babs,

I'm wondering if perhaps you're referring to a book entitled "The Spell of the Sensuous" by David Abrams? Here's how the publisher describes it:

"David Abram draws on sources as diverse as the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty, Balinese shamanism, Apache storytelling, and his own experience as an accomplished sleight-of-hand magician to reveal the subtle dependence of human cognition on the natural environment. He explores the character of perception and excavates the sensual foundations of language, which--even at its most abstract--echoes the calls and cries of the earth. On every page of this lyrical work, Abram weaves his arguments with passion and intellectual daring."

Anyway, thanks for your comment about the article I quoted!

Peace,
v8