Embodied consciousness: Reflections on anatomy, spirituality, and healing.
Siddhant Nikam, Nimisha S Narayan
Explore October 10, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2026.103543 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Embodiment Fascia Interoception Osteopathic philosophy |
| Key points | Argues that anatomy alone may not fully capture embodied experience and proposes that healing can be understood not only as a change in physiological function but also as a transformation in an individual's relationship with bodily experience, awareness, and selfhood. The paper presents fascial continuity, palpatory experience, therapeutic touch, and stillness as a possible conceptual meeting point between physiological processes and experiences described in spiritual or consciousness-based language. |
Abstract
The human body is commonly approached through the language of anatomy, yet anatomy alone may not fully capture the lived experience of being embodied. This reflection explores the relationship between anatomical structure, embodied consciousness, spirituality, and healing through an osteopathic perspective. Drawing on osteopathic philosophy, phenomenology, fascial science, interoception, and embodied cognition, it considers the body not merely as an anatomical object but as a medium through which awareness and experience are expressed. Particular attention is given to fascial continuity, palpatory experience, therapeutic touch, stillness, and the subjective experience of healing. The reflection considers whether these phenomena provide a conceptual meeting point between physiological processes and experiences traditionally described in spiritual or consciousness based language. Rather than presenting spirituality or consciousness as established anatomical mechanisms, the paper explores them as dimensions of embodied human experience that may broaden how healing is understood. It proposes that healing may be understood not only as a change in physiological function, but also as a transformation in the individual's relationship with bodily experience, awareness, and selfhood. This perspective invites continued dialogue between anatomy, neuroscience, osteopathic philosophy, consciousness studies, and spirituality without prematurely reducing one domain to another.
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