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Do house plants, as well as all growing things know what's happening around them? See for yourself. I once taught in a small private school located within the charming confines of a three-story stone mansion. Each morning at nine o'clock the entire studentry gathered in the Great Room for a Metaphysical Warmup in preparation for the day. Fifty-three children, ranging in age from three years to seven years, sat upon child-sized colorful chairs or in sun-flooded patterns on the thick carpet. Each bright face was illuminated by positive thoughts and feelings as s/he eagerly anticipated the morning's songs, meditations and exploration into yet another metaphysical cranny of the mind. When I first came to teach there (and it was no accident, believe me, but that's another story) I wept for joy. It was as if I had come home to a glorious, positive world. And I rejoiced in it. And I spread the word. Who could not feel apostolic singing songs such as these? -- I Love Me, All I Have To Do Is Think I Can, Sunshine Is Filling My Mind. The power released within those morning meetings was positively awesome -- and the pun is intended! One morning the Head Mistress made an announcement to the children: "Today we begin a great experiment of the Mind, of YOUR Mind." She held up two small ivy plants, each potted in an identical container. "Here, we have two plants," she continued. "Do they look the same?" All the children nodded solemnly. So did I for, in this way, I was also a child. "We
will give the plants the same amount of light, the same
amount of water, but not the same amount of
attention," she She placed one plant on the white ledge, then led the children, en masse, to the kitchen where she sat the other plant on the white counter. Afterward she led the parade of wide-eyed youngsters back to their places in the Great Room. "Each day for the next month we shall sing to our plant on the mantel," she said. "We will tell it with words how much we love it, how beautiful it is. We will use our good minds to think good thoughts about this plant." One of the smallest children shot to her feet. "But, Ma'am, what about the plant out there?" She pointed a stubby finger toward the kitchen. The Head Mistress smiled at all her charges. "We will use the kitchen plant as the 'control' in our Great Experiment. How do you think that will work?" "We won't speak to it?" "Not even a whisper." "We won't send it good thoughts?" "That's right. And then we'll see what happens." Four weeks later my novice eyes were as wide and disbelieving as the children's. The kitchen plant was leggy and sick looking, and hadn't grown at all. But the Great Room plant, which had been nurtured, sung to and swaddled in positive thoughts and words, had increased three-fold in size with dark succulent leaves that fairly vibrated with energy when addressed with song, word or thought. In order to prove the experiment -- and also to dry the tears of the tender hearted among us who feared for the life of the other plant -- the kitchen ivy was rescued from its solitary confinement and brought to the Great Room to join the other ivy on the mantel, but at the opposite end. Within three weeks, the second slow plant had caught up with the first ivy. Within four weeks, they could not be recognized, one from the other. I took this Lesson to heart, and made it my own: All things grow... with LOVE! Joan Bramsch copyright 1978
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BRAMSCH is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer and
educator. Her books have been published internationally
in ten languages, her articles have appeared in many
national magazines and newspapers. She now publishes Ebooks, and a free weekly called The Empowered Parenting Ezine for almost 1000 parents, grandparents, teachers, counselors and parents to be. Read
all about it at:
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Created 18 April 2000 |
