It takes time for a garden to grow. There are so many things that require tending in a garden. Weeding, watering, planting, tilling, fertilizing, pest control, thinning and pruning are just a few things that a gardener has to practice and consider. Life is much the same. In order to make room for new things to grow in our lives we have to find space for them - which means weeding, tilling, thinning and pruning our emotional and spiritual garden. Once new things have been planted, they must be fed and nurtured - fertilized, watered and kissed and caressed by the sun. We all know that you can't plant a seed today and have a harvest tomorrow.

The traditional imagery of the 7 of Coins shows a man leaning on his hoe in deep comtemplation of the coins growing on the bushes in front of him. Will the harvest be what he expects? Will there be enough to meet his needs or is he seeking profit? Will he sell what he cannot eat or eat what he cannot sell? Will the weather be on his side? Are these the fruits of a goodly tree or of a poisonous one? What has he planted? How long has he been waiting? How much longer will he wait? What threatens his harvest? Despite all the questions and the wondering, he can only reap what he has sown.

It is like the story of the farmer whose corn always took the first prize at the local fair. He had a habit of sharing his best seed with all of the neighbouring farmers. When he was asked why, his reply was simple, "It is really a matter of self-interest. The wind picks up the pollen and carries it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, the cross-pollination brings down the quality of my corn. That is why I am concerned that they plant only the very best."

The Incas of Peru had an old expression, "The flowering of my tears". This represented the time of fulfillment which came after a long period of difficulty, loss and sorrow or a time of deep purging and purification. Our tears are continuous water for the Earth. We have cried and washed our souls clean with our tears. We have let go,
reliquished, refused to dwell, released negative emotional patterns, forgiven and persevered. We have passed through the fiery baptism of rebirth and the healing of old angers and resentments. We have survived the spiritual emergency of the dark night of the soul. Now the flowers start to grow.

These aren't normal flowers. They are the most sacred and beautiful of all flowers. Flowers which have grown after we have passed through a time of struggle and pain - these flowers of our tears are the flowers of Wisdom. They are the beauty we are keeping from the past and the wisdom of the sorrows we have risen above. These are not flowers someone can bring you in a lovely bouquet. These are the sacred flowers of your soul and they will produce sacred seeds - the best of the beautiful.

When the winds blow and the harvest is reaped, what kind of seeds are you sharing?

ABOUT Cheryl Lynne Bradley