In a previous blog post I introduced the notion of “Soma-Significance” as an alternative to psycho-somatic, something originally proposed by Quantum Physicist David Bohm. Going deeper into this area soma-significance opens out into an exploration of the interconnectedness of energy, meaning, and matter, offering profound insights into how we perceive and engage with the world around us.
But what exactly does Soma-Significance entail, and how does it contribute to our lived experiences?
At its core, Soma-Significance embodies the recognition that the soma is not merely a static entity but instead that it is an active living process—a dynamic interplay of energy, consciousness, and matter. From a somatic perspective, the physical is not separate from the mental or indeed their environment but rather it is intricately intertwined with them, constantly exchanging information and responding to stimuli.
One crucial aspect of Soma-Significance is the role of meaning-making. As sentient beings, we have an innate tendency to imbue our experiences with meaning, thus assigning significance to particular sensations, emotions, and interactions. This process of meaning-making is multifaceted, and can be influenced by cultural, social, and personal factors.
In somatics, the concept of “means-whereby” is used to describe ‘how you do what you do’ – the particular actions taken or the process engaged in. This term underscores the dynamic nature of our embodied experience, highlighting the ways in which we actively shape our reality through intentional movement and engagement.
In linguistics (semantically), “means” is also a word that is categorised as a complex equivalence—a binding structure that associates one thing with another. We’re conditioned from an early age to develop connections by associations – ie. the image of a ball accompanied by a statement ‘This is a ball’ (*This means that*). As we grow we compile layers of meaning making associations that we use to organise ourselves through. Somatically it can be used to represent the intricate web of connections between body, mind, and environment – ‘this’ sensory experience means ‘that’ that enables us to create an understanding and also generate meaningful behaviours in relation to the experience and how we’ve interpreted it’s meaning.
Thirdly, the word “mean” also occurs in mathematics and this too has particular significance in how we approach somatics. In statistics, the ‘mean’ represents the average value within a set of data points/gathered information. Similarly, in somatics, we recognize that “normal” behaviours are not static norms but rather the averaged or normalized potentials within a spectrum of possibilities. This acknowledgment prompts us to explore the rich diversity of embodied expression and to move beyond rigid notions of what is considered typical or acceptable. We can change the normalised behaviour by adjusting the range of possibilities a person has access to. We change the mean by adding more data often related to the end ranges but this is not exclusively the only option. If we are satisfied with the range of options available we can also adjust the mean with minor variations closer to the centre range of potential. Evolution will invite us to move between evolving the centre and evolving the periphery of the means we create and use.
By embracing the concept of Soma-Significance, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and richness of embodied existence. It invites us to reframe our understanding of the body – not merely a vessel for physical sensations but also as a locus of meaning-making and transformation. Through somatic practices such as movement, meditation, breath explorations and dance, we can cultivate a more profound connection with ourselves and the world around us, tapping into the inherent significance that permeates every aspect of our lived experience.
Introducing the use of the word Soma-Significance offers a holistic framework for exploring the intricate interplay of energy, meaning, and matter within the realm of somatics. By acknowledging the dynamic nature of our embodied existence and embracing the multifaceted process of meaning-making, we can awaken new pathways to self-discovery, conscious development and transformation. It is through this lens that we come to recognise the profound significance inherent in every breath, every sensation, and every moment of our lived experience.
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