Nourishment - A Different Perspective - January 31, 2020
About ten years ago, I started to experience significant burnout. With a desperate need to escape, I fled to Denver and stayed with a good friend. She took me to a fun, hole-in-the-wall restaurant that offered delicious organic foods, and ordered fried goat cheese as the appetizer. Skeptical because I had never eaten goat cheese, I took my first bite. Wowzah! The explosion of delight felt like my taste buds had a small orgasm! At that moment, it dawned on me just how depleted I had become.
The first definition of sensuality that comes up on Google is from Dictionary.com, "the enjoyment, expression, or pursuit of physical, especially sexual, pleasure." It suggests similar terms of sexiness, sexual attraction, voluptuousness, or sultriness.
However, I believe that sensuality goes beyond sexual pleasure. The Online Etymology Dictionary provides an origin of the word,
mid-14c, "the part of man that is concerned with the senses," from Old French sensualite "the five senses; impression," from Late Latin sensualitatem (nominative sensualitas) "capacity for sensation," from Latin sensualis "endowed with feeling, sensitive," from sensus "feeling."
Humans have six senses – seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and intuition. They are a vital link to understanding the world around us. My experience with burnout was a spiritual reawakening and taught me how much the soul depends on the nourishment from the natural world. I was going through the motions. Survival was the name of the game – "head down" and powering through to the next day. And when my head is down, I am not mindful or aware. I do not hear the birds sing or notice the beautiful sunsets. I eat unhealthy food on the run and put myself in numerous time binds. Stress responses take over, and ego rules.
Once I awoke to this deprivation, I began to make slow and steady changes, continually learning something new about myself and how to connect to the world around me. I developed the courage to step outside of the box to live differently – to live a balanced life. To not just survive but thrive.
There is not a switch that turns these perceptions on and off. It's about taking the time and paying attention to your surroundings.
If you are not sure how to get started, begin with an orange. How does the skin feel? Is it rough or smooth? How does it smell? Is it firm, soft, or squishy? What do you notice as you start to peel it? How does it feel? Are there any sounds? What are your taste buds doing? Now the best part – taking the first bite. What happens in your mouth? Can you add to this sensual delight by sitting in the sun and enjoy the warmth on your face as you relish this treat? Know that you are not only nourishing your body with the nutrients of your snack but also nourishing your soul by allowing it to feel alive.
Or stand outside – what do you hear, see, feel, taste, smell, and feel intuitively?
Charlie prefers blueberries and popcorn. He also loves his belly scratched and massaging his back on the carpet. During car rides, no matter the temperature, he insists the window is down so he can catch the wind. Cold creeks are not a problem and seem refreshing to him. After a good swim, he will find a place to roll around to dry himself off. Or better yet, I'm waiting with the prized towel to give him that extraordinary rub down. And of course, a nap in the sunshine that streams through our sliding glass door is the best. He always looks so gratified after any of these sensual experiences.
In the last article, A New Journey, I suggested opening to new perspectives. How many perspectives can you discover sensually? It's the "ahhhhh" effect we are seeking in this awakening. Stop several times throughout the day to perceive:
The SOUND of blue jays squawking, peaceful noises of the forest, people chatting or machines humming, traffic rushing to and fro, a babbling brook, clicking of keyboards, motorcycles roaring.
The SIGHT of sunsets and clouds, hoarfrost on cold wintry days, the full moon, flowers and plants, exciting landscapes, people as they rush through their day, the beauty of the city, and motorcycles.
Savor the TASTE of food prepared with care, love, and thoughtfulness; delicious greasy hamburgers; chocolate (yum); coffee or tea; anything that awakens the taste buds. Try something new that looks delectable. I have started to be more mindful of every meal being yummy. It makes food so much more enjoyable and nourishing.
SMELL the air of the day – the crispness of winter; rain and snow; Mother Earth coming alive in the spring and summer; composting leaves in the fall; good food; clean laundry (particularly sheets that have just come out of the dryer); fresh brewed coffee, and the exhaust of motorcycles. One can even appreciate the bad smells – skunks, garbage, exhaust – because without the bad, how can you understand the good? And take time to smell the roses. It is worth it!
FEEL the fabric of the clothes you have chosen to wear today – are they soft, scratchy, silky, warm, or cold? Feel the sun on your face or the cold biting wind on your cheeks; hug your loved one and notice the love of that connection. I love the feel of sitting on my Harley – the vibration plus the sense of power that it offers. How does your body feel after exercising, eating, sleeping, sitting too long?
INTUITION – possibly a blending of all the senses and picking up on the "vibe" of what the environment is telling you, even if you do not consciously understand it. It is the "gut" feeling and, I believe, will never lead you astray. It requires slowing down and getting quiet so you can listen. As you become more practiced, you quickly recognize and trust the intuitive sensations you receive. Check out my article Friend or Foe, to learn more about intuition.
Slow down and wake up to the world around you. It’s worth the adventure!
