I sit beneath my arbour
Nestled away from the world
Cocooned within her floral walls
Nature all around
For this is my place of peace
My place of stillness
My chance to reconnect
Recharge
An oasis of beauty at the end of the garden
The stream softly trickles past
As I sit and listen I hear her whispers of support
She calls to my soul, expressing her desire to help it heal
I accept
I’m ready
Please lighten my load and let my heart be free
Let it be free to enjoy the gifts of the day
Ripples shimmer in a sudden ray of sunshine
Her crystal clear waters are lit up and awakened
Dancing over boulders
Skipping across pebbles
Racing on
Providing a constant soothing rhythm
I\'m mesmerised
I watch as tiny bubbles form on the surface
Iridescent crystals appearing and disappearing in a never ending cycle
The hypnotic trickle soothes my entire being
Relaxing me, slowing my heart beat as I inhale and exhale to the rhythms of nature
As my mind slows I sense her extend a healing hand
I surrender to her loving embrace
And as I do, she gently carries my worries away
And suddenly my heart lifts
My chest rises
And I turn my face skywards
As I breath in the new day
The heady scent of rose fills my nostrils
Then comes the delicate aromas of honeysuckle and jasmine
Drifting in on the breeze
How did I miss these before?
The beautiful floral perfumes of the plants around me
Resplendent in their summer plumage
Bursting with colour
Deep reds, soft purples, whites tipped with delicate splashes of pink
Each one proudly displays a beautifully crafted flower
The result of months of tender care
A welcome reward
A treasure to behold
A prized jewel to be thankful for
As I sit there amongst the elementals
The soothing sounds of the chimes float in on the breeze
Lost amongst the rustle of leaves as the next gust of air blows in
Nature has so much to offer down here
Trees and ferns, bamboo and flowers, water, air and sun
Every one of the five elements present and in play
The winds of the four directions all blowing in their offerings
And through it all Buddha sits in quiet reflection
Looking on
Offering his innate presence
For he is the master of stillness
The guardian of peace
The protector of this glorious arbour
My little piece of heaven at the bottom of the garden