Making your bed
Each day requires some attention to how we are using ourselves, carrying ourselves, being ourselves. For me, a challenging time posturally, mentally, and spiritually is when I get up in the morning. After a cup of coffee and half a bagel with peanut butter, which my wife and I religiously have, we make our bed. But earlier, as soon as I am awake and begin to stir, I am quietly working on making my bed. I mean by this that I am sorting out my body surface sensations (primarily on the dorsal surface) employing archetypal and rehabilitative imagery to organize and bring to cheerful life my face, head, neck, and body structure/posture. Even when I have had a very nice night’s sleep, I have this task, waking up the senses and programing some spring into my step and day. Remember, I’m 64. Not very old, but not just off the factory assembly line either.
Interestingly, this bed-making metaphor can be expanded almost into a PRI imagery exercise… almost. If you are familiar with the location of your dorsal and ventral surfaces as I have defined them… you may be able to turn this metaphor into an image exercise.
Think of the top sheets and/or blankets as representing coverings (sensations) on your dorsal side. You can first stretch out the sheets and even the white blankets and then tuck them between the mattress and the board, box spring, or the floor below, if you wish. Think of whatever is below the mattress as your ventral surface. Therefore, where the sheet or whatever is tucked in is your dorsal-ventral seam.
With this information, you can start “making your bed,” all over your body. Perhaps you want to leave everything untucked but still nicely straightened. This can be nice if you want it looking/feeling orderly but not tightly military. But in this case, you have to be carefull to stretch out your dorsal surface/sheet or blanket gently. It is especially easy to create a diagonal ripple or two and stretches that destroy the job. Our own bodies have unnoticed diagonal pulls, so playing with your sheet or blanket of our dorsal surface (not just on your back) can be very educational. You may sense asymetrical pulls you were not aware of before.
It is maybe best on parts of your bed to not “make it” but to crumple it up a bit. A tightly made bed might look good, but it isn’t necessarily comfortable to “wear.” Some parts of your “bed” may be more comfortable rumpled and other parts stretched. You may find you want it made in a peculiarly personal way. Remember to make the head of the bed… and even with a blanket that you might want to tuck in in places! The ventral surface in this metaphor is best when it is fully supported by the ground, perpaps through its legs, if it has some. Every part of “your” bed’s ventral surface should feel as securely and certainly landbound as your real bed is.
Finally, remember that since “your” bed is actually you, then whoever or whatever is making the bed is clearly NOT you. Let’s name the bed maker Grace.
Sweet dreams.
Experiment.