Soil-less Gardens
A LESSON FOR THE TEACHER
by C.G., Illinois
I just wanted to share my first experience in using the garden principles in my classroom. I took a job this year teaching at-risk, poverty level pre-schoolers who, as one could guess, are very needy children. I love what I do, but sensed that the classroom just didn't feel right. I didn't feel connected to the room; it felt agitated. I would come home from work every day exhausted. I would literally have to lie down because I felt so drained, and my need for essences was higher than usual. After watching Working with Nature in Soil-less Gardens I decided I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by going through the Energy Cleansing, Battle Energy Release and Balancing and Stabilizing processes. I pulled out my Workbooks and dove in. I'm pretty sensitive to feeling energy changes, but don't want to go into that because I know it doesn't make a difference whether I "feel" it or not. My awareness is not a part of these processes — they just work. Having the ability to feel and see changes is a plus for my awareness, but the work being done is so much bigger than me. After a little over an hour, I was done. I let it go.
Not three hours later my boss called me at home. This alone is unusual because she prefers not to deal with work after-hours. She said she was thinking about me and my classroom with more than its share of behavior-problem children. She asked me if I would like a third staff person in the room who would help with these kids. She also said that she would start working with the psychologist and parents to get counseling for the children. I gave her a big yes and said thanks. I couldn't stop smiling.
The next day at work felt wonderful. My assistant teacher was full of energy and useful help. This was far from normal! Now, a weird thing that I do when energy is clearing up is burp. I can't help it; it's embarrassing, but true. I burped the whole day like a beer drinker does after a good swig! But then, that night I got a mild stomach flu—enough to call in sick the next day. I slept most of that day like I was run over by a truck.
I thought I had failed. I thought I wasn't good enough in doing the processes. That night my boss called again. She had had to sub for me because a lot of teachers were out sick, and coverage was slim. After spending the day in my room, she asked if I wanted the walls painted because they were a depressing color, and she was having the rug areas cleaned. She wanted to know if that was okay with me. So I smiled again. If I hadn't been out sick, she wouldn't have been there to experience the room.
I know I worry too much and sometimes don't take my own advice. I don't know the reason I got sick. But I do know it was part of a larger plan. These nature processes are powerful beyond my beliefs. I guess that is the point!
Perelandra Voices 2001
