In this morning's Star Tribune newspaper, I was interested in Deb Brown's article debunking certain plant facts or fiction. I was particularly drawn to several paragraphs about talking to your plants. Now this is an idea that has been around for many years and I have certainly observed many people lovingly talking to their plants. I haven't,l however, ever done any hard research to see if talking while watering and weeding really makes any difference. I mostly have just thought it was sweet, a lovely thing to do between plant and gardener.

It seems, according to Brown, that it does indeed breed healthier plants. It does not really matter much what the love words you say are as long as you breathe long and hard on them. It seem the human's inhalation of oxygen and exhalation of carbon dioxide goes up against the plant's 'exhalation' of oxygen and 'inhalation' of carbon dioxide. As we are talking to these leafy ones, our breath feeds their need for CO2. It's kind of a mouth to leaf thing. 

Breathing is important business for people, plants and, well, all living things. But it is certainly something we take for granted, in fact, I know people who often hold their breath unconsciously when under stress. Breathing well regulates our hearts and calms our tensions. Breathing deeply lowers our blood pressure and can take us to a place of meditation. Paying attention to our breath can also help us connect to Spirit, allowing our prayers and our breath to unite. And it seems our breathing can also bring much needed greenness to the world. 

On this winter day, it would be a good thing to spend some time breathing…..just breathing….connecting with the Life Force that keeps us moving through this amazing and ever changing world. Breathing in, we are filled with the Spirit. Breathing out, we exhale a life giving form that causes plants to grow and flowers to bloom. Feels good, doesn't it?

"What can we do but keep on breathing in and out, modest and willing, and in our places?"  ~Mary Oliver