Mindful Gardening Newsletter No 59

Sacred Geometry, Community and Seed Sowing

It’s been a while since I wrote the previous edition of Mindful Gardening. The weather here in Ireland for the previous three weeks has been glorious and together with Lennon we were engaged in getting the garden ready of my 70th birthday garden party which I missed because of the outbreak of Covid19.

One of the key intentions of creating this garden of grace is to be able to share this increasingly beautiful and sacred space with others and invite a deepening sense of community and connection. This sense of community and connection is an important part of remaining healthy in body, mind and spirit.

Sitting Around the Fire

There is nothing quite like sitting around a fire in the garden on a late spring evening when it is warm together with friends and being able to play music and sing. While sitting before the fire I tend to naturally move into a meditative state of mind. I enter what the Buddhists call that state of mind referred to as “The fire that burns no wood.” This is the fire of Presence that burns up the feeling is separation from the Divine.

Here's a quote that beautifully captures the essence of "the fire that burns no wood"—that inner, spiritual flame of presence and awakening:

There is a fire that no wood can feed, and it burns in the heart of the awakened. – (inspired by Buddhist and Sufi teachings)

This phrase evokes the timeless image of inner illumination—the flame of consciousness, love, or divine presence that transcends the physical and burns away illusion, not through destruction, but through clarity and stillness.

Seed Sowing and Freezer Bags Incubation

I have been planting a lot of vegetable and flower seeds in small single pots. I have misted these and cover the pots with freezer bags. I have done this with some coleus seeds, and some celery seeds with great success. Will soon be blessed with the beautiful palette of color for indoor and outdoor with the coleus. I place them in the sunny windows of this cottage, and the result is that the seeds are kept warm and the moisture inside the bag keeps the soil moist.

Coleus, with its luminous, variegated leaves in shades of magenta, green, bronze, and gold, is more than just a feast for the eyes—it is a spiritual teacher in disguise. Each leaf seems painted by an unseen hand, reminding us of the sacred creativity inherent in all living things. Spiritually, coleus can be seen as an emblem of inner vibrancy and multidimensional self-expression. Its radiant foliage invites us to honor the colors of our soul, even those we’ve hidden or suppressed.

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. — Anaïs Nin

Coleus teaches the magic of bold presence. Unlike many plants that blend quietly into the green of the garden, coleus claims space with unapologetic beauty. It whispers a message to the spirit: “You are allowed to be vivid. You are allowed to be seen.” In energy healing terms, it resonates with the sacral and heart chakras, encouraging creative flow and self-love.

I am having some success growing echinacea from root cuttings that I order from Farmer Gracy, and which are now beginning to bloom. I love this plant so I bought some seeds to see how successful I might be at growing from seed. These need a period of cold to mimic the onset of winter so I have added some seed to seed compost and placed in a freezer bag and will keep in the fridge to early July.

Growing echinacea, often called the "purple coneflower," carries a spiritual intention rooted in resilience, protection, and the awakening of inner strength. Traditionally used for its healing properties, echinacea embodies the energy of immunity—not just for the body, but for the soul. Tending this plant invites a connection with the Earth’s innate wisdom and supports the cultivation of energetic boundaries, making it a powerful ally for those seeking spiritual clarity and emotional fortitude. As it blooms, echinacea reminds us to stand tall in our truth, to draw from our inner well of vitality, and to trust in nature’s rhythm as a guide for healing and renewal.

Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself. – Hermann Hesse

Creating Sacred Geometry

This week I have been busy in my friend Mike’s shed using the table saw and mitre saw to create the pieces that will form an octagonal seating setup that I will include in Stewart’s Grove. This will create more seating for sitting around the fire and will also include two water features around which people can sit.

Sacred geometry reveals the hidden architecture of the universe, offering a visual language through which the divine expresses itself in form. Among its many powerful symbols, the octagon holds a unique place as a bridge between the circle and the square—between heaven and earth, spirit, and matter.

With eight sides, the octagon symbolizes balance, regeneration, and wholeness, often used in sacred architecture to signify a place of transformation or spiritual convergence. It represents the movement from the material (square) toward the spiritual (circle), offering a geometric path of integration and unity. Meditating with or building in the octagonal form can activate inner harmony, align energy fields, and invoke a deeper connection to universal patterns of creation.

Geometry will draw the soul toward truth and create the spirit of philosophy. – Plato

Conclusion

As the garden unfolds with color, firelight, and sacred intention, I am reminded that gardening is far more than tending to soil—it's a living meditation, a way of restoring wholeness, and a path to deeper connection with self, others, and the divine. Whether it's the vibrant coleus whispering permission to be fully seen, the steadfast echinacea teaching resilience, or the quiet joy of crafting sacred spaces in octagonal harmony, each moment in the garden becomes a doorway into presence.

If you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into the rhythms of Mindful Gardening—where the spiritual meets the seasonal, and where seeds and soul grow side by side—I warmly invite you to subscribe. Let’s continue cultivating beauty, insight, and connection together, one sacred seed at a time.

Tony Cuckson Cordressagagh Ireland