Landscape as Spirit: Gardening as Spiritual Practice

Today and yesterday I spent some hours in my patio garden, as I often do when the weather grows warmer. While digging and pruning, I was thinking of Esther Kennedy, the Director of Spirit Mountain Retreat in Idyllwild. I have so loved the time I’ve spent there over the last five years and now a long time dream is coming true for their community—the creation of a contemplative garden. Esther sent out a nice newsletter listing all the upcoming programs and shared the garden news. She said that in preparation they have used Landscape as Spirit: Creating a Contemplative Garden by Martin Hakubai Mosko. I don't have this book but do have others that have given me ideas over the years. 

My own garden is not remotely Zen-like and was not created by a professional. I just know and respect the fact that I am compelled to work with plants and dig in the dirt. My totally home-made garden is my stab at creating a meditation garden that works for me.

It is largely shaded by huge ficus trees which is a challenge, but I’ve incorporated many spiritual symbols throughout the quiet space. Most of the larger plants were starts from friends or family, and I’m always searching for one more symbolic item to tuck into a corner or on a shelf. Tomorrow I’ll rehang my Tibetan prayer flags, which I take down for winter.

My garden would receive no awards, nor was it prayerfully designed or built except for the great contentment I get from planting something, observing the plants and flowers as they cycle through the seasons, then sadly tucking them away for winter.

Cookie's squirrel, who I named because she walks the walls and bedevils poor Cookie, is currently the only problem except for some snails. The squirrel keeps unplanting the color spot plants on the shelving near the top of the wall.

Fountains burble, wind chimes tinkle, my big blue flower wheel spins in the breeze, and Mary as Our Lady of Guadalupe, Kwan Yin, Buddha and St. Francis share space with the angels, a blue Victorian gazing ball, the funky prayer tree, white wicker furniture including an antique lounge, and accents of blue scattered throughout. I adore my townhouse, one of seven units in Villa Redondo, but it's selling features 20 years ago were the patio with lots of dirt waiting to have something creative done to it, the fireplace, the large large deck on the top of the building, and a double car garage. And--the proximity to the Pacific Ocean, of course. 

I prepare for bed with sacred dirt beneath my fingernails, which I will remove in the shower. I feel grateful tonight; I am my gardening mother and father’s child.  But I look forward to seeing Esther’s Spirit Mountain meditation garden taking shape, too. And I’m interested in your yards and gardens. Won’t you share?

Comments

[Nancy]

You have a squirrel!? I had no idea there were squirrels along the coast - I lived for many years in Santa Barbara, and I'm fairly sure they don't have them there. I would love to have a squirrel neighbor.

Nancy

[Suzann]

Fran, I love your garden - it is peaceful and colorful, eclectic - lovely. I worked in my garden on Sunday and will be posting pictures soon. FYI - I am taking a Soul Collage training on May 18th (all day) and I am very excited!

[Rain]

Your garden spots look perfect to me for their intention which is to create a spirit feeling. I also was into gardening this week-end but not planting yet as we may not have had our last freeze. We did visit nurseries, bought some annuals and perennials. Sunday it was warm enough to sit outside and the glass table came out from the covered area behind the house and is back in its own meditation garden. I took a lot of out of focus photos of birds at the feeder. It was a colorful day for the many varieties and the sound was like something out of a Disney movie.