I've been continuing a deep dive into The Sedona Method (aka Release Technique) over the last month or so. There's a lot of good points related to learning and using this method, and also some things that are missing in this method that could become an issue for some, and hence why some people become road blocked at some point along their 'releasing' journey.
There has been an obvious evolution in the method from the 1950s when Lester Levenson first thought about and designed a way to release tendencies (vasanas) and allow for someone to rest in their own beingness/awareness/I AM. That evolution in itself has been both good and bad in different ways and I'll comment on that below.
The Good
- There's tonnes of information out there on the Internet about The Sedona Method. In fact, it's almost not even necessary in forking out the cash to purchase the entire course, since the whole method and aspects of the course are all out there (e.g. in YouTube, or other sites), and one can basically pick up the method and run with it. The later developments such as the 5th way (which is really a form of self-enquiry that is used with the intent to release emotions and recognise awareness) is also freely available. Hale in his graciousness has been good to open up the method and approach for free via podcasts, YT videos, books and other means, which makes it pretty much accessible for anyone.
- The method itself is fairly easy to learn. The proviso is that it is practices over and over again until it becomes a habit that is mastered. Just going through a few releases and the course (which has become more and more complex and informational now) will not cut it. This needs to be a constant practice (as mentioned in Lester's 6 points for success or imperturbability).
- There's various approaches now to the method, other than the original Questions / Queries approach. Larry Crane has a more direct releasing method based on the body sensations and also confronting the mind, whereas other newer teachers such as David Ellzey incorporate self-enquiry and some nondual practices into the mix. Any of these approaches could work better for someone. Hale also includes at least 5 ways to release now.
- The course does allow someone to be able to learn to categorise and identify emotions (on the AGFLAP-CAP chart) and identify them in the body and release on them. This is a real bonus as so many people come to the course with no idea about what an emotion is, where it can be experienced or how it could be classified and noted etc.
- The course can lead to deeper spiritual work, such as self-enquiry etc. In fact, Lester's original goal was for the course to be a tool to aid in the quest for self-realization and enlightenment, rather than an end in itself or a self-help tool, or a productivity tool-- which of course is much easier to market and have people sign up for vs a tool aiming at spiritual development.
What's missing or could be an issue?
+ The tool can get overly intellectual for some people. If someone is caught in a tendency state, zoned out or trance state, an addiction or purely physical - emotional loop, then asking these questions and releasing tends to become an intellectual exercise that doesn't really get to the core of the emotional issue. Just repeating the questions, and not connecting with the body or sensation or emotion itself doesn't produce any effect in most cases. There's no development of body mindfulness or sensation awareness etc., which for the most part needs to be done at some point to full access the body where emotions are stored and become part of our experience.
+ There's no use of meditation or contemplation in the course at all. The sorts of spiritual principles (along the lines of Advaita Vedanta) that Lester was emphasising in the 60s and later, really need to be contemplated and used in meditation. Just using the technique during daily activities and without the assistance of deep meditation and contemplate makes it hard to integrate fully into all states of being.
+ The course is secular or purely psychological , self-help in delivery. One could theoretically become devoted to the method (or perhaps Lester), though the focus on the course is essentially still a self-help tool, rather than a psycho-spiritual path or approach that incorporates other areas as well such as ethics, meditation, contemplating principles etc. This makes a bit hard for some to commit to, and stay motivated for the long run.. few can remain motivated and constant or devoted to a tool or method or technique.
+ Integration. I found the earlier versions of the course, such as the 1992 Sedona Institute version, to be much easier to integrate and use during the day and throughout all waking hours.. ie. full integration.. due to the simplicity of the course and single way of releasing. The worksheets and drills in the earlier course versions were great as well. However, the later versions of the course just contain too much material, information, ways to release, and options. As such, it's a real challenge and becomes extremely difficult for the brain to integrate all of these items into one's daily activities or experience. Again, meditation and focused sitting sessions are missing, which means that the subconscious mind doesn't have an easy, ready to go approach within reach when emotions start flying or an unexpected issue or tendency arises.
+ Complexity. As mentioned above, as the course evolves over time, it tends to have more information, ways to release, complexity and options added over time. This seems to be in the official channels as well as with other teachers. This is understandable because it gives more flexibility in ways to release, and is a larger offering in terms of marketing the course and getting it out there. However, being a double edged sword, more complexity, offerings, options and information also acts as an obstacle for people getting a handle on ONE preferred way to release and just getting the practice and time spent releasing clocked up over time. The old metaphor of 'digging many holes that are shallow being less effective that digging one deep hole in a preferred area that hits oil' can be true here.
+ Moving away from the original goals of the course and how Lester Levenson first gained his insights and realizations. Reading Lester's biographies and own notes on his awakening(s) around 1952, it's clear he was very focused on self-enquiry, Advaita in the style of Ramana Maharshi, and also seemed to have performed a variety of forgiveness and 'love'/metta type contemplations and practices at the time, which would have been beneficial on his health situation. He was greatly motivated due to his critical health issues at the time as well. His talks in the 60s where fully in line with Advaita teachings. Slowly over time, the method and focus shifted away from this, and moved into a psychological emotional self-help tool, but recently with the upswing in interest in nonduality and awareness teachings, this has been added back in via the "5th Way" releasing style etc. It's worth keeping this in mind, because TSM was really designed as an aid to release tendencies and obstructing emotions/thoughts as an aid to self-enquiry and self-realisation. There also seems to be a gap in the explanation of how Lester originally used his forgiveness/metta/loving-all type practices in regards to his health and his past grievances and relationship issues, and why this wasn't incorporated into the method as another facet. Lester was a bit of a pioneer, and tried his best to come up with a method that would suit the mainstream in releasing tendencies and obstacles so that they could live happier lives and possibly embody a more aware experience.
Takeaways
Sedona Method is a great little tool for introducing emotional release work, gaining some understanding of emotions, feelings, how they are experienced in the body, how they can be noted and labelled and released or allowed to pass through etc. It's also portable, and easy to learn. However, there's a few missing pieces if you're looking at it from a holistic point of view, and it seems a lot of long-term users have incorporated other teachings, approaches, and therapies (e.g. EFT, Mindfulness, nondual awareness approaches, bodywork etc.) into their practice to supplement those missing areas in TSM.
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