A violinist sees a scarlet form when he plays a certain note; a rock star sees waves of blue and green as she composes a ballad; an actress tastes cake when she utters the word 'table.' This fascinating mingling of the senses is called 'synesthesia' and the people who possess this amazing gift are called 'synesthetes.' Synesthesia is scientifically described as a cross-wiring or lack of chemical inhibition, between brain neurons that occurs in about five percent of the population, often among 'creatives' - musicians, artists, actors, writers and so on. Scientific research is currently being conducted throughout the world to discover more about this condition. However, experts in the fields of spirituality and quantum physics are convinced that the truth of synesthesia lies not only within traditional science, but, also, within the realm of the mystical and the ineffable. TASTING THE UNIVERSE explains and explores: · Why survivors of near-death experiences sometimes 'return' with this amazing gift. · Why all infants are believed to be synesthetes until four months of age. · The experiences of famous synesthetes such as Itzhak Perlman, Billy Joel, Pharrell Williams and Marilyn Monroe (whose biographer, Norman Mailer, first asserted that she possessed this gift).