Massage
Photo: Thomas Wanhoff

In “Urban Tantra” Barbara Carrellas discuss a powerful concept – The Resilient Edge of Resistance.
The Resilient Edge of Resistance when applied to touch is the kind that you’ll want to receive forever. It’s not too hard, nor too soft. It’s like when you’re showering: If you’d make it hotter, it would be too hot. If you’d make it colder, it would be too cold.
The good touch is adapted to the feedback that you get from your subject. It’s dynamic in pressure, location and “tool of choice” (tools as in fingers, hands, feathers etc).
The goal of this is to build up an environment which supports the subject to open up and take risks, getting deeper into the experience in a safe and comfortable way. If you would go over this edge, you’d probably cause pain. If you stay below the edge, that could be equally painful.
This concept applies to everything in life.

It’s a very powerful practice, and you could easily apply it to conversations and other forms of interactions. You’ll get more sensitive and aware, and you’ll focus on delivering value instead of reacting out of old habits.

sanna_sol

“I think continually of those who were truly great.
Who, from the womb, remembered the soul’s history
Through corridors of light where the hours are suns
Endless and singing. Whose lovely ambition
Was that their lips, still touched with fire,
Should tell of the Spirit clothed from head to foot in song.
And who hoarded from the Spring branches
The desires falling across their bodies like blossoms.

What is precious is never to forget
The essential delight of the blood drawn from ageless springs
Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth.
Never to deny its pleasure in the morning simple light
Nor its grave evening demand for love.
Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother
With noise and fog the flowering of the spirit.

Near the snow, near the sun, in the highest fields
See how these names are feted by the waving grass
And by the streamers of white cloud
And whispers of wind in the listening sky.
The names of those who in their lives fought for life
Who wore at their hearts the fire’s center.
Born of the sun they traveled a short while towards the sun,
And left the vivid air signed with their honor.”

One of my favourite poems, by Stephen Spender.