Sensuality: A Forgotten Art

Another archive of mine from last year that I wanted to share with everyone....
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“To be sensual, I think, is to respect and rejoice in the force of life, of life itself, and to be present in all that one does, from the effort of loving to the making of bread.” James Arthur Baldwin


I have always believed that we are first and foremost beautiful spiritual beings who have chosen to be on earth as humans at this particular time and experience a human life. And when looking at it from this perspective, the human experience becomes something very special, something magical. Human life is a gift, especially at this moment in the planet’s history. Thousands upon thousands of souls were lined up waiting to be selected to incarnate on the earth during this time. And for those of us who were chosen, here we are. We have been given the chance to live on and experience one of the most vibrant and beautiful planets in our galaxy system.

As spiritual beings we are basically made up of vibrating energy. Like one large ball of light. Yet as beings of light our experiences are limited to those of a non-physical nature. Now put that ball of light into a physical vessel and another dimension has been added to mix. As light, we cannot experience many of the things this planet has to offer from a physical perspective. We could not feel the softness of silk, or smell the beautiful aromas from a field of lavender. We would not be able to experience the beauty of a kiss, or taste the velvety flavours of a rich wine. All of these things are the gifts we have of being in a physical body. Our biological body allows us to experience the beauty and wonder of the physical world to its fullest.

Yet how often do we really take note of these things in our life? How often do we take the time to smell the fragrance of a flower as we walk by it, really allow the aroma to fully permeate our senses? How often do we take the time to fully taste a divine piece of chocolate, let the flavours sit in our mouth and flow through us, elevate us?

Sensuality to me is the awareness of our physical senses, and being fully present within them, in the moment…in the now. The shutting off of our mental state and the ability to experience beauty through our body. So why are so many of us not experiencing this bliss? Why have we become so out of touch with this sensual side that we all possess yet are so unfamiliar with?

Many of us live fast paced lives, living by a schedule that barely gives us 5 minutes to ourselves never mind the time to stop and smell a flower. We have created a routine for ourselves where we many of us are now moving through life like robots, and out of touch with many of the very human aspects we possess. We have forgotten to enjoy the physical senses that we have been gifted with in this life.

On the other end of the spectrum we may be spending too much time in the spiritual realms, forgetting that we are here to experience being human. Our preoccupation with experiencing a spiritual state, focussing on ridding ourselves of human attributes and emotions to reach an more elevated state. My personal belief is that we are here to create a balance between both. When we find ourselves on either end of the scales it is time to re-evaluate how we managed to get ourselves there. Spending too much time on either end can result in us being cut off from very important aspects that are crucial to our learning on this plane. Either in the physical where we risk shutting ourselves off from our divine and higher selves, or in the spiritual where we risk shutting ourselves off from the beauty of the physical world. Balance, as with anything in life, is the key.


Personally, opening up to my sensual side has allowed me to connect with myself and my surroundings on a deeper level. It has brought a new sense of wonder, curiosity and beauty to my life. Now granted, I am naturally a very sensate being. Nevertheless I used to be very out of touch with the physical senses as I was growing up. The concept of sensuality was considered taboo in my environment, both in my family and in society in general. Therefore I never really tapped into the gifts that it was trying to reveal to me. However once making the decision to change my lifestyle and slow down the pace, I started discovering the beautiful experiences that had been patiently waiting for me and started seeing a world that I had allowed to remain hidden.

My world is now filled with sensate experiences everywhere I go, the fragrance of a flower that I stop to smell as I walk through the park, the aromas floating from the kitchen as I experiment with some new creation, the feeling of fresh sheets on my skin as I climb into bed, the feeling of the rain beating down on my body as I stand outside in a thunderstorm, the feeling of my soul being elevated as I listen to the melodies of an orchestra, and the list goes on… I have gone from constantly focussing on the past or the future, and learned to really live in the moment. I have moved myself into the NOW. And what a beautiful place it is.

How to Begin Incorporating Sensuality into your life

It is actually fairly easy to begin incorporating sensuality into your life. The most important thing is really to start becoming more aware. More aware of your surroundings, aromas and fragrances, colours, textures etc. Take notice of how things make you feel, which senses do you notice first, which ones do not feel as quickly? Once you begin to increase your awareness you will find that your perspective will start changing and the world that you once took for granted will all of as sudden appear new and exciting to you again.

Here are some ways that have personally helped me to incorporate sensuality again into my life that you can try:

1. Swim naked: One of the most beautiful sensations in the world is the feeling of water skimming across your skin as you move through the water. There is a liberation and sensuality tied into one that takes place as you glide through the water naked. And add moonlight to the mix and that heightens the experience. Try and pay attention to the feeling of the water on your skin, the temperature of the water, and the sounds of the water as you move slowly through it. I highly recommend at least trying it to see what it is like.

2. Wine Tasting: Since arriving in Argentina I have been introduced to the fascinating world of wine tasting and have to say that it is one of the most sensate experiences on the planet. Wine tasting makes you use your sense of taste, smell and sight in ways that you are not accustomed to. Rather than gulping down the wine like we often do, take some time to observe the beautiful hues that appear as you hold up your wine to the light, the bouquet of aromas that are released as you swirl the wine in your glass, and the weight and texture of the wine as you allow it to sit on your tongue, then the explosion of flavours on your taste buds as you slowly allow the wine to move through your mouth and throat. Wine is art and once you open yourself up to it can turn into a divine experience. To learn more about how to do a basic wine tasting you can visit :

http://www.itswine.com/articles/wine-tasting/index.php
http://www.wineloverspage.com/taste/
http://wine.about.com/od/winebasic1/ht/winetasting.htm

Or for a twist on tasting, you can also learn how to do chocolate tasting, another fantastic way to begin opening up your senses:

http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/chocolate/how-to-taste-chocolate.asp

3. Dance in the Rain: There is something to be said about dancing out in the rain on a hot summer night. Feeling the rain beating down on you, the smell of fresh water, the sound of the drops beating down on the ground around you. Next time you find yourself in a storm hop outside and try it. Close off your mental side and don’t worry about whether you think you will look silly or not and set yourself free in the moment.

4. Walking through the forest: The forest is full of aromas, textures, and colours that, when you allow them to, can heighten your senses. Take some time to walk slowly through the woods one day, smell the aromas in the air, the pine, the earth, the rocks, the moss. Feel the trunks of the trees, the dew on the plants, the texture of the leaves. Take note of the colours around you, then close your eyes, how do you feel, what senses respond first, which ones feel more closed? (Taking a walk in a garden is also another option.)


5. Food with Passion: Cooking is one of those things in life that we often take for granted and is turned into a chore when it is incorporated into our daily routine. We then begin to loathe it. We often rush through the process of cooking, speed taking precedence above all else. However, cooking can also take you to sensual heights that you have never dreamed of. Take some time to smell the aromas of each ingredient you add, notice the texture of the spices and herbs you use, notice how the aromas then blend together in the dish to create something spectacular. While eating, allow yourself time to really savour the food rather than swallowing it down at unprecedented speed. Notice the texture of the food on your tongue, the colours on the plate. Are they vibrant? Are they soft hues? How does the food make you feel? How do the flavours and aromas make you feel? Once you start incorporating this into your life, at least once a week, you will start noticing changes and your perceptions heightening. What a beautiful way to live. :) For more reading on this you can check out : www.slowfood.com

6. Sleeping naked: Yes, naked. Leave the pj’s in the drawer. :) Sleeping naked allows you to heighten your sense of touch. Indulge a little bit and buy yourself some nice high thread count sheets (or whatever type of sheets you are partial to) and some soft pillows. Feel the texture of the sheets on your skin, how luxurious the pillows feel under your head. The sense of touch is highly important and something we don’t use often enough anymore. Once you start to open yourself up to textures and sensations on your skin you will find a whole new world awaiting you that you didn’t even know existed. And you may find yourself sleeping naked all of the time. :)

7. Relaxation massage: Massage is probably one of the easiest ways to begin opening to your senses because many people love it and the results are instantaneous. Personally having a regular massage was one of the first stepping stones for me in opening up to new levels and one of the most rewarding.

I believe that the blending of the spiritual and the physical are a key to fully experiencing our soul growth here. Over the generations society has often taught us that the two are opposed to each other, when in fact they are complements, and when in harmony with each other, we are lifted to a new dimension of living that is full of joy and peace. The physical world (as well as our own physical selves) has many gifts to offer us. Once you open yourself up and learn to harmonize the two, you will find your own world increase in beauty and light, and a sense of gratitude permeate your soul. So go walk barefoot in the grass, or stop to actually smell that flower that you pass by everyday, and watch your world begin to change into the enchanted place that it truly is.

La Nueva Comunidad

“Una vida social sana es solamente encontrada cuando, en el espejo de cada alma, la comunidad encuentra su reflejo, y cuando a dentro de la comunidad entera el virtud de cada uno esta vivo.” Rudolph Steiner

Siempro lo encuentro fascinante como la vida cambia cosas de uno mismo que piensas que ya son parte de quien sos. Yo me considero una persona mas o menos solitaria, me gusta de pasar tiempo con yo mismo, y no tengo uno problema a vivir sola. Cuando estaba viviendo en Canada, siempre buscaba mi propio espacio, y a estar sola e independiente era lo mas importante fuera de todo. Es fue que me mantuvo sana. Me parece, sin embargo, que los tiempos ya cambiaron.

Recien me mudé a un departamiento que estaba cerca de la bodega donde estoy trabajando. Fue en lugar lindo, un loft, y podía caminar al trabajo de allá. Podía salir a fuera y ver las montañas en la distancia. Por fin tenia mi lugar, estaba independiente otra vez, y libre para ir y salir cuando quería. Y de repente lo mas raro pasó. Un sentido muy desconocido para mi empezó a ser presente. Yo extrañaba a tener gente alrededor de mi. Estaba extrañando a tener gente con quien podía compartir comida y vino, charlar, o hablar en general de la vida.

Extrañaba a poder a salir a la esquina para comprar una barra de mi chocolate favorito, o a ir a mi favorito café para tomar un café con leche.

El pánico empezó a establecerse. Que pasaba conmigo? Siempre fui orgullosa de poder a pasar tiempo sola, y disfrutarlo. Pero ahora, de repente, estaba ansiando compania. Mi querido independencia estaba desaparaciendo…. Eso no puede ser bueno.

Despues que los palpitaciones pararon, me senté y reflexioné sobre el metamorfisis raro que estaba pasando a mi. Realicé después de un rato que tenia que pensar con otro punto de vista. No había nada que haber con perdiendo un parte de yo misma, pero todo que haber con el descubrimiento de una nueva parte de yo misma y integrandolo con el viejo.

Desde de llegar a Argentina, una de las temas mas comunes en mi vida ha sido la comunidad. Como niña, el sentido de comunidad siempre me impactó muchísimo. Cuando la familia se juntaban o fiestas en la comunidad Portuguesa siempre fueron platos fuertes durante de mi infancia. Cuando entré en la edad adulta, tuvé un cambio de perspectiva de uno de la comunidad a uno de la individualidad y independencia. Me quedé en esto estado de aprendizaje por muchos años, los mas importantes fueron los ultimos 5 antes de mudarme a Argentina.

Durante de esto tiempo pasé mucho tiempo sola, descubriendo quien era como una persona, que eran mis talentos, de ser comoda en mi propia piel, y en general quedandome enamorada con yo misma. Me encantó la soledad. Aprendí mas en estos 5 años que había aprendido en mi vida entera. Y cuando, por fin me sentí fuerte en mi poder personal, mi vida cambió otra vez.

Cuando llegué a Argentina, desde del primero día, estuvé siempre con gente. En el principio estaba un poco preocupada con esto porque estaba tan acostumbrada a pasar tiempo sola, que tenía miedo de empezar a volverme loca con tanta gente alrededor de mi. Pero saben que? Me encantó. De vez en cuando sacé tiempo sola, pero en general me encantó de estar viviendo con otros.

Uno de las cosas mas lindas de los Argentinos es su amor de compartir y pasar tiempo juntos con otros. Saben disfrutar de la vida y compartir lo que tienen con otros. Siempre se juntan con amigos y familia para compartir comida, vino, y el tiempo en maneras lindas. Puede ser durante un asado, o tamando un maté o alago simple como a salir para tomar un café. Eso es una cosa que extrañé mucho en mi “otra vida”. Pero siempre tengo la filosofía que todo paso en el momento justo y siempre aprendemos que tenemos que aprender al momento justo. Y estoy convencida que el tiempo que paso sola y las experiencias que tuvé en los últimos 5 años antes de venir acá me enseñaron a tener independencia y como a amar quien era como una persona. Sin embargo, cuando estas leciones terminaron, el Universo me envió nuevas leciones en la forma de uno nuevo capítulo en mi vida. Y ahora estoy aprendiendo sobre el otro lado del balance: creando comunidad.

Uno de mis objectivos en esta vida es de crear comunidades sustentables en diferentes lugares en el mundo. Comunidades basadas en compartir, viviendo en armonía con la tierra y a disfrutar mas de la vida. La idea es de crear y construir una nueva esquema para vivir, con menos cosas materiales y mas experiencias. Sin embargo, para hacer esto, uno tiene que vivirlo. Bueno, el Universo ha escuchado mi necesidad y me envió una nueva vida y role en Argentina. Y que lindo país para aprender!

Muchas personas consideran Argentina como un país del tercero mundo. Siempre escucho esto. Y de Argentinos también. Y quizás es, basado en estadísticas en los círculos económicos. Pero en mi opinión, no es así. Puede ser que la gente acá no tienen tantas cosas materiales como tienen en los Estados Unidos y Canadá, pero para mi son mucho mas ricos comparados con países del “primero mundo”. Argentinos saben expresarse, y se expresan con amor y amabilidad que hace muchos norte americanos incomodos. Tienen un genuino preocupación para los que tienen necesidad. Mismo si no tienen mucho, siempre están disponibles a compartir lo que tienen con los que entran en sus vidas. La gente acá saben disfrutar de la vida, disfrutar de las cosas mas simples en la vida como buen comida, bueno vino y compartiendolo con otros. Que paso en la mayoría de sociedades en los países del primero mundo donde esto aspecto importante esta casi non-existente? Cuando estuvé visitando Canadá este año, esto me impacto mucho. Recuerdo de estar sentada a fuera con una amiga, Jocelyne, haciendo una “venta de garage” y nosotros dos mirando al barrio vacío. Era uno hermoso día, pero no había nadie a fuera. Nunca vimos a nadie. La mayoría de la gente se quedan cerrados en sus casas, nunca saliendo, mucho menos a tener alguna interacción con los vecinos. Esto es obviamente una generalización, porque conozco gente que no son así, pero en general es muy común. Me hizo muy triste a ver tantas personas tan focalizados en sus vidas y olvidando de ver como la otra gente están viviendo. No estoy poniendo culpa en nadie specífco, porque yo vivía igual antes. Por muchos años yo andaba como un roboto, solamente existiendo y no viviendo. Y ahora, aca estaba en mi lugar de antes, y mirando la gente viviendo el mismo ciclo. Me siento muy afortunada de que me ha despertado y ha tenido la oportunidad de vivir en una cultura diferente que me ha enriquecido mi vida mucho mas que yo había pensado posible.

Comunidades son creadas sobre valores y principios que son compartidos por todos que viven ahí. Desde de vivir acá, estoy aprendiendo que son los mas importantes y necesarios para crear una comunidad armónico. Y mis lecciones continuan. Espero que mientras que estoy aprendiendo que puedo también compartir mi nueva información y experiencas con otros para inspirarles a vivir una vida llena. La vida debía de ser disfrutado y experimentado. Y parte de este experiencia es de aprender a compartir este hermoso mundo donde vivimos con otros.

Saludos!

Chrissie