I awakened this morning knowing that Higg(in)s has found a starting place for the Knowledge Phase. Funnily enough, it starts with mastering the Wisdom Phase. They are going to work with us on a narrow window of information surrounding deep appreciation of, and respect for, the body and mind.

Higg(in)s asks me to look around the table. I am sitting at the dining room table at my laptop writing on their behalf. They ask me: Do you like what you see, smell, hear, sense, touch? The answers are varied. No, I don’t like what I see. The table is untidy. What I smell is ordinary, meaning I don’t smell anything at all whether pleasant or unpleasant. The refrigerator is running and the clock is ticking. Otherwise, there is no sound, not even cars on the street. I feel the keyboard under my fingers and my forearms rest on the edge of the table. Do I like it? Never thought about it. The feeling I have is just what it feels like to have my arms in typing position. I do notice that perhaps, if I had my druthers, my backside might be sitting on something softer. I’m sensing them and I always like that. I do feel a little time pressure, as well as the pressure of writing something sensible and readable. They no longer move my fingers. I just know to type and when the words aren’t correct, to backspace and change them.

Staring with my visual space they suggest that in time, I could make some adjustments to my work space. Clutter could be contained better and the decor could be changed to better suit my current taste and needs. They also suggest that until that happens, I might place something beautiful in my line of sight. My birthday was in January but I still have a lovely birthday card that a friend sent. When opened, a humming bird pops out. I place that near me. Open, of course.

At first, regarding smell, I just thought they meant does it stink. No, it does not. But they pressed and suggested, “But mightn’t you enjoy a scent? Something baking perhaps? Or something fresh and citrusy?”

I pause typing for a moment to sprinkle cinnamon in a skillet and place it on the stovetop on low.

We move on to sounds. The ticking of the clock and the hum of the refrigerator, now that I am attuned to them, are comforting. Higg(in)s suggests that I take a moment to appreciate those sounds, so I do.

Regarding touch, Higg(in)s suggests that I think about new chairs with softer cushions. These are probably fifteen years old although it seems as though I bought them just the other day. Higg(in)s also suggests that as I type, I consider whether my position is truly comfortable and conducive to wanting to sit and type. I realize immediately that it is not. They press further saying, “Define what you would have.” It is not immediately clear to me what that would be although I spend a few moments in consideration.

A sweet fragrance just now reaches my nose: cinnamon. It’s nice.

The final item they address is sense. They don’t seem to have much to say about sensing them, but they draw my attention to my stomach where, when I focus on it, I notice a tension there that clearly relates to time. I await their comment. When it comes it is very logical: Allow enough time to do the things you do, and do them well. Just as you cannot clear the space around you in an instant, neither can you change how much time it will take to do the things you feel you need to do today. But, you can do one thing and do it well. So do that. And then do the next thing.

This is enough for now.