Many of us rely little on our senses and intuition. Choices we make are usually focused on one practical end or another. Our reason, or logic, often guides everything from the route we take to work to subjects we study and how we spend our free time. Logic and reason are useful tools, yet under these rational choices, below our prefrontal cortex, is a world of color and connection, feelings, emotions, instincts we often discount, especially in the fast pace of urban life.
For this practice, while an hour a week may be sufficient, I would recommend 1 hour every 3 days. You will need a camera of some sort, whether that is your phone, an old Polaroid, or a $5,000 professional camera is up to you.
The most important part of this practice is that you have no expectations of where you are headed. Obviously, don't go anywhere that might be dangerous to you physically and always be aware of your surroundings.
As you leave your home stand briefly there on the sidewalk. Place your hands on your belly. Take a deep breath. Cycle through your senses. What is you hear? See? Smell? Maybe you have the taste of something on the tip of your tongue? Or your skin feels the warm sun or cold rain?
As you breathe feel into each of these senses. Something there is calling you. Physically calling you to go closer or move away. Allow that information to inform you. See where it leads. Is it smell and colors of a neighbors flower garden? Or a radio playing a song you know down the street.
Follow that call until you come to that place. Using your camera shoot a picture. Then, when you are ready, again placing your hands on your belly, taking a deep breath, cycling through your senses, trust them to guide you to the next place.
After about 45 minutes stop and start your journey home.
When you get home, after an hour or so, look back at the pictures you took. Choose one. Write about what you see and feel about it. Why do you think this event or place or object called to you? Does it say something about what you may feel missing in your life? Something that needs attending? Or may me it means nothing, it might have sparked a memory or simply called to your aesthetic sense. If you can, share this photo with someone. Tell them what, if anything it means to you.
