Tending the Garden of Your Soul

Since spring has sprung, I’ve been busy on the weekends tending to my garden.  After yet another weekend of fertilizing, watering, weeding and just all around sprucing up the garden, I sat back and noticed how it has flourished.  My garden is in full bloom, the plants are healthy and thriving. I feel so happy being surrounded by all this life around me. My hard work paid off – my vision, attention, diligence, care.  All brought about growth, transformation and blooms.

And so it is with our lives.  What we put attention on grows; unhealthy or healthy.  If you nurture mold and give it what it wants, it will grow!  Same with our thoughts, intentions, and prayers.  When we focus on what we want to create and put an action plan in place, we have a better chance at bringing about our soul’s hopes and dreams.

How are you tending your soul right now?  Sort  through the different areas of your life and notice what is working and what is not. Next, jot down 5 areas that could use some tending, then ask your soul these questions:

1. What element is needed in order to bring about balance?  Water/Emotions, Fire/Spirit, Earth/Physical, Air/Thinking 
2. What seeds have you been holding onto and not yet planted? 
3. What needs to be weeded out or harvested? 
4. What old belief system is holding you back?  Challenge it.
5. What has worked in the past in tending to this area of your life?  Implement it.

Soul tending takes awareness and mindfulness.  Moving through life unconsciously is not as easy as it sounds; there is a toll.  It is called the unlived life, the garden that never got planted.  You can start right where you are as it’s never to late to grow.  As long as you are here, you have the opportunity to learn, change and bloom!

Soul Quote

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” C. S. Lewis

The Hummingbird Effect

“Slow down, you move to fast. You’ve got to make the morning last.” Simon & Garfunkel – Feelin’ Groovy

My husband and I both had corporate jobs at the time we got married.  I traveled in my work, we built a new home built and we were living in a new city. Life was very busy.  We didn’t realize how much we were missing in daily life until we slowed down enough to begin taking it all in.  We learned  “The Hummingbird Effect” from my husband’s grandparents, Ben and Dorothy, Gram and Gramps, visit to our new home in the springtime.

During Gram and Gramps visit, we found ourselves outside on our back patio quite a bit.  We apologized that we did not have a water scene for them to look out on – as they have a breathtaking view of the Long Island Sound from their home.   Gram and Gramps said they did not require water to enjoy nature and they began to point out all the abundance of life in our yard.  Gramps pointed out the time of day the birds would roost – we didn’t even know what that meant!  It means – getting ready to rest - slowing down.  As they both observed and identified the abundance of nature in our yard, and we observed them, we eventually began to move to a slower rhythm.  We slowed our pace and realized how filled up we felt by being quiet.

I’ve named this slowing down “The Hummingbird Effect”  because you have to be very still to observe hummingbirds.  During Gram and Gramps visit, we were intently watching the  hummingbird feeders and all the buzz surrounding them.   Suddenly a hummingbird flew towards Gramps, hovered in front of his face, and looked him in the eye.   Gramps froze.   It was a magical moment and memory for us all.  Did the hummingbird connect with Gramps because he was connecting with the birds?

From this wonderful visit with Gram and Gramps forward, we began to take more interest and care of our yard.   We grew to love this “extra room” of our home as it has continued to help us slow down and just be.    We find we are more centered and aware of our surroundings and ourselves as we consciously take time to be quiet and become an observer. 

You can implement The Hummingbird Effect wherever you are as it’s about being an observer in your own life.   Stop talking, sending, doing, and take time to listen and observe.   It is in listening that you open the door to your truth, authentic self and the messages from your Soul.

Eat, Pray, Love Book Study for Women

May 28, 2009 7:00 pm

to

June 25, 2009 8:45 pm

This is “Not Your Momma’s Book Club” !

 Follow Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey to discovering her authentic self and her spirituality in this bestseller book.   This is not “your momma’s book club”, meaning we will not merely be talking about Elizabeth’s journey, but instead we will go on the journey with her for ourselves.   This book study is interactive, hands on, and experiential.  We’ll eat, pray and love at each meeting and create new connections with other women.   This is not a therapy group, however, as issues come up we will agree to create a safe, supportive environment for exploration.

During this study you will;

• Discover your authentic voice within
• Create a plan to honor your spiritual self
• Connect with other women

Time: Thursday Evenings  7:00pm – 8:45pm

Dates:  May 21 – June 25, 2009

Where: Susan’s Office in Suwanee, GA

Fee: $150 for the six weeks; deposit required to hold your space – less than 2 therapy sessions!

• Reserve your space now by contacting Susan at 678-296-1278.
• Size of the group is limited; sign up required by 5/11/09
• Book not provided; Weekly  discussion questions, supplies, goodies, music and inspiration are included.  Please purchase book before 1st meeting.