This week, I planned a presentation for a garden club on the connections between mindfulness and gardening, of which there are many. Further, in my Wednesday night Mindfulness Membership, we focused on a current goal we were cultivating—whether a new skill, a project, a habit, or an inner quality—and reflected on the state of its development as related to the stages of plant growth.

Three Main Stages of Plant Development:

• Seed-embryo containing everything needed to germinate and grow
• Sprout– roots begin to develop and need nutrients
• Reproductive– flowering or fruiting

As a mindfulness instructor with a deep connection to and appreciation for the natural world, I have often turned to Mother Earth for her wisdom and lessons on life. She has taught me to weather impermanence and cycles, to see the beauty in diversity, how all things are interconnected and one, and that resilience and adaptation are our birthright.

The parallels between the practice of mindfulness and the art of gardening involve a journey of cultivation, where patience, presence, and nurturing lead to transformative growth. Further, the garden symbolizes potential and hope—a belief that we can manifest something beautiful and bountiful.

When we buy seeds or plants for the garden, it is with a belief that we will reap flowers and vegetables. We don’t spend money at the greenhouse or buy from the seed catalog thinking our crops will fail. No. We permit hope to be the catalyst for our desire to cultivate a beautiful garden as we surrender to our yearning to create and manifest something new.

From a packet, we take a tiny seed that appears as dead and barren as the early spring garden plot. Yet, we have invested, and we hold fast to our hope and belief. Wherein so many other areas of life we have doubt and limiting beliefs, in the garden so much seems not only possible, but probable.

Again, we don’t spend the money and time thinking, Why bother? It probably won’t grow. Instead, as I ready the garden and set my plants and seeds with intention and blessings, I say, Garden, we’ve done it before. Let’s do it again.

Enthusiasm surges through my body as I imagine the plants thriving and filling in and wonder which vegetable will yield the best this year. In my mind’s eye I start arranging the flowers that have yet to bloom.

Even if you have not planted a thriving garden before, you have seen others do it. Therefore, you know it is possible.

So today ask: what if my new goals do take hold and thrive just like my Zone 6 summer garden? Can I hold a similar belief in potential and manifestation for my new endeavor as I do my garden?

Just like the seeds we plant in the soil our intentions and aspirations represent the beginning of our journey. They hold the potential for growth and transformation, yet they require nurturing and care to flourish. In the garden of life, mindfulness serves as the fertile soil in which our seeds of intention are planted. Through mindfulness practices such as meditation, breathwork, and self-reflection, we create the optimal conditions for our intentions to take root and germinate.

As our seeds begin to sprout, we witness the initial signs of growth – delicate green shoots arching towards the sun. Similarly, in our personal journey, we experience small victories and moments of progress that signal the emergence of our goals into reality.

This stage requires patience and perseverance, as we nurture our aspirations with continued mindful attention. Just as a gardener tends to their seedlings with care, we must cultivate attention and patience as we navigate our journey.

Finally, the most rewarding stage of plant growth arrives – flowering and fruiting. Here, we witness the culmination of our efforts as our goals blossom into full fruition. In the garden of life, this stage represents the manifestation of our intentions and the fulfillment of our aspirations. Then finally, we savor the fruits of our labor with gratitude, fully appreciating the beauty and abundance.

Reflecting on the connection between mindfulness and gardening, remember that the journey of growth is not always linear. We will weather bouts of cold and rain, sun and flourishing, periods of dormancy followed by periods of vibrant growth. Through mindfulness, we embrace each stage of our journey with acceptance and compassion when we experience setbacks or losses, trusting in the inherent wisdom of the process.

So, as we cultivate our literal gardens, the garden of our lives, or our current goal, let us nourish our intentions, nurture our aspirations, and savor the beauty of growth in all its forms. For it is through mindfulness that we awaken to the abundance and possibility in the garden within and outside.

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