Joann Calabrese - Growing Mindful

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

Growing Mindful: Explorations in the Garden to Deepen Your Awareness 2021 by Joann Calabrese.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any unauthorized usage of the text without express written permission of the publisher is a violation of the authors copyright and is illegal and punishable by law.

First e-book edition 2021

E-book ISBN: 9780738764832

Book design by Samantha Peterson

Cover design by Shira Atakpu

Interior art on pages by Llewellyn Art Department

Plant illustrations by Eugene Smith

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (Pending)

ISBN: 978-0-7387-6477-1

Llewellyn Publications does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.

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Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

2143 Wooddale Drive

Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to Samuel Copeland, whose wisdom, love, and support graced my life for too short a time. Your presence made the world a better place. You are missed.

Deep gratitude to family and friends who have been cheerleaders, advisers, proofreaders, and problem-solvers throughout this endeavor. I couldnt have done it without you.

Disclaimer

The information presented here is based on my relationship with plants. It is gleaned from my observations, experiences, the books I have read, and the garden lore passed down to me. None of my stories or experiences with plants should be taken as nutritional or medical advice. Consult with your healthcare practitioner or an herbalist before using or ingesting any plant or herbal product that you are unfamiliar with. Caution is advised when using or ingesting new plants or herbs, especially if you are prone to allergies.

Contents

Green World Explorations

: Sensory Explorations

: Movement Explorations

: Creative Explorations

: Elemental Explorations

: Explorations of Connectedness

: Deeper Explorations

Plant Correspondences
as Mindful Focus

: Dandelion and Resilience

: Apple and Imagination

: Stinging Nettles and Prickly Gifts

: Rhubarb and Duality

: Marigold and Optimism

: Purple Coneflower and Boundaries

: Motherwort and Courage

: Amaranth and Grace

: Borage and Wildness

: Clover and Nurturing

: Garlic and Confidence

: Rose and Tradition

: Bindweed and Tenacity

: Crocus and Hope

: Rue and Warding Off

: Clary Sage and Clarity

: Lemon Balm and Renewal

: Rainbow Chard and Beauty

: Lavender and Kindness

: Bee Balm and Whimsy

: Radish and Accomplishment

: Iris and Transcendence

: Strawberry and Heart-Centeredness

: Flax and Serendipity

: Black-Eyed Susan and Justice

: Ladys Mantle and Solitude

: Raspberry and Birth

: Mullein and Gentleness

: Sunchokes and Community

: Fennel and Illumination

: Daylily and Impermanence

: Collards and Dependability

: Pole Beans and Exploration

: Yarrow and Healing

: Beets and Balance

: Comfrey and Strength

: Fungi and Connectedness

: Mums and Transition

: Pumpkin and Abundance

: Tomato and Shape-Shifting

: Sage and Wisdom

: Rosemary and Ancestors

: Cosmos and Infinity

: Hops and Power

: Violet and Hidden Treasure

: Basil and Harmony

: Burdock and Purpose

: Sunflower and Guardians

: Butterfly Weed and Essentiality

: Calendula and Creativity

: Eggplant and Mystery

: Snapdragon and Joy

Moving Forward with Remembrance

Introduction

This book is a doorway to awareness of the flow of present moments. It does it in the most enjoyable way I know: through the garden and the green world. This is not a book about how to garden, but one of mindful explorations in the garden. Mindful explorations are activities that help us tune in to the present moment, using the garden as a portal.

Its funny how our minds conspire to take us any place but that flow. We try to nail things down with labels, replay the past, or envision the future. Often, just the act of being in a garden or in the natural world can help our brain calm down, allowing awareness to seep in. We intuitively sense how beneficial this is for us, as people naturally seek out parks, rivers, mountains, and other green spaces.

This book begins with the basic understanding that the green world facilitates focused attention. Then we take it a step further by providing the tools to work with the green world in a more active, direct way. The activities in this book are designed to help you open doorways to awareness on a more consistent basis.

When we are in the flow, moments open into infinity. Poets and philosophers have often described this state of waking up. While viewing a field of sunflowers, inhaling the fragrance of a rose, or planting a seed, something shifts. We become fully present to the immenseness of the universe, simultaneously understanding our small place in it and our relationship to all that is.

There are a host of books that detail the physical and emotional health benefits of mindfulness, but many try to despiritualize the practice. This strikes me as odd. If spirituality is tuning in to our connection to something greater than ourselves, then mindfulness is a spiritual practice. Its a remembrance of who and what we are.