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 Neela Sakaria: Thank you for joining us, Ms. Balter. What does it mean to "garden with soul"?
Gaylah Balter: "Gardening with Soul" means: looking to Nature for its lessons and wisdom and experiencing the earth as she speaks to all our senses, satisfying us through her fragrances, sounds, textures, and other sensual and dazzling reminder of our passionate connection with her. Becoming aware of the beauty, usefulness, and value of weeds and insects. Find sparks of the Creator in everything around us in Nature and embracing the understanding that our environment reflects who we are, where we are going, and who we wish to become.
Neela: What prompted you to get involved with Feng Shui? How long have you been a teacher of the subject?
GB: I have been a teacher of Feng Shui since 1997. I was teacher of Taoism and meditations and healing practices of the Taoist tradition and it was there that I found the roots of Feng Shui.
Neela: What kind of effects can a garden have on one's physical well-being?
GB: A garden can affect our physical well-being in many ways and on many levels. We can relieve stress, tension, and anxiety as the garden helps to restore balance and harmony to our busy lives, through hard physical labor and being outdoors and communing effortlessly with Nature and all her bounty. There is also humor in a garden as I explain in chapter ten. Doctors advise their patients to laugh more as this aids healing.
Neela: In addition to its spiritual component, GARDENING WITH SOUL offers practical advice on everything from ways to attract birds to a garden, to dealing with insects and weeds. Would you say your book could appeal to readers who might not know anything about Feng Shui, and simply have an interest in gardening?
GB: Yes, I think my book would appeal to those readers who want to just read a gardening book or have an interest in gardening since I offer many tidbits of gardening lore and practices that make gardening a more pleasant and enriching experience.
Neela: What kind of a response have CLEAN YOUR CLUTTER and GARDENING WITH SOUL gotten. What would you say to skeptics of Feng Shui practices?
GB: Many people have told me that my books inspire them and motivate them. This is actually what I wish to happen. I explain Feng Shui in very simple, easy to understand language. FS is presented as a technique that can help to make one's life more harmonious and smooth. Many are skeptical of new ideas, yet FS has been time tested for 3,000 years and works marvelously for us in the modern world to make our lives better.
Neela: GARDENING WITH SOUL itself has a very artistic format, through its layout and illustrations. Can you tell us a little bit about that part of the process in producing this book?
GB: I created the format in "Gardening with Soul" to enhance the content and to make the reading experience more pleasurable. Also, to bring many spiritual elements together in a smooth way. A reader can enjoy the book by just reading the quotes on each page or by leafing through and picking out a chapter to read separately not in order. Each chapter contains information about gardening and also leads the reader to a spiritual awakening regarding all aspects of Nature.
Neela: Are you working on any other projects now?
GB: Yes, I am working on a new clutter book and a book about cancer.
Neela: Do you have anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
GB: Yes, I am hoping that my book on gardening with soul will help to encourage people to steward the earth and see the beauty all around us that is changing fast and that we are losing ground in saving our environment for future generations. We must all take responsibility for this.
Gardening With Soul
ISBN: 0970786115
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