Greetings Friends!
The first frost of the season finally made its debut the first week of November--perfect timing as we descend into the darker & colder months. While popular consumer culture would lead you to believe that you need to start feverishly thinking about the upcoming winter holidays right now, see what it's like to stay present with what's happening here & now as right now is the only time you'll be able to truly experience this moment in its joy & sorrow, pleasure & pain, success & failure. Even if it doesn't seem like it in the moment, magic starts to happen when you can be here now.
When you learn to steady your mind in the experience of the moment, the constant jumping from thought to thought starts slowing down. Instead of reacting to external sensory stimuli, you can heighten awareness toward an ability to respond, internally & externally. From a neuroscientific standpoint it's held that you never really experience the outside world; you only experience your own nervous system. The five senses are direct connections to that inner experience--quite literally your sensory organs have nerves that are directly connected to your brain--thus are a wonderful internal tool to help cultivate present-moment awareness.
According to the principles of Samkhya--one of --=the Indian philosophies on Reality that establish foundations for both yoga & ayurveda--the five senses are the way in which our consciousness is able to perceive and interact with the five elements of ether, air, fire, water & earth. The five gross major elements also have five subtle energetic forms called "tanmatras"; this energetic field is the space in which our five senses are able to perceive the stimuli of the tanmatras. In this way the five senses, along with their five "wisdom organs" and five "action organs" are able to empower our mind to understand & experience the external world, even if that experience may be limited.
Here are some simple everyday ways you can nourish your 5 senses to elevate your conscious awareness and cultivate your personal wellbeing. If you want to learn more about how to deepen your SELF-connection, an ayurvedic wellness consultation is the perfect tool to personalize your relationship to the 5 elements through understanding your unique constitution! Visit my website at https://www.theyogibassist.com/ayurveda to learn more about my wellness counseling offerings <3
Major Element & Energetic expression: Ether & sound
Wisdom organ & sense: ears & sense of hearing
Action organ & ability: vocal chords & ability to speak sound in the external world
Related Chakra: Vishuddhi (throat)
Refine & elevate your perception & relationship to the element of ether through: Sound meditation, japa mantra, ear oiling (karana purana), bhramari pranayama "bee humming breath", intentional silence (mauna), intentional listening, intentional speaking
Major Element & Energetic expression: Air & movement
Wisdom organ & sense: skin & sense of touch
Action organ & ability: hands & ability to manipulate the external world
Related Chakra: Anahata (heart)
Refine & elevate your perception & relationship to the element of air through: marma point & acupuncture therapy, oil self-massage (abhyanga), dry-brushing (garshana), sauna & sweat therapies (svedhana), massage therapy & other bodywork modalities, manicures & hand massage
Major Element & Energetic expression: Fire & form/ radiance
Wisdom organ & sense: eyes & sense of vision
Action organ & ability: feet & ability to move around in the external word
Related Chakra: Manipura (naval)
Refine & elevate your perception & relationship to the element of fire through: candle gazing (trataka), color therapy, limiting your exposure and/or protecting your eyes from intense/ strong light and artificial light (digital screens, LEDs, fluorescent, etc.), reading inspiring & uplifting literature, putting your feet up for gentle inversions like legs-up-the-wall
Major Element & Energetic expression: Water & essential quality
Wisdom organ & sense: tongue & sense of taste
Action organ & ability: urogenital organs & ability to release urine + reproduce
Related Chakra: Svadhishthana (sacral)
Refine & elevate your perception & relationship to the element of water through: tongue scrapping, oil pulling, tooth brushing, staying hydrated, herbal preparations (teas, tinctures, etc.), fully chewing your food, engaging in healthy sexual relationships, toning pelvic floor muscles & releasing urine when the natural urge arises
Major Element & Energetic expression: Earth & odor
Wisdom organ & sense: nose & sense of smell
Action organ & ability: anus & ability to release bowels
Related Chakra: Muladhara (root)
Refine & elevate your perception & relationship to the element of earth through: aromatherapy, nasal irrigation (jala neti), nasal oiling (nasya), nadi shodhana pranayama, releasing bowels when the natural urge arises, sitting on the floor, spending time in nature (your lawn or garden is totally acceptable--bonus points if you can get your bare hands & feet in the dirt, too!)
Use all your power to free the senses from attachment & aversion alike, and live in the full wisdom of the Self
~The Bhagavad Gita (2.68)
