Creating and Supporting Salutogenesis

Salutogenesis—focuses on factors that support human health and well-being.

by Michael Hughes, Makawao, Maui,

Hawai’i

It is widely acknowledged in our times that sources of health need to embrace not just physical well-being, but also psychic (soul) and spiritual health. How do we do this? We know that in our ‘inner landscape,’ how we engage our thinking activity, our inquisitive contemplative reflections, and feelings such as wonder, thankfulness, and gratitude put us on the right path.

Having a good rhythm in our life, exercise, experiences in nature, good food, socializing, laughter, and enough healing sleep are all ways to nourish our lives. So put in the simplest terms, can we find ways to positively support ourselves and others in the realms of thinking, feeling, and willing? A powerful activity toward human health, engaging us both inwardly and outwardly, is an artistic activity.

Strengthening the Soul Qualities of Wonder, Hope, and Love through Eurythmy Eurythmy is a movement which addresses our physical, soul, and spiritual well-being. We will consider three eurythmy sequences which are well known in some circles as a ‘preventative, or prophylactic sequence,’ in that they ‘make sturdy’ our whole being. These are part of a series of exercises known as soul exercises. This is because each of these exercises calls for creating a ‘soul mood,’ enhanced through specific gestures, which are then complimented or contrasted with a vowel. Each of these sequences are performed a number of times, which help one experience the results.

Love-Ae

The first sequence we will refer to is known as ‘Love – Ae’ (vowel sound A as in the word ‘gate’). Calling forth a mood of love, or of embracing the world in our heart, we open our arms wide, curving slightly forward, and let a feeling of loving warmth flow from our hearts through our arms, fingers, and beyond. Having established this, the arms then swing inward, crossing firmly in front of our heart (the vowel ‘Ae’). We then relax and continue the sequence a number of times. You know you are on the right track when you experience the warmth flowing in your arms, hand, fingers, and further, for this exercise works strongly on warming our blood flow and circulation.

Ah-Veneration

The next sequence we will describe starts with a vowel, and then the soul mood is expressed in movement. It is called ‘AhVeneration’ (vowel sound Ah as in the word ‘f ather’). One creates the ‘ah’ gesture with both arms streaming out at an angle in front of the body. One is active in the arm muscles, but they are not ‘locked.’ Having created this gesture, one allows the soul mood of wonder and reverence to find expression in the next movement. This movement is a great release which starts behind in the shoulders, then gently lifts the arms over the head and slowly streams downward behind one. Again, one relaxes and proceeds to do these movements a number of times. It can perhaps be expressed as being filled with wonder, veneration for the world of the spirit which stands behind all of our sensory experiences. This is a ‘tonic’ for our whole organization, strengthening us. This sequence is also very helpful if one is having trouble ‘releasing from the day’ and to more easily fall asleep.

Hope-U

The third sequence we are considering, ‘Hope-U’ begins with the soul gesture followed by the movement for the vowel ‘u’ (‘oo’ as in ‘throu gh’). Here we start by creating a mood for our Great Wishes or Hopes. Our feet, as in the other sequences, are comfortably close together (they are creating a strong pillar for us in our legs and feet, grounding us with the strength of the earth). Here, in filling the soul mood we slightly lean back, with the weight bearing more on our heels, so the toes are actually lifted from the ground, while our arms, which are at the sides of our body are turned outward, curving upward in our hands. In a sense we could say that in creating this posture, filled with the soul content, we form a ‘vessel’ of our body. From here, holding this gesture filled with our soul content, the arms slowly rise, still on our sides, and then come together in front of us, close to the body. In the coming together, the back of the hands meet each other and move downwards in the middle in front of us, through a full extension of the arms which are held as closely together (hands still ‘back to back’) as comfortably as possible. The sense is as of a response, a filling, of the vessel we created. Holding the hands and arms briefly in this full extension downward, we then again release, relax, and proceed with the sequence a number of times. This exercise works beneficially on our breathing system. One can perhaps characterize this sequence as a trust in the Divine that moves into the ground of our existence. Through this we can experience

‘the father ground of existence,’ which gives us support. We need such confidence for life!

These are sequences that all therapeutic eurythmists know and would be happy to share with you. I wish you well in your practice of salutogenesis! Here is a health giving meditative poem given by Rudolf Steiner (translation by Ernst Katz):

‘O Spirit of God – abide in me, Fill my I within my soul,

On my soul bestow a strengthening force, Strengthening force too for my heart, For my heart that seeks Thee, Seeks Thee with deepest longing, Deepest longing for good health, For good health and trust in life, Trust in life which through my body streams, Streams as a precious gift divine, Gift divine from Thee, O Spirit of God, O Spirit of God – fill me.’

Michael Hughes is a eurythmist and therapeutic eurythmist living on the island of Makawao, Maui, Hawai’i. Presently he is the president of the Association for Therapeutic Eurythmy in North America.