In this episode of 'Jump Start Your Joy,' join Paula in a rich conversation with Christopher Freimuth, a Yale Divinity School student and owner of CF Gardens in New York City. The episode unpacks Chris's journey from his rural upbringing in Connecticut to becoming a professional gardener in New York City, with a focus on the spiritual and ecological significance of gardening. Chris shares how he employs gardening to create ecological habitats and foster a connection to nature for his urban clients, emphasizing a meticulous approach to sourcing materials and plants.

In this coversation, we talk about:

• Christopher Freimuth's journey from rural Connecticut to professional gardening in NYC
• Gardening as a spiritual and ecological practice
• Chris’s transformative work on the Yale Divinity School Labyrinth
• The historical, cultural, and inclusive spiritual significance of labyrinths
• A reflection of the Minotaur's story from a queer perspective, inwhich Chris finds deep meaning in asking why the Minotaur was cast from his family and pushed into the realm of "other"
• What we can learn from embracing our "inner minotaur" (or those parts of ourselves that feel more difficult to embrace)
• Navigating life’s complexities through the metaphor of a labyrinth
• Practical ways to cultivate joy and community through public gardening initiatives

Resources:

CF Gardens website: https://cfgardens.com/

The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith

Walking a Sacred Path, Rediscovering the Labyrinth as Sacred Practice by Lauren Artress

Walking the Labyrinth: A Spiritual and Practical Guide by Sally Welch

Join me for the next Compassion Quest retreat, in person at San Damiano Retreat on November 23, 2024.

Others:

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Labyrinth Information, and Free Labyrinth Walk Guide

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