Mindfulness Garden Games
by Joann Calabrese
author of Growing Mindful

Be Like Water – Mindfulness Focus Experiment Week 11

Be Like Water

  “Be Like Water” is the mindfulness focus for the week.  Water is a fluid, powerful shape-shifter. It is a finder of easiest paths and yet powerful enough to wear away mountains. Water gives life, connects everything on the planet, and without it our planet would be barren.  So if we are working with this … Read more

Dandelion Resilience – Mindfulness Focus Week 10

Dandelion Resilience Resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, is  the mindfulness practice word for the week.  The goal is to intentionally notice resilience in ourselves, others, and the world.  I can’t think of a better example of resilience in the plant world than dandelions. And with Denver’s recent 60 degree days, I’ve sighted … Read more

Paper Mache Dragon – What’s That Got to Do with Mindfulness?

Papier Mache Dragon

      I am loving the paper mache dragon that is slowly taking shape in my house. This is only a first edition. The ultimate goal is to create a weatherproof dragon that will live in my garden. But what, you might ask, does a paper mache dragon have to do with mindfulness? Well … Read more

Week 9 Mindfulness Focus – Waxing Moon

The Waxing Moon Noticing the waxing moon (1) in its journey toward wholeness… that is my mindfulness focus for the week. The moon was new on Friday evening, but already it  has become a crescent in the sky.   Paying attention to the increase is this week’s practice. I like weaving back and forth between … Read more

Courage – Week 8 Mindfulness Experiment

Courage, my mindfulness focus for the week, was partially inspired by the first sprigs of yarrow in my garden.  Yarrow (Achillea millifolium) is an ancient  healing plant with the magical properties of protection and courage.  Discovering the yarrow confirmed something I’d been feeling since midweek, as I was practicing  invoking joy.  After a heartbreaking conversation with a … Read more

Invoking Joy – Week 7 Mindfulness Experiment

    Invoking joy – My mindfulness focus this week is inspired by my Corgi, Luna and my grandson, Leo. This is Luna sitting by the tunnel which allowed her to run under the pumpkins to a formerly blocked part of the yard. See that smile on her face?  It was delightful watching her run … Read more

Wonderment – Mindfulness Experiment Week 6

A State of Wonder The focus word for this week is wonderment – a state of awe, joy, and wonder.  It is funny in a way that we need to be mindful of wonder.  We are traveling on a large rock through infinite space, kept alive by an intricate balance of oxygen, nitrogen, and other … Read more

Emptiness – Week 5 of the Mindfulness Experiment

“We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.”(1) Emptiness, spaciousness, openness – that’s the focus of this week’s mindfulness practice. A room is filled with space, but we focus on the objects.  A doorway is simply space but we focus on the wood that frames it. … Read more

Breathing Peace – Week 4 Mindfulness Experiment

Breathing Peace I participated in the Denver Women’s March yesterday, along with over 100,000 other people.  It was a beautiful event focusing on justice, human rights, dignity, and respect. It reminded me that there are many of us on the planet who believe in those values, even if some in high places do not. But … Read more

The Space Between Our Steps – Mindfulness Experiment Week 3

      Mindfulness Experiment Week 3 “There is a journey between our steps that we always miss.”  This idea was provided to me by Grand Master Samuel Copeland(1)  and it led to my week three focus words. What is the space between our steps? Last week’s mindfulness focus was to be aware of each … Read more

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