The adjacent possible - Part I

[Barrett Dorko]

I’m all about Steven Johnson’s new book these days.

He writes of the adjacent possible; “a kind of shadow future, hovering on the edges of the present state of things.”

I really like this. Reading of it I immediately thought of methods of practice that have grown from a true understanding of the body’s deep model.

When Patrick Wall wrote of pain as a motivation for instinctive movement, I understood that ideomotion would fit the bill. Instinctive, inherent to life and unique, it seemed ideal for the resolution of pain with a mechanical driver in its origin.

The problem was (and remains) a culture that prefers, in fact, insists upon, control. The therapy community being nothing more than a thoughtless reflection of that, it has imposed a choreography that promises strength and good looks - never mind the resolution of pain.

I’ve more to say about how our future as practitioners is formed, but let’s start with this.

[Barrett Dorko]

Can anyone else see how important it is for the deep model adjacent to the "shadow future" to be accurate?

Can you see what's happened?

[Bas Asselbergs]

I see the "shadow future" as a shadow being thrown forward by a present deep model. In order for that future to be sharp, that model better not throw a shadow into a misty bog.

Oh, wait.....

[Jon Newman]

Well none of the three parts of this serial thread got much commentary. Today I found Jason Silva's typically enthusiastic, if not manic, commentary To understand is to perceive patterns. In it he mentions Johnson as well as the adjacent possible.