Growth

A meditation on Plants and horticulture.

What is the practice of recreation? Its properties can be abstract, unique, individualistic, or communal. Something that brings human beings together or fuels the isolated nature of an old soul. A solace, sometimes even an escape from the ordinary stipulations of life. A time for when people can “Re- Create” themselves. In this process of “Re-Creating” I have witnessed the birth of insight in clients. The spark that elicits the change in behavior, the perseverance to endure life’s hardships and the courage to act for what matters most to them. The process of growth, in human beings is a biproduct of stimulus, tolerance to resistance and consciousness. It’s in the aspect of consciousness where we observe, deduce and look inwardly. This experience has been pivotal in countless health progressions of clients and also me. As the old adages goes “Experience is the best teacher.” I’d like to propose its predecessor as the thesis of this blog post, “Nature is the best teacher.” Here are a few things that nature has taught me during my brief observation on horticulture and plants.

Once again, I am not an expert, intermediate, and wouldn’t even call myself a novice in this field, I am wading in the waters. I am the beach goer that slowly advances into the gentle shore break of a coast and enjoys watching others engulf themselves into the sea, that is my metaphor on the extent of my plant and horticulture knowledge. So how then could I conjure some comparisons through observation? By witnessing metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is ubiquitously abundant in nature, from the seed into the tree, caterpillar into the butterfly, wandering bystander into grounded expert. The progression is natural in nature, but in human beings, social groups and even philosophy, its adoption is something of the supernatural, the mystical, the divine. Our own doubts of humanistic growth sometimes shun our belief in the changing of one’s mind. What about metamorphosis in human beings is metaphysical to us? The unknown. Not the unknowns of space, the voided depths of the ocean or spiritual plains. The unknowns within, our own individual chasm.

The Lesson: We have always had the strength, the cure, the remedy within.

I don’t know how to explain it without sounding grim. Eventually we succumb to life’s wounding. It’s inevitable. Either from childhood or through our adult years it gets us. It always does at some point. Aging, gravity, loss. Our invitation to the suffering is undated without an RSVP or location, but we know, in our being, it is there. As these wounds of life lay into us, they are slowly callousing us, inviting us to grow, to change, to learn. Observing the beautiful processes of propagation amongst plant hobbyists has taught me this. The splitting of a part to become whole again. The host undergoing some sort of noxious stimulus only to grow stronger and duplicate a chance at life for another organism. Sometimes the conditions are ripe, other times they are not ripe, but the plant has the ability within to sustain, to last, to endure. We see it in hallmark movies and Disney quotes, and it sounds cliche, but I believe it in my being to be true. We have always had the capability for growth, and it is likely innately dormant in us, waiting for the right conditions.

Community: Bigger than a tribe, tighter than a society.

Sometimes I analyze things too much. As Freud says, “sometimes a Cigar is just a Cigar.” In many facets of my life, I hold this to be true. Sometimes we do look too deep into things, and that “we” is my ever-present neurotic self. Observing festivals, plant swaps, community events and gatherings I have noticed a few things that transcend the echo chamber rantings of political extremes. At a superficial glance I see the natural order as a capitalistic society would see it, people gathering to make money or trade commodities, then there is something alien to me, something more visceral, community. I witness people from all walks of life gather and conversing about strengthening their horticulture skills. Experts in the community, retired, with everything in the world, still lending their precious time to aid a fellow community member. Race, creed, affiliation, it doesn’t matter, none of that matters at these events and within this community. What matters is the spark that other hobbyists and horticulturalists transmit to other practitioners. The exchange of knowledge, past mistakes in pursuit of excellence, empathy and growth. It could be just a bunch of likeminded fools mingling in the pursuit of their own selfish hobbies and vices but then why provide free plant cuttings and supplies, house someone for days to help them save costs, travel with them, drive across a state to meet someone they’ve interacted with over the internet, lend hours of advice and tutelage for free? Where is the gain in this? I struggle to look inward and really find the answer as it is likely multifaceted within the plant enthusiast community but what I do know is it is a community. A tribe is often exclusionary based on criteria, societies shift and change over decades and centuries, but a community can be withstanding, built by altruism.

You are not what happened to you, you are what you choose to become.

I have known this phrase from some time, used it also for some time. It’s a great way to look at the past and decide whether or not you want it to influence your future. This leads to my final point on horticulture and what I feel is the best translating action with this hobby and lifestyle. The practice of growing plants, propagating, cutting, trimming, rehabbing is all in the moment. The past is something that is seldom introduced in conversation and in practice, simply put, it is irrelevant. It is a place where lessons are learned, suffering is endured and not a place to live. They do not live in the past because all of the beauty is in the present and perhaps if fate allows the future. New growth from the woundings of the past, solid roots in the present and a potential bloom for the future. This post does not do justice on the healing that horticulture can do and the lessons that it holds. After all, nature really is the best teacher.

Things I have been doing.

6 am Bjj, Pondering learning the piano, going to plant shows and observing these marvelous people.

Things I have been reading.

Love’s executioner- Yalom

Songs I’ve been listening to

Higher- Tems

Mandolin rain- Bruce Hornsby

Got Till it’s gone- Janet Jackson