The Gardened Soul

Gardens have always been places where people sought meaning. From Eden to Gethsemane, from Versailles to Kew, from Powerscourt to Altamont, something of these places resonated with people's souls as they yearned to connect to more. Styles of gardens have changed down the millennia, as have the lifestyles of those who created and gardened them, but what has remained constant has been the human desire for wholeness, holiness, and connection. As much as we have created and cultivated gardens, they have had their effects on us. In other words, our souls have been gardened. This book addresses how a receptive engagement with gardening as a spiritual practice can allow for the emergence of a sacred environment, where emotions can lead the soul deeper into the experience of more, particularly into the development of other embodied spiritual practices. The two specific emotions examined are love and sadness, which are explored as they grow into the embodied practices of gratitude and "everyday joy," respectively. The emotional experiences in the garden incite wonder, excitement, and connection, nurturing the soul, and lead onward towards discerning what embodied spiritual practices may be needed for the journey ahead. Our souls are gardened.