El Hondo de la Alma; El Fuego Adentro
I was reading the books of Carlos Castaneda* when I did this painting. When I read The Fire From Within, I came to understand this painting myself. Leonardo di Vinci worked Vitruvian Man on a circle and a square. There are many references to the circle and the square throughout history in the arts, in philosophy, etc. One more I’d like to mention is Hunbatz Men’s “The 8 Calendars of the Maya”. He talks about the circle and the square as circle=Mother and square=Father. He also demonstrates the architectural use by the Pre-Colombian people of Costa Rica.
*Carlos Castaneda borrowed the word tensegrity from the architect, scientist, navigator, innovator and visionary, R. Buckminster Fuller, whose perception of energy led him to observe a principle of fluid interconnectivity in nature which he called “tensegrity,” a combination of tensional integrity, which describes the forces at work in a structure that is formed by a finite network of compression, or rigid elements interconnected through tensile, or elastic elements which give the structure its overall integrity. Due to this elastic property of interconnections, when one element of the tensegrity structure shifts, all the other elements shift as well, or adapt for a new configuration, yielding without breaking.
Fuller pointed to that essential supporter of life on earth, the tree, as a wonderful example of a tensegrity structure in nature. Arising from a seed, water, earth, air and sunlight, a tree grows into an efficient tensegrity structure with water and gases moving inside, allowing it to be both flexible and incredibly resilient, as it sways and adapts to shifting winds and earth, and lifts minerals—bits of stardust—and water from earth to sky.1
Carlos Castaneda found this process, tensegrity, to be a perfect energetic description of the modern practice of don Juan’s teachings:
In the case of the magical passes, Tensegrity® practice refers to the interplay of tensing and relaxing the tendons and muscles, and their energetic counterparts, in a way that enhances the overall integrity of the body as a physical and an energetic unit, and promotes a conscious awareness of how all the parts of our being—tendon, muscle, bone, nervous systems, organs, etc. work together, integrated by a healthy flow of energy.
In the case of daily life, Carlos Castaneda said, Tensegrity® practice is an art: the art of adapting to the vibration, availability and movement of one’s own energy, and that of each other, in a way that contributes to the integrity of the community that we are.
*Castaneda said that he borrowed the term tensegrity from architecture because the magical passes combine tension and relaxation of the muscles, joints and ligaments in a way that yields a stronger, more flexible, and more “aware” physical body. The intent of the movements is to create a general sense of well-being and purpose in daily life. Individuals disperse energy in their daily lives. Tensegrity is an attempt to help restore this energy to the vital centers of the body.
In conjunction with the gross movements, this is accomplished through a series of proposed metaphysical relationships. Castaneda lays claim that the ancient sorcerers of Mexico conceived of two bodies comprising the human being – one physical, and one made of energy. The consolidation of these bodies is thought to increase vitality and awareness. Further, these two bodies are connected by what he calls the “assemblage point”. This point is located about one hand’s distance behind the shoulder blades. It is said to be the place where our perception originates, and thus, it determines the ways in which one perceives oneself. Through the practice of Tensegrity, one learns how to displace the assemblage point in different locations and how to change one’s perception. This shift of perception involves assuming personal responsibility for one’s affairs and allows for a more complete view of interactions.
‘Tensegrity’ also refers to the adaptation of our own energy to the energy of our surroundings and our fellow beings[3].
Aleema Shakoor 