Sunday, March 11, 2007

The "Big Draw"

This technique for completing a massage was developed by the Body Electric School. In the minutes preceding it the massage work should be becoming more and more energetic, building and building. At a certain point (counted down to verbally, so both partners know when it's coming) massage and any other touch ceases, the person on the table takes seven very deep breaths, and while holding the seventh breath clenches every muscle in his or her body and rolls his or her eyes back in his or her head (possibly assuming a tense position with torso and legs a bit off the table, as in a "crunch") for about 10 seconds. He or she then completely relaxes, resumes regular breathing, and the standing person gently folds the sheets/blanket over his or her body. For maximum effect the music should be quite "cosmic" at this point, and the person performing the massage shouldn't touch the person on the table (who has his or her eyes closed, or who has a blindfold on) for at least five minutes or until the person on the table requests otherwise. This practice can provoke profound emotional release, and often hallucinations. Afterwards, the standing partner opens the cocooned sheets, gently towels off any oil, helps his or her partner to sit up, and then both partners either keep silence or say what is in their heart. It's fun to follow the Big Draw with a hot tub or a warm bath.
It's helpful to use a pre-arranged and timed music tape. Ideally, there should be five seconds of silence immediately following the Big Draw, and possibly during it. Music should have been building to that point, and should resume with something really beautiful after the silence following the Big Draw ("Gabriel's Oboe" from The Mission soundtrack, or "With This Love" from Peter Gabriel's Passion soundtrack, for example).

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