The Mindful Gardening Newsletter No 26

Mindful Gardening Newsletter No 26

Sometimes when I write this Newsletter my focus is on aspects of the garden journey here in Cordressagagh and at other times the focus is on the inner garden that is the journey of the soul of that time space personality called Tony Cuckson.  Over the last couple of days as I have spent time barking the ground in Stewarts Grove I have been able to take time and sit down on one of the iron butterfly benches and rest and be.

I feel so blessed to be able to take time and “give no thought.” This is a very different dynamic than most people live in their everyday lives.  As I have shared in my story of The Four Treasures of the Beautiful People, we (as the Beautiful People) have become obsessed with thinking.  I blame in part Rene Descartes who was a French philosopher who declared “I think therefore I am.”  He turned the real way of living around one hundred and eighty degrees.  Wisdom teachers and sages of all times KNOW the real truth of living a fulfilled life is “I AM and therefore I think (sometimes).”

The modern mind is like a badly tuned radio. It’s full of static and distraction. With this state of attunement there is no tuning into the Infinite.  The modern spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle writing in Oneness with All Life says: -

A Way of Seeing

Redstart and Grey wagtail who visited me in Stewart’s Grove

For years I have spent time reclaiming the ground that is Cordressagagh.  While it has been fun it has at times felt overwhelming especially when the rain continues and the weeds, snails and slugs have a field day.

Now I have time to sit and simply be.  I begin to see aspects of the garden that I was previously unaware of.  The different insects are amazing.  Like most of the species in the Western world, through intensive farming are in major decline.  One of the poems I love is W.B. Yeats poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree.  One line has the phrase “When white moths were on the wing.”  I notice even over the twenty plus years that I have lived here at Cordressagagh the fewer and fewer white moths that are on the wing.

So that will be part of my research in exploring what habitat I might create to ensure that moths have an environment in which they can thrive.

I marvel at the hovering flies that I see when I sit and take a breather on the bench in Stewart’s Grove as I spend time clearing the brambles and the reeds that have taken over. These hover flies are so small and there they are hovering in the air and then flying off at rocket speed.

The Labyrinth Project Evolves

Sitting quietly and allowing ideas to come to mind, I have a clearer idea about how I will create the labyrinth project.  The place for it is in the far Southeast of the garden because it is open although not terribly level in parts.  It is also very soggy underneath.

So, the idea will be to create a platform above the ground, 36 feet square. This will have a base of concrete shoes on which I can place 4 x 4 treated timber. On that I will then lay a composite decking that doesn’t rot. 

I plan to buy a polycanvas mat type of labyrinth that I can lay out on the decking during that time of year when the weather is favorable and be able to store it away when it is not in use.  I will plant a hedge around the platform that will give walkers a sense of privacy and allow them to enter the experience fully.

Plant only love, plant only love! If you want love to grow, take care what you sow, my dear, do not plant anything but love!" – Rumi

Lucifer says “Look at Me.”

In this garden of grace one of the flowers that has taken off this month is the Crocosmia “Lucifer.”  I used to have a few of these at the south side of the cottage but I must have divided these and planted them in various parts of the garden.

They are a stunning vibrant red and cannot be missed.  It’s like wherever they are they are shouting “Look at Me” and I do. They come in different colors so I will be looking to add to our collection of one.

And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice. There is an invisible strength within us; when it recognizes two opposing objects of desire, it grows stronger. ― Jalaluddin Rumi, The Rumi Collection

This Weeks Images of the Garden

The work of clearing ground in Cordressagagh

Astilbe in fairy garden and in ditch along east side of garden.

Leaf celery for soup  and wind chimes for awakening

Poem of the Week

Here is a poem by Bee that shares the joy that is simply being able to sit in the garden and simply be.

Some Days in Our Garden

Some days here

There is a pause

When even

The robin, the redstart,

The chaffinches

Stop singing their song

No cars pass

No tractor engine snores.

In that moment

The stillness here

Is so deep

That I can hear the hum

Of the sound of silence

In my eardrum

And feel complete, deep

Happiness.

Bee Smith 28/07/2024

Mindful Looking in the Garden Exercise

Spend 10 minutes in your garden today practicing mindful looking. Find a comfortable spot where you can sit or stand without distraction. Begin by taking a few deep breaths to center yourself. Let your gaze soften and rest naturally on your surroundings.

As you look around, avoid labeling or categorizing what you see. Instead of thinking "flower," "tree," or "bird," simply observe the colors, shapes, and movements without attaching words to them. Notice the intricate patterns on leaves, the way the light filters through branches, and the gentle sway of plants in the breeze. If your mind starts to name or judge, gently bring your focus back to pure observation.

This practice has several benefits:

1. Enhanced Presence: By focusing on just seeing, you anchor yourself in the present moment, reducing stress and anxiety.

2. Heightened Awareness: Mindful looking increases your awareness of subtle details, fostering a deeper connection with nature.

3. Mental Clarity: It gives your mind a break from constant thinking and evaluating, promoting mental relaxation and clarity.

4. Emotional Balance: Engaging with nature mindfully can evoke feelings of calm and contentment, improving your overall emotional well-being.

Repeat this exercise regularly to cultivate a more mindful and appreciative relationship with your garden and the world around you.

Conclusion

This weeks Mindful Gardening Newsletter is late for various reasons. One is related to technology.  Got caught up in trying to resolve the recording of a guided meditation story entitled The Land of Happily Ever After with a program called Audacity which kept falling over.

So I hope you have a great weekend gardening and tending the inner garden so that you might solve the riddle of living happily ever after.