Ripeness – © Osho Zen TarotLast day of Springripe purple plums drop–form is emptiness. First day of Summerditch completely dry–emptiness is form. — Short Poems by Michael P. Garofalo We begin the final countdown to the Solstice, which arrives next week. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the Summer Solstice, the … Read more
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.I do know how to pay attention, how to fall downinto the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,which is what I have been doing all day.Tell me, what else should I have done? — Mary … Read more
Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plane. – Henry David Thoreau I’ve been discussing some suggestions for getting to know your green ally – a plant that will be your guide and friend as you deepen … Read more
Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting — a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.— Ralph Waldo Emerson On Sunday, I shared some first steps to finding and … Read more
A little too abstract, a little too wise,It is time for us to kiss the earth again,It is time to let the leaves rain from the skies,Let the rich life run to the roots again. — Robinson Jeffers Our gardens have much to teach us about finding the balance between creativity and surrender, between acceptance … Read more
The Great Way has no gate.Clear water has no taste.The tongue has no bone.In complete stillness, a stone girl is dancing. — Seung Sahn In the garden, we are able to encounter so many aspects of the Divine and the magical. There we may encounter thresholds to other realms, beyond the everyday concerns of the … Read more
In honor of Maia and Flora, and all the other Green Growing Powers of Springtime, we are weaving magic with our allies in the garden. Yesterday, I wrote about the amazing experiences of Machaelle Small Wright when she began working directly with the devas and Nature spirits of her land in Virginia. The result has … Read more
And every stone and every star a tongue,And every gale of wind a curious song.The Heavens were an oracle, and spokeDivinity: the Earth did undertakeThe office of a priest; and I being dumb(Nothing besides was dumb) all things did comeWith voices and instructions…— Thomas Traherne (1637-1674) Gardening is one of the oldest activities of civilization, … Read more
There is a root of peace within this Earth.Plant it in my heart, my home, my land. That it may grow deeply.And then will it branch and give shade, Then will it blossom for the lovers,And yield fruit that none will lack.Then will the old sit under its shade and be honored. And the babies … Read more
“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”“It is the time I have wasted for my rose…” said the little prince so he would be sure to remember.“Men have forgotten this truth,” said the fox. “But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what … Read more