6. Spirit Sensing
This sixth sector of the Wheel is Spirit Sensing. In the language of the Wheel Spirit means animating vital principal; meaning; ideas; representations; quality; space-time continuum; intelligent or sentient part of a being; essential principal; significance; incorporeal; intellect; concept; thought; noetic; event; information; pattern; gestalt; geist; abstract; ideational; ideal; neo-cortex, human brain; knowledge. Spirit is what is typically understood in an inexact sense as mind. Sensing means perception; observe; 5 senses; unprocessed information; intake; direct and immediate consciousness; discern; sensuality; left brain; sex and excretion; sense data; and waking consciousness.
In the body this part of the Wheel corresponds to the Abdomen and Intestines. In our personal life it pertains to Work and in civilization to Economy. In the ancient wisdom traditions of the West, and in the Zodiac, it is symbolized by Virgo, the Virgin.
In grammarical categories it pertains to the Adjective, which has five parts:
- Positive
- Comparative
- Superlative
- Definite (numeral)
- Indefinite
This sixth sector of the Wheel contains position 5 on the Enneagram. It's archetypal symbol or myth is Mercury. Mercury involves qualitative discernment and the impulse to judge and rate. It is the "either-or" dissective counterpoint to "both-and" synthesis. The complementary impulse is in the twelfth sector, Spirit Feeling, the drive of healing synthesis.
In life this is the age span of from 35 to 42 years. This time of life is primarily concerned with "selling oneself; making a living." The focus in this stage of life now shifts from channeling sexuality into creativity (28-35/Body Willing), to the clear conscious experience of reality (Spirit Sensing). A person must sense what use he can be to the general movement and exchange of things, the fitting of his special creative gifts into the general economy. The person in this stage focuses on work, applying what they have mastered in the last stage.
In geography this sector of the Wheel corresponds to the one twelfth of the Earth from 170 to 140 degrees longitude West. This includes Tahiti, Hawaii and Oceania. One common language unites the Spirits and Humankind in aboriginal Hawaiian culture. The Huna tradition demonstrates a simple way to merge Ego, Self and Being: the speaking self, the magical child and the wise old human. For cultures grown in this sector of the planet the ideal is attainment of communion with the beyond through song and healing (Spirit Feeling).