WP Foundation Manual v8-3 (Generic) US

The Wholeness
Work: Foundation
Training
Connirae Andreas
Coming to Wholeness
2017
Wholeness Work Foundation Manual Developed by Connirae Andreas
Contents
Contents .............................................................................................................................. 1
Background and History of the Wholeness Work .............................................................. 2
The Wholeness Work: The Basic Process .......................................................................... 4
Worksheet: The Basic Wholeness Process ......................................................................... 9
What the Wholeness Work Does ...................................................................................... 10
The Wholeness Process: The Meditation Format ............................................................. 12
The Wholeness Process 5 Keys ........................................................................................ 15
Sensation Quality vs. Meaning and Interpretation ............................................................ 16
The Three Directions of Integration ................................................................................. 17
Reclaiming the Inner Authority ........................................................................................ 19
From Authority to Authorship .......................................................................................... 19
Worksheet: Reclaiming Inner Authority ........................................................................... 23
Integrating What’s Missing............................................................................................... 24
Worksheet: What’s Missing? ............................................................................................ 26
Awareness by Sensory System ......................................................................................... 27
How is the Wholeness Work different from Mindfulness Training? ............................... 28
The Wholeness Work - The whole thing simply put ........................................................ 29
Author ............................................................................................................................... 30
When you get home… ...................................................................................................... 31
Wholeness Work: Foundation Training Participant Manual
©2007-2016 Connirae Andreas
Entire contents
www.wholenessprocess.org
1
Background and History of the Wholeness Work

The beginning inspiration for this work came from Ramana Maharshi, a teacher from India who
many consider to be among the greatest sages of the 20th century. His main teaching was to have
people ask the question “Who am I?” continually. Ramana’s intent in giving this question was to
assist us in realizing that we aren’t a separate small self, but that we are actually a vast Self. This
kind of idea is prevalent in the literature on Eastern spirituality. “You aren’t separate, you are one
with everything. You aren’t who you think you are. You are a vast Self.”
For Ramana Maharshi, this didn’t seem to just be about something we could call enlightenment.
He was presenting this as the real solution to life’s difficulties. He basically said that if we
realize this, our problems in life vanish. And he wasn’t talking about teaching people to live in
lala land, and being disconnected from problems. He was describing a fundamental shift in how
we are in the world, such that we experience a deep sense of peace, a natural wisdom to deal
with what needs to be dealt with, and we see how many things we thought were “real” problems,
just seemed that way because of our tendency to create artificial meanings and interpretations for
things. This is a radical shift of consciousness.
And it sounds pretty good. But the only problem with this teaching was that almost nobody got
results. Ramana’s students would try this method of asking “Who am ‘I’?” and for most of them,
it didn’t lead anywhere. Well, perhaps they had more internal dialogue. So people decided the
teaching was “advanced,” and that one had to be “ready.”
I started doing some experiments based on this teaching. But instead of doing it the way Ramana
did, my immediate inclination was to change the starting place. He was inviting people to
directly experience something called a “vast Self.” But this isn’t where most people are, and I
thought it would work better to begin where we actually are. If we are experiencing ourselves as
a small self, then what is this? How can we find it?
With the Wholeness Process, we don’t ask, “Who am ‘I’?” and hope to get to a grand experience
of some sort. Instead, we start by asking “Where is the ‘I’ located?” And this makes a huge
difference.
When I tried this out myself, I immediately found a location for my own “small I”. And then the
question became, “How do we go from finding this ‘I’ (which is contracted, small), to
experiencing ourselves as the vast ‘whole’ again?” For this I instinctively used the
Awareness/Dissolving meditation. This meditation was an outgrowth of the Aligning Perceptual
Positions work, and is on my audio set “Healing Meditations” from 1996. The result for me was
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an immediate dissolving of the ‘I,’ and a sense of presence. We could describe this as an
integration of subject with “beingness”. The next step was to add integration with the “object”
(i.e. the feeling, etc. being worked with) for which again I used the basic Awareness/Dissolving
meditation method.
From there, the Wholeness Work has developed into a body of work. There are many unique
formats, all of which emerge from a coherent set of underlying principles. The formats come
from exploring how to most effectively resolve/heal/transform the range of emotions and
challenges we all share. Usually I’ve tested things first in myself, and then with clients.
I have been using the Wholeness process myself since 2007 (or perhaps a bit earlier), and within
a year or two began guiding others. It can be noted that these processes embody principles from
many streams of both psychotherapy (especially Gestalt, Ericksonian, and Jungian) and
spirituality (esp. Buddhism, Sufi, Hindu, non-dual, etc.), in a practical way.
—Connirae Andreas
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The Wholeness Work: The Basic Process

Working with an Issue
Note: The words in blue are spoken, the words in black are explanation.
Step 1: Finding a beginning

For this exercise, pick an issue or difficult experience that’s mild to medium intensity.
For example, it could be something someone does that pushes your buttons, but really
doesn’t hurt anyone or cause harm…. Let me know when you’ve chosen something.
A. Imagine it is happening now, and notice how you feel in response….
Pause to let your partner access the experience.
Describe your response in one short sentence.
(E.g. “I feel annoyed.”)
B. So you feel [say feeling]…. Notice where this feeling of [say feeling] is located.
And where is it located?
(E.g. “in my chest.”)
C. OK, it’s [say location]… Now notice the size and shape.
And what is the size and shape?
(E.g. “It’s sort of round and the size of an orange.”)
D. Now notice the sensation quality…. This might be a sense of heaviness, pressure,
vibration, fizziness or bubbling. It might be warm or cool, etc. It may be something you
can’t put into words, and that’s fine. Just notice the sensation that’s there.
And what sensation quality do you notice?
(E.g. “It’s fuzzy and a bit prickly.”)
E. OK, it’s [say their sensation quality (SQ) words]…. You can recognize, ‘I am aware of
this [SQ words] sensation, so Awareness is present.
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Step 2: What is Awareness?
Now take a moment to experience Awareness…. You are aware of the sensation you’ve
just been noticing, so awareness is present there, and awareness is also throughout your
body and all around…. If a sound happened on one side of you, you would hear it
automatically without effort…. If a sound happened on the other side, you’d also be
aware of it without effort. And even if your eyes are closed, you can notice a sense of
space all around you…. Awareness is this capacity to notice, that is throughout the body,
and all around. And there isn’t really any edge to it or an end to it.
And you can notice this all, simultaneously, right now….
Step 3: Finding the ‘I’
A. Now let’s return to this statement, “I am aware of this [say SQ words] sensation in [say
the location]” …. Where is the ‘I,’ that is aware of this sensation…? Where is this ‘I’
located? Just notice whatever location comes to mind. It might be somewhere in your
head, body, or outside your head or body somewhere.
And what location do you notice?

B. So it’s [say location]… And what is the size and shape of this ‘I’?
C. Now notice the sensation quality of this [size & shape] that’s [location].
It might be foggy, clear, dense, or empty, heavy, light, vibrating, still, etc. If no words
quite describe it, it’s OK. You can just notice the sensation itself.
And what is the sensation quality?
Step 4: Finding the Chain of ‘I’s
A. OK, now you could say, “I am aware of this [say sensation quality of previous ‘I’], in
[say location of previous ‘I’]” right?... So Where is the ‘I’ who notices this? Another way
to ask this question, is “Where is the perceiving happening from?”
B. So it’s [say location]… And what is the size and shape of this ‘I’?
C. So it’s [say size and shape]…And what is the sensation quality in this area?
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D. So it’s [say SQ words]
Repeat Step 4 so that you have 3 ‘I’s total.
If the third ‘I’ is still quite dense, then get a 4 th ‘I’ before going to Step 5.
Step 5: Check if the last ‘I’ welcomes integrating with Awareness

So this ‘I’ that is [say location] and [say S.Q.].… Check, Does the sensation of this ‘I’
welcome the invitation to open and relax as the fullness of Awareness? It doesn’t
matter if the answer is ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. It just tells us what to do next.
A. If Yes:
Notice what happens, when the sensation of the ‘I’ is invited to open and relax… as the
fullness of Awareness….There can be a gentle sensing into the sensation in this location,
and an allowing this opening and relaxing to happen in its own way. You are not really
doing anything—just sensing how it occurs on its own.
If you are experiencing a relaxing, melting, or dissolving, just stay with it until things
settle. Enjoy the sense of relaxation, peace or flow as long as you like.
A.1 Now invite each previous ‘I’ to integrate:
Now we’re going to check with the ‘I’ that was in [say location]. First notice, is it the
same as it was before, or is it a little bit different? Either is fine.
OK, now notice what happens, when this [the SQ here now], is invited to open and
relax… as the fullness of Awareness…. There can be an allowing of it to happen in its
own way.
B. If No: This means you need to find another ‘I’.1
Finding the next ‘I’:

So you just noticed that the sensation here [in the location of the ‘I’] doesn’t want to open
and relax, right? (Wait for them to affirm.) So where is the ‘I’ that notices this? …
Where is the perceiving of this happening from?
Now Cycle through Step 4B, C, D, and Step 5. Do this until you find an ‘I’ that welcomes the
invitation to integrate with Awareness.
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Ask a coach for assistance at any point if things aren’t flowing easily.
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Step 6: Integrating Awareness and the Beginning Sensation2
A. Now let’s return to the area that you started with, in [say location from Step 1]. First
notice, is the sensation there the same as it was before? Or is it a little bit different?
B. OK, so it’s [say how it is now].
C. So notice what happens when this [say how it is now] sensation in [say location] is
invited to open and relax…as all of Awareness.
Alternate Wordings for 6C (inviting the integration):
Notice what happens when the fullness of Awareness…, all of consciousness…, is

invited to flow in and as… the sensation in [say location].
Or, it may feel like the Awareness already present in [say location], wakes up to itself.
D. Now there is just an allowing of whatever happens. You can enjoy this experience as long
as you like.
Step 7: Check in Original Context
Being this way (with the I’s and the feeling integrated with Awareness), notice what is it
like now, when you imagine being in a situation where the person is doing whatever you
were working with…. What is it like, being this way?
If the person feels more at ease, or more neutral or resourceful, then this phase is complete.
Invite your partner to experience “being this way” in two additional situations in the past, and
several in the future. If any reactivity remains, call a coach.
Advanced Note
This process essentially always works if we are noticing what’s actually happening in the
moment. If someone has a response (such as annoyance, impatience, disappointment, etc.), it can
be useful to notice this and work directly with it. A response usually needs to take priority in the
work.
If you suspect a response, call a coach to help you.
2
Once the ‘I’s are merged with awareness, the integration with the sensation of the original feeling or thought is
usually welcomed and natural. If it feels difficult or unwanted, it means you need to do something differently. Ask a
coach to assist you. It’s never useful to try to make something happen, in the event it didn’t happen on its own. This
process is all about gentleness and relaxing of force, not adding force.
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Wording if you suspect a response:

Is there a response happening right now? For example, you might be feeling impatient, or
annoyed, etc.?
Wording to find a response:
You just said [repeat their statement – e.g. ‘I’m really confused about all this…’ ], right?
(wait for them to acknowledge.) So where is the ‘I’ who is [confused]? Where is this ‘I’
located?
We then include it by finding the location and sensation quality, and use the same steps to
integration.
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Worksheet: The Basic Wholeness Process
Starting Place: K (Kinesthetic – feeling response)
Location ______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape_____________________________________________________________
Sensation Quality________________________________________________________
I1
Location ______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape_____________________________________________________________
I2
Location ______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape_____________________________________________________________
I3
Location ______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape_____________________________________________________________
I4
Location ______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape_____________________________________________________________
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What the Wholeness Work Does
These processes dissolve the inner separations we’ve built up over years of living but don’t even
realize are there. To maintain negative emotions or thoughts requires internal separation. Once
the inner separation is melted away, the negative emotions can’t maintain themselves.
What Do You Experience?
Most people find that one of three things happens when they do this process.
1. There may be a sense of dissolving or melting.
2. The original feeling/sensation sometimes becomes more full and alive and “flows
through” or “blossoms” through the body/system. (I use these words because people
frequently have spontaneous imagery of something flowing, such as water or lava, and
occasionally of something blooming.) When this happens with a so-called “negative”
emotion such as anger, usually as the intensity increases, it is already experienced as
something else. It might be “aliveness” now rather than something possible to put into an
emotional category. It may even become something like “joy.”
3. Sometimes the initial feeling/experience dissolves or flows through, and then another
feeling comes in after it. For example, the first experience that was called “hurt” might
dissipate, and then an experience of “anger” might flow through next, followed by just
empty space. When a second emotion emerges, this can just be allowed, along with a
gentle invitation that Awareness can be experienced in and through this second
experience, also. When we do the process with this second emotion also in this way, it
generally “flows through” also. (Note that often the second emotion is a polarity to the
first. Such as anger  sadness, or hurt  anger)
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Including and Allowing
This work is based on including and allowing everything in our experience. It results in the
deepest sense of freedom and wellbeing, because we aren’t trying to make anything in our
experience different from how it is. It is a huge relief not to have to control anything, or to try to
make ourselves different or “better” than exactly what is occurring in each moment. And when
we experience each “thread” of our experience as the awareness, the rigidities in our personality
structure naturally dissolve, the judgments (negative and positive) naturally dissolve, and what
remains is “just presence.” The natural wisdom that we are does become more available, life
does become more satisfying and fulfilling, yet not through trying to make it so, or by getting rid
of what we don’t think matches “satisfying and fulfilling.” The natural fulfillment comes through
including everything.
Pointers
1. If there is any feeling of effort, or trying to make something happen, then notice this
efforting and do the process with this.
2. Any time something doesn’t naturally and easily transform, it’s time to either check
for another ‘I’, or check for a response TO what you’re working with.
3. Once this process is familiar, it is possible to do while living life. You can just pause
for a moment, and let it unfold, bringing you to this sense of dissolved spacious presence.
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The Wholeness Process: The Meditation Format

Using the Wholeness Process as a Practice on a daily basis leads to a natural resetting of the
body/mind system at perhaps the most fundamental level. Daily practice also results in an
inevitable process of personal transformation and evolution that is likely to be subtle, but
dependable. It is good for physical health, as well as mental and emotional wellbeing. Refer to
the Basic Wholeness Process for more detailed steps.
Background Experience: Awareness

Speak slowly and softly:
Sit or lie down in a quiet place, allowing your body to find a comfortable position. You
can take a moment to experience Awareness… The capacity to experience, that’s
throughout the body, and all around us. It may feel like a sense of spaciousness… of
presence... that’s easy to notice… when we pause to sense in this way….
Step 1: Finding a beginning

A. Mind/Body Scan
Turn your attention inward.… Allow whatever relaxes easily to relax… enjoying that
relaxation… and notice what remains…. This could be a tension, a sense of constriction
or heaviness, an emotion, an image that comes to mind, an inner voice, anything at all. It
may be something you can't quite put into any of the above categories… Just notice
whatever you notice, and let me know what that is.
(E.g. I notice a feeling of sadness. Or I notice a tension.)

B. Now notice, where is this [say experience they noticed] located?
C. OK, it’s [say location]… And what is the size and shape?
D. Now notice the sensation quality…. This might be a sense of heaviness, pressure,
vibration, fizziness or bubbling. It might be warm or cool. It may be something you can’t
put into words. Just notice the sensation that’s there.
And what sensation quality do you notice?
E. OK, it’s [say SQ words]…. You can recognize, ‘I am aware of this [SQ words] sensation,’
right?
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A. Where is the ‘I,’ that is aware of this sensation?... Where is the perceiving happening
from? Just notice whatever location comes to mind.…
And what location do you notice?
B. So it’s [say location]…And what is the size and shape of this ‘I’?
C. Now notice the sensation quality of this [size & shape] that’s [location]…
It might be foggy, clear, dense, or empty, heavy, light, vibrating, still, etc. If no words
quite describe it, it’s OK. You can just notice the sensation itself.…
And what is the sensation quality?

So it’s [say SQ].
Step 3: Check if the ‘I’ welcomes integrating with Awareness
Now check, does the sensation of this ‘I’ welcome the invitation to open and relax as the
fullness of Awareness?
A. If Yes:
Notice what happens, when the sensation of the ‘I’ is invited to open and relax… as the
fullness of Awareness…. And this can just happen in its own way, however feels natural.
B. If No: This means you need to find another ‘I’.
Finding the next ‘I’

So you just noticed that the sensation here [in the location of the ‘I’] doesn’t welcome the
invitation to open and relax, right? (Wait for them to affirm.) So where is the ‘I’ that
notices this?...Where is the perceiving of this happening from?
Now cycle back to Step 2B and continue. Do this until you find an ‘I’ that welcomes the
invitation to integrate with Awareness.
Invite the last ‘I’ you found to integrate with Awareness (Words on Step 3A)
Next, invite each previous 'I' to integrate, going from the last one to the first.
Now we’re going to check with the ‘I’ that was in [say location]. First notice, is it the
same as it was before, or is it a little bit different? Either is fine.
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OK, now notice what happens, when this [the SQ here now], is invited to open and
relax… as the fullness of Awareness…. There can be an allowing of this to happen in its
own way.
Step 4: Integrating Awareness and the Beginning Sensation

Now let’s return to the sensation you started with, in [say location]. Whatever sensation is
there now, gently feel for which way the integration wants to happen. It may be that the
sensation in [say location] wants to open and relax as all of Awareness. It may be that the
sensation in [say location] wants all of Awareness to flow into it. Or it may feel like the
Awareness that’s already present in [say location], wakes up to itself…
Now there is just an experiencing of whatever happens. If/when relaxing and melting happens,
this can be enjoyed as long as you like.
If/when another tension, feeling or response emerges, there can be a gentle noticing of the ‘I’, a
relaxing, etc. as you cycle through the process again.
Ongoing Use
After you’ve done the process a few times, most likely you’ll be able to access Awareness
without the detailed instructions on what Awareness is. Use the detailed guidance only if it adds
to your experience.
Simple Form
After you’ve done the process quite a bit, you may find that some of the time you just
spontaneously relax as Awareness when you begin meditating. You may not need to notice the ‘I’
who is aware, because there may not be one. If easy to just relax all perspectives in/as Awareness,
you can just enjoy this experience. When a perspective, feeling, response, etc., emerges, just
invite/allow it to melt or dissolve back into awareness. You don’t even need to notice if it is an ‘I’
or a Response. Just notice the location and allow it to melt—or fall into it from everywhere at
once.
Simplest
Most important is doing whatever you do in an easy, gentle way. If the process seems difficult,
you can just enjoy relaxing as Awareness. Notice what’s already at peace. As Awareness, there
can be a natural allowing of whatever emerges to be present or to flow through, and you don’t
need to do anything about it.
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The Wholeness Process 5 Keys

Below are the 5 Keys that make this method universally effective.
1. Finding the location of the ‘I’. Many spiritual teachings talk about the existence of a
‘false separate sense of self,’ but this is discussed in a conceptual way. There hasn’t been
a recognition that there is actually a location for this ‘I,’ in someone’s personal space, and
that it needs to be directly noticed and worked with.
2. Being clear about the meaning of Awareness. For this process to work, we need to
have an adequate reference experience for what is meant by “Awareness.” Again, this
word has been used quite a bit in spiritual circles, yet what people actually experience as
the meaning for this word is inconsistent and may not actually work for useful integration
to happen.
3. Noticing the precise location of the experience (the emotion, tension, etc.) While most
of us are aware of our emotions, feelings and thoughts, often we don’t really register the
specific location where we experience them.
4. Shifting from meaning and interpretation to the sensation quality. Most of us have
learned to experience through the meanings and interpretations we give to things. If we
remain focused on the meanings of our experience, then the most fundamental level of
change and transformation is not possible. This process guides us in shifting our attention
from meaning and interpretation to the sensation quality of our experience. We do this
with both the ‘I,’ and the original feeling or thought. It is this shift of attention that allows
fundamental integration to happen.
5. Experiencing original sensation of thought/feeling AS awareness, rather than just

stepping in and reliving it. If we step into an unpleasant emotional experience in a typical
way, we would be just reliving it. This actually intensifies and the negative emotional
habit. In contrast, this process guides us in experiencing the sensation in the area of the
emotion as the awareness. When we experience as awareness, awareness has no
boundaries. So we are experiencing something as an undivided whole. This is what
transforms the original experience. Frequently when the ‘I’ dissolves, the original
experience already changes. It is often impossible to create the unpleasant experience
without the separate ‘I’.
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Sensation Quality vs. Meaning and Interpretation
Examples of Sensation Quality words Examples of Meaning and Interpretation
 warm or cool  Emotions: (how it feels) “It’s sad.”
 light or dark  Function: (what it’s doing) “It’s

keeping my head separated from my
 dense or airy body.”
 soft or hard  Purpose: (What it’s trying to do):

“It’s trying to protect me.”
 heavy or light
 Cause: “This ‘I’ was formed because
 moving or still my parents beat me.”
 misty  Consequence: “This is what keeps me

awake at night.”
 foggy
 Metaphor: “It’s a helmet around my
 vibraty, bubbly head.”
 buzzy  Other: “This is an archetype of X,”

Etc.
 smooth or rough
(“Pain” is a borderline SQ word)
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The Three Directions of Integration

“Enlightenment is intimacy with the 10,000 things.” –Dogen
Dogen’s statement is an expression of “integration with everything.” The Wholeness Work

invites a direct experiencing of this, as a gradual process.
There are three primary ways or “directions” that integration can be experienced. You can feel
into it for the easiest way for you in any given moment. It is useful to be aware of the options so
that you can invite integrating in the way that feels most natural.
For integrating “I” & “Awareness/Consciousness”
This can be experienced as:
Direction 1: I  Awareness/Consciousness
 The ‘I’ opens/relaxes into Awareness/Consciousness
Direction 2: Awareness  I
 Awareness flows into the I (consciousness loses itself as anything other than the I and it’s
as if it flows into that area, and is fully all of consciousness in/as that area (the I).
 Awareness attends to the I (senses it, etc.) There is a sensing of the I, and as the sensing
becomes absorbed, it is the same as what is being sensed. There is a collapsing of the
distinction between what is being sensed and the sensing. One could call this “surrender.”
Rumi writes poetry describing this.
Direction 3: Awareness = I
 There is a noticing of how Awareness is already present in/through the I. And it is the
same awareness that is everywhere.
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For integrating “Sensation of Feeling/Thought” & “Awareness”
1st Direction: Sensation  Awareness/Consciousness
 The sensation [in the location of the feeling or thought] can open and relax as Awareness.
It can melt/dissolve into Awareness.
2nd Direction: Awareness  Sensation
 Awareness can relax in/as the Sensation also.

 Awareness flows into the area of the sensation. “Notice what happens when you allow all
of awareness/consciousness to flow into this area of the sensation, fully filling it.” So it is
like fully associating in/as THIS.
3rd Direction: Awareness = Sensation
 It may feel more like the Awareness already in the area of the sensation wakes up to itself.
 Awareness attends to the sensation. This attending is not from any particular location, it
is just an attending. So similar to Awareness in area of sensation Waking Up.
Other Directions
The integration can feel like it is happening in unique ways. E.g. The sensation might swirl
around and then disperse, it might “rain down” and then flow in all directions, etc. Or Awareness
might swirl around and flow into a sensation from the top. Or it might flow into the middle like a
vacuum is sucking it in. Other times it feels like falling in from all sides. The more you do this,
the more subtle any sense of movement becomes, and the more all of the above become the same
thing. It is increasingly stillness happening instead of movement. There is less and less sense of
subject/object. Increasingly just a sense of Presence happening.
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Reclaiming the Inner Authority
Many experiences of difficulty or “suffering” presuppose an authority—however we usually

aren’t aware of it. Shame and embarrassment are examples of this. We notice our unpleasant
feeling, yet the feeling would not be possible without an internalized “authority” or “standard
setter.” We are acting out of a rule system, or think we have violated a rule system, and end up in
conflict or feeling more rigidity in our actions and unpleasantness in our feelings, than we would
like.
This Wholeness Method offers a direct and simple way to notice and integrate the life energy in
our unconscious rule structures. This heals the inner division that happened through the
internalizing of a rule structure, and can result in a natural sense of “authorship” of our lives.
Subtle needs for approval, etc., can fall away, and our actions come from “the whole” instead of
from attempting to follow rule sets or to please others.
From Authority to Authorship

Step1: Pick something to work with
Think of an experience of shame, embarrassment, guilt, the need to defend or prove

something, feeling ‘weak in your position,’ or another experience involving authority.
You can pick a present experience or something from the past.
A strongly internally-referenced person could choose to work with an experience of being

“certain I was right”, or judgmental to others.
A. Step into the experience just enough to notice how you feel.
B. Notice where the feeling [of shame, embarrassment, etc.] is located.
And where is it?
C. Notice the size and shape, and tell me what that is.
D. What is the sensation quality in this location?
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Step 2: Finding the inner authority—the missing role
A. Sensing into this sensation in [say location from step 1], from there check, Where is the
location this sensation is trying to please or satisfy? Where is the authority for this?
The one who sets the standards? The rule-maker? I’m not asking you to name a person.
I’m asking for a location in space in or around you. It may or may not be related to a
particular person. Another way to ask the question is, Where is this feeling/experience
here in [location from step 1] orienting toward? What location is this experience
checking with?
B. OK, Good…. We will call this the “Authority.” (If partner requests, any name can be
used.)
C. Notice the size, shape, and especially the sensation quality of this location.
And what do you notice?
Step 3: Find the “chain of authority”
Now feel into the sensation in [say location of the Authority], and notice, Is this a “final
authority”? Or is there the sense that this, here, is trying to please or satisfy something
else in another location? Is there some other location this here is orienting towards or
checking with, or acting in the service of?
If it’s the “final authority”, go to Step 4.
If this Authority is trying to please or satisfy something else: Cycle back to Step 2A. You can use
the same script, substituting [location of previous Authority] for [location from step 1]. Continue
until you get to the “final authority.” This is usually within 1-3 layers.
Step 4: Find the ‘I’
So you’ve noticed [say location & SQ for original feeling, then briefly the location and
SQ of Authority chain]. Where is the perceiving of all of this happening from?... Notice
the location - including size and shape - and the sensation quality.
Please, let me know what that is.
20
Step 5: Invite the ‘I’ to integrate as Awareness
Check if the sensation here [in location of ‘I’] welcomes the invitation to open and relax
as Awareness.
If “Yes”:
Notice what happens when the sensation of this ‘I’ is invited to open and relax as the
fullness of Awareness that’s all around and throughout.
If “No”:
Either find another ‘I’, or check if the Final Authority wants to integrate.
Step 6: Inviting the Final Authority to integrate3
Check with the last authority, the one that’s [location]: What does it welcome integrating
with? It may want to dissolve as all of Awareness… it may want to merge with the
authority just before it… or it may want to merge with “you as Awareness”?
You can just allow it to integrate, dissolve, merge in whatever way wants to happen. If it
wants to integrate directly with you, it may want you as Awareness to lean into it… or it
may prefer to come to you, or some of each.
Get a brief report:
What is the experience of that?
Step 7: Invite each Authority to integrate
Starting with the one prior to the final Authority:
A. Now we’re ready to invite the next Authority to integrate. The one that was in [say
location]. First notice how it is now. Is it exactly the same as it was before, or is it a little
bit different? Either is fine- it’s just useful to notice how it is now.
3
My experience so far is that the final authority is always willing to integrate with something. If it doesn’t want to
integrate, check for another authority.
21
B. Repeat what they tell you:
So it’s [a little smaller, larger, less substantial, etc.]
C. Check with this [SQ of this authority] sensation in [location]. What does it want to
integrate with? This might be Awareness, or the Authority just before it, or with you as
Awareness.
D. Allow that to happen now, in whatever way feels most natural.
Step 8: Invite integration of Original Feeling with Awareness.
Check the sensation in [location of the original feeling]. Is it the same or a bit different?...
(Get their answer.) Whatever is there now, invite it to open and relax as all of Awareness.
And/or invite all of Awareness to flow in and as the sensation here now.
Testing:
Does this feel complete?
If “Yes”, Experience in the Context:
Take a moment to experience what it’s like being this way (with the energy of the
authorities and the ‘I’ merged with all of awareness) in the situation you began with….
(If this feels resourceful, explore one or two additional situations.)
If “No,” ask:
What else is there? (You can check for another “I”, a Reaction, or another missing role)
Notes
This process helps us integrate something fundamental that we didn’t have a way to reach before.
Most therapeutic approaches work with the feeling of embarrassment or shame. This is just the
consequence of having an unintegrated rule structure. In the event a therapeutic approach does
work with an Authority, it’s generally attempted through content. We try to get better
communication between ourselves and an authority figure. This doesn’t accomplish
integration—our experience of authority is still separate from “us”. More important, this isn’t
usually the final authority. When we have a way to reach what has been unconsciously our “final
authority”, we can truly shift our unconscious rule structure.
22
Worksheet: Reclaiming Inner Authority
Location______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape_____________________________________________________________
A1
Location _______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape______________________________________________________________
Sensation Quality_________________________________________________________
A2
Location _______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape______________________________________________________________
A3
Location _______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape______________________________________________________________
A4
Location _______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape______________________________________________________________
I1
Location _______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape______________________________________________________________
23
Integrating What’s Missing

Often we have life contexts where we seek to complete ourselves with something from the
outside. This Wholeness Format offers a way to resolve these basic issues of “incompleteness”
or lack. Particularly helpful in relationship issues including feeling needy, wanting to be liked, or
seeking fulfillment through a partner.
Find an experience to work with

Pick a situation or relationship where you experience needing something or wanting
something. For example, this could be seeking approval, seeking acceptance or love, or
just a sense that something is missing.
Step 1: Step into the experience

A. Step into the experience, so that right now you are experiencing missing something or
wanting something.
B. Notice the location of the experience of missing something. (Usually this is a feeling in
the body or close to the body.)
C. And what is the general size & shape? What is the sensation quality?
Step 2: Finding What’s Missing

A. Feeling into the sensation here in [location of “missing something” experience], what is
the location that this is seeking something from? (You can also ask, “What direction is it
orienting towards?” -the Answer will be “M1”)
B. Notice the size and shape.
C. Notice the sensation quality.
Step 3: Check if it is complete, or if it is also missing something

Feeling into the sensation in [location of “M1”]…. Is this complete, satisfied? Or is this
also missing something?
If complete: Go to Step 4.
If it’s missing something: Use the questions in Step 2 to discover the next location (“M2”) and
its qualities. Continue until you get to something that is satisfied in itself.
24

A. Where is the perceiving of all of this happening from?... Notice the location.
B. Notice the size and shape.
C. Notice the sensation quality.
Step 5: Invite the ‘I’ to integrate

Notice what happens when the sensation of the ‘I’ is invited to open & relax as all of
Awareness. (See Wholeness Process Step 4.)
Step 6: Inviting the “What’s Missing” Chain to Integrate

Check with the last “What’s Missing.” Does the sensation in this location welcome
integrating with all of Awareness? Does it want to integrate with what’s just before it in
the chain? Does it want to integrate with you as Awareness? Invite the sensation in this
location to integrate in whatever way feels most natural.”
Do this for each of the “M’s” in the Chain.
Step 7. Integrate the original sensation.

See Basic Wholeness Process Step 6.
Step 8: Test – Future-Pace

See Basic Wholeness Process Step 7.
25
Worksheet: What’s Missing?
Location______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape_____________________________________________________________
M1
Location _______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape______________________________________________________________
M2
Location _______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape______________________________________________________________
M3
Location _______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape______________________________________________________________
M4
Location _______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape______________________________________________________________
I1
Location _______________________________________________________________
Size/Shape______________________________________________________________
26
Awareness by Sensory System

In the basic Wholeness Process we access Awareness as ‘“the capacity to experience.” This
instruction is purposely not sensory specific (so not visual, auditory, or kinesthetic in particular).
My intention in this is to access the capacity to experience that may be prior to experience in a
specific sensory modality. And if not prior to, it is inclusive of all sensory systems, or
unspecified to a sensory system, so that we are fee to experience it in whatever way we do. In
reality, one person might experience Awareness as primarily visual, someone else as more
auditory, and a third person more kinesthetic.
Once the basic process is familiar, it can be quite useful to explore integrating experiences with
Awareness that is specific to the same sensory modality as that experience we are integrating.
For example:
 Voices/Sounds: If I am integrating inner voices or sounds, it can be useful to access

experience of “the Listening capacity that is everywhere at once.” We can sense this
“capacity to listen” that is just present al around, everywhere, and invite the voice to
dissolve/melt into this. This results in wholeness in the auditory system. People often
subjectively experience being “really heard.”
 Kinesthetic: If I am integrating a specific sensation (such as tension, heart pounding,

etc) I can integrate this specific sensation with the whole of my body sensation that is me,
to relax into the specific sensation, then invite all of the whole body sensation that is me,
to relax into the specific sensation. Here I am going for K→ K integration. The whole of
physical sensation and the part (the specific sensation integrate with each other.
 Visual: If I am integrating an image, or visual experience, I can first notice the sensation
quality in the location of the image, and then access an experience of the “seeing capacity
that is all around and everywhere.”
 Smell/Taste: These modalities are less often noticed, but if smell or taste is a significant
aspect of an experience, it can be similarly explored.
You don’t need to be sure you are doing it right. The point is to just explore and discover what
happens when you explore in different ways. For example, does intending to access the ability to
hear that’s all around shift the integration more gently, naturally, or completely? Or not?
27
How is the Wholeness Work different from Mindfulness

Training?
While there are many varieties of Mindfulness training, most guide us to “take a step back” and
“experience as awareness.” Then we are to “just be present,” and allow any thoughts or feelings
to flow through without judgment. This can be quite useful.
The Wholeness Process gets the results Mindfulness is going for in a way that’s easier and more
complete, because:
1) Mindfulness doesn’t include a way to find the small ‘I’. Finding and dissolving this
unconscious structure makes it possible to experience Awareness more fully.
2) Mindfulness doesn’t have an effective way to work with the distractions that emerge.
People often end up in inner struggle. The Wholeness Work gives us a way to include
and integrate what would otherwise be considered a distraction.
3) Most forms of Mindfulness don’t include a way to integrate the original feeling or
sensation. The instruction to “be present with” leaves a separation between you and the
experience. Also integration is less likely to be possible, or to “stick”, without first
dissolving the ‘I’. Wholeness Work directly invites both integrations. (Meaning “What
was 2 becomes 1.”)
4) Many versions of Mindfulness exercises involve subtle effort, i.e. intentionally doing
things that with Wholeness Work happen naturally. An example is exercises to “develop”
or “enrich” the experience of Awareness. This creates subtle effort. In contrast, with
Wholeness Work, the field of Awareness is naturally enriched each time there is
integration of any constriction (an ‘I’, an authority, a reaction, etc.)
5) Wholeness Work is a comprehensive and systematic way of working with what could be
called our personality structure. This includes the structure of the ‘I’ or perceiver, the
structure of ‘authority’, plus other structures accessed in the advanced trainings. This
makes the Wholeness Work more universally useful for ongoing evolution.
28
The Wholeness Work - The whole thing simply put

This is about dissolving inner separation and coming to oneness or wholeness. It is all about
simple ways to notice inner separation, and inviting it to merge with the wholeness that we are.
Principles
A. This is always about finding the easy way. When you are working with the right layer of
experience, it will want to relax and will do so naturally when awareness is present there.
B. Force will never work.
C. This is about including everything, including all your reactions and responses. Wholeness is
not possible until everything is included. When we have uncomfortable or unpleasant
experiences we tend to think we’ll be better off if we can just minimize or get rid of them
somehow. But this is actually what creates pain, dis-ease and suffering. Once we experience
what emerges in us as undivided awareness, nothing is fundamentally intolerable.
The Process –The General Schema

1. Begin by noticing anything separate in your experience. This can be a feeling or response.
It can be a perspective (an ‘I’). It can be a “persona” (an ‘I’ with a body, usually doing
something or attempting to do something). Most people find it easiest to notice a feeling or
tension first, but once you’re familiar with the process you can just notice whatever is “there.”
It can be any sensory modality. Notice the location and sensation quality.
2. Experience the Awareness.
3. Find the ‘I’ (i.e. the perspective) including the location and sensation quality.
4. Dissolve the perspective(s) first. (i.e. invite the sensation of the ‘I’ to merge with
Awareness)
5. Dissolve the Original experience. (i.e. integrate with Awareness).
Whenever something doesn’t easily integrate

1. Check for another ‘I’ (a perspective from which something is being perceived or
experienced).
2. Check for a reaction or response happening in the moment. (This can be a response to what
you are working with, to the process as a whole, or to anything else.)
3. Check for a “missing player”: an authority, an experienced need, an audience, the “other”,
etc.
You don’t need to complete anything. This work is very fundamentally changing the structure
of your experience and your mode of being in the world. Sometimes it is useful to let things
integrate for a while before returning to include what remains. In one “session”, do what goes
easily and comfortably.
29
Author
Connirae Andreas
Connirae Andreas PhD has had a lasting impact on the field of NLP
as an innovator, teacher and writer. Her ground-breaking work
includes Core Transformation, Aligning Perceptual Positions,
Advanced Language Patterns, Timeline, and grief and shame
resolutions. She has co-authored or edited 11 books and manual
including Heart of the Mind (with Steve Andreas) and Core
Transformation (with Tamara Andreas).
www.wholenessprocess.org www.andreasnlptrainings.com www.coretransformation.org
Sponsor
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Times New Roman, size 16, center aligned.]
[Add biography of sponsor here. Times New Roman, size 12. Links should be in black and not
underlined as in the example above]
Coaches
[Add coach name here.
Times New Roman, size 16, center aligned]
[Add biography of coach here. Times New Roman, size 12. Links should be in black and not
underlined as in the example above]
30
When you get home…

This work is both simple, yet also has many subtleties to using it easily and well. Most people
find that more experiences with the Wholeness Work makes it easier to actually use.
Facebook: There is a Facebook group to share experiences. Ask to join The Wholeness Process.
Practice Dyads: One good way to continue the work can be to find a partner from the training
and meet either in person or on Skype.
Hosting Meetings: If you’d like to host a Wholeness intro for people you know, consider
booking one of our coaches.
More Wholeness Resources
Here are additional resources to help your unconscious fully understand the method(s).
The Complete Client Session

80 mins, video download
Connirae works with a young woman who was having an extremely difficult pregnancy. Includes
follow-up results, showing the impact of the method in this young woman’s life.
This video shows how to use Wholeness Work with someone who has no background in the
Wholeness Work. You can see how Connirae layers the frames into the session, and how she
cycles through the process so that the young woman is able to continue using it on her own.
www.realpeoplepress.com/wholeness-process-complete-individual-session-p-118.html
The 2-Day Training on Streaming Video

8 hours
A high quality video recording of the Day 1 & 2 Wholeness Training. To really “get” the
Wholeness Work, we recommend participating in several trainings. Either online or in person.
www.thewholenessprocess.com
31
Free Video Webinar Introducing the Wholeness Work

70 mins
This can be a good way to share the work with friends. I often ask my clients to watch this video
before I guide them individually in the Wholeness Work – it makes things go more smoothly.
This Webinar Includes a group guided exploration plus a brief demonstration of the first
Wholeness format.
www.thewholenessprocess.org
Live Wholeness Trainings

The international calendar for Connirae’s training is at:
www.andreasnlptrainings.com/wholeness
The Book
Connirae is expecting the first book on the Wholeness Work to be available in 2017.
32

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The Wholeness

Wholeness Work: Foundation Training Participant Manual

©2007-2016 Connirae Andreas

Background and History of the Wholeness Work

The Wholeness Work: The Basic Process

Step 1: Finding a beginning

A. Imagine it is happening now, and notice how you feel in response….

Pause to let your partner access the experience.

Describe your response in one short sentence.

(E.g. “I feel annoyed.”)

And where is it located?

(E.g. “in my chest.”)

And what is the size and shape?

(E.g. “It’s sort of round and the size of an orange.”)

And what sensation quality do you notice?

(E.g. “It’s fuzzy and a bit prickly.”)

Step 2: What is Awareness?

And you can notice this all, simultaneously, right now….

Step 3: Finding the ‘I’

And what location do you notice?

And what is the sensation quality?

Step 4: Finding the Chain of ‘I’s

D. So it’s [say SQ words]

Repeat Step 4 so that you have 3 ‘I’s total.

Step 5: Check if the last ‘I’ welcomes integrating with Awareness

A.1 Now invite each previous ‘I’ to integrate:

B. If No: This means you need to find another ‘I’.1

Finding the next ‘I’:

Step 6: Integrating Awareness and the Beginning Sensation2

B. OK, so it’s [say how it is now].

Notice what happens when the fullness of Awareness…, all of consciousness…, is

Step 7: Check in Original Context

Wording if you suspect a response:

Worksheet: The Basic Wholeness Process

Starting Place: K (Kinesthetic – feeling response)

What the Wholeness Work Does

What Do You Experience?

1. There may be a sense of dissolving or melting.

Including and Allowing

The Wholeness Process: The Meditation Format

Background Experience: Awareness

Step 1: Finding a beginning

(E.g. I notice a feeling of sadness. Or I notice a tension.)

And what sensation quality do you notice?

Step 2: Finding the ‘I’

And what location do you notice?

And what is the sensation quality?

Step 3: Check if the ‘I’ welcomes integrating with Awareness

Finding the next ‘I’

Step 4: Integrating Awareness and the Beginning Sensation

The Wholeness Process 5 Keys

5. Experiencing original sensation of thought/feeling AS awareness, rather than just

Sensation Quality vs. Meaning and Interpretation

Examples of Sensation Quality words Examples of Meaning and Interpretation

 warm or cool  Emotions: (how it feels) “It’s sad.”

 light or dark  Function: (what it’s doing) “It’s

 soft or hard  Purpose: (What it’s trying to do):

 misty  Consequence: “This is what keeps me

 buzzy  Other: “This is an archetype of X,”

(“Pain” is a borderline SQ word)

The Three Directions of Integration

Dogen’s statement is an expression of “integration with everything.” The Wholeness Work

For integrating “I” & “Awareness/Consciousness”

This can be experienced as: