Symbolic Living » nature

Gardening for Balance in Life. Motivation and Inspiration.

Symbolic Living — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:31:46 +0000

Have you ever felt out of balance? Sure, we all have. There are days when any on of us may just feel under the weather and we can’t quite figure out why. It feels like there’s a weight on you; not just on your shoulders but inside your body. You may not even feel tense or evidently stressed, you just feel heavier overall.

It usually has a lot to do with things in the back of our mind. Remnants of the past or worries about the future all rolled up into one. All those things that you are hemming and hawing about having to do, but aren’t quite motivated to do now will surely turn your procrastination into depression. Being in a funk is not fun.

A lot of people work in an office, or from home, or in some way are strapped to computers, paperwork, a desk, or some related form of confinement. Others have more flexibility but still have a hard time finding motivation at times with so much on their mind, all the responsibilities seem overwhelming all at once leading to immobilization.

Well, there’s an easy solution to brighten your day. The key is to do something different. Not as a distraction to prolong your procrastination, but to shake up your energy a bit.

Starting a small garden of flowers and plants, potted or in your yard can get your energy moving. Choosing the plants you like is up to you, just go with what catches your eye and livens your senses. Fragrant flowers will also lift your mood. You can even start a few seeds like easy to get apple seeds, beans, herbs, vegetables. Transparent cups lined with paper towel lets you see life beginning to take root. Watching seeds grow is the magic of life before your eyes. If you already have a garden it may be time to give it some tender loving care for the sheer pleasure of it. Add some new plants and flowers to renew the vibe of your garden.

The point is, spending time out of your brains regular routine of recycling ideas and worries will give you an internal shift that will help you get back on track and motivated in life. What gardening will do is take your mind off your own worries and put your thoughts and emotions towards caring for something else for a while.

The pruning, the watering, the dirt, the fresh air, the colors, the fragrance, will literally shift your consciousness.

Not only is it fun, but it’s rewarding. Gardening is tending to your personal needs as much as it is the needs of the plants. You’ll create a bond with the earth, your body, and the process of organizing will give you a sense of feeling more in control of what you’re doing in a holistic, enjoyable way. This will elevate your mood and your sense of accomplishment and capability. You’ll feel more inspired to see how you spend your time in a new way and will become more motivated to spend more moments of your life in a more consciously directed way.

Gardening, and tending to your plants will stretch you to understanding your environment and allow you to be creative. Even caring for one plant with attention and mindfulness will give you a new relationship with the earth and yourself.

Plants symbolize a connection with the essentials of life revealed in the beauty of the life force.

As your garden grows and flourishes, and you continue to visit it to renew your energy, you’ll find it becomes a sacred act of self-care.

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Through the Wormhole: What are we really made of?

Symbolic Living — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:28:08 +0000

Morgan Freeman hosts Through the Wormhole.

In this series of video’s the exploration of our universe asks “What are we really made of?” This series also explores CERN. You can find out more about CERN discussed the Symbolic Living Forum as well.

Scientific discoveries of the mysteries of nature, never ceases to amaze us. This series goes deep into seeking what is happening within subatomic particle levels of existence. Find out more about matter and anti-matter.

“This piece of engineering is a miracle, it is the pyramids of our time.” ~ About CERN

We did have a video series posted entitled Through the Wormhole: “Science and God”, however the video’s were removed from youtube.

“Through the Wormhole: What are we really made of”. Enjoy it while you can

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Eat, Pray, Love

Symbolic Living — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:53:13 +0000

Eat, Pray, Love is a movie you must see. It’s a movie where you’ll leave the theater feeling light, alive and inspired. You’ll walk out feeling different. As a friend who also saw it said, “I feel changed.”

We don’t want to give away the storyline details, but will let you know what kind of experience and impression you’ll have watching it.

It’s more than a movie, it’s the experience of life. When you watch Eat, Pray, Love it feels a little slow at first, and you may be unsure if you’ll like it. There have been some less than pleasing reviews by some critics, and some people say the trailer looks boring. After watching it though, it’s difficult to understand why.

Honestly, after watching this movie you’ll see others, and yourself in a new light. Eat, Pray Love reflects back to you, the beauty of humanity, the beauty of yourself, and the beauty of those you love. It’s a movie that is awakening.

The main character Elizabeth Gilbert played by Julia Roberts you’ll love, but the other people she meets along her journey are also so interesting you’ll care about them as much as you do her.

We’re so used to going to the movies to see films that lack any depth of meaning. This film turns that all around and brings you back to seeing the magic of living. This movie also had a quality to it that wasn’t based on things such as synchronicity, and doesn’t feel at all like a “new age” movie whatsoever that can sometimes lend a flavor of flakiness to movies intended to be meaningful. It’s unpredictable, unlike so many movie scripts, because real life is unpredictable. This movie is about a life adventure that re-awakens purpose and meaningfulness. It’s about the complexities of living that blossoms into beautiful experiences and self-love and awareness.

There is much symbolism and meaning with Elizabeth’s experiences, but it’s not overdone, it’s authentic.

There are many small messages of wisdom brought up that happen through Elizabeth’s journey from New York to Italy, India and Bali. What an experience. Each person has something unique to offer her and she soaks it all up, and in return gives what she can as well. It reveals the value of human interaction and shared living.

This movie has what so many movies these days are lacking. It leaves you feeling self aware, and full of loving kindness. Eat, Pray, Love has the quality of magic that moves you. You’ll leave the theater feeling the way a movie should make you feel – moved, alive and inspired.

The director, Ryan Murphy, creator and director of Glee, did an amazing job keeping the story feeling real and inspiring, rather than cliche, corny or flaky. This movie is anything but corny. Seeing the “chick flick” previews before this movie started, is like night and day.

Highly recommended. One of the best movies that are truly meaningful you’ll have seen in a long time.

This movie truly captures an essence of what symbolic living is all about.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Through the Wormhole: Science and God

Symbolic Living — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 20:35:20 +0000

Morgan Freeman introduces us to science’s glimpses into God.

Through the Wormhole:

“Collosal beauty. Awe inspiring intricacy. Are the wonders of our universe a cosmic accident or the result of intelligent design? For centuries religion and science were bitter foes, now science actively searches for our creator.

Some physicists think he might be in the math.

Neurologists think she might be in our brains.

And, computer coders think God is one of them, and that our world is nothing more than his simulation.

Space. Time. Life itself. The secrets of the cosmos lie, through the wormhole.”

We’re sorry, these video’s have been deleted from Youtube, Instead

Check out Through the Wormhole: What are We Really Made Of? here

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Summer Solstice 2010 – Stonehenge

Symbolic Living — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:23:24 +0000

Happy Summer Solstice Everyone

It’s the longest day of the year. Celebrate and enjoy the sunshine.

Enjoy a little Stonehenge History.

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Now – Dave Carroll

Symbolic Living — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:22:07 +0000

Beautiful Song. Enjoy.

Now

When there’s no way out there’s still a way through
So don’t give up whatever you do
Surrender to moments and things as they are
From the gaps in your catch-22’s
When there’s no way out there’s still a way through

Cause Now’s all there is
So peaceful and still
In Now you don’t worry ‘bout what’s happened or what will
Cause Now never ends
And Now’s never been
And all of your answers are waiting for you here Now

When your world stands tough and weighin’ you down
And you’ve had enough of this merry-go-round
End your resistance to walls you won’t move
And runnin’ through old déjà vu’s
When there’s no way out there’s still a way through

And when you don’t understand
How things got so far away from all you planned
And your life it feels so hard
In your fragile house of cards
Turn to your cornerstone when you’re tired and feel alone
To find your way through

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Feng Shui Wisdom – Lucky Bamboo

Symbolic Living — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:35:38 +0000

I love bamboo and at this time of the year I usually buy some to bring an auspicious energy flow into my home. Bamboo is the primary, or at least best known, plant used for improving Feng Shui energy flow.

In the picture you can see the red string that ties the bamboo stems together. This is also part of the practice of Feng Shui for auspiciousness. Also note odd numbers are positive in Feng Shui lore.

I once had a friend who loved to buy goldfish for their Feng Shui effects, but she never took into account buying bigger tanks for all the fish she brought home, so I ended up buying tanks, equipment, and became the caretaker. I fell in love with their unique personalities as much as she did. Odd numbers in goldfish were her reason for buying more, regularly.

Interestingly, I just learned with my recent purchase of bamboo that Lucky Bamboo is actually not bamboo, but Dracaena. I thought I’d pass along that interesting bit of wisdom.

Besides Feng Shui, bringing plants into your home is great for purifying the air of toxins and bring oxygen into your space. Not only do plants look good, they also make you feel good.

Plants are really important in Feng Shui by bringing in the energy of the life force into your area.

The shape of plants is important. Plants like the Dracaena (bamboo) are upright and have pointed leaves so have a Yang energy. Place them in the south as well as in corners where they can move the energy. Plants that are more round and hang are considered Yin and do well placed in the north for a calmer energy.

If you don’t take good care of your plant and it gets sick, it will create energy in your space that is stagnant.

Cut plants may be beautiful, for a while, but are dead. Choose living plants that are potted instead.

More on Feng Shui and plants to come soon. Stay tuned and bookmark Symbolic Living.

Namaste.

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Guerilla Gardening

Symbolic Living — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 23:51:12 +0000

Guerrilla Gardening is something wonderful I have just discovered, and also had the opportunity to participate in. I fondly remember the one outing I had planting native species in every nook and cranny I could find.

Should I bother to explain? My last line of the last paragraph is pretty much the essence of Guerrilla Gardening, to my knowledge anyhow. I am about to read an article about the subject, so maybe soon I will be better informed as to the intricacies, if they exist, of my newfound rebellious approach to saving the planet. Maybe someone out there has some experience or knowledge to share?

For now, I will share what I know by telling about my recent dip into the art of Guerrilla Gardening….

My boyfriend and I were set to help out some local schools and community groups plant trees. When we showed up to plant, we found ourselves walking along a nature path in a forest in order to find our comrades. To our surprise and disappointment the group was planting under the canopy of a perfectly happy forest. There was the occasional field, but as I understand it, fields are important to forest ecosystems because they allow for light loving species to grow and feed the other animals that rely on them.

When we inquired as to the strange location of the tree planting endeavor we never received satisfactory answers. It seemed as though a surplus of trees had been handed down from somewhere and needed to be used up. This is just my assumption, but it was all very weird indeed. Anyway, the two of us helped out for a bit, but very much felt that our efforts were futile and could be better used elsewhere.

We carefully wrapped 7 saplings into a sweater and armed with a shovel and a truck (yes, I’m sorry, a truck) we ventured to find areas in need of trees. Our first stop was an old gas station lot that had been cleaned up and given a fresh coat of dirt and turf. We gave 4 trees a new home in the lot.

Next came a stretch of grass near the highway that was looking rather bare. Following this, one tree ended up in my father’s yard, to replace the magnificent beauty of a pine that had been unnecessarily cut by hydro workers, and the last into a pot to in our apartment until we can find a suitable home for it.

So there you have it. My brush with Guerrilla Gardening; small, short lived, but very satisfying and quite possibly addictive.

Planting native species wherever you see fit is a euphoric way to feel like you are actively making a difference. I say spread those seeds, plant those saplings and get your friends to help you out!

For now, I’m going to read more about my new found extra-curricular activity and if anyone can share some wisdom on the subject I would be delighted to read it!

~ Leisha C.D.

Check this video out for some inspiration on starting your own Guerilla Gardening.

You don’t have to go as far as this guy did. He took it to the next level and went all out! Just throwing a few seeds into an area is awesome enough to make a positive change. It’s always nice to go back to a place and see that you made it a little more beautiful and alive. Do what feels right and good.

Guerilla Gardening

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Earth Day 2010 Reverence for the Earth

Symbolic Living — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:06:53 +0000

Earth Day is a time to remember our connection to the earth, the importance of life and our relationship to the world around us.

In many world cultures the world is seen as a testing ground, or a place to learn about ourselves and our souls. But sometimes the focus is so much on humanities personal missions and an afterlife, we can lose reverence for the earth and lose our experience of now. The world is much more than a place where we simply use to our personal disposal for our own benefit. Many people believe we have dominion over the world and are superior to all else that exists in the world. In that effect humans take on the dangerous position of having the right to do as we will with the earth without considering the bigger consequences for our actions. This has lead to devastating results. The environment and life in all it’s forms are affected by our decisions, and the actions that result from choices. The environment is polluted in a myriad of ways every day. Animals are slaughtered in the billions for human consumption with little consideration for their experience as living beings as a part of the earth. This is the result and expense of disregarding the value of earth as little more than a tool at our disposal for our own benefit.

There’s another view of the earth. A more holistic approach to seeing who we are as part of the world rather than simply on the earth, we are a part of its expression.

There is a view of the world, nature, the entire universe and all that exists within it as being as much a spiritual part of reality as the human soul is. This view see’s the world, and all sentient, living beings as being a part of the All, the universal Divine reality. That All, is considered God. Rather than the more common perception in our culture of God as a far off, distant force or being in a heavenly realm, the Divine is considered to be All that exists, and we humans are part of that expression, as is every other living being in existence. Therefore, the entire world, all the plants, animals, every atom that exists to create the air we breathe, all the insects, the radiant sun, all of it considered to be the Divine expressing itself so that it can know itself through experience.

Volcano in Iceland

In this, Nature is viewed not as something we use and abuse as we wish, but as sacred, and the world is honored. In all that we consider other than ourselves, is considered to be the greater Self. All the parts we consider as separate, independent parts in the universe, are actually a part of the whole, the Oneness.

Going green is a step towards honoring nature. Sure, many consider going green as a fad, and we can see businesses are using it to their advantage, but the bigger picture is nature is finally, in our culture, being seen again as being more important than our own selfish desires. People are finally moving more into understanding the harmony between who we are with the environment as being vastly important.

Volanic electrical storm from the Iceland Volcano

There’s still a long way to go. More people are waking up to this fact, but many are still perceiving themselves as more important than anything “not” themselves. I still see people throwing coffee cups, among many other things, into the street before they get on the bus. Just one simple example of mindlessness that occurs when we’re in our “own little world” instead of seeing the bigger picture of our actions.

Philosophies or theologies of Pantheism, Paganism, Druidry, Taoism, Hinduism, Native traditions, animism… can often seem foreign and non-desirable to many Western minds, however their underlying theme is based on the reverence for the earth and life and understanding the Divine expressed through the creation, as well as the evolution, of the universe.

The Earth is a place that has been here long before you existed and will remain long thereafter, but every person has an impact. Every choice made influences this world. The world and humanity are not separate. Humanity can not exist without the environment.

Honor the air you breathe, the water you drink, the blue sky you see, the birds you hear, the flowers you smell, the herbs that heal your body, the sunshine that warms your skin, the bee’s that pollinate your food. Honor life, Honor the Divine through honoring the world. This manifestation we call the earth is so grand, so beautiful, so intensely mystical in our experience of reality when we connect to it, realize it, and acknowledge it’s magnificence. Enjoy it. Love it. Revere it for the reality it offers to you to experience.

Whether you believe in creation, or evolution or something else entirely it does not matter, for the world is here regardless of what you believe. It is here and you are here and that’s real. The world is where we live, it’s where we are experiencing life, right now. The importance of all life, right now and throughout all your life, is worthy of our reverence and respect. It is a divine manifestation you have the pleasure of being a part of.

We love flickr. There are so many beautiful photographs of the world and the experiences in it to enjoy. Some of the images linked to in this article are from a nature group we encourage you to check out.

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Happy Spring

Symbolic Living — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:20:26 +0000

This Easter weekend I had the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and go for a nature walk with friends. Many of the flowers haven’t bloomed yet, but some are starting. This is the first time, in a long time, I’ve really appreciated the power of Spring.

For years, Autumn has been my favorite time of year. The air gets so crisp and fresh, the colors, the earthy fragrance from the tree’s, leaves and grasses.

This year, Spring has arrived with flowers on my mind. Hyacinths, Crocuses, Tulips, Daffodils, and many I know not the name, are starting their journey towards the sun. This year, spring has really caught my attention, unlike I have remembered for many years.

The sun is rising earlier and setting later. Easter has arrived and passed and now we have the warmer summer months to look forward to in the Northern Hemisphere.

When I think of plants and how they strive towards the light it makes me think of the intention of Yoga and Kabbalah. Both are ways of seeing and experiencing a connection to the light. As above, so below, the ancient axiom that heaven and earth are connected. Recently I was reading a bit about Yoga and it’s purpose. In the West Yoga is often considered mainly as a physical exercise to stretch and strengthen the body. That however, is work on the biological form. Yoga is much more, not only does it affect the mind, but it’s very purpose is for spiritual union with the divine. I’ve read, Yoga is about the human tapping into that spiritual energy force and bringing it down to the earth. Like being a conduit of the spiritual world and connecting the earth to the light, and vice versa.

Similarly, Kabbalah or Qabalah in the esoteric sense, explains the process of creation of the Divine into the physical world from the spiritual subtle worlds and humanities climb back up the tree of life towards the originating source, the light.

When I look at the flowers blooming in spring, the birds arriving with their songs, I see the manifestation of the Divine, the life force. Flowers show us the beauty of light, and what light and earth produce together. They are like an expression of a Divine Union of elements manifesting themselves in the most artistically pleasing expressions of the senses.

It is endlessly fascinating how nature is coded with such complex signatures to bring forth the most creative and inspiring works seemingly without effort for our delight and opportunity to experience.

If you’re ever feeling down, or disconnected from yourself there’s nothing like really appreciating nature. There’s so much to experience in nature, yet every day people are stuck to their routines and busy, hectic schedules. Life passes us by when we don’t take the opportunities and prioritize what’s really important - I mean, what’s really important. Life and enjoying it.

Step outside on a sunny day and enjoy the art all around you.

To me, nature is symbolic of the Divine. People think the Divine is so far away, but to me, it’s all around us. You just have to see it in the everyday things we take for granted. It’s always there.

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