In our last two articles I spoke about the importance of right-brain function for relaxation, and the power of our imagination to bring about physical and emotional changes. In this article we are going to learn a game that utilizes sensory input and these concepts to affect our feelings and physical state.

This activity is done while Palming, an ancient technique for promoting healing in the eyes. Palming combines sending healing energy through the palms of your hands into the eyes and visual system, and resting the retinal cells in the soothing darkness. While Palming you can use the power of your mind to achieve a variety of different effects on both your inner world and physical body. (For more details on Palming, refer to our previous post: Palming and Imaginative Seeing + a Special Gift)

A good Palming position

Deliberately going back into our memories can be a powerful tool for self-understanding, helping to acknowledge and release feelings we are holding from the past. Understanding the events and relationships that have formed our perspective on life can be vital in making choices free of restrictive emotional patterns. And revisiting the times and places where we felt loved and at home can bolster our emotional foundations.

One of the most powerful memory stimulators is our sense of smell. Specific smells will bring out both memory pictures, and recapture the feelings of that memory.

This activity works best with a helper, who can hold objects under your nose for you. We begin with Palming, sitting or lying down comfortably and cupping the palms over the closed eyes. Breathe deeply and relax your whole body for a few moments.

1) Have ready a selection of pre-prepared objects, or tissues dabbed with your chosen scents. Suggestions include fresh grass, tree bark or leaves, vanilla and other essences, cinnamon and other spices, foods, flowers, soap, just about anything!

Have your helper hold or waft a single object or scented tissue under your nose for a few seconds and ask ‘what does this smell remind you of’? Keep yourself relaxed, breathing deeply, and allow the scent to evoke memories and feelings for a few minutes.

You can describe the images out loud if you wish, even having your helper make a note of what each smell awakens within you for an ongoing self-awareness journal.

2) Choose a particular meaningful smell for a personal memory journey. It might be a familiar smell from your childhood or a relative’s perfume. If the memories evoke tears, allow them to flow and the feelings to be released from your body.

If the memories evoke feelings of love and nurturing, then allow yourself to feel these emotions fully and in your whole body, to take them with your back into your daily life.

3) You might like to have a soothing scent ready to help return yourself to a state of peacefulness after any emotional release.

4) Use scents to tell a story. Gather a selection of smells as above and take the Palming person on a adventure using the scents to connect to the places and events in the story. Take turns to gather the smells in secret and guide each other on a surprising journey. This can be very absorbing, fun and relaxing….do with with all ages!

Remember that long-term memory is in the right-brain, so the feelings we hold from the long ago past can affect other right-brain functions including our whole body, and distance vision. The effects go both ways, so keep stimulating your right-brain with positive actions to obtain the benefits of its functionality in relaxation, distance clarity, peacefulness, vivid imagining and forming good body habits.