Secret Garden by Margaret Ann Lembo
Wherever you live in this hemisphere, you probably see signs of spring. Gardening is a spiritual experience. It develops our intuitive nature by communing with plant life. I’ve been spending a lot of time in my garden. Living in the tropics (South Florida, Zone 10b) allows me to garden in the winter and year-round. Now that I’ve been in this climate for nearly fifty years, I finally see the nuances of the seasons here. Growing food in the winter is more comfortable than in the summer here. Regardless, spending time outdoors, bending, planting, and harvesting is good on many levels.
Gardening has continued to teach me how to have faith in the unseen and the miraculous. For the past month, I’ve been planting a lot of seeds. Planting seeds and believing there will be food or flowers from this minuscule beginning activates faith and the power of visualization. It can help you develop your faith in potential outcomes after taking the action necessary to get things started. It also develops patience, from which everyone can benefit.
People say I have a green thumb. Some say I am prolific or successful. Some might say that I am lucky. It is about the work and doing what it takes to make things happen. It is my nature to take action to bring my ideas to reality. Working in the garden helps me practice visualization that carries over to everyday life.
I visualize the fully grown plant as I place the seed. A spec will produce a tomato or a sunflower, and as a gardener, I must hold the vision for the ultimate evolution of the plant. I love to watch the seedlings come up and see growth daily. This translates into bringing dreams and desires into reality. One must hold the vision and do what it takes to make it so.
I even imagine deadheading the spent plant and saving the seeds for another round of flowers or vegetables for another growing season. Just like holding the vision of a fully grown plant, it is important to hold the vision for your desired reality. Plant the seeds necessary to create your reality. Envision your world as if your dreams are already fulfilled.
Gardening brings many benefits, including improving our quality of life as we age. One study by Australian researchers found that those who gardened regularly had a 36% lower risk of dementia than their non-gardening counterparts.
“Nonagenarians and centenarians living in the Blue Zones all have several things in common, including their shared hobby. According to Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones, these folks all enjoy gardening, the healthy longevity hobby.” ~ according to Gardening – The Longevity Hobby – The 100-Year Lifestyle
Houseplants or a yard full of foliage can connect you with plant life. With spring on the horizon, gift yourself time with plants and connect with nature. You’ll be happy you did!
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Bio: Margaret Ann Lembo is the author of The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing, Animal Totems and the Gemstone Kingdom, and many more books on gemstones, aromatherapy, and the power of positive thought. She is an award-winning aromatherapist and the owner of The Crystal Garden–the conscious living store of the Palm Beaches established in 1988. Find out more about Margaret Ann at TheCrystalGarden.com and MargaretAnnLembo.com