The Healing Benefits Of Ancient Gardens — Yesterday & Today
"Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." – Sir Francis Bacon
Do you ever need a respite from the world and all the noise in it? Are you looking for a place which eases the mind and renews the spirit. Is it even possible that this place exists?
Of course, it has existed since the beginning of time and beyond to this day.
Where is this place?
It could be in Paris, or Athens or most likely it’s in your back yard or in your home.
Have you guessed what I’m referring to?
The place is a garden.
We can learn a lot from gardens, especially the gardens of ancient times.
Thousands of years ago, gardens mirrored the Epicurean philosophy that the path to happiness lay in simple pleasures including nature.
Nature as we know, can feed the human spirit and the human body. It can beautify the space and it can be a source of renewal.
Regarding Epicurus, the Greek philosopher, he established a school named The Garden,” in Athens around 307 BCE. This school’s teaching elevated the importance of gardens in Greek philosophy and lifestyle; a lifestyle consisting of balance and harmony.
A garden achieved balance and harmony with the creation of crops, flowers, herbs and the placement of walking paths, fountains and statues.
Everything about the garden encompassed an element of beauty and usefulness.
This age-old respite and place of grandeur and nourishment is alive today.
To give you an idea of what I’m referring to, think of the Diomedes Botanical Gardens just outside of Athens, Greece. What’s interesting about this garden is the structure is organized by geography and theme. The historical plants section offering species mentioned in mythology and the Old Testament.
Here there are also aspects of healing with the medicinal plants like St John’s Wort.
In Greek we say Βαλσαμο- Balsamo/Balm.
Fortunately for me, in 2018, I was given the oil of Βαλσαμο during my first visit to the island of Ikaria, the place where people forget to die. You may know this island as it is one of the Blue Zones.
This herb Βαλσαμο, when turned into oil, can be applied to the skin of our bodies for healing of depression, menopausal symptoms anxiety among other conditions. I love to use it to relax myself by rubbing it on the back of my neck.
Garden season is upon us, and you owe it to yourself to have one, whether small or large, indoors or outdoors.
Create a garden which will warm your heart, quiet your mind and feed your soul. It’s all up to you how you design it, so get busy planning and building your very own paradise on earth.
Sending you Ola kala- All is well
Filakia- kisses
Kiki
