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The Physiology Map is CENTRAL to Hawkeen Training. This map (above) is important conceptually to understand the roots of experience and as a chart useful in the generation of new behavior. It's intended to serve both as a map of explanation and to give direction to states and places you haven't yet explored and experienced.
The brain carries out two primary functions: first it receives and processes sensory information, and second sends out motor information. Information comes in and information is sent out in the form of nerve impulses. What we think of as ‘thinking ' is a vanishingly small part of what the brain does. The brain is never still, its activity during sleep is about the same as during the most active part of the day.
Plotting motor-to-sensory functions, we arrive at a map of human physiology. All states of physiology are located somewhere on the map. Changes of emotional states can occur in any direction except crossing the barrier (see more below). Near the center of the map is the location of ‘normal, day-to-day ' functioning.
For convenience (and as a memory aid), the first description in each quadrant are Chinese medicine and Navajo healing categories, the second is Galen's temperament categories, third the finger (to be used in self-anchoring techniques) most associated with the state, next are general descriptors (both positive and negative) and the last line lists the perceptual relationship between Self and Other induced by the physiological state. The arrow means 'effects' as in the Fire state where the perceptual relationship in that of 'Self effects Others'.
This graph serves to indicate that emotions are manifest only through physiology. In short, emotions are physiology. Or to say it another way, if you can shift your physiology, your emotional state will follow. Hawkeen Training is interested primarily in methods which can be used at will to induce physiological shift--thus shift in moods and perception. Begin getting in the habit of periodically checking your physiology and locating it on the Map.
The body has two major nervous systems: the voluntary or central and the involuntary or autonomic. The central nervous system controls everything we think of as being controlled by conscious volition (in particular the skeletal muscles), and transmits all forms of sensory awareness. Generally, our central nervous system applies to the striated muscles--those we think of as our muscles. If we wish to wiggle our finger, if we wish to walk around the room--these activities are carried out by the central (voluntary) nervous system. The autonomic nervous system attends to the visceral functions of the body. This system controls arterial pressure, gastrointestinal activity and secretion, urinary functioning, sweating, body temperature, and many other bodily activities. The central nervous system is generally associated with the conscious mind while the autonomic is associated with the nonconscious. For the purposes of this training we are particularly interested in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and will generally limit our attention to it. Thus, when we speak of physiology we are speaking of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system with the knowledge that physiology in general is not limited to it. Or to say it another way, we are specifically interested in the functioning and control of the viscera along with the skin, eye mechanics and voice tone; the gross observable and measurable physiological responses. Some of which are: Bullets indicate physiological shifts that can also be controlled consciously. The rest are generally thought to be controllable by the nonconscious only. Bold type indicates those responses which are measured by polygraph equipment. A major concept of this training is the understanding that emotions are, in fact, sensations caused by physiological changes mediated by the autonomic nervous system. Emotions are the evidence that Psyche effects Soma, one feels emotions somewhere within their body as a kinesthetic sensation. When one responds to an emotion it is evidence that Soma effects Psyche. Since the functioning of the two can't be separated we are left with the psychosomatic concept--which is of specific interest in this training. Two places where our two major nervous systems overlap is in breathing and eye movement. We can breathe both consciously (voluntarily using the central nervous system) and non-consciously (involuntarily using the autonomic nervous system). The same is true of eye movement and blinking. So it shouldn't be surprising that methods (hypnosis, meditation, etc.) which give access to non-ordinary states pay particular attention to breathing and eye movement. The idea is to place the involuntary nervous system under conscious control. The idea is to take charge of our physiology. Eye fixation and deliberate concentration on steady deep breathing are the central techniques of any number of Eastern traditions. Yogic traditions are based on the desire to control and direct physiology. The involuntary (autonomic) nervous system controls all of our basic functions: metabolism, digestion, heat regulation, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, etc. It acts through the smooth muscles (diaphragm, heart, etc.) and ducts which control the excretion of fluids, biles and so forth. The autonomic (involuntary) nervous system is synonymous with our physiology. The autonomic nervous system is further divided into two systems--Sympathetic and Paraympathetic. These two are basically opposed in function. Sympathetic stimulation makes things go faster and in most cases ducts constrict. Paraympathetic makes things go slower and ducts relax and open. Heart rate, for example, is the average between the two types of stimulation at any given moment. For our purposes we can think of sympathetic stimulation as faster, tighter, narrower and parasympathetic as slower, relaxed and broader. By and large, stimulation from the sympathetic branch produces an excitatory effect and stimulation from the parasympathetic branch produces an inhibition. As a general rule, sympathetic stimulation is faster and constricted, while parasympathetic is slower and expanded--what we might call speed up and slow down, tense and relaxed.
Heart Rate
Blood Pressure
Skin Resistance
•Breathing Rate and Depth
Skin Temperature
Pupil Size
Sweating
•Mental Activity
Skeletal Muscles
•Voice Tone
A massive sympathetic discharge in many different ways increases the capability of the body to perform vigorous muscle activity through:
1. increased arterial pressure
2. increased blood flow to active muscles concurrent with decreased flow to organs not needed for rapid activity
3. increased rates of cellular metabolism throughout the body
4. increased blood glucose concentration
5. increased glycolysis in muscle
6. increased muscle strength
7. increased mental activity
8. increased rate of blood coagulation
This is known as the sympathetic alarm reaction; it is also frequently called the Fight or Flight Reaction because an animal in this state decides almost instantly whether to stand and fight or to run. The primary molecule associated with the sympathetic branch is adrenaline. When it is stimulated adrenaline is released.
Organs which receive input from both branches of the autonomic nervous system average the signal of both. Should you have your parasympathetic branch severed through accident or surgery the organs would begin to function at maximum activity and you'd live but a few hours. On the other hand, should the sympathetic branch be severed you'd live a regular life very slowwwwly. As examples, playing in the Super Bowl employs the sympathetic branch while meditation is more concerned with the parasympathetic.
It becomes obvious that stress is the result of stimulation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system and relaxation is the result of stimulation of parasympathetic branch.
We would argue that our moods are directly based in physiology--that moods are rooted in physiology and that to change one's mood one must change one's physiology. To shift physiology is to shift mood. Our moods are simply the emotional manifestation of our physiology. Happy, mad, sad, glad--all are moods, all are defined by specific states of physiology. So we can arrive at 'map' of our internal emotional weather by plotting sensory input against motor (involuntary) output and hold out the hope that this 'weather' is navigable and controllable. After studying the Map it should become obvious that physiological extremes exist at the edges of the Map and most particularly in the corners. In the center is the average, normal, day-to-day functioning. The graphic below indicates these extreme corner states. Also it should be apparent that each quadrant is a general category of physiology and that, in fact, there is a gradation of physiology from quadrant to quadrant or for that matter, point-to-point.
Taking the example of self-confidence, poor self-esteem is typically a perceptual consequence of the Water quadrant. Induce anyone's physiology to the Water state and their experience of self-confidence drops. Anxiety rises, confusion increases, and the perception abounds that accomplishing almost everything is difficult if not impossible. It just goes with the physiological territory. Hear someone express concern about their self-worth and you instantly know their general physiological state--the Water quadrant. Usually, people instinctively attempt to shift their internal state to that of the Air quadrant. They literally and figuratively want to come up for air. However, for some unexplainable reason you can't shift your physiology directly from the Water state to the Air state. Something basic to the autonomic nervous system doesn't permit this. That's what the barrier represents. So the path is through Fire, Earth and finally to Air (see below). How to do this trick and many others is the what this training is all about.
The foregoing is but a single example. Our difficulties can be traced to errors in physiology. If you're having difficulty first check to see if you're in the right state for what you're attempting.
The Road to Self-Confidence
We find it more useful to think of people as habitating states of physiology rather than having personality traits. A personality trait is just a habit of physiology. Who you are is the result of what states of physiology you habitually frequent and what states you're capable of manifesting. The point is that your state of physiology should be consistent with what you want to achieve and how you want to live. Also it isn't our contention that you pick a location on the Physiology Map and attempt to maintain it indefinitely. The idea is that different activities require different states of physiology and the ability to shift physiology to match the task at hand is much more important than the ability to maintain any particular state. The Fire quadrant is great for cleaning the house but doesn't work so well when trying to quietly read a novel.
High achievers (along with 'angry' people) frequent the Fire quadrant. This is the physiology for action, getting things done--dynamism. In this state you act upon others and the world. This is the quadrant of flux/change and excitement. 'Victims' live in the Water Quadrant. In this state others and the world act upon you. Prolonged exposure to this quadrant should alert you that changes need to be made in your circumstances. 'Happy' people (along with daydreamers) frequent one or both of the lower quadrants. Earth quadrant is great for experiencing the joy and richness of life through everyday experience. This quadrant is conducive for steadiness in all its manifestations. In this state you, others, and the world interact as equals. This is the quadrant of evaluation and planning, satisfaction, and longevity. Air quadrant engenders understanding and appreciation of the intricacies and deeper aspects of our interactions and existence. In this state you act upon yourself. This is the quadrant for reflection, introspection, and self-realization.
What we think of as aberrant psychological functioning can be tracked on the Physiology Map. Bipolar Disorder (manic depression) is an oscillation between Fire and Water quadrants, as is what is called passive-agressive behavior. Obsessions and Panic Disorders are Water state disorders. Sociopaths alternate between Fire and Earth. Again, it's important to realize that each state of physiology (and particularly the extreme portion of each state) produces its own particular imprint on perception. Each state is a 'lens' through which the world is experienced. Perception is inherently colored by physiological states and is entirely state dependent. Don't like the way the world seems? Shift your physiology and as if by magic the world will have changed. People take drugs (speed, crack, alcohol, heroin, etc.) because they work. Which is to say that any substance which produces a rapid, strong and dependable physiological shift is a good candidate for becoming a popular drug. We take drugs because they produce a desired change in physiology. 'Uppers' move us up the Physiology Map, 'Downers', down. Speed moves one into the Fire Quadrant, marijuana into Earth and so on. Usually, the drug taker's drug of choice is one which most closely creates the physiological state they wish to experience. So it's not surprising that typical drug users aren't particularly talented at inducing physiological shifts on their own. There is some evidence that each finger is associated with a quadrant. The meditating Buddha usually has thumb touching index finger (Air). An upraised middle finger is the universal symbol of the Fire Quadrant. At your convenience, test touching your thumb to the tip of each finger (both hands) to find out which physiological state tends to be engendered. We're interested in receiving feedback on these experiences. Hawkeen@NavaChing.com
Although we won't make a big point of it at this time, we want you to consider and get used to the notion that each state of physiology contains its own distinctive perceptual overlay. What we mean to say is that the 'world' appears different from each quadrant. We will say it even stronger--that the world IS different as experienced from different states of physiology. People arguing about the true nature of reality are really arguing from different states of physiology and thus have different perceptions of their experience. People in similar states of physiology tend to agree about their perceptual experience because it is similar. We're trying to impart: 1. that life, temperament, mood, perception, etc. is based in physiology 2. that physiology in infinitely changeable--that's the way Mother Nature designed our functioning 3. that each state of physiology contains its own distinctive perceptual component 4. that the possibility exists that you can be more in charge of the nature and character of your physiology--hence your personal experience. Your task is to study this page until you have a grasp of the Physiology Map. Then continue with States of Attention.
For more read: Basic Human Neurophysiology, by Arthur C. Guyton, W.B. Saunders Company.
Galen's Prophecy, by Jerome Kegan, BasicBooks
Fact and Fiction in Psychology, by H. J. Eysenck, Pelican Books