Mindful Gardening Newsletter No 27

In Cordressagagh it’s been wet a lot of the time and I have spent that time indoors setting up an indoor recording studio where I intend to record some (or even many) recorded guided meditations. 

When I look back at this week in the garden it’s been a week of being aware of the ways in which I create a remembrance of what is important.  For this Mindful Gardener some of those things that are important are being present and the continuing journey into the understanding and experience of the meditative and prayerful state.

Stewart’s Grove

Tibetan prayer flags adorning Stewart’s Grove

This week the Tibetan prayer flags arrived, and I have draped these around the self-seeded willow trees that create a circle.  This has become such a beautiful space and now I do more sitting there than anywhere else in the garden just looking and being grateful for all that is given.

The birds come. The bees come. The hoverflies come and the cats come.  It seems that they understand that this place has become a place of safety and sanctuary which is the truth of its dynamic.  I am only so thankful that I have been graced to be a part of such creation.

Now there are the prayer flags with their seven different chakra colors and their Sanskrit prayers that flutter in the breeze and send well wishes into the ether. The previous flags are all washed out and I will take these down.

Windchimes as a Reminder

Windchimes on path into the garden courtesy of John Wilmot

Another reminder to be present to the moment and observe the way my monkey mind is like a badly tuned radio are the windchimes that hang from tree branches and arches that lead into different rooms.

There are different kinds of windchime. Some are metal and others are wood.  All of these were gifts from my soul friend John Wilmot who died earlier this year.  I hear them tinkle in the background and they remind me of him and remind me to take a moment to be thankful for the Presence he was.

When I first arrived in Ireland one of the things I loved would be to hear the ringing of the Angelus Bell.  This is a call to prayer and a reminder to send goodwill to all.  It’s a bit like the Buddhist Metta Bhavana which I learned at the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green. This is about sending well wishing to yourself and others by way of repeating the lines “May you be well, may you be happy, may you be free from suffering.” 

A Day’s Silent Retreat Idea

Sitting before the fire that burns no wood.

When I was sitting on the bench in Stewart’s Grove watching the fire a thought came to me that I would like to offer a day’s silent retreat here in the garden and provide food during the day and sit around the fire.  I used to do that a lot when I worked for the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order in London and going on retreat for free was part of the financial package we agreed.

There would be a labyrinth that people could walk.  They might take a walk to the holy well at Tuber.  We might simply sit around the fire without conversing but being in a kind of communion.  I always found this practice so beneficial.  I remember being on a weekend retreat in Wales and a lot of the time I spent laughing for no reason.  It isn’t always like that because you can have less fun emotional experiences arrive.

The issue might be parking but that could be worked around.  There would have to be some talking to begin with a short saying goodbye at the end but otherwise there would be the discipline of embracing the silence within that is a large part of the silence without that is Cordressagagh.

This Weeks Starring Vegetables

I thought I would see how the carrots are coming on and so I pulled up one that looked as if it might be fully developed.  I was delighted but not surprised to see that the carrot I harvested was of good quality and length.  I will leave the rest in the ground to get a little plumper but overall, this year’s planting by way of seed tape has been a great success thanks to the method as outlined by the cute couple from Bumblebee Junction on YouTube.

This week’s other starring vegetable was our first ripening tomato which has been grown in a pot and not in the polytunnel.  I am surprised that it has gone red given the lack of sunshine, but it will stay on the vine for a little while longer so that it can mature to its full size.  There will be other tomatoes given the number of flowers that are on the vine.

This Week’s Gifts

Chairs and Table gifted by Eileen McGovern

One of the things I love to share are images of the gifts that seem to keep coming my way.  This week we were gifted a table and chairs from our neighbor Eileen, two houses up the lane.  These are great to sit on and I find we are needing more and more seating for the number of friends, family and visitors who come to the garden.

Sculpture of Friendship gifted by Claire Roach

I am so honored to have the little sculpture that was a feature of the Words and Harps gatherings at John Wilmott’s cottage.  This little sculpture is a group of four people hugging each other and symbolizes friendship.  In the center there is a space for a little candle which he would light at these fabulous gatherings where we would tell stories, sing songs and read poetry – and of course being John have a feast.

Home Recording Microphone, Mixer and Microphone cage courtesy of John Wilmot

The final gift was another from John by way of Claire.  John ran a podcast via Zoom, so he had a lot of recording equipment which I have acquired. Most of this has been donated to the local Arts Centre in Dowra.  Here, however, are a few things from John that have allowed me to set up my home recording studio.

Quote for the Week

When the flowers open the bees will come – Kabir.

Kabir is not easily categorized as a Sufi or a Yogi -- he is all of these. He is revered by Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs. He stands as a unique, saintly, yet very human, bridge between the great traditions that live in India. Kabir says of himself that he is, "at once the child of Allah and Ram".

Kabir is a poet who I adore.  Sufism is the mystical side of Islam which also births the poet Rumi and Hafiz.  In this quote Kabir is referring to the heart being open, and the Presence of the Divine comes.  In the poetry of the Sufi’s, you have many references to perfume.  This is symbolic of Divine Presence.

The question for the reader is whether they are willing to be like the flower that opens. This is the practice of trust and allowing yourself to unfold in the way that universal intelligence created you to express through you and perfume the world in a unique way.

Kabir’s Song

Conclusion

One of Lillies sunflowers that is now much taller than this 4 year old.

This week’s newsletter is late again.  Have had issues with the laptop getting over heated.  I will be delivering to our computer repair man Charlie to be looked at on Tuesday following the bank holiday here in Ireland.  I hope you found this week’s edition entertaining and a reminder to tend the inner garden and remember to Companion your Greatness so that you open to the magnificence of who you are and that it perfumes your life with gladness. Until next time have a great week.