Spring is in full swing all around me, inciting my willing and eager involvement with the caretaking of the land and soil and plants. The growing plants channel amazing joy with their life force, beauty and proliferation.
I take time to resonate with that joy.
I take time to ask them how I may best engage with them for their thriving. Some plants like to be clipped, some pulled for composting, some cleared of last year’s growth, depending on the purpose of each specific plant in the human vision for the land or garden I am working with. I have been learning how to recognize the early growth of the plant babies, so that I may better sort them out at this beginning stage, to separate roots and reposition plants to be in their potentially ideal state in their maturity.
It is very important now, at the start of the growing season, to be aware of the thoughts and feelings I have about the individual plants and plant species. Even more so than other humans, plants are very aware of and responsive to our thoughts and feelings; those openly expressed as well as the subtle ones. Even if we are not aware of their voices, they are definitely aware of ours, whether we are even hearing ourselves or not.
There have been times when I have caught myself secretly encouraging some invasive species that I know will reek havoc in the garden come late summer or ignoring some cute little bully that will grow into a monster.
I am trying to be conscious of my thoughts and attitude as I work with the plants.
I know from experience that energy follows thought.
I appreciate that each plant species has their purpose on this planet and their glory spot where they belong. I point this out to the plants I am asking to withdraw their spirit from certain areas. I am not asking the plant to cease being, but simply to respect the right of the other plants, however vulnerable in their human envisioned environment, to have their place.
This is yet a new exploration for me, this engaging with plant consciousness at the caretaking level. It is my third season of working with other person’s gardens, with their notions of which plants belong and which don’t. Some plants have been very responsive. Some plants I am still adjusting my thoughts about. Bottom line message: be careful what you think around plants, whether you are caretaking them or simply walking by them.
Notice and admire them and you encourage them. I had three bright orange poppy blooms three years ago. Laurie admired them and this year I have three hundred poppies sprouting all over the place!
Curse them and tell them they are invasive and obnoxious and you may also encourage them. Attention is attention whether positive or negative. Although, my wonderful Mother has a story about a houseplant she killed by thinking what a reviling thing it was every time she went past it.
I am working on the idea of asking politely for what I want of the plants. I visualize this as thoroughly as I can, imagining the spirit withdrawing from the roots of plants that aren’t welcome to a particular garden area, envisioning where they might rather put their energy and growing spirit.
When I introduce a new plant to an area, I send it energy, envisioning its roots establishing themselves in that area, the micro-organisms responding to accept and aid it.
Plants are conscious interactive beings. May you enjoy the experience of this!
Blessings,
Rita