The Seed, by Mary Moscarello Gutierrez

It is common knowledge among those who know me that I love to garden, plant flowers and get dirt under my nails. I call it "dirt therapy".

So far this season, I have not visited my dirt therapist - but soon, I will smell the earth, dig into it and plant my garden and flowers around my house. This practice - like my yoga practice - has served me well over the years as a way to ground, nurture and yes, feed my body literally and figuratively.

Below is a poem I was inspired to write as I neared the end of my yoga teacher training. I read it at the end of my practice teaching exercise - after they completed savasana - to my fellow trainees and one of my teachers. My only regret is that not everyone was present to hear it read aloud. Yet, I share it here - with immense gratitude for everything this training has taught me about myself and the beautiful community of yogis I have come to know.

The Seed.

The first glimpse - faint and small, the seed whispered - why not
But the dark clouds rained hard, drowning it in doubt and fear
So the seed hardened its shell and waited
Once more I saw the seed, this time brighter and luminous
It said, try now
But the burning sun glared fiery and hot
You can't possibly! Its too hard!
So the seed held in all it had and waited
In the dark, cold winter, I saw it again
This time a circle of fertile soil hugged it close
warm
earthy
twelve hearts pulsed with mother energy and enveloped the seed
Twelve times it said
You can
You should
Just breathe
I believe
I will help
I love you
You are strong
You are good
You are loved
Its OK
Its worth it
I'll be with you
And so the seed let go of all it had held, dying to bring new life
Nourished by salty tears and sweat, strengthened by laughter, stories and loving embraces it started the painful, glorious journey of growth
As dark, icy winter released its grasp on the soil and the bright sun shone warm and soft, the circle of twelve souls deeply grounded in the fertile soil, held the seed up, gave it a place to anchor and share its beauty
stretching up
unfurling its leaves
flowering in many colors
perfuming the air with a sweet scent