Building Bridges with Gardens

     

Garden and Photo by Casey Palmisano

       Is there a person in the world who doesn't enjoy the beauty of a garden? Even those who don't enjoy the work of gardening themselves can appreciate the results of the gardener's efforts. People of every nationality, political or religious persuasion, count themselves among the gardeners of the world, and even more people enjoy the fruits of the gardeners' labors. Gardening, and sharing one's garden with others, can be a wonderful way to build bridges of oneness!

       This spring many people found themselves stuck at home, thanks to Covid 19, and so many decided to use their time to beautify their property by building decks and pergolas, and planting new gardens. I have been admiring gardens all over the world, thanks to Facebook pages like "View from my Window" and "Garden Design and Ideas." And since my husband and I just moved to Wisconsin, where we have been busy creating new hardscape (Mark) and landscape (me), I have joined several Facebook pages specifically meant for Wisconsin gardeners.  

       I spent thirty years creating and tending flower beds at our home in Oneonta, New York, which I really missed this spring when nothing bloomed in our new yard except for the little blue scilla that popped up under all of the trees. Once the scilla died out it was up to me to figure out what I could plant in the hard, clay soil near the five black walnut trees which exude juglone, a natural herbicide that kills certain plants, including columbine which is one of my favorite spring flowers. 

      While learning to garden in Wisconsin, I began to learn about the value of native plants. I had known about the importance of milkweed for the survival of the monarch butterfly, but otherwise I had no idea that many bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators depend on native plants for their survival! While I had been disappointed that so few flowers existed in our new yard, I am excited about this opportunity to start from scratch with a different type of garden that will benefit the environment. 

       When people are excited about new ideas, they want to share what they're learning with others. I like to tell other gardeners about the value of native plants, but that doesn't mean I don't understand and appreciate why their gardens are full of what I would call "old favorites." I have discovered that some of the other Facebook gardeners are already gardening with native plants or are keen to learn about them, while others think I am judging them because their gardens are full of flowers that originate from other countries. My New York garden was brimming with these plants, from bleeding hearts and hosta, to astilbe, iris, peonies, and many more. I think the only natives in my New York garden were Black-eyed Susans and Butterfly Weed. I really had no idea there was any difference. So how could I judge anyone whose gardens are full of the same flowers I used to grow and still love?

       It's interesting, and a little bit sad, how easy it is for a group of like-minded people to split into factions of "us" and "them." I really hope that the gardeners of the world will continue to admire the beauty of one another's efforts while remaining open-minded about new ways of doing things. Maybe I will put a bridge in my garden to remind visitors that we can build bridges of oneness one garden at a time.

       

Now Is the Time

       As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread around the world, we tend to focus a lot of our time and attention on the people we hold responsible for its rapid growth. I share the feelings of anger and frustration with those who don't take social distancing seriously, those who refuse to believe that people can spread the virus even if they don't have symptoms, and the government leaders who have not acted preemptively to slow the spread of this virus. But I realize that when I focus on these negative thoughts, I lower my soul frequency to a level below the vibration of love and light that we must radiate if we want to eradicate this virus. 

       If you don't know what I mean by the term "soul frequency," just think about how heavy you feel when you are depressed, sick, or grieving. What does your energy feel like when you're angry?  And don't you feel buoyant and light when you listen to beautiful music, read inspirational literature, engage in creative activities, spend time in nature, or cuddle a beloved child? That is when you are raising your frequency to the level of Christ Consciousness/the fifth dimension/heaven on earth (whatever your belief). That is when you are letting your light shine as Jesus bade us to do. 

       This pandemic is a time of initiation for the whole world. Whenever we pass successfully through a difficult or challenging time of life it is a spiritual initiation that takes us to a level of higher frequency. It is very rare for the whole world to go through an initiation at the same time. (If it has ever happened before, I don't know when. Even the Spanish Flu and the world wars did not include every country that has been affected by Covid-19.) This initiation is imperative now because the earth and all life on it were in crisis before the pandemic came - and this may be our last chance to heed the call for unity. 

     In recent decades the world has been plagued with wars, famine, mass shootings, human trafficking, abuse and torture, and every kind of discord imaginable. We have seen an increase in floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires. Disasters have always given rise to compassionate and heroic acts. Catastrophes unite people. But feelings of love for those outside of our own little circle tend to fade once the disaster has subsided. We have yet to learn how to raise our frequency and maintain it at the level necessary to bring heaven to earth - or perhaps I should say, to raise earth heavenward!

       When enough people focus on love, joy, beauty and light, the frequency of the world will rise above that of the coronavirus and it will disappear. As we keep our focus on love and unity instead of that which divides us, the human family will begin to co-exist harmoniously. 
I write this as a reminder to myself as well as for others. Every day I struggle to focus on what is good and beautiful. I am bombarded by reminders of everything that's wrong with our world. I hate the big trucks that lumber past my house, but I know they are delivering food and other necessities, so now as each one goes by I send love and light to the driver and thank him for his service.

       I hope that all of you will help me to spread love and positive news on the internet which goes out to so many people in the world. This is the opportunity of many lifetimes to bring about a lasting Era of Peace. 

Building Bridges with Corona

     

Balcony concert in Italy.

       This is a strange time to be in the world. When has there ever been another time when all of humanity had to practice social distancing for the survival of the race? Like so many of you, I am feeling the separation from the friends and family that I would normally see in person. I grieve for the thousands of people who are sick or mourning the loss of loved ones who have died of this virus. I weep for the healthcare workers who are overwhelmed by the enormity of their task. And yet, I also see the world community uniting spiritually during this time of physical separation. I see many ways in which the coronavirus is building bridges of oneness.

       People from all over the world are joining in prayer and meditation, creating positive energy and light for the healing of our planet, and offering suggestions for healthy ways to spend time alone at home. We have heard people singing together from their balconies in Italy and Spain; we have read poetry by those who have been inspired by the enormity of this experience; we have witnessed the selfless actions of those who continue to offer essential services, and those who sew masks or provide necessities to those who don't have them. My sister is posting online yoga classes and many others are live streaming programs of all kinds for adults and children. Our hearts are growing because of the need of the hour. We are reaching out to one another across borders and oceans, to seek solace, offer support, and share advice. 

       The coronavirus is helping us to recognize our oneness. May we learn this lesson now so that in the future it won't take a pandemic to wake us up to the truth of our interconnectedness.

       I'd like to share some of the poetry and images that give us hope during this cataclysmic time. If you have others to share, please post them under comments!

Poem by Donna Ashworth: 

History will remember when the world stopped,

And the flights stayed on the ground,

And the cars parked in the street,

And the trains didn’t run.

History will remember when the schools closed,

And the children stayed indoors,

And the medical staff walked towards the fire,

And they didn’t run.

History will remember when the people sang,

On their balconies, in isolation,

But so very much together,

In courage and song.

History will remember when the people fought

For their old and their weak,

Protected the vulnerable

by doing nothing at all.

History will remember when the virus left,

And the houses opened,

And the people came out,

And hugged and kissed,

And started again.

Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.

–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

And this one by my brother:

Pandemic

Steve Harvester

Pardon me, my unknown friend,
For offering you this wine
Across our social distance.

It is bold, as we must be,
With hints of coffee, cherry,
Chocolate, plum, and leather.

Let us drink in together
Both the wine, and the sunlight,
As it turns brown grass to gold;
Hear the peepers spring to life.

“Pandemic” hints of “panic”;
Also “pandemonium.”
But here, now, across our space
I take your virtual hand.
Together, we raise glasses.
One leaf trembles on the pond
Then becomes perfectly still.

Balcony concerts in Italy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBByYjjvNzs

Europeans Under Lockdown Are Singing Together and Giving Their Health Care Workers Citywide Ovations: https://slate.com/culture/2020/03/coronavirus-quarantine-singalong-ovation-applause-italy-spain-bella-ciao-volare-nessun-dorma-verbena.html

From Patricia Cota-Robles at the Era of Peace: https://eraofpeace.org/blogs/news/a-positive-opportunity-involving-caronavirus

       

       Blessings to all of my friends around the world. Stay safe, stay well, stay home - but send your love and light around the world to keep those bridges strong!