This still doesn’t do the trick. We would suggest that Bion (like Reich) tends to focus on the fundamental strategies of psychoanalysis in his writing about metabolism. These include such ego-based processes as the slow and careful introduction or re-introduction of unconscious (beta) elements into consciousness, so that they might be tested against reality and either isolated or transformed into productive action (sublimation). These also include a focus on dreams, fantasies and childhood memories, with the therapist helping their client gain access to this material.
The therapist also assists their client in determining the accuracy of this beta material and more importantly its impact on current perceptions of relationships and reality as well as its impact on current decisions being made and actions taken. Sapolsky would offer a translation: which of the lions are real and how, realistically, can we address these lions. After all, we are not living as weak and slow animals living on the African Savannah. We are skillful, knowledgeable and courageous. We can wrestle many lions to the ground or find a way to avoid or escape from them.
Back to Bion. Beta elements, such as dreams, are interpreted and implications are drawn regarding how the dream’s content tells the dreamer something about their own wishes and fears. Dreams enable the therapist to address the nature and purpose of beta elements, thus helping these elements to become sources of new learning (alpha) rather than barriers to the free flow of energy in the patient’s body. Bion is quite optimistic in this regard. He is inclined to emphasize that once these elements are brought to consciousness, his patient will be open to new learning from their continuing experiences in life.
When the conversion of beta to alpha is successful, learning is not distorted nor dominated by unprocessed Beta elements. Successful conversion for Bion involves the close alignment of learning to an accurate appraisal of ongoing experiences. Ego functions are in charge with regard to the personal psyches of patients. Like the Tin Man of Oz, Bion’s patients are seeking to not only loosen their armor but also heal their hearts. Like Sapolsky’s ancestors on the Savannah, Bion’s patients want to be realistic about lions and wish to learn through alpha-aligned experiences how best to address the challenges imposed by real lions.
Conclusions
With this introduction to the treatment plan that might be formulated to treat the Tin Man’s aliments, we move in conclusion to some of the treatment suggestions that would be offered by Feldenkrais in conjunction with Sapolsky, and those offered by Reich in conjunction with Bion.
Mobilizing the Person: Feldenkrais and Sapolsky
Robert Sapolsky has taught us quite a bit about stress and lions. We can take what we have learned from him and apply it to our understanding of armament and wounded hearts. His insights can help us in our treatment of the Tin Man of Oz, as well as all of the Tin men and women of the mid-21st Century (including each of us). Based on what Sapolsky has taught us, we can first propose that our heart is shielded from reality. We easily imagined lions. Second, the shield is not adequate to protect us from these lions. The shield is much too rigid for us to ever fight the lion. Furthermore, the shield is too heavy for us to escape the lion.
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