The Healing Gift of Flowers

During this time of lock down, lots of people are responding in positive ways in order to cope in their personal lives with the challenges, and to help those less fortunate. Although the media is full of stories of the difficulties, there are lovely heart-lifting things being reported too, and many interesting programmes to watch.

This time of year is Chelsea Flower Show time in the UK, and some years ago I had the joy of actually physically attending the Chelsea Flower Show and will never forget that experience. Since then, I have enjoyed the comprehensive coverage on television and all the stories behind the show gardens and beautiful flower exhibits. (On television, we can view everything close up without the crowds!) This year, of course, there is no live show, but we have had the opportunity to see some of the best of past years, and enjoy an infinite variety of flowers.

I am very fortunate to live surrounded by beautiful countryside and this spring, now merging in to what is becoming a glorious sun filled early summer, the flowers in the fields and hedgerows seem more lovely than ever, bringing even more delight than usual at this time of our national crisis. I am certainly valuing flowers even more than ever before, and the healing gifts they bring with them. I think that as we look at their exquisite form, their delicate petals, and inhale the scents of summer, we can be lifted out of our concerns and truly comforted by the beauty of God`s creation. All nature reminds us also of the eternity of life and this in itself is comforting. The outer form is ever changing, but there is always a new bloom, a new discovery as we look around us (or watch inspiring nature programmes on television), to delight and uplift our hearts.

In our book THE QUIET MIND, White Eagle tells us of the heavenly garden, which he calls 'the infinite and eternal garden', for indeed one of the divine laws of life is 'as above, so below'. He reminds us not only of the beauty of this heavenly garden of the spirit, but also of the companionship we can experience there. He says:

'Around you and above you, is a beautiful garden of the spirit; from this state of life, with its beauty and peace, and the love of its inhabitants, we draw close to you in your physical life to help you. We come to raise you above the limitations of pain and grief, into that true home, that heavenly life from which you have all come, and to which you are all journeying.'

So, even if you are unable to walk in a physical garden, I do hope you will receive many healing gifts throughout the summer days ahead, from contemplating inwardly the flowers in the heavenly garden, and looking at beautiful images of these very special manifestations of the beauty of God`s creation.