Chapter 2 - Part 2 - The Heart of the Garden

The main path led into the garden straight ahead for a bit and then came to a circle. In the center of this circle was a circular flowerbed with an old bronze fountain in the center. The fountain was still flowing but just barely. The algae hung off the sculpture in long gross strings, strangling any cascade of water and masking the fountains appearance. The pool at the base of the sculpture had a soupy green consistency and smelled of rot and stagnation. The question was posed, “What shall we do here?” I replied, “Let me stop here and fix this before we proceed so the sound may bring joy to the rest of the garden.” I quickly found a bucket and drained the stagnant water from the fountain. I looked around for a place to refresh the fountain and clean it with fresh water. I found an old fashioned hand pump tucked into the landscape nearby. After pumping out some old rusty water that had sat in the pipes way too long, the pump gurgled and spat and then gushed forth pure clean water. In fact as I filled and refilled the bucket I found the purity of the well water quite remarkable. I carefully cleaned and scrubbed the fountain removing all the debris and slime. It was a stunning bronze sculpture of three graceful swans, wings arched back and heads positioned in such a way that they all aimed their water spouts directly up. Balanced on the outstretched wings of these graceful swans was an innocent child standing in a sort of ballet type stance reaching joyfully toward heaven seemingly caught in a moment of sheer joy. I thought how amazing this fountain must look when functioning properly, the child in complete harmony with the swans as he seemed to dance in their spray, water raining down around him. Now with the sculpture exposed and cleaned I felt anxious to fill the fountain and see it in proper operation. I pumped many buckets of pure clear water from the well and once I had filled the fountain to a proper level the pump gurgled a couple times and almost instantaneously the fountain exploded back to life. The sound of the cascading water seemed to sing out through the garden, echoing out across the whole valley. The weak flow I had found was now a mighty fountain, alive with joy and life and sound. “Much better,” the Spirit whispered, “Let us now venture further into your garden.”

At the fountain the garden path circled around and had four distinct paths heading in each of the directions of the compass, North, South, East, and West. We had just come from the South, where the garden gate and the shady lane were. We continued around the heart of the garden, the Fountain, and walked toward the North path about 20 feet or so. There were enormous hedges surrounding the Center, Heart Garden and Fountain with large arches carved out at each of the four paths.

Chapter 2 - Part 1 - The Garden!!!

The Spirit seemed to beam with joy and welcomed me home to my garden saying, “We have missed you here. Welcome home.” We embraced, my physical and spiritual presence and my guardian Spirit, and we revelled in the joy of our reunion and our unity. We stood at the entrance of this great garden and gazed over the large garden full of plants. Color radiated everywhere and the magic and splendor of the garden still defy description. At a quick glance it was beautiful, alive, lush greenery and sculpture from this vantage it was obvious this garden was expansive as we stood at the most elevated spot in the garden. As I looked closer at the garden though, giving it a thorough examination, I realized the garden had been quite neglected for quite some time. It was now very overgrown and unkept and was merely a sliver of its former splendor that I now remembered.

I stepped in to examine the garden further and immediately encountered a rose bush. It was leggy and overgrown and it was covered with tiny burgundy single wild roses. I immediately felt I was being asked by the Spirit to make a decision. You see the branch extended over the granite paver path making the walk impassable. “Should we cut the rose canes out of the path, walk around them, or hack the whole bush down?” I thought a moment then responded, “Let us walk around this bush today. Let us examine the garden together and appraise the work that needs to be done. Let us enjoy the sacred moment of reunion and let us spend some time getting to know the garden once again. I have been away far too long.” So we walked gingerly around the wild rose. As we did so the Spirit pointed out that this rose had originally been one of my favorite, planted near the entrance to inspire all as they entered my sacred space. I replied, “I do not recall planting a burgundy wild rose here?” The Spirit whispered you did not plant a burgundy rose here. You planted a stunning white rose called ‘Honor” here and it is still here but its wild roots have overtaken the true rose.” I made a special note to return and carefully prune out the wild and find the good true rose canes once again.

We continued deeper into the garden and I can not justly explain in words the beauty and the bounty of color that surrounded us. Despite the gardens neglect, it had managed to survive and in many places it still thrived and had maintained some of its planned glory. Much of the soil was dry though and compacted and many plants showed signs of lack of nutrients and others looked wilted and strained. Rubbish and rotting leaves made the ground look cluttered in other places. Other places had become infested with weeds and other areas had either become completely overgrown or simply died all together.

Poetry of Life Series - The Full Soul

Why does each step seem forsaken,
Why has the past been so rough?
Why is my heart still broke and aching?
Nothing to nothing... to dust.

When will the willing be worthy?
Why must the worthy be shy?
What was the purpose in loving?
Empty to Empty... to Die.

Purpose, some have it, most do not.
Values, their random, at best.
Judgments, like weeds, seem to thrive here.
Worthless more Worthless... I guess.

What is my purpose in writing?
Now I don’t even bother to rhyme.
Typing and talking and searching.
Whoops, I think I just missed... my line.

Oh why is my mind so damn random?
Why must my thoughts never end?
What do I hope to accomplish?
Greater and Greater... The End!

written 4/29/08

Chapter 1 - Part 5 - The Gated Entrance

The spirit assisted me and we pulled back the ivy, similar to drawing open curtains. The curtain of ivy gracefully pulled back to reveal large ornate gates framed in by a massive stone arch in the wall. I eagerly went to open them, but was alarmed to find them tightly locked. I stood there puzzled and the Spirit communicated to me, “You are the only one who knows where the key is. Look deep within for it.” I wanted so badly to be inside this gate and to discover what was behind this great wall. I had never desired anything more in my life then to be on the other side of this wall. I felt completely at a loss of where to start looking for the key and the discouragement quickly crept into my heart. I felt like this, the thing that I most desired, laid only feet away but here I stood blocked from receiving that which I so knew I needed. Just when the discouragement felt like it would overwhelm me, I had a thought of pure light. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that there in the leaves just inside the gate lay the old rusty key. I reached through the gate but fell just short of reaching the key. I desired the key so, so badly it hurt and I felt another wave of desperation and panic at the thought of not being able to get inside these great gates. I madly grabbed a stick and used it to rake at the earth beyond the gate and after a brief struggle I obtained the key I so desired and dragged it into my reach. I quickly inserted the old key into the rusty lock. It was hard to turn but after a little jiggling and twisting the lock turned with a great creak. The latch opened and the great gates began to slowly fell open with deep, aching groans. Since the gates were set inside an arch in the tall brick wall, I couldn’t see in yet for on the other side of the gates hung the same overgrowth of ivy that had blocked the gates on the previous side. The spirit and I each grabbed some vines and we parted them. The view that I saw as that ivy parted changed my life forever. Tears overpowered me as I gazed through the ivy curtain because I knew instantly the place that I saw on the other side of the great wall. I knew this place well and the Spirit placed its arm around my shoulder and let me savor this tender moment of reunion. I knew this place for I had built this place, an exquisite garden, The Garden of my Heart!