Allow for at least 25 minutes.
You will need a pair of comfortable yet snug-fitting quarter or crew socks (mid calf) with ribbing at the top that rise at least 3 or 4 inches above the ankle. The socks need to be snug so that the lentils can make a firm enough touch contact with the feet. The sock material is ideally merino wool or high quality cotton with nylon and spandex blended in for structural integrity and flexibility.
You will also need a bag of approximately 600 grams, or 24 oz, of uncooked red or brown lentils and a pair of scissors.
This Somatic Act can be experienced as a solo, duet, or group.
Begin by cutting a half an inch hole into the edge of the bag of lentils. Prepare your sock by folding the top of the sock ribbing down about an inch and opening the entrance of the sock with one hand. Pour 1/3 of the lentils into one sock. And then pour 1/3 of the lentils into the other sock.
Slowly place one foot inside the lentil sock and then the other. The lentils should rest underneath the bottom of each foot. Massage and move the lentils so that they are spread evenly underneath each foot.
Then, open the top of the sock around one of your feet and pour half of the remaining lentils on top of the foot. Repeat for the other foot. You will need to massage and move the lentils, so they are spread evenly on top of the feet.
Then, once dressed in Lentil Socks,
finding your way
to your feet.
Closing your eyes.
Noticing your breathing…
Sensing the contact
that you are making
with the lentils
and the floor.
Gently begin shifting
your weight
from one foot
to another.
Noticing how your weight,
feet and lentils,
shift
with the gentle sway
of your movement…
Allowing Time…
How does this movement
travel up through the feet, legs,
pelvis, spine, and head?
Allowing Time…
As you are sensing your breath
allowing the movement to grow
into a walk
or some kind of movement
on your feet.
Slowly, gently,
opening your eyes
as your movement begins
to travel or expand
into the space around you.
Allowing the Lentil Socks
to take you somewhere
perhaps along the floor
or into or out of the floor.
Following the Lentil Socks
as a guide.
Finding moments to pause
and rest
along the way.
Moments of movement
Moments of stillness.
Allowing time…
And then, a gentle invitation
to continue to wear the Lentil Socks,
while reading the next chapter.
Allowing time…
And when you are ready
Undressing in them,
shedding one Lentil Sock
at a time.
Sometimes the lentils
enjoy sticking to the
bottom of the feet
or hiding between
the crevices of the toes
or even falling out of the socks
onto the floor.
You might even find
an unexpected lentil
later in the day.
After the socks
are removed
Allowing time to sense,
the imprint of their touch
On your feet
In stillness...
For a moment,
with eyes closed
Allowing time…
As you are ready
returning to your feet
integrating the
touch sensations
from the lentils
by walking or
moving on your feet
in gentle ways.
Allowing time…
(Note: The kind and size of lentil or bean you choose varies the tactile and somatic experience. Some of the options are: red lentils, brown lentils, puy lentils, mung beans and aduki beans. Puy lentils are slightly smaller in size than all the other beans with a rounder surface and have a slightly stronger exterior than brown and red lentils. Red lentils are slightly softer and decompose more easily with movement. The brown and red lentils slide over each other more easily and are slightly more slippery than puy lentils. Aduki and mung beans, with their bigger size and more coarse structure, will create more direct point contacts on the feet. Brown, red and puy lentils work more as a collective and create more of a general wash sensation than mung and aduki beans.)