This News Drop sequence is all about the Midline, where all of life and healing begin.

When it comes to healing and flow, to get anywhere is to get Midline.

Let’s add one more drop!

Over the last few weeks, we have explored the concept of “Midline.”

In osteopathy, Midline is the name of a non-structural vertical axis that serves as a reference to our physical and electrical anatomy as we grow and heal.

I imagine Midline as a conductor, an orchestrator of the symphony of spiraling forces that grow us and heal us. Midline as a conductor of life.

Midline is a term used in osteopathy. Other cultures use their own words to describe the primary reference axis of life. For example, Sushumna in Vedic (yogic) teachings, and Zhong Mai (Zhong meaning center and Mai meaning channel). I take this as consensus.

Let’s explore the concept a little bit more before adding one more very simple and practical layer of know-how to orienting our bodies in space.

I interpret the vertical Midline as the beginning of our spirit joining with the physical to become a human being.

While this may sound abstract, the concept is helpful to “getting in the body.”

‘Being in the body’ is pretty abstract for most people. To an osteopath or anyone seeking to support unity of mind, body, and spirit, a basic understanding is essential.

It’s as simple as this. Are your physical aspects and subtle aspects unified? Are they coupled in their function? Are they BREATHING as one? In osteopathy, we talk about Primary Respiration (subtle) and Secondary Respiration (physical). All of what we do is in the direction of unifying the breaths.

Understanding and experiencing unified breath reliably guides meaningful work in the direction of growth, healing, and transformation. Every aspect of my teaching has to do with transmitting this from a limitless number of angles.

And now the best part. You don’t have to mentally understand anything I’ve just said to experience a coupling of your subtle and physical selves. I love that part about being in a body. Mental understanding is highly secondary to experience.

Which brings us to a bit of practice.

💦 Ready for the next drop? 💦

Every Day Practice for Orienting in Present Time and Space

The following is one of the most simple and potent practices I’ve found for arriving in the present time and space.

With feet flat on the ground (barefoot on dirt is best), feel into your breath.

With effortless attention, expand and soften your gaze.

🌀 As with last week’s practice, sense or visualize your vertical axis through your heart, infinitely above and below your body. Our vertical coordinate ‘comes first’, because of the polarity between the Earth and the ionosphere.

🌀 Once you have a sense of an infinite central ‘coordinate,’ add another, side to side through your heart and outstretched arms, infinitely in both directions.

🌀 Once you have a sense of the infinite vertical and horizontal coordinates, add a third and final infinite coordinate front to back through your heart.

I’m not saying a Midline and an infinite vertical axis is the same thing. I’m saying that orienting in space is about more than Midline and that our vertical coordinate ‘comes first’ because of the polarity between the Earth and the ionosphere.

There are so many ways to imagine why orienting to at least three reference axes could render a powerful effect. Three is a powerful grouping in sacred geometry. Many spiritual traditions identify with the triad of mind, body, and spirit. In mathematics, three coordinates are required to define three-dimensional spaces. The significance of “three” could be a rich exploration for a thesis paper in and of itself. In the case of the practice above, it seems most relevant to explore the experience and less relevant to define why the practice is powerful.

For inspiration, here is a gorgeous share from our study group: 

“Guiding us through the meditation was so brilliant . . . I had a headache, and my neck was hurting, and that’s gone. I just wanted to thank you.”

I’d love to hear what happens as you explore. I’d also love to hear about any thoughts brewing inside you on the heels of receiving this musing

In Celebration of your emerging Glow & Flow,

Dr. Michelle Veneziano

& the Flow is Medicine community