Gardener of the Soul

Anne Redelfs, MD

Each of us is like a vast expanse of land. The traumatic world we live in has caused most of us to recoil from aspects of ourselves, the most traumatized parts, and we’ve lost contact with them. Out of all that we are, we cling to but a fragment, a garden patch. The castaway parts of ourselves can become brambly or rocky, like neglected dirt.

As a soul gardener, I alert you to these lost, untended parts of you and assist you in meeting their needs, which include their need to return to wholeness and maximum productivity. Through over thirty years of soul listening, I’ve learned that the root cause of nearly every problem we suffer from is incomplete psychological development. The good news is that we can solve this problem. Like gardening, it takes time and effort, and it requires the willingness to follow a master gardener—your very own soul.

Like a well-maintained, fertile garden, we have cultivated some aspects of our souls for years, and they are already blossoming and fruiting, feeding many other creatures. The untended parts of us that we’ve hidden in the unconscious mind can be in terrible condition. Depending on what the climate has been, these castaway soul parts are rock hard with no apparent life, a jungle of overgrown and unsightly weeds, or many possibilities between these two extremes.

When we’re accustomed to looking only at the cultivated plot, the idea of expanding our vision to include the unsightly land can feel hurtful. Tilling the soil can seem a lot of unnecessary labor. We resist it–sometimes for decades! When we are finally willing to look at all that is within us, we must understand how each part got into its current condition (so it doesn’t happen again!). We must work to break up the dirt and moisten it. This means we must admit to the many traumas that froze and fragmented our souls, stunting our growth in some areas. We must grieve the traumas and stunting! We must remove the weeds. This means we must rid ourselves of what is not true to our human nature. We must add amendments to poor quality soil. This means we must take into our hearts and minds what feeds our genuine identity, which includes every part of our souls. With plenty of water, warmth, and sunshine, this “land” will eventually produce the plants, the human qualities, that grow best in our type of soil. Our whole souls skillfully guide us in tending the deepest needs of every part of us, when we are ready!

Are you ready? Please call 903-306-5286 to schedule a free 20-minute soul-listening session.

What is a soul gardener?

For much of my life, I’ve enjoyed growing fresh vegetables and herbs as well as plants that feed butterflies, hummingbirds, and nature in general. I find many similarities between gardening plots of land and tending the various aspects of our psychology that together comprise the soul. I call myself a soul gardener because I help you to get the soil of your psyche in good condition and to care for your plants that are in need. As the garden of your life becomes increasingly bountiful and beautiful, others will naturally follow your inspiration.