Awakening Through The Senses

Awaken to the present moment via the senses. Close your eyes and become aware of all five senses—feeling the sensation of touch, taste, smell, sound and inner sight. This practice is part of The Nidra Method's first step. It opens awareness, grounds one in the present moment, and teaches one to listen to their internal feedback.

To prepare, you are welcome to sit or lay down in a comfortable position. Take some time to settle in and still. Allow yourself to linger here with curiosity.

Transcript

Hello, And welcome to Sensual Awareness. My name is Allison Jane, And I'm delighted to be your guide. Let's begin by finding a steady, Comfortable seat, Closing the eyes and moving inward. Start to notice all the points of contact your body is making with the support of the earth. Just feeling that support holding you up, Noticing your body, Touching that support. Feel the sensation of touch as you feel your skin touching your clothes, The air touching your skin. Allow yourself to become aware of the sensation of touch, Even feeling gravity touching your body, Gently holding you, Tethering you to this earth like a protective blanket. Feel the touch of the support underneath your body holding you up, The touch of gravity gently tethering you down to earth. Feel yourself resting in perfect equilibrium. Allow yourself once more to come back to the sensation of touch, Noticing the air touching your nostrils effortlessly, Softly moving in and out of the nostrils. Notice the sensation of touch as you feel the coolness of an inhale, The heat of an exhale. Allow yourself to notice the shape of the air as it touches your nostrils. Allow yourself to become aware of the scent that hangs in this air. Without judgment, Without filter, Just observe the scent. Feeling the air move in and out of the nostrils. Become aware of the taste that rests on your tongue. Without story, Without critique, Notice all of the aspects of the taste that rests on your tongue. Seeing the touch of the air as it brushes against your nostrils, The scent that accompanies that air, That touch, And the taste that rests on the tongue. Swallow, Feel the saliva drop down the back of the throat, Down into the belly. Now draw your awareness to the sounds that are happening all around you. Listening to the sound of my voice, Listening to each and every sound, Observing the sounds in your space. Without judgment, Without story, We listen to the sounds of the space, Stretching your awareness, Listening to the sounds that are happening outside of your space, Stretching the awareness farther and farther away. Listening to the edges of your awareness, Maybe you hear planes overhead, Cars outside, Just listen, See how far you can stretch your awareness as you listen to the sounds that are happening all around you. And without fanfare, Simply draw your awareness back inward, Slowly collecting these sounds, Walking your way back inward. Resisting the desire to label or judge these sounds, Just walk nearer and nearer as you come inward back into your internal world by listening to the sounds of your own body. We listen to sounds of breath as the air flows effortlessly in and out of the nostrils. We listen to sounds of digestion, The body processing the material world, Physical world. Listen to the sound of your own heartbeat as you connect with your own pulse, The rhythm of your being. Listen to the sounds of your heart. Notice all the emotions that are present in your heart today, Making space for each and every emotion as if you've invited it to this very time and moment. Notice those emotions, Whether bright or blue, Anxious, Open, Notice each and every emotion, Contradictory or complementary. We welcome in every emotion. Gently allow your awareness to come to the sounds happening in your own mind, Listening to the thoughts that are streaming across the screen of the mind. Notice what record is on repeat. Notice if these thoughts are hovering in the past, Critiquing the present or dreaming, Fantasizing about the future. Just notice where the mind wants to go and openly with gratitude, Thank these thoughts for their presence and draw your attention, Your awareness back into heart center. Listening to your heart's deepest desires, Allow yourself to connect to the essence, The calling deep inside of your own heart. Make space for the well of feelings, The spacious emptiness, Allowing yourself to connect to that ever present glow, The essence of your own divinity. Allow yourself to rest in this space, Holding the heart open, Supported by Mother Earth, Protected by Father Sky. Allow yourself to rest here. Begin to deepen your breath, Deliberately taking more air in, Filling the lower abdomen, Side ribs and the upper collar bones, Filling the whole torso with air on an inhale. Exhale release, Feel your navel draw in towards your spine, The ribs gently draw in toward one another and the collar bones settle down toward the earth. Take a few more intentional breaths, Deepening the inhale, Full exhale, Finding that release, Taking the exhale down to the very base of your being. Allow the breath now to just find its natural rhythm, Drop your chin down towards your chest, Bowing the mind to the heart and bring the palms together to touch, Feeling right and left, Sun and moon come into a space of balance. Notice the quality of your breath once more, Tuning in to all five senses. What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you taste? What do you touch? Gently flutter the eyes open and see the world around you, Embracing the whole space with your gaze, Lovingly looking out into the world with all five senses. Namaste.