Margaret Daly-Denton

The Gardened Soul

Prayer & Spiritual Formation

“How delightful for gardeners to learn that their gardens actually cultivate them! A horticulturalist before becoming an Anglican priest, David White shows how gardening is an embodied contemplative practice that encompasses not only nurture but also pruning and eradication. The tranquil hours that we spend working in our gardens, inviting nature to express her true self, activate that affinity with the earth that is ingrained in our being. Gardening has a profound effect on our emotions. As we aim for a better future for our garden, we ourselves grow towards a more wholesome prospect. Contemplative gardening enables the feelings of love that surface as we work to turn into gratitude and the sad feelings to generate compassion and empathy.”