It is remarkable what we can learn from observing Cookies Weed; how nature can teach us so much about ourselves. My continual interaction with the soil; healing the soil; growing food and constant energy exchanges have become a meditative process and experience in itself. I’ve learned, continue to learn and have gained insights to verify words of wisdom that have been shared throughout the generations – that the soil and natural creations are indeed a reflection one to another. The more I understand the natural processes at play in the soil, of plants and even extended creations, the more I understand self. The soil and all dynamics involved in its bringing forth of abundance have become a representation of my inner landscape, my inner world.
What are Weeds?
The farmer’s task of removing the weeds from among her plants can sometimes be a tedious chore, but nevertheless one that needs to be done. A farmer does not like the sight of weeds in her garden. I can attest to that! Apart from looking unsightly, weeds are those plants that were never a part of the farmer’s gardening plan. They are deemed ‘the unwanted ones’. An eggplant tree growing among some lettuce is a weed. This may at first be the most difficult to comprehend. However, if it does not serve the objective of your intended lettuce harvest, it is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Weeds compete with your intended crop for vital soil nutrients, for water and for space. If allowed to proliferate weeds prevent your plant from flourishing, from growing to its full potential and from bearing fruits of the expected quantity, size and quality. In cases of serious neglect weeds can dominate your garden, preventing the requisite sunlight and air from penetrating your plants. If this is allowed to occur, a farmer may need to seriously consider finding another livelihood!
Internal weeds
How does this aspect of the farming dynamic unfold in our daily lives? And a more specific question, what thoughts, habits, actions in your lives imitate weeds, and how do you identify them? We can safely say that any of these that cause distraction, enable procrastination, steal your energy, cause you to feel and be stagnant, prevent you from blossoming into the person you truly are and was born to be should be considered weeds.
Do you harbour unforgiving thoughts, angry or selfish thoughts, thoughts of unworthiness, and have an insistent need to always be right? Just like weeds in the garden, some may be easy to identify as unwanted patterns of thinking and living. There are those however that would require deep introspection and reflection in order to become aware of a thought pattern or behaviour that does not promote your growth and creativity, neither that of those in your sphere of influence. And mind you, a weed never wants to be recognized as a weed at the risk of being uprooted- so is true about egocentric or egotistical formulated thoughts and habits. Just like the eggplant in your garden of lettuce, the thought of removing one thing that is seemingly harmless may be one that has to be pondered – that is when the overall vision of your garden/of your life must remain in focus.
The refusal to forgive does not support you in your positive life pursuits though it may cause you to think it’s serving a good cause – protecting your interest in some way. How noble of it! That spirit or energy of holding on to a negative memory instead robs you of time and vital energy that could have been used to promote your growth, not only in a material sense but your ability to truly have peace of mind, be happy and express your own creativity.
What weeds are preventing you from being the best mother, father, wife, husband, sister, brother or friend that you can be? At times we tend to blame the actions of others for our own unhappiness or stagnation and for preventing our garden from flourishing. It is only when you give more thought to this that you realize how absurd that manner of thinking really is – relinquishing all your power to an external force.
Like weeds, negative thoughts and habits left unchecked will thrive and become more ingrained if given space, time and opportunity to take deep root. These become the hardest to remove. These take more energy, continuity and diligence to uproot. A wise farmer is one who ideally removes her weeds at first sight though seemingly innocuous.
Removing our own weeds is a responsibility we all must approach with gladness. For in so doing, much like the farmer who understands she is giving her crops an opportunity to flourish and eventually have a bountiful harvest, you too will create a space to allow more peace, love and creativity to give rise to greater self expansion and a bounty of blessings.