Let’s take a little journey together, shall we?
Imagine yourself sitting on a wide wooden porch overlooking the ocean. You’re seated in a rocking chair with comfortable cushions.
It’s a perfect spring day, neither too warm nor too cold. The sky is blue, there are some white puffy clouds floating by and the breeze is light. You can hear the sighing of the waves.
Focus on the scene before you. Let your imagination fill in the details. You notice the water and sky, but what else do you see? Birds flying by? Boats? Perhaps trees or sand dunes? What colors stand out to your mind’s eye?
Now listen. You can hear the waves. What else? Bird song? The wind moving through the trees or grasses? Children playing in the distance? Music? Let your inner hearing bring you the sounds of your idyllic spring day at the shore.
What do you feel in this scene? Your body touching the cushions of your rocking chair? The breeze and sunshine on your skin? The soft fabric of the clothes you’re wearing? Your bare feet on the worn wooden floorboards?
What smells accompany this vision? The salty ocean air? The scent of spring flowers? Pine trees? A wafting lilt of incense burning?
What do you taste? A sip of fresh coffee? A raspberry or some watermelon? Your minty toothpaste? Perhaps you can even taste the salty sea air.
Now open yourself to your sixth sense. What do you intuit? What message comes to you as you allow yourself to rest in this imagined scene?
Exploring the senses in a moment of meditation helps us to be more open to them in our physical world. We often take many of our sensory experiences for granted.
Think about your morning routine. Do you let yourself really taste that first sip of coffee, tea or smoothie? Do you slow down enough to feel the warm water of your shower on your skin? Or do you just rush through on autopilot? No judgement here – we’re just seeking awareness.
Intuition, our sixth sense, is even more subtle than the five physical ones. It takes practice to recognize that whisper of wisdom that comes from within.
When you make time to tap into your senses, you’ll become more grounded in the present moment. It will help you to be less reactionary and more kind – to yourself as well as to others.
