I’ve gotten lots of great feed-back about Spring Cleaning My Way to Never Land – last week’s post: people have shared their success stories, wishful thinking stories and esp stories as in ‘just what I’ve been up to”. Since, like most things, spring cleaning is a work in progress or, a la Peter Pan something that may occur once in a decade or a score, I’ve continued to unsubscribe and unfriend and, spurred on by a rat who has taken up residence in my cottage, I’ve torn apart and scrubbed behind immovable objects and in the depths of my closets.
I’m enjoying the more expansive view, the breathing room, the extra hangers and the newly visible tiled design on my coffee table now that the books are shelved and the file folders neatly arranged on the desk, the pens at home in the pen jar with drug store glasses hooked neatly over the side. I’ve discarded stuff and I’ve have given up a few personal habits like coffee and late night TV. Whether it’s Lent or Detoxing by any other name, the value of discernment, discipline and discarding has been more than a sermon: a personal experience of deep and abiding value.
Last week left me sitting on my deck, mop by my side and the view of the sea framed by the lush greenery of my small piece of paradise. I suddenly understood that what I’ve been doing is clearing the land and prepping my fields for planting.
Known for my green thumb I’m as much a farmer of metaphor as of acreage. I know what it takes to have several pots of micro greens sprouted and waving their tiny green heads to let me know I can expect gourmet salad in about three weeks and I also know what’s involved in planting the seeds of my desires and the specific forms of everyday joy.
Flipping through Johnny’s Organic Seed catalog, I drool over a dizzying array of seeds for fruits, vegetables and flowers and flipping through the catalog of my imagination I enter a cosmic try-on room of scenarios I’d like to be living and that I dream of for those I love and for the world. In each I select what I long to see take root and blossom in the newly cleared space of my life.
I’m turning over the soil in my garden and taking down last years vision board from the fridge – giving thanks for last years harvest and what has come to be and planting new seeds: an kind and generous man holding my hand, a violin, puppets, a woman meditating and the cover of my upcoming book titled YES. I’m adding seeds for travel, robust health not only for myself but for my loved ones and for mother earth, financial prosperity, a new car, an end to violence, an open heart, heaven on earth. My eyes are bigger than my stomach as usual but not to worry because I can always can my excess tomatoes and share my bounty which is what I like to think I am doing right here and now.
Spreading love, positive energy and enthusiasm fertilizes the soil and turns on the sprinklers these tiny seedlings need to germinate. Pushing their way through unimaginable obstacles of earth the micro greens and my dreams emerge from the lightness of metaphysical reality into the density of the physical plane.
In my dreams day and night I scatter seeds. Some will take root and grow into formidable trees like the grafted mango and avocado whose many flowers speak of the fruit to come. Some will falter and be absorbed back into the soil and the general fund of my imagination – too weak, too disconnected from what matters most, not tasty enough for my feast.
I’ve watched beautiful flowers wilt and I’ve butted my head against walls in frustration trying to make things happen in my life. Studying the needs of plants and my own true nature has helped me see that certain plants just don’t like the climate on the north side here in St. Thomas and that some of the dream seeds I was planting weren’t really mine and weren’t juicy enough to fill me with joy, passion, peace or contentment.
I hope you’ll join me in this most wonderful season of planning and planting your garden – in pots, tires, plots of land and in the rich soil of your imagination.
I made up a grace when my daughter was little and it seems a perfect way to send you off to the fields.
First the seed,
Then the root,
Then the flower,
Then the fruit,
May this food on which we dine
Make our little lights to shine.
Well put, as always. My present challenge is saying goodbye to two dear friends, and hoping for some new friends to take their place. It’s a little harder to peer into the future now than it was ten years ago.
Thank you Polly as always for commenting. Good-byes are always hard – they linger like ghosts on the empty hangers which makes it hard to allow new stuff in sometimes (speaking for myself). Food for thought about peering into the future as we get older – and I did say we – definitely different and challenging calling forth new abilities, tools, perspectives – and I think we are up to the challenge and that it deserves at least a lunch xxx I hope that your seeds for new friends to blossom in your life take root and will water those seeds whenever I pass by your garden.
Woah., Anne. You are I are thinking along parallel lines. Last night I went to Home Depot on a whim and bought this huge palm plant because it reminded me of the island – and I miss it!! The plant is taller than I am, sitting in my living room by the window, just as green and lush as it can be. Once it gets warmer outside, it will go on my little piece of paradise – my side porch. For now, I love looking at and touching it when I go by. It feels very peaceful somehow.
deb
Deb – Parallel lines are good – we can always wave at one another 🙂 I love that you bought a palm and that you are planting seeds not only of a palm plant flourishing in your little piece of paradise but of inner peace and perhaps of your next tropical getaway or even better of your tropical home. xxx