The Garden

In the garden of my life
I'm done with anger, done with strife.
I cultivate my own few joys
far from this culture's buzzing noise.

Colonnade and marketplace,
fame's small change and money's race,
academe's cold haughty tower --
have no meaning, hold no power.

Letting go of shoulds and oughts,
I concentrate on greener thoughts
and find as I fulfill my soul
that things spin calmly in control,

that though events conspire still,
they tend to bend towards my will.
No greater cause achieves the measure
than that of my own reasoned pleasure.

'In the Garden' by Peter Saint-Andre

Dharma is a Sanskrit word meaning "the right way of living" or "life's purpose". In a spiritual sense it can be considered "the way of higher truths".  The Garden is both a virtual space and a real place and this where the seeds of my Dharma have been sown.  I am the gardener, constantly moving between the two, nurturing and feeding Dharma so that it may grow and develop.

My life's purpose is to inspire and help others from a place of creativity, healing and growth - my garden.  Creating through art, crafting and photography. Healing through Reiki and other energetic and complementary therapies. Growing through life and style coaching and my devlopment as a gardener (both in the real and virtual sense).

The Dharma Gallery currently shows a small selection of my artwork and photography and I have plans to expand this in the future.  'Silver Bells and Cockle Shells' is my recommendations on a variety of books and resources that I have found particularly useful. I have found many great websites over the years which reflect my interests and I have shared these with you here.  These links appear under the relevant headings of 'creativity', 'healing' and 'growth'.  There is also my weblog where I record my thoughts, ideas and progress on life in the garden.

I hope you enjoy visiting my garden and will find inspiration here.  As with any garden, there is always new growth appearing, as well as essential pruning and weeding to be done. So I hope you will enjoy the garden as it changes and develops.  Your comments are very welcome - I would love to hear from you.

"A garden recreates itself daily; we seldom step in the same garden thrice." Michael P. Garofalo

"Don't underestimate the therapeutic value of gardening. It's the one area where we can all use our nascent creative talents to make a truly satisfying work of art. Every individual, with thought, patience and a large portion of help from nature, has it in them to create their own private paradise: truly a thing of beauty and a joy for ever. " Geoff Hamilton, Paradise Gardens

"A garden is the best alternative therapy." Germaine Greer

Comments

[Reiki chakra]

I have had many good experiences with reiki. I am a reiki teacher myself and teaching this wonderful knowledge is a gift of itself. Keep on with the great writing and I wish you all the best in the future. / Elsa 

[Clive Birch]

Hello,

I've just created a new Facebook Group celebrating CHARLESTON HOUSE in Sussex, England, the extraordinary weekend retreat of the Bloomsbury Group and of course, Virginia Woolf...

There is a wonderful garden which I thought would interest you too!

It would be great to have you along as a member!

Membership is free, just go to:

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25717926050&ref=share

Sincerely,

Clive.

Or for further information, contact me at clivebirch@gmail.com