Walking Across the Mississippi

Originally uploaded by holisticgeek

Last weekend I had the chance to visit Lake Itasca State Park and the Mississippi Headwaters area. Although the temperature was a cool 38 degrees, much of the lake was still completely frozen.

So, after hiking across the frozen lake most of the way, I decided to walk across the Mississippi River at its very source. I also decided to go barefoot (which might have been the cause of my mid-week cold) upon the rocks to do this.

Over the last two years, I’ve been exploring the idea of “Nature as Healer” and “Nature as Teacher” in my healing studies. While it’s enlightening to take courses and learn from other teachers and practitioners, I have found that I am learning in profound ways through my interactions with nature herself.

I’ve taken over 60 pictures of my hands interacting with trees, stones, rivers, springs, lakes, plants, and objects in nature in the last two years. I’ve visited some amazing places. Dipping my hands in rivers and streams, walking on stone paths, building stone labyrinths, and learning in this deep and interactive way with nature has been a great source of healing in my own life.

Enjoy the photos from Lake Itasca and the Mississippi Headwaters. Visit if you get a chance!

One of the great concepts I’m learning while taking the Core Zero Balancing class is that of “meeting the other person’s donkey” in a manner of speaking. This concept is taken from an image of two donkeys. Many times while at rest, donkeys will lean against one another, evenly distributing their weight to create a balanced lean together. This is one of the core concepts of Zero Balancing, one that can be applied to life.

In Zero Balancing, one “meets the donkey” of the other person. The energy of the practitioner meets the energy of the other person. Each has separate energy, but they meet together to equally lean against one another. While stretching and lifting “fulcrum points” our hands must meet at that energetic point – the “donkey”, and then lift in a way that is comfortable for the client.

Another concept beyond the “donkey” is that of being “in the box.” “Being in the box” means that the quality of touch, lift, or stretch within the fulcrums is within the tolerance level for the client. If you don’t “reach the box” your client feels very little lift, stretch, or benefit. If you go “beyond the box” you begin causing pain, discomfort, or possibly injury.

We experimented with these concepts today by leaning against one another, back to back in pairs to experience a “donkey lean” and practiced “getting in the box” with a partner while holding opposite sides of a rope. When the rope was pulled in a straight line, we were “meeting the donkey.” As we pulled more on the rope we felt the tightening “in the box” feeling, as well as the feeling of being overpowered “beyond the box.”

After these activities, I commented that these activities and concepts could also be wonderful metaphors for healthy communication and conflict resolution. How many times do we feel as if a person is not listening or communicating equally – meeting our “donkey”? How often do we feel overpowered within a conflict (going beyond “the box” of our comfort zones)? Who would have thought that donkeys and boxes would be so intriguing?

The Zero Balancing Society requires 100 hours of training as well as mentored practical experience to become a Certified Zero Balancing Practitioner. David, our instructor, has really been encouraging us to continue with our studies and become certified. I’ll admit that I’m somewhat resistant. I think that naturally, I’m an “integrator”, and that I find ways to meld my learning into a greater whole. I also feel that we as people and individuals aren’t very well served by certificates, diplomas, degrees, etc. In my opinion they separate us from one another. They create divisions. One person is the “expert” while another is “lesser.”

The work of Zero Balancing is intriguing to me, however. I am keeping an open mind regarding future classes and certification possibilities.

I admit it! I am not a fan of spas and massage centers who push products on their customers. We as humans do not need “yet another product” to make us happy and well. But every now and then, I see the good things that independent people are giving to the world “out of their bare hands.” Working with our hands – a very honest and honorable way of work – needs to be valued more in our “fast food” culture.

Now in my office, while supplies last, I will be selling soaps handcrafted by Marcea Frasier in Northfield, MN. Marcea has recently begun her small business, Sunflower Body Care Products, and creates custom soaps, lotions, perfumes, and makeup. All of her products are handcrafted and organic, and contain no toxic chemicals or chemical dyes. I know Marcea through my work at Starwalkers in Northfield, MN, as she is a parent and volunteer with The Village Learning Community. I’m excited for her new venture, and for the joy she continues to put into her handcrafted creations.

Come in and admire and enjoy the subtle and clean scent of this “Blue Patchouli Soap” as Marcea describes it. The labels you see on the soaps above are made by printing onto recycled paper grocery bags! Both large (5-6 oz.) and smaller (3 oz.) bars are available now in my Uptown Minneapolis office!

Back in September I took a 4-day workshop on Shamanic Earth Healing at Starwalkers, and I know a few folks commented that they would like to read about my experiences at the workshop and some of my practices after it.

I’ve put together a paper of my Shamanic Journeys and Counterpractice that you may download and read if you so choose!

http://www.holisticgeek.com/resources/pdf/ShamanPractice.pdf

The workshop I attended was facilitated by Ana Larramendi. You may read more about her at www.thehollowbone.com.
Enjoy!

Feeling tied up in traffic lately? Take the bus, bike, or walk to your appointment from home or work, and you can enjoy a one hour massage for just $40! It is my way of helping to encourage transportation alternatives, and to share abundance with my clients, and with the earth. Get a great deal, relax, and save the planet – all at the same time.

Some helpful links:

Metro Transit’s Online Trip Planner
Midtown Greenway Map
Ride Share

On September 20, 2006, I decided to expand my part-time home massage and bodywork practice into an office space in Uptown Minneapolis. What started as one day per week grew quickly to 3-4 days per week. In January of 2006, I assumed the lease of my space at 3249 Hennepin Avenue South.

In the last year, I have given over 300 hours of massage and bodywork sessions, have expanded to sometimes four days per week, implemented an online booking system, and will soon expand my practice by adding one day a week in Northfield, MN.

I want to take this time to thank all of my clients, who continually give me the energy and drive to do this kind of work – the work I find most fulfilling in my life! Thank you all for a great year, and for many more to come!

Blessings,
Scott

I will be singing with other folks from Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre this Saturday at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary.

The event, which is FREE, is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Garden. I will be singing in a “Floral Chorus” that will sing a song cycle about birds, bees, and pollinators. We will perform three times throughout the day on Saturday, August 11, at approximately 11am, 2pm, and 4pm.

The Eloise Butler Garden is nestled in Theodore Wirth Park, in Minneapolis, MN, just to the south of Theo Wirth Parkway and Glenwood Avenue.

Come out and enjoy the day, and celebrate this wonderful treasure in Minneapolis!

My deepest thoughts, hopes, and prayers go out to all who are affected by the tragic collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis.

After coming home Wednesday, I rode my bicycle toward the area of the rescue efforts. I think it’s a human thing to do – be close to where tragedy has occurred, as if to offer some kind of hope or empathy to a situation where one feels helpless. We all want to “do” something or be present.

After gathering briefly with some of the onlookers, I felt the need to leave to let rescue workers continue their work, as the crowds of onlookers seemed to grow. Some came to take pictures, and others just to look to see if this very “unreal” event could truly be real.

In times of tragedy, we all feel the weight of grief, loss, longing, despair, or helplessness. Some of us imagine what we might have done in that situation, and others of us try to visualize the thoughts going through the minds of those caught in the midst of the unthinkable event.

In the midst of all of this, I wanted to offer up some ideas of what we can do, to both help, and to heal.

1. If you are inclined and able, The Twin Cities American Red Cross depends on donations to help in situations of disaster. Your dollars can go a long way to help them!

2. Take time – to talk to people, to children, to neighbors, and to any persons of support. Because we are all affected emotionally, taking the time to be present in these moments can be of profound help to one another.

3. Understand that we all react to crisis in different ways. Some people cry, some become angry, some withdraw. Every expression of grief and loss is appropriate. Again, take the time to be present with another person.

4. Reach out if you need support. Talk to a friend, family member, pastor, counselor, etc. If you have no one to turn to immediately, contact a local crisis center. In the Twin Cities, you can contact Crisis Connection, a 24-hour crisis hotline, at (612) 379-6363.

5. Take time for yourself. Remember to eat – and to REST. Strong emotions like grief can take a lot of emotional and physical energy. Even if you are unaware of the stress on your mind, body, or spirit, you may need the extra rest and nourishment.

I wish everyone the deepest thoughts of healing and support at this time.

Video: The Blue Bird (15 MB – Requires Quicktime)
Click the image to watch in a pop-up window.
Click here to download

I took a mini-vacation this weekend to Madison, WI. I lived in Madison from 2000-2003 and did massage out of a small office on Bedford Street, just a few blocks from Lake Monona. I love to return to Madison to bike the trails and to just peer out at the lake every chance I get. Unfortunately, I don’t think I ever biked in Madison when living there. Coming back and riding a bicycle helps me to discover it all over again.

I also did a bit of “geekery” and created a short quicktime movie of all of the bodies of water that I’m fond of just peering out at. I hope you like it. The song is “The Blue Bird”. Click the image above or the download link below the picture to watch the short video.

When deciding to open a holistic practice in the Twin Cities, I wanted to create a space that was as unique and heart-felt as the ideals I hold in my personal life. I believe that healing comes about by getting in touch with the core of oneself. Just like emotion, expression, art, and passion, healing comes from a deep place in each one of us. As whole beings, we cannot disconnect our body from our emotions, our mind from our spirit, or our learning from our experience.

My approach to massage, acupressure, and reiki is just like that. It is integrated. It focuses on the whole person, not just a muscle ache, a stressor, or a symptom. As human beings, we experience our life on many levels. Healing should be focused on all of those levels as well. It should be a journey with deep meaning, not just a quick fix.

I hope you enjoy my website, and find it both informative and inspiring. In addition to highlighting my services, I plan to include news, tips, and articles about holistic health and healing through this weblog and sometimes podcast!

Thank you for coming along on this journey with me!

Scott Schumacher