Spirit Garden
I walk the garden throughout the day
Spreading compost, sprinkling water, speaking words of encouragement
To tender sprouts of lentils, scarlet runner beans, and squash.
Sunflower soldiers stand sturdy and tall along the edge
Keeping watch over stout tomato seedlings and sprouting onions,
Cheering on canteloupes, watermelons and sunny strawberries.
I kneel to bless a tiny shoot and it responds with blessings of its own
Promises of produce bursting with the energy of Earth, Air, Sun and Water.
Spirit is here so what do these plants need from me?
Sitting back on my heels, I sink my hands in the warmth of the garden
Sifting the soft soil between my fingers, smelling the damp aroma of compost enriched earth.
A bead of sweat slides down my back as I survey the wonders around me.
I realize what the garden means to me, what it needs.
It lifts my soul and connects me to Spirit making us one.
In gratitude I gift the Spirit Garden with care and love.
Kathy O’Dwyer is the ranch manager for Aravaipa Canyon Ranch, a retreat center in Arizona, a Reiki Master, a massage therapist, and a student of shamanism. Through her writing, Kathy not only found her voice, but also a life of grace, purpose, and fulfillment. At the age of 56, Kathy followed her soul to Aravaipa, where she enjoys a blend of working with like-minded groups, organic gardening, daily ranch operations, and writing. She is currently developing writing activities for youth at Campo Urbano, an organization supported by the Easter Seals/Sage Foundation in Tucson, and is working on a book chronicling her adventures in the Sonoran desert, as well as a book of poetry. Kathy posts once a week to her blog, www.breathofblue.com.