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Creating Green Spaces for Inner Growth & Spiritual Renewal
During his forty years of practice as an osteopath in London, Donald Norfolk noticed that among his patients those who gardened were also very healthy both physically and mentally and also generally happy people. These observations inspired him to write Soul Garden about the healing effects of gardens and spending time in gardens and other natural settings. Norfolk has also written two other books: The Habits of Health and The Stress Factor. Currently, he is cultivating his own Soul Garden at his home in England, and he lectures on health and holistic topics in Britain and Europe. Norfolk has divided the book into twelve chapters, one for each his "essential principles of horticultural therapy." These principles include creating a microcosm of the natural world, the important roles of trees, spending time outdoors, and having a garden be a place for both play and rest. In presenting his "essential principles," Norfolk looks at how gardens can enrich the life of the inner self, how connecting more deeply with nature can benefit us, and how gardens and gardening can strengthen our sense of community. In the author’s words, "Wherever urban gardens have been created there has been a regeneration of inner city areas, a reduction in crime rates and a reinforcement of neighbourhood ties. One simple way to overcome city blight and environmental despoliation is for everyone to take the responsibility for making their own garden a place of beauty." I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Soul Garden and found that Norfolk’s philosophy validated much of my own experience with gardening and spending time playing ball with my son in the backyard. I feel more relaxed, and I more readily let go of worries and concerns. He states, "Our aim in developing a Soul Garden is to root ourselves in the eternal present. Every minute within its ambit we should exercise our senses to the full. A garden is a place where we can recollect the past in tranquillity, enjoy the present, and look forward to the future." I also appreciated many of the author’s suggestions and recommendations. One in particular that I am planning to start in my own life is giving trees as gifts to friends for housewarming gifts and to celebrate family births and wedding anniversaries. I highly recommend this book especially to gardeners, anyone interested in spirituality, and anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors or reading about nature. |
The
Soul Garden by Donald Norfolk is delightful and inspiring
reading. In the process of presenting and developing his concept
of an ideal Soul Garden — "a quiet, unspoilt place
where we can transcend the concerns and distractions of our individual
daily lives and achieve a closer link with the universal whole"
— Norfolk discusses different cultures, ancient history,
medieval life, Victorian times, and the history of gardens. Norfolk
also provides suggestions and helpful hints to the reader for
cultivating one’s own Soul Garden. Rather than being a technical
manual, however, the author states the following about his book
in the preface, "This book aims to stimulate the right hemisphere.
It uses gardening not as an end in itself, but as an enjoyable
means to a crucially important end, the promotion of wholeness,
health, and healing. Its prime concern is not to raise plants,
but to cultivate happier, healthier human beings."