Mary Mary quite contrary… how does your garden grow?
There seems to be a hint of spring influencing our psyche as multiple people have used the imagery of a garden to describe aspects of their life at the moment. I find it both interesting and beautiful to think of everyone out in their spiritual gardens creating and tending to the flowers of manifestation. The seasons have always held great life lessons for understanding the natural flow of creation. In the spring we plant seeds and ideas into the ground. The warmth of the Summer sun and rain gives the growth and productivity to take what is planted to a stage of abundance. In the Autumn we reap what we have sown. In the winter we rest. Ideas are put on ice and we learn the art of patience.
Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal so, before it is upon us, I thought it would be useful in these last weeks of Winter to take a moment to review the patterns of creation we are using. What has worked for us and what hasn’t worked for us? What can we do differently? What is our gardening style?
Are you a gardener who focuses so much on the weeds that you don’t see the beautiful flowers in your life? While seeing what isn’t working in your life is a good motivator to create change, it needs to be balanced with an appreciation for all that is beautiful and wonderful in your life. No matter how bad things seems, there has to be one thing you can find to be grateful for. Sometimes, it may feel like the whole garden is overshadowed with weeds but, if you look hard enough, there will be one resilient little bud trying to get through to the light. Focusing on it and giving it space to grow will bring more things to flourish and be grateful for. We may not be able to jump from misery directly to joy but perhaps we can go from misery to sad, to okay, to better, to all right, to happy, to joy. Tending to the positives will bring attract more things to be positive about.
Are you a gardener who rakes all the junk to the back corner, leaving a rotting mess unattended? While I commend the effort put into raking it all up in the corner, the job is only half done. Turning a blind eye to the problems in your life doesn’t make them go away. It makes them fester and stink until eventually you have a whole new set of problems on top of the original problem. If we repress our emotions and ignore our stresses, eventually we’ll have real and difficult health issues to resolve. Or it may negatively impact your relationships or even cost you more financially in the long run. The dealing with it later approach makes more work in the long run, not less. If you want good physical health, a healthy social environment, and a healthy bank balance you might want to bring the junk to the curb, not hide it in the corner.
Are you a gardener who doesn’t weed what isn’t working and leaves it in your life to suck the nutrients from the soil so that the flowers cannot grow? We seed and then we see sprouts. It is with love and affection we watch as these sprouts grow and develop. But wait, how did a weed get in there? Sometimes we don’t want to believe that what we have been tending for all this time is in actuality a weed and needs to be pulled. Just because you’ve watered it and cared for it doesn’t mean it is going to change what it is and become a flower. The power of discernment is a very powerful tool in recognizing what truly brings value and robs us of our integrity. Discernment show us what is worth our time and energy and what must go. Sometimes unbeknown to us weeds come in and grow and develop because of all your wonderful care but once that you can identify what it really is, let go. Holding on to things or people that deplete and drain you is not being kind. Kindness means being kind and caring to your needs first. Learn to say, “No” to those things that aren’t aligned with your higher self and value your personal space. You can’t turn a weed into a flower no matter how hard you try. Accept things for what they are – release and let go.
Are you an impatient gardener who sits staring at the earth waiting for the sprout to hurry up and flower? Patience has never been one of my own strong suits but I work at it. I can see myself planting an idea and then getting frustrated with sitting and waiting for results. Learning to have faith that all will grow in it’s divine time takes practice . The temptation to dig it up to see how it is coming along will only kill it before it has time to fully develop. Enter the Saboteur. Often despite our own best efforts we cut ourselves short by not stepping back and allowing the universe to do it’s part of the creative process. So maybe, since the seeds are planted, the weeds are weeded, and the garden is tidy, it is time to do some painting or go for a nice walk in the garden. Learning to enjoy the process, to live in the now, makes the getting there just as wonderful as the being there.
I’m sure some of you may see yourself in these examples and some of may see other ideas of how you effect your own creative process. Understanding what type of gardener you are will shed some light into what you can do to improve the conditions and create more success in your life. None of us is born with all the tools and the know how. Over time we grow and develop and so too does our garden become full of plants of wisdom, lush life and vibrant experiences.
Tool for Creating Greater Abundance:
Sit in stillness. Close your eyes. Breathe deep into the belly. Visualize your garden. What do you want to plant? How are you going to plant it? What will it look like when it is fully grown? How do you feel in this projection of your dreams? Do this as often as you wish to keep focused on creating the flourishing life of your dreams.
Affirmation: I deserve love, abundance, and success.
Written by Stacy Sheasby
Life begins from here. I am embarking on a new path. I graduated a Native Community Worker – Addictions Counsellor some 15 years ago and knew then that I needed to go and acquire life experiences and heal thyself before I could ever be effective at my job. My personal quest has taken me interesting places in the world and within the soul. I have worked countless jobs but, no job was as hard and rewarding as finding myself.
Now is the time of transition and rebirth. I have returned to my homeland of Canada, opened myself up to the opportunities that await me, and give back what I have learned and assist others on their path. I am a Reiki Master, Intuitive Counsellor and Artist. I am also a Contributing Writer to Vivid Life.
Life has become a patchwork of creativity, inspiration, and Love.
http://www.stacysheasby.net/
I welcome you to my community!
Namaste
