I ordered a bulk pack of bare-root cottage garden plants in the autumn and put them straight into the soil, totally ignoring the instructions to put them in a smaller container and ‘pot them on’ after the frosts had passed. I was impatient and bunged them straight into the soil as soon as they arrived in October.

Fast forward to this early summer- unsurprisingly they didn’t flower, not one! I was gutted. All that work and effort, digging in the cold weather for nothing!!! After I sat down and had a cuppa, I thought about it- if I’d planned it better and taken my time to plant them in a smaller container first, rather than rushing it through, I would have seen a different result. The roots would have been protected from the frost, and by now I would be looking out of my kitchen window to a beautiful cottage garden, full of delphiniums, lupins, hollyhocks, and other bee-friendly plants.

The urge to rush just to complete a task and tick it off my ‘to do list’ ended up being less productive than if I had taken my time and done it mindfully. The old adage ‘more haste less speed’ can definitely be applied in my case. I had doubled the amount of work involved, not to mention the expense, as I had to buy the same plants from the garden centre, fully grown.

For many of us, myself included, we feel that our days must be productive and that jobs must be done so that we don’t fritter our time away. What gets missed is the joy of the process, the wonder of the experience. If I had planted the border consciously, according to the instructions, paying attention to the sight of the plants, the smell of the soil, the feeling of the mulch, and the whole experience, I would have had the amazing experience of being ‘in the moment’ and the relaxation and calming which that brings, plus the gift of seeing the plants grow gradually through the following months.

There’s a great sense of fulfilment from finishing a task, but an even greater one if we allow ourselves the opportunity to carry it out in a mindful and present way.


Crystals to help with mindfulness and patience

Amethyst - helps you to connect with yourself and become calm and balanced.

Fluorite - helps you to calm your mind and focus.

Affirmation - I am peaceful in this present moment.

Author

Sally saw Angels as a child and could occasionally see and feel people who had passed over. This ability grew as she got older and she now gives readings, as well as channelling Ascended Masters. She often works with Mary Magdalene and channels information from Lord Kuthumi. She is available for readings and spiritual development sessions both online and in person (heaven2heart). 

Sally Heart