The Meditation Garden Project Is Also A
Spirit Of The Earth Foundation Project
Photo courtesy of Donna Shoemaker
For many years, I have been envisioning a garden designed in the shape and associated colors of the Sephiroth on the Tree of Life. As you know, each of the divine attributes contains profound insights into the human condition, and implications for healing
and transformation-both personal and planetary.
In an ideal scenario, this sacred garden would be located on about one acre of land. Each Sephira (represented in a section of the ten areas of the environment) will be planted with flowers, plants, shrubs and small trees that reflect the energy of that emanation. Stones and fountains will add to the message coming from each zone, with moving water reinforcing the sense of the continuous spiraling movement that is integral to the system.
While the schematic will be grounded in classical Judaic concepts of the Tree from the Zohar, the assignment of symbolic colors and gem stones will include contemporary insights and the work of mystical scholars from other traditions.
The personal, physical experience of the garden is meant to be accessible to people of all backgrounds, much as the labyrinth has become in recent years. In that respect it will honor the presence of the Tree of Life in many ancient cultures.
It is our belief that the wisdom of the Kabbalistic tradition can be absorbed directly through nature. In fact, that direct absorption was the goal of the great Kabbalistic teachers of the past - who saw it that process of being like” taking in mother’s milk”.
We anticipate that the garden experience will ultimately be self-guided (with materials and recordings offered) For the first year or two it would benefit from the presence of teachers providing guidance, and developing the meditations for each region.
What is vital to the launching of such a major project (which has not been done anywhere yet with this kind of detail ) is a site with suitable land, and access to resources for creation & maintenance. Once the model is a reality, it could be patented for distribution to others who might wish to replicate it - possibly on a smaller scale. (In that respect it could become a valuable investment)
and transformation-both personal and planetary.
In an ideal scenario, this sacred garden would be located on about one acre of land. Each Sephira (represented in a section of the ten areas of the environment) will be planted with flowers, plants, shrubs and small trees that reflect the energy of that emanation. Stones and fountains will add to the message coming from each zone, with moving water reinforcing the sense of the continuous spiraling movement that is integral to the system.
While the schematic will be grounded in classical Judaic concepts of the Tree from the Zohar, the assignment of symbolic colors and gem stones will include contemporary insights and the work of mystical scholars from other traditions.
The personal, physical experience of the garden is meant to be accessible to people of all backgrounds, much as the labyrinth has become in recent years. In that respect it will honor the presence of the Tree of Life in many ancient cultures.
It is our belief that the wisdom of the Kabbalistic tradition can be absorbed directly through nature. In fact, that direct absorption was the goal of the great Kabbalistic teachers of the past - who saw it that process of being like” taking in mother’s milk”.
We anticipate that the garden experience will ultimately be self-guided (with materials and recordings offered) For the first year or two it would benefit from the presence of teachers providing guidance, and developing the meditations for each region.
What is vital to the launching of such a major project (which has not been done anywhere yet with this kind of detail ) is a site with suitable land, and access to resources for creation & maintenance. Once the model is a reality, it could be patented for distribution to others who might wish to replicate it - possibly on a smaller scale. (In that respect it could become a valuable investment)
Spirit of the Earth is a Charitable Trust Federal I.D # 77-0427003 and Organization # 1789501 in the State of California