Over the last few days I have seen several quotes from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s book “The Secret Garden”, published in 1911. There must be a reason this is coming into my awareness!
This quote in particular resonated with me… and there are many many more!
“Sometimes since I’ve been in the garden I’ve looked up through the trees at the sky and I have had a strange feeling of being happy as if something was pushing and drawing in my chest and making me breathe fast. Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden – in all the places.”
Although it may be seen as a story of a “poor little rich girl” in colonizing times (and, yes, there is a lot of unconscious privilege at work by the author!), it is ultimately about the healing power (and enchantment) of nature, and the power of awareness: that which we neglect withers and dies … and that to which we pay attention can rejuvenate and thrive.
One can now download the book to read in a variety of formats through the Gutenberg project.
This is a most wonderful book, and of course the movie made was fabulous. I wish everyone had a secret garden like those children did. Oh! Wait! Perhaps we do–if we look inside, we can find the love and compassion for all things, just as they did. But it does help to be able to actually see and smell and touch the beautiful flowers and hear the birds and bees and critters. All we need to do is find a bit of Nature somewhere, and immerse ourselves in it. Thanks for the reminder of a lovely story (even with its unconscious privilege) about a miracle. Blessed be.
Thank you! I love the idea of an inner Secret Garden … and firmly believe that each of us have one deep inside (everything grows from that deep dark rich soil within). I’m rereading the book now…and just heard a new film version is coming out in August, with Colin Firth and Julie Walters. Blessings to you.🙏🏻
Reblogged this on GrannyMoon's Morning Feast.