Guided By My Jade Plant



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I don't know about you, but my house plants at this time of year are huge, abundant, and HEALTHY. The Christmas cactus looks like it can't wait for the holiday, the dracenas and philadeldrons are all over place and the jade plants are rivaling the trees in the yard, especially the one on the east wall in the kitchen. I think it reaches more for the sun every early morning. My son Carl was so taken with her on his last visit that he asked to be bequeathed her in my will!

Well, I don't know whether the plant was listening to Carl or not, because last Thrusday after watering I heard a loud crash in the kitchen and you guessed it, the jade had fallen, or perhaps the term " exploded" would be a better description. I was stunned, upset, forlorn and helpless as I stood over her scattered branches. When I pulled myself together, the only thing I could think to do was to gather all the parts and place them in a cardboard box just to protect the tender leaves as I sorted out my plight.

Was this disastor a sign? Was I being warned? Always my first step when I feel I've gotten a sign is to consult my Ted Andrew's Nature-Speak book. Jade was not listed, so I had to go to the larger category of Cactus. The "keynote" was: "adaptation, find and express the beauty and strength in all conditions."

Well, my first step of adaptation was a trip to the local garden center where I was told the cardboard box was a great solution while the raw ends calloused. The victims soon would be ready for new pots and time to root and grow. I bought new pots, and when ready, I did the planting, ending up with five plants instead of one.

My next adaptation was for me, the owner and keeper of this beautiful jade tree that had lived with me for at least forty years(YES, I WAS UPSET) to figure out what my jade was trying to say to me. You see I've been living an amazing life of guidance from animals, birds, flowers, trees, numbers everything. And believe me "everything seems to have a voice!" Sometimes I hear the directive through a a phrase or sentence, and sometimes I need help. It's become a very sacred science of me knowing that I am being shown something about my life by some very Divine companions leading me forward. So you see, I now know the jade is a new escort wishing to advise me. Time to contemplate.

I thought of the plant when I watered it. I noticed that it was larger and a little unsteady in its pot, but I fidgeted with it a bit and called it "fine"! Wasn't fine was it? Obviously was out of balance, and over extended for its present pot. Hm!

Time to get honest here. How am I feeling? A Bit out of balance and too much for my spot in life? Yeah. A little too true. Too much to do. Going in so many directions. Wanting to do everything, see everybody, branching out. Pretty powerful isn't it? And I've got to admit it's painfully clear. And isn't it interesting that I ended up with five new plants, and five is the number of change. Am I being advised to change?

This definitely will deserve more meditation and contemplation, but in the meantime I am alerting you to look, listen and see what is speaking to you for your well being. The messages are truly a gift. Ted Andrews says: "A great and ancient energy is at play. It reminds us that true growth is usually slow but steady, but we must adapt and not try to force it."
I stand advised and grateful.

And probably by the time that my will is vital, Carl will have his choice of five large and gorgeous jade trees carefully cultivated and well in balance for their pot!

The Blessed Harvest



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So here we are into the new year, at least the end of the summer and the beginning of the fall in my part of the world. I feel the newness so strongly with the academic year beginning. I live next door to a school, and the return of everyone to begin again, changes the energy on my road to a high degree!

Our weather right now in Southeastern Pennsylvania is awesome. The beauty is at as high a place as I've ever seen. It creates a feeling of gratitude in me that is even hard to express. As I meditated today, the thought of "harvest" came into my mind (that mind that is supposed to empty and be quiet!) What an amazing gift life is. We get to plant our seeds, whether it is for the creation of home, the creation of relationship or community, the growing of food, the growing of the Self. Then we get to cultivate. And, if we have done all that work (process) well, then comes the chance to harvest.

Sometimes the seeds have been seeds of growth, and sometimes seeds of change. And sometimes the seeds of change are seeds of growth! Closing the door can be as creative as opening it. I guess you could even say that harvest and beginnings are synonymous for a student reaps the results of past school years as he/she moves onto the next level of learning.

I wish you, me and the planet at whatever phase, a marvelous and abundant harvest. Bring it on!
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