by Judith | May 18, 2018 | Gardens, gratitude, Interviews/Community Outreach, Meditation, music, nature, sustainable landscapes
Can you heart the plants sing? We hear sounds from the meadows and forests with the movement of air. But, did you know that plants make their own music too?
“Since the 1970s, Damanhur—a Federation of Communities with its own constitution, culture, art, music, currency, school and uses of science and technology (www.damanhur.org)—has researched communication with the plant world. As part of this research, they created an instrument able to perceive the electromagnetic variations from the surface of plant leaves to the root system and translated them into sound.” Pretty cool, right. Extensive research is ongoing as we develop more and more sensitive equipment to help us hear, interact, understand the complexity of the plant world. If we believe we are one, then we are connected to everything. These tools give us another way to connect with and respect the plant world, to cohabit with them.
My guest this week, Jen Frey, does just that. She mentions Damanhur community, the type of equipment needed and brings this awareness to many events.
Since May 3rd Is Garden Meditation Day I thought I would include a plant song, Red Roses, for you to use for your meditation today. Red Roses, long the symbol of love shares her beautiful music. Remember all comments, and shares are appreciated. Enjoy. Judith
by Judith | Mar 30, 2018 | Gardens, gratitude, Interviews/Community Outreach, Meditation, nature
Beauty surrounds us, but usually, we need to be walking in a garden to know it. Rumi
Spring is here. In the northeast, we see some snow lingering, the day crisp and sunny. We’re almost ready to dig out our gardens, plot our dreams for ripe juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers and of course, flowers. Spring teases us with cool breezes, shows a few buds, greets us with new births and fills the air with birdsong. Another season becomes a beautiful reminder of cycles, nature’s rhythms.
My podcast guest this week, Linda Wiggen Kraft, reminded me of sitting in nature once or twice a day. When I went to wilderness school a few years ago, Native American based, not military, we were encouraged to find our ‘sit spot’, a place where we felt comfortable sitting in early morn, and/or evening, before the demands of the day begin, perhaps when the demands of the day quiet down. I enjoyed my morning time after my children left for school. I made a pot of herb tea, placed a chair just outside my meadow. As Linda mentioned, nature is initially disturbed as we move about and then when we settle in, nature comes back. I marveled at the way dragonflies flit and saw so many different species. Sometimes deer would come in, females with their offspring, munching on the grasses in the late afternoon sun. In the evening bats would fly about, though today they are endangered here and we see very few at dusk. In a sea of goldenrods, mustard yellow flowers hummed with the presence of so many bees, creating a soft symphony.
Sitting in the stillness, being present to our now, quiets us. We feel calmer, more peaceful, sharpen our observation skills and delight in whoever shows up.
I have heard folks express disappointment when a creature doesn’t show up, but that’s not the point. The point is simply to be within nature’s simplicity. Allow our self a chance to quietly breathe and perhaps be grateful and maybe merge a little bit with our land.
In planning gardens, have you considered doing a short ceremony, creating some ritual that welcomes spring? How about honoring the gift of seeds? After all, they are getting ready to burst into their full forms. We can taste their flavors, smell their peculiar aromas, we can almost taste the sun when ripe.
Today, I want to remind you to approach your gardens, meadows, your landscapes with exuberance, joy, and gratitude. If puzzled on where to plant, what new plants to bring in, sit a minute or two. Engage your senses in the delight of your space first. Walk around, notice the old stems from last year, the bare branches, lifeless grasses. Trust your inner sight, plan it out, roll up your sleeves and dig in!
What rituals do you create for beginning your gardens? Send me brief descriptions. I would enjoy hearing from you.
Thanks again, Judith
by Judith | Aug 26, 2016 | gratitude, Meditation, nature, wild edibles
Summer bouquet of wild flowers on a white background
What counts in August?
August comes in with heat and humidity. The days seem to roll by like a lazy river. Low water, little rain reminds me to be grateful that we have water.
Elderberries ripen and stain my fingers red as I pull them off thin and fragile stems before the birds eat them all. Elderberry syrup sends up a sweet vapor as I pour it into jars for winter use. Blackberries begin to ripen too. Jam making is on the schedule for next week.
Red raspberry leaves on young canes are perfect for picking and drying.
Corn, sweet corn, smothered with melted butter drips over my fingertips. Picked within the tall stalks, they click with the summer breeze and silence can be hard to hear.
Monarch butterfly, danaus plexippus, clinging to yellow goldenrod wild flower
Golden rod and black-eyed Susan’s leave a splash of gold on roadsides and fields. Their mustards and saffrons
provide contrast to fading purples of joe- pye weed and purple coneflower. Rose of Sharon offers branches of blooms while the garden continues to produce before fall planting. Most trees haven’t turned yet though a few are trying as they toss acorns and nuts to the ground. Leaves sway with the occasional breeze. Thunderstorms and lightning liven up the clouds as if a special effect show.
Lemonade and ice cool down a body hot from weeding. Ice cream melts quickly and becomes a reward saved for sunset. Fireflies dance at the tree line bringing glitter to the night’s stage. Dragonflies flit over mown sweet grasses. Bats come out, one or two, carrying the burden of night time patrols, their numbers dwindling. The moon rises as graceful as a slow waltz while stars create a backdrop on a clear and darkened sky.
What counts in
August are the sounds of summer. Somehow I hear the greens of forest and field deepen. I hear a change in the song summer sings as if a pause, a riff, a sharp that moves into a flat; a reminder that the wheel of the seasons turns no matter if I watch or listen, no matter how I hear. August reminds me of summer’s heat before the snow flies. The sun beats steady on cloudless days causing field and flower to go within. What counts in august are these times, the heat and humidity, the buzz and the harvest, the bounty and the savoring of sunlight, the first hint of autumn and coolness found within the forest.
My thoughts meander today as august nearly ends. Enjoy summer’s bounty and beauty.
Judith
by Judith | Dec 31, 2015 | gratitude, gratitude, Meditation, Spirit: Dream Navigation
(white water-lily and its reflection)
Sitting in the stillness is a practice, a marker along the way for getting in touch with our Self. Stillness can feel awkward at first since our mind thoughts occupy and demand our constant attention. In the Buddhist tradition they refer to our mind chatter that hops from thought to thought as our “monkey mind.” It takes practice and commitment to sit quietly each day and tune out and turn off the daily world especially the daily world that replays itself in our minds. The Chopra Center offers many meditation practices I find helpful, calming and peaceful.
The water lily is found as a symbol all over the world. Its symbolic meaning ranges from unity to enlightenment, creation and creativity, universality. Its a great symbol to meditate on. As our world changes and can appear chaotic, meditation gets us to our heart and the heart of things. We connect to our Divine essence and maybe glimpse the idea, the feeling “we are one”. Before the festivities begin can you spend a few quiet moments? Sit with a candle, soft music and allow yourself to be still. What are your dreams for 2017? What are your dreams for your self, family and the world? Feel your desires, send prayers out for others, be still for a few moments and let your Soul speak to you.
I wish to thank all my readers for their comments this year. It’s been a productive and prosperous one filled with many wonderful surprises.
May 2017 see your best dreams come true. Judith.
by Judith | Apr 30, 2013 | Holistic Health, Meditation, nature, wisdom
“No matter how long the room has been dark, an hour or a million years, the moment the lamp of awareness is lit the entire room becomes luminous. You are that luminosity. You are that clear light.”
-Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
I have been away teaching in New England for most of April. It feels good to be back. I enjoy the process: the students, the learning and watching the growth that occurs from first class to the last class. For me it is a joy and a passion. We talked about holistic health models, modalities and the interconnection of all of us. Since my focus is nutrition we talked about food, what and how we grow our food and the contamination of our food systems. What choices can we make in our daily lives that when added up make a difference?
I hope the above quote brings a bit of inspiration to you today. I came across this quote this morning from a lovely meditation/mantra site.
The mantra and meditation are free for 21 days. I am on day six and it is lovely and great way to begin a day, end a day or to have a break in our day.
Enjoy. Judith
by Judith | Feb 7, 2013 | Herbs, Holistic Health, Meditation, The East: new concepts, The North: our elders, The South: lets get physical, The West: the land of dreams, wisdom
I am pleased to announce a new workshop titled: Creating Our New Story that I am developing and presenting with Bruce Winkle in Leesburg, VA.
We are in a new time, a new vibrational pattern of viewing and living on this planet. Tremendous changes have occurred and we can make a difference.
We invite you to join us as we take a journey towards creating our new story We offer specific meditation work and understandings that are relevant to all of us as we listen more deeply to the call of our passion. What is our heart telling us? What stories can we create filled with respect, integrity and hope for the good of this world no matter where we work and live. What dreams do we want to manifest? How can we work together creating a more stable community where we feel honored again?
Date: Saturday, February 16, 2013
Time: 9-5:30pm
To register: (703) 771- 7755 or via email: bruce@elementsofhealingLLC.com
Tuition: $79.00/person Please bring lunch; tea and snack will be provided.
Location: Elements of Healing, 116 Edwards Ferry Rd, Unit M, Leesburg, VA 20176
If you would like more information please leave your name and contact information and send to the above.
I am excited to be creating and sharing at this time. Its as if we have a palette of possibilities before us unlike any time in the last millennium. I hope you will join us.
Have a great day. Judith
Judith Dreyer, MS, BSN, Writer, Speaker, and Workshop Presenter, Master Gardener.
