The Secret Garden

By Frances Hodgson Burnett

‘The Secret Garden’ written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is about an unhappy young girl named Mary Lennox. The reason why this girl is so unhappy is because of her parents, who are completely absorbed in their own affairs and have no interest in her at all. She is so consumed by anger for her parents that she cannot cry, not even when they die in a cholera outbreak.

No Hope and No Life after Death

After the death of her parents, Mary gets sent to her only living relative, her Uncle. Sir Archibald Craven is a widower whose wife died 10 years ago. He spends most of his time abroad, to escape the chronic pain of the loss of his wife and the prospect that his sickly son will die as well. Colin, has never had a father son relationship with his father. The only people he really knows are the staff employed to run the manor.

A Heart Full of Soul that Inspires the Courage to Change

When Mary comes to Mistlethwaite Manor, she discovers that there are many secrets hidden within the grounds of the property. One of which is the secret garden. Mary discovers from her maidservant that the country garden was the late Mrs Craven’s favourite place; and that the garden has been walled up since she died. Mary finds the master key to the secret garden and a robin shows her the hidden door.

An Attitude Change can Heal the Body, Mind and Soul

After the garden is discovered, Mary discovers her cousin, Colin. They become fast friends and Mary aids Colin in discovering that he is not really ill. Through their friendship, Colin discovers the outdoor life and becomes stronger. He learns to walk, and with time he becomes a happier child. They spend many hours in the garden and an emotional healing takes place between the children and within the grounds of Mistlethwaite Manor.

The Inner Child Connection to the Garden of the Gods

While reading this book I was struck by the description of beauty within the secret garden. It made me think of the Garden of Eden. The main theme that ran through the book is the abandoned child. How when Mary’s parents were alive and with her, they abandoned her by having no interest in her, even though they kept her. And how Colin’s father abandoned him by being too afraid to love his son for fear that he might die, so he ran away from his son instead.

For the Tropic of Freedom Finders Keepers:
To abandon a child does not necessarily mean to give them away. Often we abandon a child by being so involved with ourselves that we forget to give them the love that they need. The lack of this love is what causes children to grow up with the various issues and insecurities that they develop as they go along.

When talking about the abandoned child, I am not only referring to parents who have children, but also to the adults who have abandoned their inner child. The child, that they were, before they grew up. The child who forgot about the wonderment and magic of childhood.

How have you abandoned your child?

For those who would like to learn to reconnect with your child here is a task for you:
Set an hour a week aside and spend time with your child. Play with your child and do with it everything it wishes for you to do. For example: I was with a friend recently, and we tapped into our inner child by jumping on a trampoline. It was completely spontaneous. We jumped and tried to bounce each other. We started out giggling like girls and ended up guffawing with laughter. After this we felt so light at heart, that we for the rest of that day we continued to experience the magic of each moment.

If you would like to work on your relationship your inner child follow this link,For free child meditations follow this link.

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