by Lovia Larkin

Created on: May 04, 2009

There is just something about the feel of good rich dirt on your hands and under your nails to bring back reflections of life and a new beginning. Tearing out the weeds by their roots, digging and preparing the soil is a physical manifestation of removing those things from our life that are painful. It begins an emotional healing.

It isn't just about the aggressive removal of those items that blight our existence, or the creation of beautiful or productive place, but its about the entire season as a lesson in easing pain and of rebirth. When we are emotionally hurt there is pain, grief and suffering anything that helps the wounds to heal begins a journey.

Gardening is a journey of self healing, beginning with the destruction of the existing site. Tilling the earth exerts energy, in a moment the pain and hurt can be expelled into the action of preparing the soil. A good days work in the sun does wonders for the emotional state; between the work and the sun shine there is wealth behind the weariness.

After the removal of debris, nutrients must be added and worked into the soil in preparation for the new planting. The planting, water and nurturing of the seedlings, the weeding and caring combine to give health to a hurting heart. In putting effort into something other than yourself, in creating is a place where healing can begin. With each day a renewal.

To see the plants grow, to be responsible for the growth and survival of something stirs something inherent within each one of us. The life that is created as you garden and the miniature world it supports gathers the creator into its beauty and into life. The stillness of the tending renders a meditative time to heal.

Focusing on something outside of ourself leads to healing. The stages of healing fit well within the confines of gardening because there is anger or agression which can be released in the tilling of the field. A physical release of the emotional condition. From this release a person moves to preparation, to making things better an acceptance of what was which does not have to impinge on what will become. Then the planting, a renewal a journey back to the place where we can begin, guarding the first tender shoots of life and nourishing them. Then to the stage of real growth where we can realistically see the changes and finally after the work and toil we see the bloom the result of the care and the healing.

It has been said that there is nothing more beautiful than a bloom watered by tears and fed by the songs of mourning. When we have nothing left to give but those things buried so deep within us they are almost unknown it is there in the quiet we can find ourselves. When our tears become nourishment and the soulful melodies bring strength it is there where we find beauty and healing. Just the act of creating gives even the bleakest hearts hope. Gardening can bring that emotional healing from the work to the beauty and from that strength in the quiet place you can find healing in and from a hurting world.

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