Exploring Embodied Experiences: Journeying Through Scent
Two weeks ago, I had a profoundly enriching experience at "The Rhythm of Three: Guided Somatic Scent Immersion" workshop at the The Institute for Art and Olfaction in Los Angeles, CA, that delved into exploring the sense of smell in an embodied way.
As I engaged with various scents derived from earth and nature – oils, incense, resin, and tea – I found myself transported to a vastly rich realm woven from the imaginal and sensorial landscapes. The scents seemed to awaken dormant experiences within my body, igniting sensations almost unfamiliar or perhaps just long forgotten.
It was as though my entire being was enlivened through this rich interoceptive experience, filled with a newfound sense of vitality and enjoyment.
The workshop presented a unique opportunity to explore the intricate relationship between scent and somatic experience. Kendra Adler guided an exquisite somatic journey akin to a meditative feast for the senses. Each aroma, meticulously crafted by Persephenie Studio using earth based elements, interacted with my olfactory system and taste buds, inviting to fully immerse myself in the present moment.
I became acutely aware of how the olfactory sense deepened my embodied experience, engaging not only my mind but also my body in a profound manner. As I surrendered to the scents, I found myself utterly captivated by the intricate dance unfolding within me.
The fragrances seamlessly intertwined with my body's receptors, setting off a symphony of chemical reactions that reverberated deep within my being. This profound experience served as a reminder of the immense impact even the most subtle interactions can wield upon our inner world.
-------
In the days following this workshop, I found myself immersed in lingering echoes of the experience, which sparked deep contemplation. I began daydreaming about the notion of becoming a sweet scent that binds to the receptors of others, initiating a cascade of chemical reactions, generating an enchanting experience while preserving my own essence unchanged.
This became particularly relevant at work, where I gleaned insights that hold profound relevance to my daily existence, especially in my role as a healer, spending a good amount of my time in environments like psychiatric hospitals and mental health treatment centers.
In the mornings, I'm filled with lighthearted cheer, which is my own innate essence. As the day progresses and I engage with patients in distressing psychological states, I attune to connect with them in a compassionate and empathic way. By day's end, I notice that my own uplifted essence has waned, necessitating replenishment.
At work, I am keenly aware of how distress permeates and modulates my own inner experience and in turn outward presence, triggering intricate, unseen interactions within my nervous system and cascading chemical reactions that could potentially impart lasting change unless I take good care to recalibrate to my own essence on a daily basis.
Over the years, I've continually refined my approach to returning to a state of personal equilibrium—it's a delicate dance. While carving out intentional time for self-repair, rejuvenation, and inspiration after completing my day's work is paramount, there are times when I find it necessary to completely separate. I often find solace in nature or by traveling to foreign lands.
Being out in the world, especially in difficult places where distress is constant, demands continuous self-awareness and intentional recalibration. The key is to transmute challenging relational experiences into personal resilience and wisdom.
Throughout the week, I contemplated the notion of being a scent that graces a space without altering its inherent nature. As complex beings, our interactions inevitably involve an exchange of energy and emotion. The beauty of being human lies in noticing the relational influences shaping who we are becoming over time and artfully integrating experiences to expand our consciousness.
-------
Taking time to engage in the most beautiful and enriching sensory experiences, like those I experienced at this workshop, is of utmost importance to me. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who would like to awaken their dormant sensory capacities. While I appreciate edible delicacies, this experience facilitated an even more exquisite sensory delight than a four-course dinner at a high-end restaurant.
-------
Photo credit: Kendra Adler and Persephenie Studio from the workshop "The Rhythm of Three" March 23rd, 2024
