlanticbooks.com or call 800-733-3000.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:
The first volume of this series was catalogued under the following information:
Sills, Franklyn, 1947–
Foundations in craniosacral biodynamics / Franklyn Sills; illustrations by Dominique
Degranges.
p.; cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
Summary: “Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) is commonly seen as the spiritual
approach to craniosacral therapy (CST); in fact, BCST as taught by Franklyn Sills, the pioneer in
the field, is quite different from conventional CST. Biodynamic work is based on the development
of perceptual skills where the practitioner learns to become sensitive to subtle respiratory
motions called primary respiration and also to the power of spontaneous healing. Through the
Breath of Life, which, Sills asserts, echoes the Holy Spirit in the Judeo-Christian tradition,
bodhicitta in Buddhism, and the Tai Chi in Taoism, students of BCST learn to enter a state of
presence oriented to the client’s inherent ability to heal. In Foundations in Craniosacral
Biodynamics, Sills offers students and practitioners an in-depth, step-by-step guide to the
development of perceptual and clinical skills with specific clinical exercises and explorations to
help students and practitioners learn the essentials of a biodynamic approach. Individual
chapters cover such topics as holism and biodynamics; mid-tide, Long Tide, Dynamic Stillness
and stillpoint process; the motility of tissues and the central nervous system; transference and the
shadow; shamanistic resonances; and more”—Provided by publisher.
eISBN: 978-1-58394-521-6
1. Craniosacral therapy. I. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Musculoskeletal Manipulations—methods. 2. Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical. 3.
Mind-Body Therapies—methods. 4. Sacrum—physiology. 5. Skull—physiology. 6. Spiritual
Therapies—methods. WB 535]
RZ399.C73S56 2011
615.8′2—dc22
2011000210
v3.1
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to acknowledge the feedback given to me by tutors at
Karuna on the wording of certain areas of description, including the
augmentation visceral sections. I would like to also acknowledge the
contribution of my wife, Cherionna Menzam-Sills, who wrote the
important and formative second and third chapters in this volume.
Cherionna is a senior biodynamic craniosacral teacher in the USA and
Canada; she has her MA in somatic psychology and her PhD in pre- and
perinatal psychology. She has worked deeply in these areas and her
contributions in this volume on the sentient embryo and the importance
of the pre- and perinatal period in our relational life and personality
development point to key aspects of work in this field.
I would also like to acknowledge the wonderful work of Dominique
Degranges in his illustrations for this volume. Dominique is director of a
training center in Winterthur, Switzerland, is a senior tutor in
craniosacral biodynamics, and runs courses and trainings in pre- and
perinatal psychology and therapy. He is an old friend and colleague in
this wonderful work we do.
I would also like to deeply acknowledge my former wife, Maura Sills.
Maura and I are still co-directors of the Karuna Institute, which offers
training both in craniosacral biodynamics and in core process
psychotherapy, a truly integrated mindfulness-based psychotherapy
form. Maura supports my work in many ways and we both are still
involved in the running of the Institute and the raising of our younger
daughter, Ella, a truly brave and lovely being. I also would like to
acknowledge my older daughter, Laurel, who always reminds me of the
goodness and joy in my life.
Finally I would like to appreciate North Atlantic Books for the support
of my writings over the years. North Atlantic Books has become an
important haven for writings in the cranial field, psychology, and the
healing of trauma in our lives.
CONTENTS
Cover
Other Books by This Author
Title Page
Copyright
Acknowledgments
Illustrations
Introduction
CHAPTER 1: STARTING POINTS
Presence
The Relational Field
The Breath of Life and Primary Respiration
The Inherent Treatment Plan
The Suspensory Nature of the Three Bodies and Holistic Shift
Inertial Fulcrums and the Suspensory Nature of the Three Bodies
Contemplative Exercise: Three-Body Chi Kung
Second Exercise: Orienting to the Client’s System with Awareness of the Three Bodies and
Holistic Shift
The Primal Midline
Augmentation Processes
Augmentation of Space
Clinical Baselines
CHAPTER 2: THE INTELLIGENT EMBRYO (BY CHERIONNA MENZAM-SILLS PHD, OTR, RCST)
In the Beginning
In the Stillness
The Pain of Coming into Being
Resonance, Fluid Awareness, and Cellular Memory
Journey to the Womb
Implantation
Midline Dynamics: The Primitive Streak
Discovery and the Heart
Folding into Form, Receiving Recognition
Embodiment and the Heart
Falling into our Parts
Sensing, Moving, Processing
CHAPTER 3: THE PRE- AND PERINATAL PARADIGM AND ATTACHMENT DYNAMICS (BY CHERIONNA
MENZAM-SILLS PHD, OTR, RCST)
Primal Perceptions
The Prenatal and Perinatal Holding Field
Prenatal Attunement
Attachment and Bonding
Umbilical Affect and Toxicity
Haunted by the Past
Fetal Development: Emerging into a Sense of Self and Other
The Dance of Birth
And Beyond Birth: Postnatal Bonding and Attachment Issues
CHAPTER 4: INFANTS, THE BIRTH PROCESS, AND TRAUMA
Introduction
Life Takes Shape
Empathy and Negotiation of Boundaries
Babies’ Neurology: Present-Time Social Beings
Babies’ Ability to Attune and Respond to Caregivers
Therapeutic Intentions
Infant Resources
Trauma Impacts
Stress Response Basics
Autonomic Strategies for Babies
Physical Trauma
Recognizing Traumatization and Shock Affects
Clinical Highlight
The Birth Schema
Psychological Correlates
Conjunct Sites and Pathways
Force Vectors and Vector Patterns
Connective Tissue Patterning
Fluid Shock
Ignition Issues
Birth Lie Position
The True Pelvis and the Pelvic Inlet and Outlet
Pelvic Shapes
Synclitic and Asynclitic Positions
Traditional Terminology for Position
Station
Inlet Attitudes
Stages of the Birth Process
CHAPTER 5: BASIC BIRTH DYNAMICS
Typical Birth Process
Stage One: Pelvic Inlet Dynamics
Cranial Base Patterns in Stage One
Intraosseous Distortions of the Sphenoid in Stage One
Intraosseous Distortions of the Temporal Bone in Stage One
Other Effects of Stage One Pressure
Body Relationships
Stage Two: Mid-Pelvis Dynamics
Forces and Patterns Generated in Stage Two
Intraosseous Distortions in Stage Two
Body Patterns in Stage Two
Stage Three: Pelvic Outlet Dynamics
Flexion Phase in Early Stage Three
Extension Phase in Late Stage Three
Body Patterns
Intraosseous Distortions in Stage Three
Stage Four: Head Birth, Restitution, Body Birth, and Bonding
Umbilical Issues
Bonding
Pelvic Shapes and Alternative Birthing Motions
Conclusion
CHAPTER 6: TREATING INFANTS AND INTRAOSSEOUS ISSUES IN ADULTS
General Guidelines for Treating Infants
The Field of Orientation
Common Inertial Fulcrums and Issues in Infants
Other Clinical Issues
Clinical Highlight
Intraosseous Occipital Distortions and the Occipital Base Spread
Working with Intraosseous Issues in Adults
Exploration: Birth-Related Patterns in the Occiput
Exploration: Augmentation of Space
Exploration: Intraosseous Fulcrums in the Temporal Bone
Exploration: Augmentation of Space in the Temporal Bones
Intraosseous Distortions of the Sphenoid Bone
Exploration: Intraosseous Fulcrums in the Sphenoid
CHAPTER 7: THE DURAL TUBE
The Core Link
Anatomy of the Core Link
Motility of the Dural Tube/Core Link
Common Inertial Issues Relating to the Dural Tube
Common Inertial Issues Affecting Dural Motility and Glide
Birth Trauma
Exploration: Orienting to the Motility of the Dural Tube
Exploration: The Augmentation of Space and Dural Tube Dynamics
CHAPTER 8: VERTEBRAL DYNAMICS
Vertebral Discs and Suspended, Automatically Shifting Fulcrums
Vertebral Fixation and Inertial Issues
Structural Balance
Biomechanics, Biodynamics, and Specific Vertebral Dynamics
Vertebral Motility and Mobility Dynamics
Exploration: Orienting to the Primal Midline and Vertebral Dynamics
Exploration: Augmentation of Fluid Drive
Vertebral Compression
Augmentation of Space in Vertebral Dynamics
Exploration: Augmentation of Space between Two Vertebrae
Working with Cervical Patterns
Explorations: Cervical Holds
Augmenting Fluid Drive in the Cervical area
Axial Forces and the Augmentation of Space
Exploration: Augmentation of Space in and around the Primal Midline
CHAPTER 9: PELVIC DYNAMICS
Energetic Dynamics
Anatomical Relationships
Lumbosacral Junction
The Sacroiliac Joint
Ligaments Connecting the Sacrum to the Ilia
Ligaments Connecting the Sacrum to the Ischium
Neuroendocrine-Immune Implications
The Motility of the Sacrum
Motility of the Sacrum and Inertial Issues
Sacral Mobility Dynamics
Sensitivity in Explorations
Exploration: Sensing the Motility and Motion of the Sacrum
Kundalini Forces
Innominate Bone Motility
Innominate Bones and Inertial Issues
Exploration: Sensing Motility of the Innominate Bones
Exploration: The Pelvic Diaphragm and Sacro-Pelvic Patterns
Relating to Specific Lumbosacral Issues
Explorations: Lumbosacral Motility and Augmentation of Space
Primary and Secondary Coupling of Compressive Issues
Sacroiliac Joints, Compressive Forces, and the Augmentation of Space
Exploration: Sacroiliac Joints and the Augmentation of Space
