The Gardening For Peace Program

07/13/2024

"What if the only problem you ever have in your life is thinking you have a problem and it’s all in your mind? What if you had absolutely no problems today of ANY kind. Period."

Hmmm ... This was the latest guidance from my team of spiritual guides who call themselves “The Garden Party." They suggested I call them that when I started The Garden Sanctuary retreat space in Portland Oregon with the underlying mission of creating the Garden of Eden within our hearts.

They were unusually adamant, bordering on stern, about the message this time, so much so that I knew I had to take serious stock of it this time around. It felt like it was the eye of a needle spirit was guiding me to go through to get to the other side of all my fears. This wasn't unfamiliar guidance as I've been given various forms of this message in studies and meditative practices for a long time. Over the years I really have learned to trust that everything is in divine order and working out in my life as it should.

However, there were and still are areas of resistance to my life circumstances that continue to surface. This was especially evident when I was going through some
painfully difficult times with my husband in his later years when in the innermost depths of my being I could feel the underlying truth of this message of peace, but I had to be in a state of consciousness that encouraged me to dive deep into my psyche which unfortunately, was often not readily available in times of duress.

I don't know about you, but just dealing with myself and my ego still feels like a full time job most of the time these days! I've gotten to know my ego pretty well over these many years and she definitely seems to be the one who stirs up all the trouble. Her comfort zone lies in seeing problems, or better yet, worrying about whatever she might think is, or might be, a problem. It's the most important job in her eyes because, of course she wants me to survive and successfully overcome all of life's dilemmas, both large and small. And to give credit where credit is due, I have to say my egoic mind has seemingly solved many a problem in her day. It was just NOT the most important one.

Since receiving this latest missive a few days ago from my guides, I've been watching my every thought like a hawk and have been totally amazed, or more accurately SHOCKED, at how much my ego STILL automatically goes to making even the littlest, most petty things a problem.

For example my inner egoic dialogue might go something like this: "She said this and I said that, so there must be a problem here."

Or "Oh no, here we go again, this living situation isn't quite right, not perfect enough for me to FINALLY finish my book. It's going to be such a big, arduous task, guess I'll just have to wait and solve my living space problem FIRST before sitting down and actually getting it done. Woe, is me ... another problem to solve."

Or this one: "My body isn't what it used to be and I can't do this or that. Oh dear, aging is no fun, just one problem after another."

You gotta laugh (or cry) at the way our ego has been trained from day one to see everything as a problem. However, Spirit wants me to see all the above scenarios as being absolutely perfect ... as merely opportunities for deeper soul growth. In this light I can view them all as a gift.

Keeping it real with you all today 'cause it's up for me big time right now to go deeper into this truth than I ever have before. It's one thing to know something intellectually and quite another to actually feel it in your bones. I'm challenging myself to really do this once and for all; to stay in the present moment and not view ANYTHING as a problem. And when I forget that perspective, to see my humanness as being perfect too. To see it as just another opportunity to remember the power of self love and compassion and keep taking that next step toward creating the kind of world I CHOOSE to live in.

I'm thinking it might be one of the most courageous, kick ass things I can do right now! ✴️

05/08/2024

✨💛✨

May you recognize in your life the presence,
power, and light of your soul.

May you realize that you are never alone,
that your soul in its brightness and belonging
connects you intimately with the rhythm of
the universe.

May you have respect for your individuality
and difference.

May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique,
that you have a special destiny here,
that behind the façade of your life,
there is something beautiful and eternal happening.

JOHN O'DONOHUE

Excerpt from the blessing, 'For Solitude,' from his books:
Benedictus (Europe) / To Bless the Space Between Us (US)
Ordering Info: https://johnodonohue.com/store

Lahinch Beach
County Clare, Ireland
Photo: © Ann Cahill

02/27/2024

08/31/2023

But today we kneel only to truth, follow only beauty, and obey only love.

- Kahlil Gibran

Photo: ET and The Garden Party

06/05/2023

May you fall deeper in love with your life journey.

05/19/2023

DANDON'S TOOTH.

The dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies of the sun, moon, and stars.
The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon and the scattered seeds look like the stars.

The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the afternoon to go to sleep.
Every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, flower.
Can be used for food, medicine and coloring dye.

Dandelion seeds are often transported by a gust of wind traveling as tiny parachutes many miles from their origin.

Animals such as birds, insects and butterflies consume nectar or dandelion seed.
Dandelion flowers don't need to be pollinated to form seeds.

Dandelions have sank their roots in history.
They were known by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over a thousand years.

Dandelion is used in popular medicine to treat infections and liver disorders.
Tea made from dandelion acts as a diuretic.
As food, its leaves are used in salads or boiled and its edible flowers, as decoration of various dishes.

Dandelions are quite possibly the most successful plants in existence, masters of survival worldwide!

Sadly every year countries spend millions on lawn pesticides to have uniform lawns non-native grass, and we use 30% of the country's water supply to keep them green and we get rid of this grass so healthy and important factor in the good development of the environment ambiance.

Nature provides us with many of these wonders of our wild flora.
You're sure to find them in your garden.
Use it, don't throw it away! Let's take care of them!

04/22/2023

💙🌎🕊️