20/08/2025
In Memory of Franklyn Sills
It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Franklyn Sills, a visionary teacher, author, and pioneer in the fields of Craniosacral Therapy, Polarity Therapy and pre- and perinatal work. His work has left a profound and lasting legacy, reshaping the understanding and clinical practice for countless practitioners around the world.
Franklyn had a remarkable ability to synthesize diverse perspectives from different traditions and weave them into a cohesive and deeply meaningful whole. Through his ground-breaking books and teachings, he laid the foundation for the development of biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, forever transforming the landscape of the field.
I first encountered Franklyn's teaching at Karuna Institute in the mid-1990s. Franklyn was beginning to introduce the biodynamic principles inspired by pioneers such as William Sutherland and Rollin Becker, alongside a growing emphasis on the influence of birth and prenatal experiences on our psyches and nervous systems.
He and Maura Sills brought leading-edge voices into the conversation, inviting teachers like William Emerson to Karuna, and incorporating the insights of Peter Levine, Stephen Porges, Ray Castellino, and Erich Blechschmidt among others. Franklyn had an infectious enthusiasm for new ideas and would often immerse himself in emerging developments with great depth. His lectures were both intellectually rich and soulfully engaging, often laced with his characteristic humour, which brought a warmth and humanity to his teaching.
Franklyn also had a gift for collaboration and mentorship. He welcomed others such as Claire Dolby, Satya Shepherd, Kathryn Ukleja and of course Cherionna to join him in teaching at Karuna, each of them contributing unique perspectives on the prenatal and perinatal dimensions of healing.
Perhaps one of Franklyn's most touching qualities was his openness and humility. He was candid about his own personal challenges, which created a deeply accepting and transformative learning environment. This honesty fostered a space where profound healing and growth could take place for students and teachers alike.
I feel deeply privileged to have known and worked alongside Franklyn, both as a student, teacher and as a colleague during my time as Chair of the Craniosacral Therapy Association. His influence has been immeasurable, and he will be missed dearly, both personally and professionally.
With gratitude and remembrance,
John Wilks and the Our Birth Journey Team