'I learned Focusing six years ago in a basic psychological format. In fact, if it had been promoted as a spiritual growth tool I probably would not have been interested. As a victim of forcefed religion during my growing-up years, I could only breath freely when I kept my distance from it. But during my first year of Focusing I began having new and expanding awarenesses that I could only label spiritual.

'At my first annual conference I hesitantly began describing these experiences and found those around me nodding in agreement. Yes, mine was a common experience that they too had experienced as Focusing became an important part of their lives. So now I was curious and open to how Focusing could be directly taught as a spiritual discipline.

'I was surprised. As an educational psychologist, I was steeped in knowledge and experience of the importance of multi-sensory teaching. But in my mind this application was primarily useful for learning skills and taking in and retaining facts. The Body tapes seem designed not only to nourish the mind but also to awaken and open both senses and heart to the soft belly of our longing. Through visual and word images combined with music they create an atmosphere and understanding of the Focusing process.

"I was reminded again of the human need to symbolize experience as I took in beautiful visual images of mountains and valleys, babies, buds opening and water in many forms. Wind blowing gently through grasses and water meandering over rocks stirred a knowing in me that said, 'This is the Life Force that also flows in you,' and underlined the major message of the tapes. 'The Teacher is within.'

Although the tapes were necessarily edited, transitions are smooth and they maintain a continuity of both process and the seminar. Timing is good as the viewer becomes familiar with the pace and language of accepting the inner self. Although obviously dealing with Spirit, direct Christian references are minimal and allow for others to include their own name and meaning for the transcendent or the knowledge beyond knowledge. The tapes can be used separately, especially Tape II, but are probably most effective used together. Each tape contains three separate sessions of approximately thirty minutes each. The Body's Search for Spirit will be enriching for even the most experienced Focuser as well as adding depth and texture to the learning process for the beginner.

'A gentle orientation to the reality of the inner self, this tape creates an atmosphere conducive to experiencing contact with the inner self and having affection for whatever is there so it learns to trust and can then tell its story. We have been taught at our mother's knee to hide and reject our feelings so it takes time and instruction to experience feelings as the bridge that ties us into some Larger Reality, God. Through imagery and sensing we experiment to find ways to take responsibility for and express loving ourselves.

The basic theory and foundation of Focusing is presented in a simple experiencing way which encourages us to be open to and tap the story that is always waiting to be told in the body. Emotion is considered only a doorway into a felt meaning while the 'felt sense' is meaning actually felt in the body. In Focusing, symbols such as words, images, sounds, or memories interact with the felt sense so that knots loosen and our story moves forward. Resurrection was always meant to be felt as a continuing NOW deep in the cells of our body so that our changing body itself would become our spiritual companion and teacher.

Biospirituality is a universal spirituality. Although we come from different religious backgrounds we can link with others because we share one thing in common and that is our body.' The scriptures are explored with a whole new understanding through the process of Focusing. Although many theological terms are referred to in this section, their interpretation is from the Focusing process and their meaning is extended to a description of the growth process and basic psychological truths which are common to all human beings. God is as close to us as we can risk being close to whatever is real in ourselves.

Focusing is defined here as being able to feel your feelings physiologically and allow them to symbolize themselves accurately. When something gets in the way of that the result is often addiction. Addictions are learned ways of avoiding the process which would allow us to enter into congruence with ourselves. Common addictions are work, relationships, drugs, busyness, pleasing others, reading, or even volunteering and religion. An addiction can be anything that separates us from the truth of ourselves. Addictions result in what Gendlin has named "process-skipping" or ways of avoiding our truth. The profound implications of this for society as a whole as well as for the individual are discussed. Included are questions for evaluating any spiritual/ growth process to determine for ourselves whether it is truly one of health or if it encourages avoidance and process-skipping through spiritually and psychologically unhealthy practices."

Carolyn Mutz is an Educational Psychologist, a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Review reprinted from The Focusing Connection, with permission.