Tending My Garden
After our recent election, I was discombobulated. I went to my garden and began digging up a big clump of iris that had been overtaken by grass. Gardening helped me to reestablish a connection between myself and the earth. Afterwards, I realized that “tending my garden” spiritually is where I need to begin in response to what is happening around me in community and country.
Gardening is a physical activity that I find grounding, which is the first step I take when meditating. Creating this connection from me, the being, to my body and reality on earth helps me to tune in and know myself. Through grounding, I can release something that is no longer working for me, like the native grass I pulled out of my Iris. I had chosen the grass but did not realize it would proliferate into my flowers. It may have worked better in a meadow. This was also a good opportunity to divide my Iris plant, which gives it space to grow. My gardening project seems like a physical manifestation of what I have been doing spiritually during a recent Healing and Kundalini class. Creating space to grow.
I see a lot of parallels between gardening and meditation. I am currently rearranging and transplanting in two flower beds. I am no expert, so I’m working on trusting my information about where to put the plants. I did some research, but in the end I have to try things out. It’s the same for me—the soul in relationship to my body and what I am learning in this life. Sometimes my choice works and I enjoy it, and other times the result is not what I want, in which case I can make a change. After pulling out the native Aster that was also spreading relentlessly, I brought gold energy through my flower bed that seemed so bare during this transition. I also asked an angel to help with my gardening endeavor. In turn, if I want more kindness in our world, I can begin by being kind to myself.
My space, like my garden, is one place where I can make a difference, and all I have to do is turn within. The rebel in me can do something radical and just be. Perhaps it will spark a movement.
