| The times we live compel us to pay close attention to | | | | be so subtle that it is easy to miss if you are not |
| physical survival to the detriment of our emotional and | | | | paying attention. |
| spiritual survival. The incessant, non-stop, noisy mind | | | | Protect your seeds from harm. Garden plants are |
| chatter insisting we cannot for one second release | | | | vulnerable to animals, insects, weather, and other pests. |
| thoughts of money, food, housing, appointments and | | | | Your spiritual garden is also vulnerable to busy |
| commitments has greatly contributed to the stress that | | | | thoughts, non-stop mind chatter, judgments and worldly |
| literally threatens our lives, while the pharmaceutical | | | | noise. Protect your spiritual garden by placing a high |
| companies earn windfall profits on medications that are | | | | priority on your prayer or quiet time by cultivating the |
| expensive, sometimes addictive and warn us of the | | | | desire to experience wisdom, peace and clarity from |
| most fearful side effects on our bodies. | | | | within rather than from the outside world. Your soul is |
| There is a better, easier, more peaceful way to live, | | | | your inner sanctum to perfect peace and your prayer |
| and the only cost is some time and attention to your | | | | life or reflective quiet time should be inviolable. |
| Spirit each day. Many people find peace and pleasure | | | | Prune and pamper your seeds. Pruning the branches |
| in planting, growing and nurturing a physical garden. | | | | of our prayers is much like pruning leaves from our |
| Physical and spiritual gardens have much in common, | | | | plants to make them stronger and more beautiful. |
| except your spiritual garden is that part of you always | | | | Every prayer is answered, though many times not in |
| there patiently waiting your tender touch. | | | | the way originally requested, always for your highest |
| All gardens begin with an idea of what seeds to grow, | | | | good, regardless of outward appearances. Listen |
| and where to place them. Your spiritual garden begins | | | | carefully to your feelings, and be open to embrace |
| with asking yourself exactly what you want to achieve | | | | blessings far above what you requested or can |
| like health, peace, prosperity, a new job, a new | | | | imagine. |
| business or whatever your heart desires. Once you | | | | Seek and reap the benefits of your garden. Bless |
| have answered these questions, you can begin | | | | every situation, every challenge, think and speak words |
| designing your garden. | | | | of praise. The seeds of wisdom, peace and joy |
| Prepare the soil by taking time each day to quiet your | | | | appear over time just as a physical seed blossoms |
| mind, ask for guidance and listen to the still, small voice | | | | into a fully-grown plant over time. Prayer seeds |
| that resides in your soul. This takes some practice as | | | | blossom into blessings that sustain us through life's |
| our noisy minds constantly compete with our inner | | | | challenges. A seemingly difficult situation might contain |
| spirit, for our attention. Focusing on a favorite prayer or | | | | the answer you seek, and come as a person, idea, or |
| saying, such as "Peace be still," helps keep the ego | | | | event giving you the wisdom and clarity needed to |
| mind at bay. | | | | solve the problem. |
| Plant your spiritual seeds. Just as every plant starts | | | | Live in a state of gratitude. Giving thanks and praise to |
| with one seed, every prayer begins with one thought. | | | | the Universe for the many blessings you already have, |
| Starting with a simple prayer and establishing a regular | | | | no matter how modest they seem, ensures more and |
| daily habit leads you to a deeper feeling of peace, well | | | | greater blessings. When your physical garden reaches |
| being and spiritual connection. | | | | maturity, stop, give thanks and praise for its beauty |
| Watch and Listen. When we first plant our garden | | | | and bounty, as you give thanks and praise for the |
| seeds it seems nothing is happening, yet underneath | | | | bountiful harvest of your spiritual garden. |
| the soil, a mighty life force is taking place, and before | | | | Plant many spiritual gardens. Just as you plant a |
| long a sprout appears. When we pray, we might feel | | | | variety of seeds in your physical garden, plant a |
| that nothing is happening when in reality, there is much | | | | variety of desires in your spiritual garden. Nurture soul |
| going on in the spiritual realm. Watch for your spiritual | | | | by planting "themed" gardens with seeds from your |
| sprout. It can come in the form of an idea, feeling, | | | | heart's deepest longings and desires. Nurture them with |
| dream, song or advertisement. This spiritual sprout can | | | | faith and love, then watch and listen for your soul song. |