I grew up on the value of “Grace is deceptive, Beauty is illusory” (Proverbs 31). I therefore felt that my appreciation of and attraction to beauty made me a superficial person. Beauty was a trap, associated with lies, illusion and deception, something I was meant to run away from. As I grew up and embarked on my spiritual journey, I learned that the problem was not only with beauty, but with pleasure we get through all of our senses. I perceived all sensual pleasures as superficial, illusionary, and deceptive.

It took me years to realize that I got it all wrong. Sensual pleasure is a crucial ingredient of spirituality. Beauty is an exhibition of the divine. The senses are our interface with the world. Sensual pleasure is the way in which we experience the world as a sacred manifestation of divine forces. This is the wisdom and the high road of Taurus. It is the earthly form of Venus, goddess of harmony, love, and beauty.

Taurus season is a time when we want to slow down and enjoy our senses. No wonder that Taurus happens in spring when our senses are awakened by the regeneration of nature around us. In this post I list three ways in which we can heighten our connection with our senses in a spiritual way.

Breathe it In

When I spend time in nature, I delight in the beauty that surrounds me. I get enchanted by the intoxicating scent of the forest. I enjoy touching the earth with my bare feet. I savor the taste of the berries growing on the bushes. I am uplifted by the singing of the birds. I feel a great sense of awe that makes my heart sing praises to mother earth for creating this magic. I want to breathe it all in, so I breathe deeply, and I feel expansion that I’d never experienced before.

If I lived my life without appreciating the sights, smells, and sounds around me, If I saw this beauty and thought, oh, who cares, it is just an illusion, deception, a lie, I would disregard the wonders of divine forces. I would be disconnected from spirit. I would be missing out on life. There is absolutely nothing spiritual about that.

Mindful Eating

Eating can be a spiritual experience. When I studied Ayurveda, I learned to eat mindfully. I never eat in front of a screen or a book. I never consume information while I eat. I mostly eat quietly, in my backyard, if the weather permits. As I chew slowly, I notice the flavors and indulge in enjoying them. I think about the rich soil, the rays of sun, the raindrops, and the people who labored to get this food into my table. I think about the love I put into making it. It makes me feel connected and grateful in the most profound way.

If I ate while thinking about how polluted the earth is right now, and how many bad chemicals are in my food, or if I watched a podcast while I ate, I would miss this chance to connect with the world. I would miss a chance to rejoice in the simple but wonderous things life has to offer us.

Deliberate Romance

Romance is entirely sensual. Our initial attraction is based on looks. Science says that we feel attracted to others based on how they smell to us. The taste of a kiss has a huge impact on whether we want to kiss again. The way we feel when the other person touches us is the key for falling in love. Voice is also important. I remember how I completely fell in love with my husband the first time we talked on the phone, not only because of what we talked about, but also because I loved his voice.

In long term relationships, we tend to forget about the sensual magic that brought us together, and we lose a great deal of the magic of the relationship, and of life. I make it a practice to notice my husband’s smell, the taste of his kisses, the touch of his hands, his voice, and all the things that made me fall in love with him, even in our daily lives, after ten years of marriage.

This week, choose one practice and follow it:

1. Go to nature and be quiet. Pay attention to the sounds, scents, and sights. Touch the water, the earth, the leaves, and the rocks. Be mindful of how they make you feel. Make it a sensual party.
2. Eat mindfully like I described above.
3. Experience your significant other through the senses. Pay attention to their voice, scents, touch, and taste.

P.S. I hope you felt a relief when Mercury went direct last week! I know I did 🙂 

Have a wonderful week,

With love,

Yael