Water in Daoist thinking represents the most fundamental level of our being, the foundation that constitutes our unique original nature. We are all born with this profound aspect which gets buried and hidden away as a consequence of all the insults and neglects to our body and person that we suffer from our conception. This is in turn covered over by the defenses that we erect against further pain.

The result of these ego (character) defenses is to lose touch with the deep meaning of our being and existence. Instead of innately knowing who we essentially are, we create false ego identities that are not congruent with our original nature. Consequently we end up leading lives that are filled with angst and distrust. When we are not rooted in our true ‘core’ being, rather than being able to flow with and surrender to the mystery of being we instead resist life and close down.

In Core Integration terms we would say that the primary 'character defense structure’ associated with the water phase is Masochism. This pattern instills a deep sense of suffering and a victim consciousness, as it makes us feel impotent in changing ourselves or our circumstances. To step out of the negative psychological masochistic states we need to address and heal the effects of childhood hurts, especially parental over-control which is the primary cause of this state. By coming to terms with our inner demons, we can progressively release ourselves from our pain and fear. In turn our Original Being can reassert its authentic nature and true undistorted reality.

A space will be created so we can let go of our resistances and sink into our essential being. The aim of this module is to recover our true will and libido within our essence and so step into life with greater confidence, dynamism and fortitude. By melting the frozenness around our core we can sink deeper into our inner mystery which is our ‘core-essence’ and so contact our original being and ultimately the very source of life.

During the latter part of the workshop individual sessions will be offered for anyone who wants to work deeper on their presenting issues with the support of the group. A range of approaches can be drawn from to fit more precisely your specific therapeutic needs at that given time. Used in a Core Integration way they can facilitate a deeper connection with our core which is also closely associated with the notion of Essence. For, our essential nature is contained and represented by our Core.

Reichian therapy and bodywork, Analytical Body Psychotherapy, Core Energetics, Drama Therapy, Diamond Enquiry, Dao Qigong, breathwork, visualisation, reflection, dance, movement and healing techniques are all used within the Core Integration framework to reveal the essence of our being and the true nature of our 'Original Face' as described by Daoist mystics.