By Dr Nikki Judge
(c) Commonwealth of Learning
Nurturing is a very important part of gardening. The gardener who gets the best result is the gardener who has nurtured their garden throughout the entire gardening process. From planning and seed selection to harvest and fall preparations for next spring, the gardener is constantly tending and nurturing the garden.
Nurturing the Spiritual Garden of Your Soul is also something that we need to be aware of. If we don’t take the time to nurture ourselves how can we know how to nurture others? Just as the gardener will take the time to nurture the garden so should we nurture ourselves! As the saying goes: “We cannot be anything to anyone else until we are something to ourselves;” so what if taking the time to nurture ourselves may feel a little selfish – just remember as with all things balance.
This is a special shout out to those of you that are caregivers of whatever form. More and more today we are being called upon to care for others – our children, our parents, our spouses, or our friends. To those that are caregivers in the true sense of the word, in which others depend on you every moment of every day – this section is dedicated to you!
(c) Elucidate
Water (just the right amount)
The gardener gives much consideration to the quality and quantity of the water for their garden. Many test the water just as they test the soil to ensure the proper nutrients. Soil is checked for water content. Is there too much water (are we being overly emotional in our lives)? Is there too little (are we being cold and standoffish, shifting ourselves away from the people who can help nurture us)? Or is the water just right (where the balance of energy exchange allows us our growth and development) as we move through the course of our lives?
(c) Priit Tammets
Dedication (constant care for the little ones) dreams or plants
One of the gardener’s best and worst times is when the seedlings first appear. There is always the hope and promise of all the new seedlings (our dreams) in the spring. However, as they grow they start to fight with one another for space (trying to stretch ourselves too thin), becoming entwined with one another (co-dependency), and the healthier plants crowding out the smaller ones.
In our Spiritual Garden of the Soul we have to make sure that we are taking the time to nurture our dreams and hopes by giving them a chance. No one can have everything, no one can be everything – we are after all in a human existence – ergo we are fallible. However, we do have choice and by using it to make the choices that take us in the direction of our dreams. Prioritization is important.
The gardener must pluck out some of the seedlings to ensure that the remaining plants have plenty of room to grow lush and full. In our Spiritual Garden of the Soul we must remember that we have to thin out the plethora of ideas ere we turn ourselves in circles trying to do too much at once. For our thinning we need to allow ourselves the opportunity to thin out all the ideas as to what we really want to do.
(c) Neil Palmer
Determination (weeding)
Once the gardener has thinned the garden the next task that is paramount is the gardening chore dreaded by children for thousands of years – weeding. This takes some knowledge because the difference between a vegetable and a weed can sometimes be misleading, especially in the early stages. This is the process of removing the weeds (negative thoughts) and ensuring that the plants (thoughts/goals) are not in competition for the nutrients in the soil.
Each step of the process – watering, dedication and determination – are part of the nurturing a gardener gives to the garden. We have to remember to nurture our inner garden just as attentively. Our ideas, our hopes, our dreams are all part of our inner being and deserve to have the best possible chance for happiness and setting the stage for joy in our lives!
