A Lesson in Perception & Deep Listening
October 9, 2012 
perception \per-‘sep-shen\n 1 : An act or result of perceiving 2 : awareness of one’s environment through physical sensation 3 : ability to understand : INSIGHT, COMPREHENSION
an act or result of perceiving – when I am perceiving something, is it an experience wrapped within the perception of my experience?
awareness of one’s environment through physical sensation – I experience the power/sound of the ocean as it moves inside of me. I experience the quaking of aspen leaves through a physical sensation in the core of my solar plexus: me and the tree are one. I take in the spiced scented jasmine blossom; I am sensing, perceiving and experiencing simultaneously.
What is perception? This is the question that has arisen for me this week in a writing class I’m taking over at Writing Our Way Home, titled, “Eastern Therapeutic Writing.” This week’s focus was creating our own koan or question; a self inquiry process. I’m thinking perception has something or everything to do with trust. I’m thinking perception has something or everything to do with intuition. I’m thinking perception has something or everything to do with not looking outside of ourselves for the answers. I know perception has something or everything to do with giving ourselves the authority to believe, once and for all, in our own inner voice. Everything to do with the power of the sound of our own voice and how it mingles with air as it penetrates the molecules.
I’ve been sitting with these thoughts/perceptions/experiences as I create my last post for Vision & Verb. The journey never ends; it simply takes a different/new path.
I receive, I thank, I bow.
Terry Tempest Williams, in her new book, “When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice”, says, “When we don’t listen to our intuition, we abandon our souls. And we abandon our souls because we are afraid if we don’t, others will abandon us. We’ve been raised to question what we know, to discount and discredit the authority of our gut. I want to know why. I regret whenever I abandon myself. But harboring regrets is making love to the past, and there is no movement here. It’s not the lips of a prince that will save us, but our own lips speaking.”
With deepest gratitude I bow final time.
Reader Comments (14)
So much to think here, Mary. I will miss you with us here at Vision and Verb and hope you will still come and visit. I wish you a beautiful and meaningful journey on this new path you are on. xo
Such a powerful and moving post. I am trying so hard to learn to trust myself and believe in myself more and this post affirms the reasons for my/your/our journeys. Thank you. Lots.
I hope that your new path is exciting and productive for you.
You who share my birthday. You who are Gemini. I feel like I know you. And so I do listen to what you say in this your "final" bow. Go in peace but please come back to us, often, if you can. Tell us what you learn on your different/new path. Do not be a stranger. And thanks for joining our caravan while you were able....
Mary, this is a beautiful post and I'm happy that you did this for us. When Marcie said some more were leaving I went right away to the name list so I could be sure to get the info, blogs & emails, to hopefully stay in touch. I was somewhat stunned to see those names were already gone, it just didn't seem right. All the ones who have been here and contributed so much should still remain, somewhere. Is there an archive that I'm missing?
I do wish you well and know you are following your path which is what we all should do. I hope on our next trip down that way we may be able to meet if at all possible.
Thank you for such another lovely image!
"...perception has something or everything to do with giving ourselves the authority to believe, once and for all, in our own inner voice."
The timing of this post, the words about perception, are just exactly what my soul needed today.
I wish you well on this new part of your journey.
Mary, it's sad to see you go, however, you need to follow your own path, your own voice. I wish you all the best for your journey.
Thank you the wisdom you leave here today in parting. I've been reading When Women Were Birds and love it. Wishing you the best, Mary.
Right now this is a discussion which we are having in my own work place, a community support organisation. We are being forced into bureaucratic models of working and we are clinging to our intuition or lose our souls. Thank you for powerfully stating this, the many lessons here will be put to good use at our next meeting of minds. Thank you, farewell and may the road rise with you:~))
Amazing that you wrote this post today because earlier today I took a leap of faith and communicated (in writing no less) based solely on my gut feeling, my intuition, my own perception & did this despite fears that had been silencing me for months. But then, I found myself wondering if it was a stupid & foolish thing to do. Your post convinces me that it is not ever stupid to speak the truth as we feel, know, perceive, intuit, sense it deep in our gut. thank you for this post, I am sorry it will be your last here. "May the wind be at your back...."
We should always listen to our intuition and to our souls and inner being. I send you my best wishes on your new pathway in the journey that is life :-)
What a lovely post, we shall miss your words. There is so much we know in our hearts if we allow ourselves to listen. And what a gorgeous photo to go along with your words. All the best to you on your next path.
What a beautiful image. And the words, "when we harbor regrets...." are the words I needed to read today. Thank you.
"The journey never ends; it simply takes a different/new path." I will always remember your words. Beautiful post and I wish you the best as you meander along a new path!
You mentioned that book to me before. I have to write it down this time as it sounds like something I'd like, as I try to listen more deeply to find my own way. The writing class sounds intriguing also.
Good luck on your journey. I do hope we'll stay in touch.