The expression of sensibility transmits the ability to appreciate, receive, and respond to intricate emotional or aesthetic influences -- deriving simplicity from complexity. Through grace and presence, the feminine essence embodies and exudes the receptive flow of sensibility. To start, presence emanates from connecting fully with our senses.

The gift stems from invoking the senses to align with our feeling perception. The nature of the feminine principle is receptivity, being open to receive stimulation in a responsive manner. Your well-being benefits if done in a nourishing way, so in turn you may give from that resonance -- the sensible and natural flow of giving and receiving.

My intention in creating this article was to share with you a few fun ways that you can tap into your feeling through sensations. Putting it together I remembered a scene from a movie that will better "show" you what I mean. The famous scene from a "Scent of a Woman", the 1992 movie with Al Pacino & Chris O'Donnell...  

In the defining Tango Scene, Frank (Al Pacino) glides across the floor impressing Donna, (Gabrielle Anwar) the young lady, whom he escorts to the dance floor and gracefully dances the tango to the song "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel. 

The scene starts when both Frank and Charlie (Chris O'Donnell) are sitting at the upper balcony table in the fancy hotel where they are staying. The orchestra is playing tango music to set the mood when Frank detects a scent... a scent of a woman:

       Frank:  I'm getting a nice soap-and-water feeling from down over there.
       Charlie:  Ah... female.
       Frank:  Female?  You're callin' her female, must mean you like her or you wouldn't be so casual.
       - Is she alone ?
       Charlie:  Yeah, she's alone
       Frank:  Things are heatin' up.
       - Chestnut hair ?
       Charlie:  Brown... Iight brown.
       Frank:  Twenty-two?
       Charlie:  Wh-- What am l, a guy at a carnival.      
       Frank:  The day we stop lookin', Charlie, is the day we die.
       - Move.
       Charlie: Where ?
       Frank:  You know where, son.

(They start walking to the young lady's table - Charlie guiding Frank by the arm)
       Frank:  Don't be coy, Charlie.
      - This woman is made for you... I can feel it.
      - Goddamn beautiful, isn't she ?
       Charlie:  She's not bad.
       Frank:  Whoo-bingo! The boy's alive.
      -Come on, son, Perambulate. 
      Frank to the young lady:  Excuse me, senorita, do you mind if we join you ?     

The conversation goes on when Frank asks her (Donna):    
     Frank:  You know, I detect... a fragrance in the air.                
     -Don't tell me what it is... Ogilvie Sisters soap.
     Donna:  Ah, that's amazing.
      Frank:  I'm in the amazing business! 
     Donna: It is Ogilvie Sisters soap.

The scene goes on when Frank asks Donna to dance. The rest is history....

So, to start off, Frank is able to detect her scent from a distance, farther than where  Charlie can notice her scent. Later, he taps into his intuitive or 6th sense when he tells Charlie "This woman is made for you... I can feel it". Also, his sense of smell is so keen that he is able to detect the name of the fragrance Donna is wearing. To top that, he is able to elegantly and skillfully listen to the tango tune and translate it into his dance. Consequently, Frank's other 5 senses have acutely developed from losing his sense of sight -- the purpose of my story and the premise of your sense and sense-ability.

The sense of sight may be the default sense often used to discern stimuli. So, naturally we become dependent on visual information to help guide us or observe our environment around us. Here are a few tips that you may like to try out to help strengthen and fully engage with your other senses. In boosting the connection to your senses, discernment is refined to sharpen the understanding of your own personal feeling sensation within your body. Practicing connecting in this way can also renew and reaffirm your intuitive or 6th sense by way of your bodily sensation -- your sense-ability and sensibility.

A fun practice to tap into your feeling sensation:
Start by creating a safe and comfortable environment in a private setting in your home. A large bathroom or bedroom will work well. Dress in a cozy, soft or silk-like robe. Sit in a comfortable position, preferably the floor with a plush blanket or towel. Tie an opaque or dark-colored scarf around your eyes, one that you will not be able see through. Center yourself and take in long and deep breaths throughout this exercise. Take pleasure in evoking the sense.  Watch for any sensations that come up in your body, any emotions or changes.
(You may try one or all of these suggestions)

• Sense of Taste: Prepare a bowl of fruit with a variety of likable choices. Cut the fruit up into similar shapes and sizes. Add a whole banana if available.  Maybe also prepare a bowl of ice-cream or chocolates. The purpose is to put together a delectable dish that pampers your taste buds and are full-bodied and flavorful. Take one bite at a time, tasting every morsel and exploring the texture. Take your time to savor every bite to tingle your taste buds. Breath deeply and allow the smell to appetize you even more. Watch for any sensations that come up in your body, any emotions or changes. Do this until you feel satisfied.
• Sense of Hearing: Turn on beautiful music that you really enjoy; music that has no lyrics, like the instrumental pieces or nature sounds work best (check out the lily blog frog soundtrack for ideas). Then really take in the sound vibrations.  Allow the music to really to go through you and experience the sounds throughout your body. Listen for the different aspects and the layering of the sounds. Try to distinguish to the dynamic parts of the music:  the melody, harmony and any other layers. Do this for as long as you feel comfortable, maybe 15 to 30 minutes depending on your own sensitivity.
  
• Sense of Smell: Aromatic flowers work exceptionally well with sense. Pick out an assortment of fragrant flowers from a florist, specialty shop or farmer's market.  Bring the bouquet home and place in vase with. The fresher the flowers the better. Maybe incorporate essential oils, like lavender or rose, into this step (depending on availability and your sensitivity).  To start off this step, have two vases next to you, one with the flowers and one without. Move the vasess close to you to facilitate the process. One by one sniff in and take in the scent of each individua bud. Feel the fragrance wash over you and inside of you. Allow the aroma to linger before moving to the next flower. Experiment with a small bowl of coffee beans. Lightly sniff the beans to help clear the scent in between each flower.  Take notice the effect on your mood. Do the same with essences if accessible.
• Sense of Touch: Prepare this step by gathering a small towel and either massage oil or lotion, unscented if possible. Start at the bottom of your feet. Massage gently yet firmly stimulating your muscles. Work gradually up the legs and around all areas of the body that you are able to reach. Take pleasure in touching your skin as you move up, work in circular motions.  Engage intimacy with your body and take your time with this step.  Massage your scalp and rub your temples. Feel the gratification of releasing any stress and tension by rubbing those sore spots with delicate motions. Finish this step by lightly stroking one of the flowers on across your skin. Gingerly twirl the flower up and down your body.
• Sense of Sight: Now close your eyes and remove the scarf from around your eyes. Open your eyes slowly and take your time to readjust to the light. Look first to the floor and then at the items around you. Take in the visual information as if it were new to you. Take notice of the colors and shapes and experience their vibrancy. Lastly, move your eyes around the room and observe what grabs your attention.

Take the opportunity to record your experience for each sense.  Allow your creativity to flow and journal, paint or voice record your observations, awareness and insights.  Please feel free to share with us here.

To conclude this entry, I leave you with this quote by the screenwriter, George Bricker

"When you've been blind as long as I have, you learn to see through your senses. I can't explain it exactly, but you get a feeling about people when you meet them. You see a picture of them in your mind. 
Not just what they look like, but what they really are. 
You see them much more clearly than you do with your eyes.
 Maybe that's why they say looks are deceptive."
~ George Bricker