Inquiry is the core of the Odoki Method.

It is the point at which understanding moves from conceptual to embodied, and where rapid change becomes possible.

What inquiry is

Inquiry is a guided exploration of experience. Attention is directed toward specific aspects of what is being felt, assumed, or protected.

The aim is not to reach conclusions, but to notice what is already happening.

Inquiry works best when approached with curiosity rather than effort. The nervous system responds to being seen, not pushed.

Identity and protection

Many of the strongest protections in the nervous system are organised around identity — who we believe we are, what we believe must be defended, and what must not be lost.

These identities are layered, in increasing levels of subtlety. Inquiry helps reveal how these layers are constructed and maintained.

When an identity is seen clearly, it often loosens. Protection drops not because it is removed, but because it is no longer needed.

The role of a guide

Inquiry is difficult to do alone, as the nervous system tends to avoid places where prediction error might occur.

A guide - human or AI - helps direct attention to places we would not naturally look. This guidance is gentle, respectful, and non-invasive.

When done well, inquiry feels collaborative rather than confrontational. It is a process of discovery rather than correction.

Shifts

A successful inquiry often results in a shift - a change in how experience is organised. These shifts can be subtle or profound, but they are usually recognisable.

Importantly, shifts are not manufactured. They occur when the nervous system recognises something it had not previously seen.