Words from the Heart

Spring has arrived at our corner of the world full of all the delights of verdant awakenings.  For the first time in weeks, I feel calm and balanced. Why?  I spent most of the afternoon in the garden. Gardening is a contemplative practice. Like meditation, gardening empties the mind, allowing the gardener to open to Nature. When I garden, I get into the zone so completely that several hours will pass, and I will feel like I have only been outside for a short time.  The thing the really amazes me is that while my body will be tired, my mind is at rest. Honestly, I feel like I just woke from 10 hours of solid REM sleep. Interestingly, I just read an article on "forest bathing" or shinrin-yoku. According to scientists, being outside with the trees and Nature is super beneficial to our health. Gardening has the same effet on us. You can learn more at: Shinrin-Yoku Contemplative Gardening May the rebirth of Nature bring you peace and balance.  Blessings...

This year, the combination of rainy evenings and warm sunny days has created a rainforest effect in my garden.  The lushness of the green immediately soothes me on hectic days.  The sound of water running into our tiny pond, where frogs serenade us in the early evening, melts away the stress of hectic days. I must admit, I am having a difficult time keeping up with the weeding this year.  With all the warmth and rain, it seems things grow overnight.  But, there is a good side to this.  Weeding is meditative.   What amazes me, is that I can feel all stressed because I need to finish this or that, but, if I give myself permission to go weed for a bit, I find that my mind empties, leaving me with space to see what I need to do and how to do it.   In addition, I have come to realize that having a garden - planting, harvesting, weeding, and pruning - connects me with the seasons and the various phases of the moon.  Being connected to N...