Lately, I have been immersed in three different historical books, and the long history of misery inflicted by other humans is sad and unsettling. It can make one weary of the behavior of other people, and in need of a respite. That’s when I head to my garden sanctuary.
Humans have created all kinds of wonderful tools, but they have also invented diabolical methods to hurt and kill. (And weirdly, the same people who create beauty have been known to invent methods of destruction. See Leonardo DaVinci’s War machines.) It leads one to think there is much cleverness in the species, but maybe not true intelligence or wisdom.
Because I spend a lot of time with plants, it’s hard not to compare them to people. Plants are predictable in many ways that humans are not. Certainly, when gardening, there is the unpredictability of weather, insects, and disease. But the plants themselves are trustworthy. There is not an intent to deceive. If you plant an acorn you get an oak tree. If you plant pumpkin seeds, you get pumpkins. And although rose bushes have thorns, poison ivy can give you a rash, and deadly nightshade can kill you; they don’t pretend otherwise. They are what they are.
Humans on the other hand, are known to say one thing and do another, sometimes with a deliberate intent to deceive. It is discouraging when people and organizations who say they value fairness, respect, and honesty act differently behind closed doors. It can be exhausting winding our way through that landscape.
Garden Sanctuary
So what to do? Well for starters, finding a place of sanctuary is helpful, just to step away and allow space for contemplation. The green world can be that place to retreat from human interactions. It can provide a respite so that we can regroup, recharge, and let go of weariness. The garden (park, forest, or patio with plants) is a great place to practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness in the garden it is a matter of taking the time to be present and open up to the intricacies, beauty, and intelligence that we often ignore in our busy lives. The green world can be a doorway to mindfulness.
Of course, ultimately (unless you are contemplating becoming a hermit) a return to human interactions is necessary. But if we have taken time to allow insight and clarity to manifest, we can take that wisdom into the difficulties of relationships, organizations, and communities. In situations where harm is being done because of ignorance, mindfulness might help us find the words to explain why someone’s actions are harmful to others. If the harm is willful and originating from greed and hate, mindfulness helps us see clearly what part we can play in countering the situation. And when we step back into our garden sanctuary and take time to contemplate, we will remember that the world has always functioned in this way. Sadly there are humans intent on deliberately harming others in overt and covert ways. But we’ll also see clearly, there have always been many others working for good.
Mindfulness practice is not an escape from the world. It is a way to be more fully aware and understand our part in creating a just and kind world for everyone. Finding sanctuary in the garden nurtures our wisdom, strength, and resilience to do just that.
Just a note: An update is coming soon on my Flax Adventure. I’ve been busy cleaning the fiber and have lots to share.
