I was in my new veggie garden this morning and was astounded by the substantial growth in the seedlings planted only a few days before. What struck me the most was how much these plants clearly want to grow. They are doing what's most natural to them, what they are designed to do... to grow generously, bloom and seed for the next generation! Particularly if they have all the supportive elements such as nutritious soil, sunshine, water and space to accommodate their growth.
As part of the vegetable family, lettuce are rarely rated the hero of the dish compared to say the avocado, tomato or basil. The leaves are the humble, yet essential ingredient of salad and rarely do we see it flower. As gardeners, we believe the lettuce is ripe for picking when its heart is full and firm, but in truth, it has whole new towering heights to develop. Until I made this essence, I never knew lettuces flowered. When the flowers do arrive, it's usually due to either a neglected garden or a wise gardener seeking seeds to harvest for the next crop.
What does this demonstrate and symbolise for us; what lessons can we derive from the humble lettuce?
The stems of this lettuce appear blotchy, bruised-like purple, which indicates the presence of pain and struggle when we actively resist or oppose this natural force of change and growth (growing pains). However, the confident yellow flower triumphantly emerges as incentive to embrace growth and its potential rewards.
I found it interesting that the day we made this essence coincided with the launch of the first album, I Dreamed A Dream for Susan Boyle. Susan is a Scottish born singer who won the hearts of millions when she enthralled us with her amazing voice on Britain's Got Talent in 2009. Believing herself to be of below average intelligence, she did menial work. She loved to sing and would perform at small venues. Throughout her life she was bullied, mocked and gained the nick name of "Susie Simple". Susan's mother urged her to try out on the highly rated show despite abandoning earlier attempts due to her lack of confidence. Susan has carved out a hugely successful career as a singer on the world stage. Later she found out her condition was misdiagnosed and she has above average intellect. In that moment, before the world, she moved from being perceived as ordinary to extraordinary. The flower within her bloomed, despite the enormous battle she had faced along the way.
I feel strongly that the courageous story of Susan Boyle and her successful launch, correlates with the powerful message the lettuce relays.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to develop, to be with the force, without impediments and delusions of our true talents and value; to constantly grow, unfolding greater attributes and expressions of love. But surrendering, going with the flow is not something we historically embrace readily. Often our choices become our worst own enemy.
Jesus on the resistance to growth,
"there will be a lack of joy and happiness, a lack of connection and stimulus, which means there is a lack of passion, direction and action that will keep people lost. The song in their soul, in their heart is silenced. There is a loss of hopes and dreams and desires."
- resisting love and truth, especially God's version of love and truth
- avoiding developing a personal relationship with God
- rejecting loving support, guidance, nurturance and protection
- resisting confrontation of falsehoods
- resisting emotional awareness and expression (lack of humility)
- being intellectual only - falsely believing the mind has greater power over the soul and emotions
- lacking trust and faith in our most natural processes
- avoiding risk of mistakes even though mistakes are an essential part of growth (skepticism, cynicism)
- ignoring feelings of pain, dissatisfaction and un-fulfilment, which are natural promptings for change and growth
- ignoring dreams, desires, longings, passions and curiosity
- unwilling to confront addictions to comfort, of status quo - same old, same old, no rocking the boat, even though the current state hurts like hell
- conforming (sacrificing) to family, friends and societal demands, expectations and versions, rather than embracing own unique desires, passions and direction
- refusing to forgive, apologise, heal trauma and loss
- refusing to take responsibility for our choices and desires
- resisting higher learning about the ways of the universe
- resisting risk, experimentation and exploration
- resist becoming awareness of ourselves; our unique nature, abilities, addictions, childhood injuries, unloving behaviour, shame and disappointments
- living in the past - reminiscing and nostalgic - pining, being addicted to happy or unhappy memories to avoid present situation and future potential
- restricting and controlling others free will and curiosity
- choosing stagnation by limiting choices, avoiding opportunity and the Law of Attraction (eg solitary, living in cave, introspection)
- choosing short cuts, quick solutions, short term effects to avoid feeling emotions and discovering real causes
- failing to learn from and implement the soul lessons
Some of the ways we can embrace growth are (I've noticed big shifts when I apply these):
- will-fully opening our soul and passionately desiring to receive God's love and truth
- praying directly to God to help to grow attributes, ie courage, faith, humility, honesty, patience, compassion, love for truth,
- positively addressing the above-mentioned blocks
- embracing and surrendering to the natural positive force of change
- engaging positive will, desires, passions, curiosity and creativity
Divine Growth Essence - Movement Vs Stagnation
Personal Experience: I began to feel sad that I had become desire-less, passion-less and lost. I had become stagnant and in pain (physically and emotionally). I didn't know why this was happening but obviously I didn't want to know.
I prayed and told God how I was feeling and asked her to give me a hand to grow my desires. I then connected to the essence of Divine Growth. I began taking 8 drops twice per day for about a week.
After the first dose, a growing awareness of the nature of my stagnation developed and I realised how much over the past months I had settled into some sort of quasi-comfortable place... a this 'ill do place. I had ceased doing activities that nourish me; like long walks on the beach or rain-forest, reading or watching educational programs, photographing and writing. I had also become reclusive. I was choosing not to challenge my little box by questioning or being emotional. I just didn't want to feel anything other than superficial comfort. I was going to work, coming home and plopping on the lounge and that was it. I was actively blocking my personal growth.
Even though over recent years I had been learning a lot of new stuff, I was keeping it predominately intellectual by failing to put it into emotional practice. No feel, no growth!
As Divine Growth Essence took up a greater residence in my system, I connected to painful feelings of failure, of disillusionment, of shame and the exhaustion that holds these in place. I was sick and tired of trying to engage my desires - only to fail again. I was throwing a tantrum, angry with God, believing that she was ignoring my prayers and it was pointless to continue any efforts because my desires were seemingly unimportant.
So I owned up to these feelings with God and asked her to be with me while I expressed and processed. I was using my will to avoid the pain of feeling terrified of failing and... succeeding. For I felt totally inadequate of doing this work, that God had made an error in giving me this love of flowers and healing. I felt abandoned by God. I so desperately wanted short cuts, someone else to do the work, to tell me what to do at the same time desiring the glory of it.
My addiction of self punishment wanted to kick in but this time compassion quietened its ranting.
The accusations and blaming I have towards God are simply untrue. God doesn't support addictions and remains steadfast until I'm willing to accept her truth. I'm learning through repeated experience that God is an awesome, loving parent, who wants me to learn the ways of love and truth and be responsible for my creations. God is also incredibly patient and compassionate. God knows everything about me and the qualities she's placed in my soul and therefore has absolute, unwavering faith in me. Its me who doesn't have the faith or the trust. Its me who abandoned God.
I love God for being such a loving, ultra-wise parent. She is soooo very cool!
As this process began to clear, my curiosity grew, more questioning began, I wanted to learn more, do more, create more. It suddenly became intolerable to live without a garden, something that has always been so much a part of my life. I prayed for God's help with this and a couple of weeks later I moved into a new place with two garden spaces for me to play in. So many other things began to change.
Assistance: The Divine Growth Essence reflects God's Foundation Principles of Development and inspires us to grow awareness of our opposition to them and what this opposition causes and the effects. And encourages engagement of will to face upwards with desires and longings. It also reminds us that we can ask God to help us grow our courage and other attributes that remain underdeveloped within our soul. God wants to help us grow with her nourishing love and perfect laws.
I'm curious to explore God's truth of the connection between the causes of physical problems and the principle of development. Such as growing pains, tumours, development defects and other abnormalities. I'm coming to understand God's way is perfect and precise, its us who cause the errors.
There's an old saying "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink". I feel certain that the Divine Growth Essence and other One Garden Essences inspire, encourage and support, but its us who has to decide and act...or not. Our self determination is in our hands; surrender to the loving force of change or oppose it and suffer the consequences. Not as punishment but as the cause and effect when there is an absence of love and truth.
Who may benefit from Divine Growth Essence?
People who are suffering from: apathy; laziness; stubbornness; long-term pain & suffering; growing pains; repetitive negative patterns; stuck/stagnant; indecision and feeling uninspired.
Spring is the season of inspiring natural growth, fueled with fresh life energy and vitality. Despite these natural promptings, we can suffer greatly from our falsehoods and addictions. We can let our dreams live under our bed, so that's when we can benefit from Divine Growth Essence given from God's inspirational garden.
Related Essences - Divine Expansion, Unfolding Potential, Divine Perseverance, Divine Liberation and Divine Foundation.
May we be more humble to the force; work with the force of life, of development, of change. Because its painful not to. And we risk missing out on the potential of greater experiences of joy and happiness. We are created and designed perfectly to grow. Take actions, risks, explore, experiment, embrace mistakes and persevere.
Maybe we've got to be more like the lettuce; so excited, embracing the force of life and change with all our will and passion, facing upwards towards the brilliant source of all light. Allowing and opening to God's love, to generously pour in, to nourish our soul with the greatest natural food for transformational growth.
I notice that every time I receive Divine Love, I notice significant changes occur within and around me. Things improve and become easier.
Thanks to the lettuce - from small things big things grow.
May your soul-garden grow with love; I will leave you with these words on growth and stagnation from Jesus.
With Love,
Christine