What is Tibetan Cranial®?
Tibetan Cranial is a body-based practice involving perception of, and attention to, numerous pulses. It is a process for supporting the body’s inherent capacity for self-healing. Tibetan Cranial carries the potential for transformation on multiple levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
The origins of Tibetan Cranial may be traced to the Himalayan highlands about 3,000 years ago. Passed directly from teacher to apprentice through oral instruction, Tibetan Cranial is not merely a study of anatomy; rather, it is a sacred knowledge with a rich and ancient history.
Known traditionally by the Tibetan people as “Thoba Khujatag,” this practice developed and was nurtured in Tibetan monastic environments. As an oral tradition, it has been passed down through generations of deeply devout Buddhist monks.
For the benefit of all sentient beings, on August 27, 2016, Tibetan Cranial was profoundly honored to be recognized as a part of the Kagyu lineage by His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin Rinpoche. H. H. Nagwang Tenzin is a high reincarnation of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage of Buddhism in Bhutan where he is regarded as one of the most revered teachers of this lineage.
How Can I Benefit From Tibetan Cranial?
This is the one question that individuals ask me time and again.
Transformation lies at the heart of this work. Therefore, each person experiences Tibetan Cranial in her/his own way. Those who have received Tibetan Cranial sessions report relief with a wide spectrum of issues, including:
- Migraines
- Concussion and post-concussion difficulties
- TMJ pain and discomfort
- Sinus issues
- Anxiety
- Vertigo
- Tinnitus
- Dental-related issues
This is a “short” list. Tibetan Cranial has been instrumental in supporting recovery from many, many conditions that impact health—even those conditions which elude conventional identification.
The body’s inherent capacity for self-healing is at the heart of Tibetan Cranial’s 3,000-yr. old history. Experiencing this work can mark the beginning of developing trust in the body’s innate ability to heal. This is an exciting, and sometimes unfamiliar, journey that Western culture is starting to explore.
About Philae Amenti
“From where you stand, the raindrops seem random.” ~ Tony Hillerman
For thirty years Philae Amenti has been exploring the nature of healing, ever curious about the difference between “health care” and “healing.” Over time she has observed that health care tends to be a linear, goal-oriented paradigm while healing implies a transformational, process-oriented experience.
Philae has also discovered that many individuals seeking relief from pain are actually seeking a deeper level of relief from suffering. For example, someone with a history of migraines might, in any number of ways, find temporary periodic relief. However, permanent recovery often requires a shift in self-awareness, including making different choices in lifestyle, attitude, or perception. Permanent relief appears to be inextricably bound with honoring the self. Over the years, Philae has noted that suffering often begins with forgetting—that is, forgetting one’s true nature.
After working in the professional arena of spinal-based health care for 25 years, Philae realized the importance of integrating the cranium into her practice. That point of realization led to a memorable first encounter with her teacher Shar Lee who had brought this work to the West from Nepal. Philae’s ongoing insights about healing resonated strongly with Tibetan Cranial’s tradition of balancing the pulses in relationship to the cranium.
Thus, in 2011, Philae began a new relationship, apprenticing to Shar Lee who, at the time, was the only known living teacher of Tibetan Cranial.
After two years of apprenticeship, Philae was honored as a Tibetan Cranial Practitioner in 2013. A short time later, Master Teacher Shar Lee invited her to participate in a pilot program as a Teacher intern, a process that culminated in 2016 with Philae stepping forward to join the ancient lineage as the first teacher of Tibetan Cranial, not only in the West but worldwide.