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
Others:
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Labyrinth Information, and Free Labyrinth Walk Guide
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Sign up for the free labyrinth walk guide: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/labyrinth-basics/
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