The Garden in the Heart
A different mindful practice
I’ve recently heard a new phrase: garden in the heart. In case this is also new to you, I wanted to share about this beautiful garden. This garden is a new way to think about the heart. Also, if you want to go deeper, it can also be a kind of mindful practice.
A lot of times people focus on their heart center or heart chakra. We get advice from religious texts and leaders, from our parents and teachers, etc. about being loving and compassionate to others. Hopefully, we are also being urged and reminded to be loving and compassionate to ourselves as well.
What is the condition of your heart center? How open is your heart? Do you have emotional wounds that require healing? Is your heart thriving or merely surviving?
I’ve spent 4 years healing from grief after the death of my mother and grandparents. I’ve had to work on healing these heart center wounds. The wound has gotten much smaller, but I know that some healing remains to be done.
How often do you listen to your heart? Do you put your hand over your heart to feel your heartbeat? That’s one thing I remember about citing the pledge of allegiance in elementary school. It often gave me a brief moment to feel my heartbeat.
While tuning into your breath can ground you into the present, I have found that focusing on your heartbeat can be equally as grounding. The heartbeat is constant just like our breath. The heartbeat can ground us in our bodies just like our breath. The heartbeat can bring us back to the now moment.
This mindful practice has you tune in to your heart. We reap what we sow. What have you been planting?
The Garden of the Heart Meditation
Start by getting comfortable. You can either sit or lie down whatever is best for you. Close your eyes and place a hand over your heart. Focus on your heartbeat. You may breathe normally or you may find yourself naturally slowing your breath down. Focus on the rhythm of your heartbeat for a few minutes.
Next, picture your heart as a door. This door will lead to a magical garden. The door can be of any shape or size. For example, it can be a hobbit door or it can be a medieval castle door. Approach the door and notice light coming from under the doorway. Notice by the light and fresh air that the garden is being nourished no matter its condition. On the other side of the door is the garden blooming in your heart. Now open the door and walk into the garden. A mist blocks your view at first but gradually dissipates.
Now you can get a good look at the garden. Take time to walk around the garden and inspect the flowers. Are there many flowers blooming? What kinds of flowers are blooming? What are the colors of the flowers? Are there any flowers that look like they need more water or fertilizer? Are any of the flowers dead?
Also note if the garden has any birds, butterflies, or other animal or insect visitors. Are there any architectural elements in your garden such as a trellis, footbridge, or gazebo? Every detail about the garden in your heart holds meaning. However, it is up to you to determine that meaning. This is just a quick glimpse.
Once you are done exploring this garden, stand in the middle and reach your hands out in front of you. Speak to flowers and thank them for their beauty. Make promises to the garden if it looks like it needs extra care. For instance, you can say that you will set better boundaries so the flowers don’t get trampled again or that you will stop denying the whispers of your heart so that your garden can flourish.
As with all meditations, this is a deeply personal experience. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Follow your intuition.
Once you have finished talking and making promises, it is time to leave. You retrace your steps back to the garden door and exit. You will once again find yourself in the present moment. Before you open your eyes, once again focus on your heartbeat. Thank your heart for the work that it does physically, emotionally, and even spiritually for you. This often brings me a warm sensation or even a smile. After that, you can open your eyes.
If you are working on healing a specific issue, you can record what your garden looks like in a journal. Repeat this meditation as you see fit and continue recording the state of the garden in your heart. This will allow you to see how the flowers and other aspects of the garden change over time.
I hope you have this information on the garden in your heart interesting. If you give this meditation a try, I hope you find it helpful. We can gain valuable information by tuning into ourselves.
