5-Senses Garden Exploration

Exploration of the 5 senses through guided  blindfolded garden experience. In pairs students observe the Esalen garden, tasting, touching, smelling and feeling plants. Then students visually draw out their experience and write a journal entry. Students then go back into the garden with eyes open, reconnecting to the area, and write another journal entry on what they noticed visually. The prompts are: “What did you notice and perceive?” “How did you feel?” “What was surprising?” “What was familiar?” “Why do you think the garden is designed in the way that it is? What are some of the important features you found interesting?”

Outline of the 5-Senses Garden Exploration

1. Begin with Mindful Walking Meditation throughout Garden with open eyes

2. Movement Meditation connecting to a plant

3. Plant Song

4. In pairs students observe the Esalen garden, tasting, touching, smelling and feeling plants 

Objective: Emotional relationship to garden & full trust from the guidance of a partner

• Touch/Feel

• Smell

• Taste

• Hear

Then students visually draw out their experience and create poetry with colored pencils.
Students then go back into the garden with eyes open, reconnecting to the area, and write another journal entry on what they noticed visually.
The journal prompts are:

• “What did you notice and perceive? How did you feel? What was surprising? What was familiar?”

• “Why do you think the garden is designed in the way that it is? What are some of the important features you found interesting?”

• “What was it like being guided by your partner?”

• “How is it different experiencing the garden through these four senses without sight?”

• “Now that you have your eyes open, what does it feel like to see the garden visually after experiencing it through your other four senses?”

• “What is your relationship to each of your senses?”

5. Herb and Flower Collection

Participants learn about different herbs and flowers and their medicinal uses, and collect them to make fresh tea blends for solar infusions, and to make a plant mandala. 
 

6. Plant Mandala Creation

7. Closing Plant Song