Well-Springs

Kay Ortmans-Pawley , Founder (1907-1998)

Why do we usually wait until we have a crisis of some kind before we make sufficient effort
to find the balance within ourselves? Many reasons and excuses are made, we haven't the
money or opportunity, but underneath there is usually a feeling of not knowing exactly where
to begin. The simple way is sometimes overlooked because it is not properly understood. Often,
sharing in an integrated creative program is all that is needed. Let me explain a little further.

As the result of physical discomfort in the form of constant headaches, backaches, rheumatism,
neuritis and severe nervous tension in the solar plexus and chest, I sought help, only to find that
the usual therapy gave me just temporary relief and, after a short period, the same symptoms
appeared again and again. So I had to go deeper to find the cause. I was aware psychologically
that our reactions to events and circumstances are the determining factors in our lives, and not
the events and circumstances themselves, so there seemed no alternative but to go on seeking
within myself for the answers. I knew that the awareness of the body's tensions was important,
but what I discovered while in the process of freeing them, with and without the help of music,
was a revelation. Not only did my health improve amazingly but I uncovered many unsuspected
gifts. Each day too some facet of awareness came to the surface for my understanding and
acceptance.

From these experiences came the Well-Springs program. At our center in the Santa Cruz
Mountains of Northern California, people come to share in an experience based on a principle
we call Relax and Rebound, by which we mean relaxing to the point of the light rebound which
occurs when tension is let go and energy is released. We begin the program with a series of
movements to free the circulation and build an inner awareness of tension and the feeling of
"letting go". We follow this with a deeper relaxation in which we rest and turn our attention
to each part of the body in turn, gently persuading it to "let go" until we feel an inner emptiness
and light expectancy. This is the point at which we usually experience the "rebound" which
then carries us into creative expression.

Verbal communication has ceased now and we put on recorded music, being careful to use only
the finest of both music and equipment, for this is extremely important when we are relaxed and
open. When the time comes that we feel ready to "move out", we free the body still more by
walking or swaying or dancing, then taking colored chalks or clay, let them create out of them-
selves. We do not try to make anything consciously and we are not concerned that it is beautiful
or good. We want only to see what is waiting in us to be expressed. Many of our "doodles," as
we call them for want of a better name, are beautiful, but what is important is to recognize
what they are saying to us.

It is a simple process and we do it with a light touch, but from it come many discoveries and
we find that many conflicts are resolved as we recognize the opposites coming together.

We find also that it is a lifetime process and that, as we continue to practice it, it demands
more and more of us. It is from my own adventures with it and from questions I have put to
myself in the silence that these notes have been written. I am sharing them in the hope they
may be helpful to others with similar interests and concerns.

Well-Springs, Ben Lomond, CA
July 29, 1967

Kay Ortmans-Pawley, founder-director of Well-Springs Foundation, an internationally-known
innovator in the field of spiritual development through relaxation, movement to music
and creative activities.

She received her training at the Royal Academy of Music and the Dalcroze School of
Eurhythmics in London, and the Rudolf Steiner School of Gymnastics in Loheland, Germany.

She taught at the National Teacher Training Colleges in England, the University of British
Columbia, the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco State University.

Her two radio programs for children, "Let's Play" and "It's in the Air," for which she composed
and played the music and wrote and narrated the scripts, was broadcast for three years over
CBC. She received a Canadian National Radio award from the Association for Holistic Health in
recognition of her work.

Well-Springs has cassette tapes, CD's and currently a series of videotapes presenting the
Well-Springs Program and the Alignment Process. Children's cassettes are also available
for creative and dance movement to her piano improvisations.

The crashed car.

Day One: The bottom center represents the struggle to get going. The left side of the chalk drawing represents the left hand with the two broken fingers and frozen shoulder trying to move up on the paper. The background of pale blue and yellow represents the spirit and the higher energy helping. The black lines encircling shows the limit of movement possible at that time. The right side shows the right hand compassionately moving over to the left hand to try and help dissolve the pain.

Day Two: The left painful hand trying to move out its
frustration and reach the vital energy of the right hand.

Day Three: Left hand softening with the help of the spiritual blue overshadowing it. Right hand moving on its own with a small black line intercepting the blue and yellow and orange. Well-Springs logo integrating it all but the dark brown on the right is trying to force its way in.

Day Five: The left hand moves the resistance from the bottom deliberately into the yellow light, supported by the blue which gives it enough energy to keep moving. The right hand is held back by the black pain which is real and has to be broken up.

Kay pointed out that the hand therapy twice a week with Gaye and Karen at U.W. Hospital was immensely helpful to free the physical pain and offered many different ways of stretching and relaxing and finally strengthening the muscles again. The music and the creative flow has helped the painful therapy move more quickly and with more fun. Thanks Gaye for risking the experience, it was great!

Integrating these different approaches plus the help of David Laden with his Rolfing techniques, compassionate understanding and spiritual energy is giving me the chance to move into another chapter.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Kay Ortmans-Pawley

Articles by Kay Ortmans-Pawley
Music As The Carrier Wave, Education for Eternity, We Create Our World

Home | Well-Springs | Alignment | Kay Ortmans-Pawley | Contact Us | Workshops | Products | Facilitators | Links

©Well-Springs Foundation 2001

Website created by Grace