Rebirthing (Part 2 of 1 l 2 ) Post Partum by Michael Braunstein

The above premise is at the heart of the matter. To become aware that the thoughts one holds and believes can shape and affect our bodies and our outer reality is essential to creating change in our lives. Typical Western psychology and psychoanalysis has an inkling of that premise, but fails to create change, limited only to the conscious awareness. The true power of our nature is closely aligned with the subconscious awareness and the emotional aspect of the greater Self; an wholistic event. Effective therapies make use of that connection. The intellect must be swept aside and the greater potential of the whole must be enlisted to truly change behavior and explicate reality.

If we have thoughts that we believe in, that have become part of our own personal laws, then those thoughts are bound to bind us to behavior patterns for better or for worse. When those patterns are interfering with our enjoyment of life to the fullest, then it is time to create a change. That change must happen where belief happens; in a deeper part of the mind than the conscious intellect.

The above is true of ANY effective therapy. Rebirthing is one of them.

THE BIRTH OF REBIRTHING
  In a bathtub in 1962, Leonard Orr spontaneously drifted into a trance-like state. In that state, he began to re-experience some of the earliest feelings that arose in him at the time of his birth. In connecting with his birth moment, Orr identified primal thought/feelings that he correlated to the negative experiences in his life as an adult. Over a period of years, Orr began applying what he had learned in that process and the following hundreds of what he came to call Rebirthings. He studied and researched his own techniques and found that he could assist others in connecting with their birth events and the attendant thoughts and feelings. While in a trance-like state, the connection was more than intellectual and allowed for a re-experiencing on the emotional/physiological/spiritual levels.

Because Orr's first encounter with Rebirthing had taken place when nearly submerged, he began using that as part of the method, and the earliest rebirthings were undertaken in hot tubs. The apparent connection with the fluid state of the womb enhanced the effect. To make Rebirthing easier and more convenient to do however, Orr did it without the tub method and found that "dry" Rebirthing was also effective. Hence, both "wet" and "dry" Rebirthing were recognized as effective means for enabling a person to create change. Soon, therapists throughout the Western United States were traveling to California to learn about the practice from Orr. Within a few years, thousands had been rebirthed.

In 1977, Orr wrote "Rebirthing in the New Age " (Celestial Arts, Millbrae, CA 1977) along with co-author Sondra Ray. Sondra, a native of Grafton, Iowa, had been incorporating Rebirthing as an important part of her Loving Relationships Training. (The LRT, as it is known, is one of the more successful workshop/encounter processes that began in the Seventies. In fact, the first Omaha LRT was scheduled to take place as this issue goes to press.)

REBIRTHING IN THE HEARTLAND
While Leonard Orr first experienced Rebirthing as a spontaneous event, the effectiveness is exponential when guided by a Professional Rebirther.

"A Professional Rebirther creates a 'safe space' for the client, and using skills and techniques developed by training, allows Rebirthing to heal the emotional aspect of the Self," comments Vickie Pavlik, a Rebirther who practices in Omaha. Pavlik just returned from presenting a program on Rebirthing at an Holistic Healing Conference at Iowa State University in Ames. Sondra Ray was the keynote speaker. "Rebirthing helps a person take responsibility for one's Self. It empowers," she continues. Though Rebirthing has a tone and ambiance of maternalistic qualities, Vickie notes "It is recommended that a minimum of 10 sessions be done and we further recommend that half of the therapy be done with a male Rebirther and half with a female, to create an (energy) balance."

Sources claim that there are over one hundred thousand trained Rebirthers worldwide. There are an estimated 8 to 10 Professional Rebirthers in the immediate Omaha/Lincoln area. Session fees can be found to vary from $35 to $100 per session. A session typically lasts about two hours.

"Omaha is the Midwest Hub for the LRT and the training of Professional Rebirthers," states Shelagh Keleyhers. Shelagh is the Regional Representative of the LRT. "Some Rebirther trainees have come here from as far away as Canada. We will be sponsoring a new training beginning in February '95."

For further information on Rebirthing or the LRT contact Vickie Pavlik, (402) 291-0560 or LRT Regional Representative Shelagh Keleyhers, 551-0795.

Be well.