February’s Garden Gathering, with the topic of Attending to Attention, invites you to explore the practice of presence — how we can turn our attention toward the Creator by connecting deeply with creation. As we go out in nature on different parts on the earth (even though the call happens online), we’ll attune our senses and nurture our awareness, following the example of Francis of Assisi. Through sacred stillness, gentle practices, deep dialogue, and shared moments of prayer, we will learn to walk in step with the Spirit, listening to the whispers of God in nature and in our hearts. This gathering is about cultivating an attentive heart, learning to surrender our distractions, and finding God in every moment.
About:
Location: meet.google.com/xmp-qzut-qvv
Date: Friday, 21st of February 2025
Time: 13:00-16:00
Winter Theme: Spirit Steps
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
February Topic: Attending to Attention
Walking in step with the Spirit, fully attending to God’s presence within, around, and through all of creation.
The Garden Gatherings are part of The Garden membership that gives access to gatherings, guides, community, coaching, and chat. We have new themes every quarterly season. You are invited to bloom beyond yourself into a personal and collective communion with the sacred (God) through contemplation, connection, and contribution. Together, we turn our stories from graves into gardens.
Read all about The Garden: bloombeyond.com/garden
Contributors:
Martine Sorthe (27) is the founder of Bloom Beyond (bloombeyond.com) and facilitates The Garden Gatherings. She is a creator by heart — a NOW BLOOM certified Christian Life Coach and a Clinical Psychology Student at the University of Oslo with interest in the overlap between psychology, theology, and art.
Join:
Join The Garden for monthly membership: bloombeyond.com/garden
Max 20 spots for this gathering.
RSVP your spot in The Garden Chat (join The Garden to get access).
Overview:
18:00-18:30 — Greeting and Intro
Focus: Heartfelt Hugs, Connection
Activities: We will gather in the online meeting room meanwhile simultaneously being outside in our separate locations. Regardless where we find ourselves, the fragrance of being outside stirs awareness and invites us into stillness. Martine will welcome everyone to The Garden Gathering, introducing the theme, Spirit Steps, and the evening’s topic, Attending to Attention. Participants will share their names and offer a word or phrase that reflects what attending means to them and why they think it’s important to cultivate. Through the wisdom of Francis of Assisi, the teachings of Christ, and the embrace of Mother Mary and creation, we will explore how walking with the Spirit deepens our awareness of God’s presence within and around us. The introduction will set the tone for our practices—Sacred Stillness, Wonder Walk, and Deep Dialogue—each designed to cultivate presence through nature, contemplation, and connection.
Purpose: This time is designed to foster connection and prepare our hearts and minds for the day ahead.
Contributor: Martine Sorthe
13:15-15:15 — Wandering and Wondering
Focus: Wonder Walk, Contemplation
Activities: Participants will embark on a 1.5-hour wander through nature, guided to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, textures, and smells of nature. As they wander, they will be invited to engage all their senses, deepening their connection to creation and to the Spirit. They’ll be guided to tune into the sensations of the earth beneath their feet, the sounds of the wind, the scents in the air, and the beauty around them. Throughout, they’ll be encouraged to pray quietly in their hearts: “Lord, open my senses to Your presence” or “Help me see Your beauty in all things.” After wandering outside, we’ll reconvene briefly in the to reflect on what was noticed and how God’s presence was felt, before continuing the walk, attuning once again to the environment. At the end of the walk, we’ll gather once more for a check-in to share how the experience deepened their connection to God and creation.
Purpose: To guide participants in cultivating a deeper connection to God by engaging their senses and moving prayerfully through nature, creating space for spiritual reflection and attentiveness to the presence of God in nature.
Contributor: Martine Sorthe
15:15-15:45 — Tending to the Tension
Focus: Deep Dialogue, Connection
Activities: We will gather to engage in meaningful dialogue about how we can deepen our relationship with God by tending to the tension within and without, inspired by the life of Francis of Assisi. This session invites participants to reflect on the distractions and tensions that prevent us from fully connecting with God, nature, and ourselves. In small groups, we’ll discuss how creation reveals God’s presence and how we can align our hearts with the rhythm of the Spirit to ease the tensions that block our connection. We will explore how nature serves as a mirror of the divine, offering a space to acknowledge where we feel disconnected or distracted, and how tending to these areas can lead us back to a more focused, intentional walk with God.
Purpose: To create a space for honest reflection on what distracts us from God and nature, and how we can address these tensions to deepen our relationship with the Trinity, as exemplified by St. Francis of Assisi. This conversation will invite participants to share insights and personal experiences of how nature, as a reflection of the Creator, helps us cultivate presence and draw closer to God.
Contributor: Martine Sorthe
15:45-16:00 — Outro and Farewell
Focus: Heartfelt Hugs, Connection
Activities: As we come to the close of our gathering, we’ll take time to reflect on how we've attuned our attention to the presence of God in nature, in one another, and within ourselves. Each participant will be invited to share one key insight or shift they’ve experienced during the evening, particularly in relation to tending to the tension of distraction and deepening their awareness of God's guidance. This is a moment of intentional sharing, where we connect over our shared journey of presence and attentiveness. Afterward, we’ll exchange heartfelt hugs, reinforcing the bonds we’ve formed as a community. Martine will offer a closing prayer, asking for God's continued guidance in helping us remain present to the Spirit’s whispers and lead us in the practice of attentiveness as we move forward.
Purpose: To close the gathering with intentionality, leaving participants with a sense of clarity and peace. This final moment invites each person to carry the practice of tending to attention into their daily lives, fully present to the sacredness in each moment and the divine invitation to align with God's rhythm.
Contributor: Martine Sorthe