Whenever I have had the opportunity to get my hands into soil, a deep sense of peace has always washed over me. When I was a younger, I would assist my grandmother and mother in Alaska with the tending and harvest of the raspberry bushes, tulips, rhubarb, and roses. No matter what was going on in my mind, gardening seemed to connect me to the present moment, allowing my worries and concerns to dissipate. I realized early on what a blessing it was to witness life growing before my own eyes, and to then experience the fruits of my labor. Despite the fact that I have never pursued gardening on a consistent basis (besides the few plants that have adorned my home or new office), gardening has remained a form of healing and moving meditation for me.
One of my goals in life was to become knowledgeable about growing my own food and herbs. Because of my current 6 month field internship through the California College of Ayurveda (to become a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist), I will be starting this dream of mine on a small level. I will be growing medicinal herbs as part of a project to get more connected to the medicines that I prescribe. To begin, I will be tending to Gotu Kola, Skullcap, Licorice, Ginger, and Tulsi. If all goes well, I hope to use them as medicine for my patients, which I know will only boost their healing properties because of all the love I will be putting into them.
I believe finding opportunities to pause and then connect to the life force pulsating through everything around us is essential to our journey. If we don't slow down, when will we ever find the opportunity to heal? Gardening does that for me. It reminds me of my innate connection to the elements, to this planet, and to life. It urges me to be present, to participate, to be patient, and to be loving. It says to me there is purpose. It says to me that life is a gift. It heals my heart.
One of my goals in life was to become knowledgeable about growing my own food and herbs. Because of my current 6 month field internship through the California College of Ayurveda (to become a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist), I will be starting this dream of mine on a small level. I will be growing medicinal herbs as part of a project to get more connected to the medicines that I prescribe. To begin, I will be tending to Gotu Kola, Skullcap, Licorice, Ginger, and Tulsi. If all goes well, I hope to use them as medicine for my patients, which I know will only boost their healing properties because of all the love I will be putting into them.
I believe finding opportunities to pause and then connect to the life force pulsating through everything around us is essential to our journey. If we don't slow down, when will we ever find the opportunity to heal? Gardening does that for me. It reminds me of my innate connection to the elements, to this planet, and to life. It urges me to be present, to participate, to be patient, and to be loving. It says to me there is purpose. It says to me that life is a gift. It heals my heart.
