Happy June! Time of the Summer Solstice, weddings, graduations, and of course, Fathers Day!
If you haven’t noticed, the nurseries are packed with people buying all their garden needs to plant vegetables and flowers! You don’t have to be an avid gardener to appreciate this aspect of Mother Nature. A simple walk-through a garden to see, smell, and breathe in all the gifts that Mother Earth gives to us, will suffice.
Even in the cities, there are areas dedicated to gardens. The New York Botanical Garden, for example, is a designated national landmark located in the Bronx, spanning some 250 acres. The Garden offers classes for kids, and even features a famous Italian chef, Mario Batali, who has an organic vegetable garden and teaches cooking classes.
With Fathers Day coming up, maybe consider giving your father or father figure something different, like a free cooking class, or guide to organic cooking. Just a thought!
I’ve found that one of the best ways to honor someone we love who is in Spirit, is by doing something that they loved to do, while keeping them in our thoughts and heart. If your dad or other father figure is on the Other Side, consider honoring him this Fathers Day according to the role he played in life. If he was a fisherman, maybe do some family fishing as you send out your thoughts of love. If he was a baseball fan, think about going to a professional or local baseball game, or just having a catch with someone, in his honor.
If your dad is in Spirit, I’m sure he’d also love to see you bring in a vase of flowers and place them strategically near his picture, or on your window sill, or in your back yard, as you send him thoughts of love. He will hear you. This holds true even if your dad, or grandfather, or uncle, or other father figure was not so enamored with flowers during life. It’s the thought and love that count. Of course, if your father figure was a farmer, a planter of tomatoes, roses, or whatever, the connection to Nature will be even more obvious.
I had a client whose father, during life, had over a hundred tomato plants. He shared them with everyone. With those he didn’t give away, he made tomato sauce and soups! He also was very upset that the canned bottles of sauce never made it back to him! I remember him because he let me know he planted even more tomatoes than I did! His daughter and I had a huge laugh over that. I saw her many years later after our session and she remarked, “Remember me? I’m the one whose father had more tomatoes than you.”
I have no doubt that all of you who were locked up this long winter, are beginning to do all the things you love to do in this beautiful Spring that will lead us into the summertime. Take a break, you, you earned it! I’m betting that some of you will have the urge to play hooky from work or daily routines, just like when you were a kid.
I for one will be following my own advice, and taking a break, as my garden beckons with a call.
