Find Your Way, Part 15… Your senses, the pathway

 Senses, the gateway

So how do we reconnect with the heart for our spirit to shine and bring balance to our HMBS?
 
Our senses are the gateway that connects us to the vibrations and frequencies that holds more than the eye can see. 

Our senses bring to life, the analogue version of life by becoming the conduit between what lies within and outside of us. It is what makes us human, and able to connect and live as part of the bigger organism. It is what differentiates us from machines.
 
As we move into the digital age, it may be helpful to understand what has been lost as we do. When sounds and images are produced in analogue, they have a frequency wave (sinal wave) that connects with the universal frequencies.

As things have become digitalised, this is no longer the case. Rather than frequencies, the process uses square waves, where a pixel is either on or off. At the beginning of the digital era, the quality was limited. Today however, we are seeing how this process has been refined and is now able to produce images, videos and sounds that appear real. As we no longer have access to analogue services, we are slowly disconnecting from the natural sights and sounds, and the benefits that these bring. 

Through our senses we also gain access to a broader amount of information from the subtleties and nuances, that help us better discern and feel what is happening for us.
 
If we are to break free from what has been limiting and constraining our lives, then our senses are the portal from which to see, hear, taste, smell, feel and sense beyond our usual way, to a deeper reality that exists. 

Rather than blindly following things outside of ourselves (especially in the digital world we are now a part of), we still have the capacity to reconnect with nature and what is unfolding before us. 

We often see people walking the streets with head phones. Even in the beautiful Southern Parklands near my home in Adelaide, people are missing out on the natural sounds such as birds happily singing and joyfully frolicking. When you consider that the bird’s sounds are often equivalent to healing frequencies, they are missing out on this natural boost of the DOSE chemicals and hormones.

It is worth noting the incredible power of our senses which becomes evident when people lose one of their senses, how one or more of their other senses compensate and are amplified so it is possible to continue to live safely and well.

We met David Lee during on a community engagement.  Although blind from birth, we discovered that he is an active pianist and singer who now resides in and works for the Big Issue in Adelaide. Despite his lack of sight, his other senses have helped him to learn braille and read and speak other languages, and enjoy a happy and positive life. 
 
Enhancing the senses 

So how do you expand the use of your senses?
 
With an intention to do so. In other words, consciously taking the time, to use your senses to go deeper into the experience. Not only does this provide a wonderful sensory indulgence, it also helps you connect and become more focused and mindful of what is happening in the here and now. 

It could start with a conscious conversations with yourself…
 
For example ‘what do I see?’ ‘I see a tree’. ‘What more can I see?’ ‘Oh I see a nest with little ones in it. I can smell the scents around me and feel the cool breeze. There’s a hive of activity, so much going on. I noticed the mother bringing food to her babies.’ What feeling is it bringing me? Where is it taking me? ‘I’m feeling part of it! I’m enjoying seeing the play and it’s taken me somewhere else for a moment. It’s taking me back to a time when we lived near many trees and I would enjoy spending my time there.’

As you bring curiosity and interest, use each of your senses to notice even more of what truly exists…
the tones, sounds, words, timbre, emphasis in what you are hearing.
the colour, texture, vibrancy, shades, shapes of what you are seeing. 
the sharpness, sweetness, pungency, source of what you are smelling. 
the texture, taste, bitterness, sweetness, sourness, ingredients of what you are tasting. 
the temperature, location, sensation, sharpness, weight, rhythm of what you are feeling.  

In time, you may begin to notice how you are responding and where your senses are leading you. 
This is information forming.
 
Information that is building more ‘dots’ to pull together and make new connections that you may not previously have noticed.
 
Sometimes, that information may save your life… For example you notice the sound of an explosion and sense it is close. You later may smell something toxic and begin to connect the two, giving you a warning that something is not right. It leads you to move away from the danger. Sometimes, people sense danger, and while they may not be able to logically explain it, they understand it enough to move away.

Tuning into your senses may provide you with information that could change where you are headed… For example you were about to hand over more work to a colleague, but something in the tone and pace of their voice, told you something different. You could see the dullness in their eyes, and sensed they were struggling in some way. It lead you to ask a question instead, about how they were feeling. You discovered they were facing a personal crisis and by noticing, the colleague felt seen and appreciated. 
 
Information from the senses

Your senses can provide information about what you are receiving. 

For example you may become more acquainted with the sounds, sights and sensations when driven by your mind based ego, such as when under pressure, chasing or striving for something you think will lead you to success, or when ruminating over something or feeling distressed.  

What do you notice from your senses, when driven by the ego mind based moments? 

Similarly you will become more acquainted with the sounds, sights and sensations when your attention is driven by your heart; such as when you are putting energy towards things that matter, or to things that feel aligned with your values, your deep wants, and feel caring for you and others. Or with something you love and feel deeply happy.

What do you notice from your senses, during these more heart based moments? 

Notice the contrast they provide. 

Become more familiar with what you hear, see, taste, smell, sense and feel as they all provide valuable information about which part is guiding you. These will be the signs to help you to know where you are in moments. This will be valuable when you are in your automatic pilot mode, that leaves you disconnected from the whole picture.
 
Be specific.
   
What do you hear? What are the words? What is the intention? What is the sound? What is the tone and emphasis? Are they loud or soft? Repetitive or spasmodic? Helpful or distracting? How are you feeling with what you hear? What brings you to feeling safe and sound or not?

What do you see? The outcome? A vision? A colour? A story being played out? How would you describe it? What are you feeling with what you see? What brings you to feeling safe and sound or not?

Is there a smell or taste? Is there a texture, or feel? Is there a smell? How would you describe it? What are you feeling with what you smell or taste? What brings you to feeling safe and sound or not?

What do you feel in your body and physiology? How is your heart rate, breathing, body temperature, skin, blood pressure? What are the sensations in your body? How is your posture or your overall tone and the way you hold your body? What do you notice about the touch sensation on your body? What are you feeling with how your body is responding? What brings you to feeling safe and sound or not?

What do you notice from your emotions? What are the emotions? Are they based on fear or love? Do they uplift or deplete? Do they create urgency or calm? Are they extreme? What are you feeling with the emotions that are arising? What brings you to feeling safe and sound or not?

This information will be helpful as you move away from the stress or anxiety you may be facing.

Guidance from your senses  

These signals also provide guidance with what feels aligned or misaligned with any part of your HMBS, heart, mind, body or spirit. They may relate to… 

Your passions, what you want, what you don’t want. Notice what you feel when you are doing what makes your heart sing and what you want to engage. Or when you are forced to do things you don’t want. How do your senses inform you? Where do you feel it? Can you use the information to do more of the things that align?

Your lifestyle choices. What do you feel after eating processed or natural foods, when you are with that person or not, when you go to bed late or on time, drink too much or limited alcohol, exercise or sit a lot, do things you do or don’t enjoy, do too much or just enough? How do your senses inform you? Where do you feel it? Can you use the information to make lifestyle choices that align better?

Your every day choices. What do you feel about the people in your network, about the dilemma you are facing, the situation you are in, the work you are employed in, the behaviours you bring, the people you follow? How do your senses inform you? Where do you feel it?  Can you use the information to make choices that align better?

Your discernment. You may hear the words and images, however your senses may tune into something that doesn’t sit well with you. You may not understand why initially. How do you senses help you discern when overwhelmed or unsure? Where do you feel it?  Can you use the information to improve your discernment? 

In time, the senses become a language that helps you to learn more about you and the world around you. 

How would you feel to tap into your senses in this way? 

Beyond your senses… intuition 

In the quiet spaces that arrive, you may begin to notice the subtle presence and the unconscious synthesis of all your senses, which is often referred to as your intuition.

It may arrive as a gut feeling, or a message without your conscious thought; perhaps in relation to something that doesn’t or does feel right, or a pending danger, or an action to take. It may relate to an event, person or something within or outside of yourself. 

It is a sense that may not seem logical to the ego mind, however feels strong, certain and deep within. 

It is something I have become more acquainted with over the years and while I may notice it regularly, I don’t always listen or respond to. 

Like recently, I had a nagging feeling to park in a different spot, that I ignored due to my mind telling me otherwise. I later discovered that had I listened, I would not have had my car locked in (due to a storm), on the day when I needed it! 

When at the shop, I often have a pull to buy an ingredient I don’t believe I need. So often I am in battle with it, because I’m either sure I have that item or don’t have a need… until for some obscure reason, later that day, the need for the item arrives. In retrospect, I realise my intuition told me, however my mind led self rationalised its way so as not to listen. 

The time I found myself driving to a butcher that I hadn’t visited for many years. What made me go there? I didn’t fight it. I just went. On the way home I decided to travel past my usual butcher, but unbeknownst to me, I couldn’t because road works were blocking the road. It looked like the butcher had closed that day. 

While it is not always audible, in some moments, listening to this soft voice, your intuition, may save your life or the life of others.  

As it did for me around the time of my cancer diagnosis. Something told me, despite the fact I was well, fit and according to doctors ‘too young to get bowel cancer’, that I needed to act on some mild symptoms I was experiencing. 

Acting on my gut feeling, saved my life.  

Seeing beyond your current view by activating your senses can begin the pathway to discover in ways that you are unfamiliar with. What you may not ever have noticed can become evident, leading to what you may not have believed was possible or not possible. 

Tuning into your senses, connects you to more of the wonders of the natural world, where healing, deep happiness and self dependence becomes accessible. 

We are yet to know the full extent of what can be sensed from the unseen. There are many claims from people who are able to pick up more insights from the unseen. Or perhaps from dreams that hold messages?

They can hear, see and feel things that most people can’t, There is phenomena beyond our current knowledge, that is still yet to be discovered. As we follow this path, we become more open to discover such wonders.

How are you with this deeper sense? 

If you would like to develop your senses in this way, it can be practiced. 

‘The quieter you become the more you are able to hear’. 
Rumi