The day after 9/11, Eli’s Garden of Healing hosted a workshop simmering on the meditative and focused practice of using flower arranging as a method for processing feelings of violence, grief, and loss. Flower arranging is growing in popularity and many of us use the practice weekly to create visual delights for our homes and gifts for others.

The group of workshop attendees gathered at New England Spirits and Wine Purveyors, who generously donated use of their beautiful space for the event, for the event which included the workshop, tastings of wine, and plenty of snacks.

For the event we welcomed back, our popular workshop collaborator Amy from Bloom Where Planted to lead the discussion around the meaning of flowers and offer an invitation for attendees to slow the process down as they built their arrangement. Amy talked about the hidden meaning of flowers which can build a message into an intentional arrangement designed for healing. Dianthus for gratitude, globe amaranth for eternal devotion, marigold for grief, and dahlias which represent resiliency and the ability to stay positive during difficult times. Throughout the workshop we worked with each flower individually, slowing down to appreciate shapes, smells, and textures. Stem by stem thinking about how each piece plays a role in the healing process.

Topping off the beautiful evening of togetherness and compassion, the event was a fundraiser for Eli’s Garden of Healing, which raised $440! Thank you everyone who helped to make it a success.