Just listened to one of my favorite podcasts (www.awakenedwomanselfcare.com ) as I weeded my garden. Their guest, Asia Suler (www.onewillowapothecaries.com ), was talking about the capability we all have of connecting to plants on a healing level. I have not explored this intimate level of relationship with my plants, but I am open to the idea. They are, after all, living things. And I certainly feel a consistent sense of calm and peace when I am among them that is hard to replicate in less natural settings.
Asia also highlighted the importance of playfulness. A sense of fun, doing silly things, thinking funny thoughts, smiling, laughing all are an important part of who I am, and how I need to relate with the world to feel happy and balanced. I live with two teenage daughters. If you don’t have teen girls, they’re a pretty serious group, at least ours are. My epic jokes and clever witticisms are usually met with groans and eye rolls. I remember being their age. I was not very playful (at least with adults), but I am grateful I am now.
Another important idea Asia discussed was the concept of “nice girl” vs. “kind woman”. This was intriguing to me. A perennial “nice girl” myself, I know the trap of people-pleasing and dis-empowerment enveloped in that characterization. Asia offered an alternative of being a “kind woman”. It’s a subtle shift, maintaining the integrity of the essence of “niceness” (kindness) without allowing others to take advantage of you. And of course, the acknowledgement that a person is an adult is respectful and empowering.
Thank you Christine, Emma, & Asia for sharing your conversation with us. If you have not checked out this podcast yet… I invite you to do so. No need to listen in chronological order. They vary greatly, so if one guest is not holding your attention, I urge you to try another. Here is a list of my favorite episodes:
Living in Alignment With the Magic of Earth
In my childhood I spent part of my summers and Christmas vacations at my grandparents house. I love my grandparents, who have since passed, and hold these memories dear. Time with them included lots of singing, story telling, exploring nature, ice-cream sundaes, Yahtzee, puzzles, dressing up, antique-ing, Masterpiece Theater, and playful bickering (between the two of them).
They had a large property that I loved to explore with my sister, their dog, or on my own. My gram taught me the names of the flowers and the birds, which I still know to this day. My grandpa identified all the trees, which I am less good at doing myself. However, he instilled a reverence for them, and my heart hurts when I see healthy trees being cut down as I know his did too.
Talk of tomtes, elves, fairies, and Santa Claus were woven through much of our conversation. Surrounded by antiques, nature, and a genuine belief in magic by my grandparents; it was a natural I followed suit. I would imagine a fairy had just fluttered away from a shaking fern frond. Or my grandparents’ cat and dog would converse after we had left the room.
I posted recently that I believe in love and motherhood, which is true. Along with that, I believe in nature and magic. I thank my dear Gram and Grandpa for highlighting the importance of both of these for me. I delight in the beautiful cloud formations, reflection of the moon, and glimpses of colorful birds. I also believe there are forces at work which I can not explain. I like that. It keeps things interesting–imaginative and awe-inspiring.
As an adult I have combined these two passions in the form of fairy gardens. It started several years ago, and has blossomed into much of our backyard. There are two small girls that live next door to us (on our other side is my grandparents’ former home). It makes my heart sing when the neighbor girls’ grandma brings them over to see the fairy houses and flowers.