Nourishing Seeds
Dear Community,
This new year was ushered in with a potent new moon asking us to take time to reflect on what has been and to bring renewed inspiration to what we want to cultivate. There is an invitation to take stock of what we are growing in ourselves, our relationships and our world and to pay attention to the seeds we are sowing. Are we growing a garden that will nourish our body, mind and spirit to support growth and expansion?
Seeds hold so much magic and are the perfect metaphor for these times. With the right conditions – unique for each type of seed – the embryo inside starts to enlarge and the seed coat eventually breaks open. The root emerges first, reaching down into the earth, and then the shoot unfolds towards the light to support the growth of leaves and stems. Water, oxygen and heat are needed for this process of maturation to begin and for the potential of the seed to unfold into the plant it’s meant to become.
Reflecting about this process I had an “Aha!” about the interplay of our mind, heart and belly and how each plays a role in the cultivation of healthy seeds in our lives. The element of our mind is air, offering the oxygen and the inspiration needed for seeds to germinate. If it is too powerful the wind will blow seeds in every direction, not allowing them to settle into the earth. Our heart, the center of our circulatory system, offers the fluid element to soften seeds so they are able to sprout. The belly provides the fire element, the energy needed for transformation and growth. Neuroscience now understands that our brain, heart and digestive system communicate with each other and hold the potential to be integrated. This realization has inspired me to practice tuning into my mind, heart and gut to listen for resonance before sowing seeds that may come in the form of thought, speech or action. This is no simple task. Even though it requires slowing down, it feels like the most direct path to coming home.
Wishing you all a year full of nourishment and growth.
Much love,
Sue