We may ask ourselves where the True–Self resides and where it emerges from. To this challenging question we may find our answers in the exploration of the core experience of being embodied in an alive sensing body. We shall discover that inherent in this great wisdom, is one that is much greater than what originates from the mind. That the body has its reasons, that reason cannot reason. In this class we will explore proto–consciousness as the fundamental root of holistic awareness.

Perhaps we ask ourselves where the True Self resides and where it comes from. We may find answers to this challenging question by exploring the core experience of inhabiting a living, feeling body. We will discover that this great wisdom contains something far greater than what originates from the mind. That the body has its own reasons that the mind cannot comprehend. In this course, we will explore Proto–Consciousness as the original root of holistic consciousness.

Proto comes from the Greek (proton) and means something like “the first.” In this sense, the Proto–Self is clearly our “first self.” Synonyms for this are our “True Self” or the “Authentic Self.” Of course, this raises the big question of where this core self is located within the human being – and also where it comes from. The concept of protoplasm, understood as that which is formed first, came to encompass, from the late 19th century onward, the gel-like liquid mass of all living cells in the body, including the cell nucleus. Dr. Peter A. Levine aims to give participants in this incredibly exciting SE training the opportunity to find their own answer.

To this end, participants must explore their own living, sentient bodies as a core experience and recognize how they inhabit them – both what is already known from their wealth of experience and what is new. The course instructor is convinced that, right down to the intracellular level, there exists a profound wisdom that is far greater than what originates from the human mind. That the body, as already described by the French philosopher Blaise Pascal, has its own reasons that the mind cannot always comprehend.

From this perspective, the somatic part of our being has its very own consciousness. Over the four days of the course, participants will explore Proto–Consciousness as the original root of holistic human consciousness under the guidance of SE founder Dr. Peter A. Levine. One’s own identity and continuity as a human being are built upon this somatic sense of self. Ultimately, the subject emerges from the deepest layers of implicit memory. Proprioception, interoception, visceroception, and exteroception play an essential role in this process. Through the sensory organs and subtle perception, they enable an extremely fascinating communication with the embodied Proto–Self.