Backyard garden, early Autumn |
Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary
of life. -- Rachel Carson
We all find our gardens in life where and when we can. Now is the time when I imagine that our gardens have thoughts of summers turning to winters yet to come, of springs to look forward to and then, yet more summers to count on. Somebody asked me the other day about my spiritual beliefs. I thought a minute and said, well, I think I'm becoming a Pantheist. You see, I think of a garden as a living, breathing sentient something...an entity born and bred and cultivated and nourished with a gardener's love and vision. And I wonder, are we so different from our gardens? Like them, we nourish and are nourished, love and are loved, bloom with beauty, then wither. We go on with varying measures of consciousness through life's seasons, like our gardens. We learn that when one thing ends, we slide into the next thing, and then the next. All of it following like day into night and back again. We learn to look ahead and up for the next beautiful and inspiring moment to gently nudge us on in life's journey. We find places and spaces that help set us on the path to Wisdom's Edge.
Red Rock Gardens
Such a place is the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park (http://www.tara.org/visit-us/amitabha-stupa/) . I found this rock there on our last hike. I thought to myself, why yes, I know what that means. I too feel feelings I forgot whenever I visit that place of beauty in the red rocks of Sedona.
The ruggedly beautiful and inspiring Stupa grounds connect with several hiking trails that are easily accessible, free and lead to vistas allowing unobstructed views of what seem like hundreds of strings of prayer flags floating in the air. Open from dawn to
dusk, free and gloriously welcoming, this Peace Park is a kind of secret garden offering pilgrims a stellar show of earth's beauties and mysteries. Some have compared it to healing sites like Santuario de Chimayo in
Northern New Mexico or Lourdes, in France.
Inscribed rock found at Amitabha Stupa |
Visitors to the Peace Park and Stupa |
Prayer Flags Flying
On auspicious days of the month like full moon
times or in certain seasons, this sacred garden becomes a little livelier with
ceremonies, chants and prayer flags ringing out into the rocky red hills that form a
kind of natural amphitheater around the Stupa. Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion,
strength, and wisdom. The prayers blown by the wind spread good will and blessings, becoming a permanent part of the
universe as the
images on the flags fade from exposure to the elements. Then new flags are added alongside
the old, a symbolic act of acknowledging life's changes and a greater ongoing cycle for all
beings. When I see a row of flapping prayer flags, I acknowledge this ancient wisdom and remember
I have the power, and maybe the duty, to add my highest and best
energy to the store of blessings that have taken wing for the
millions who need to receive these prayers.
Buddha, cairn, flags |
To The Four Corners
Backyard garden with prayer flags and chimes |
I enjoyed this meditative post, Melanie. Very appropriate for the turning of the seasons...
ReplyDeleteGreetings Anne and thank you so much for your comment about meditation and turning of seasons. Here in the high desert of Sedona we are beginning to feel the crsip mornings and lazy afternoons in a big way...tell me, what's it like over there...I have a 'visit to Scotland' on my bucket list and hope to get there sooner than later. Sending all good wishes.....
DeleteLove it!!! Can't wait to come visit! xoxo
ReplyDelete