FEED YOUR SOUL WITH FLOWERS

Timmins presents an artful blend of flower arranging know-how and inspirational self-help in this nonfiction guide.

Using flower arranging as a form of therapy, the author introduces readers to the positive mental and emotional influences of the natural world. Each chapter tackles a new area of self-improvement, including acceptance, forgiveness, connection, love, gratitude, contribution, vision, alignment, courage, and purpose. The text incorporates personal anecdotes illustrating how Timmins’ previously black-and-white view of the world has changed as she’s gotten older and reminding readers of the simple joys of receiving flowers. Linked with each aspect of self-improvement is a different flower arrangement project that includes all the ingredients and directions readers need to complete it (acceptance pairs with a seasonal bouquet, while forgiveness pairs with a terrarium). Gorgeous color photos show what the arrangements might ideally look like, although the author insists that flower styling can and should be highly individualized: “This is the true therapy of arranging flowers. The flowers will guide you by their shape, size, colour, texture and directional flow, which are all elements of design. Go with their flow and you will step into your state of flow.” Chapters also include guided meditations, including an exercise in which one envisions one’s heart as a flower full of petals that slowly unfurl with each breath. Engaging flower trivia is scattered throughout, such as the fact that a rose vibrates at a frequency of 320 MHz (compared to, say, an apple that vibrates at around 15 MHz). All of this information—therapeutic, botanical, scientific—fuses into a joyful and engaging text that even self-proclaimed “black thumbs” will likely find irresistible. Written with a warm, friendly, open-hearted style, it truly feels as though Timmins is a good friend whose mere presence (and frequent words of wisdom) helps make the day brighter. The jaw-dropping flower arrangements don’t hurt either.

An uplifting combination of helpful meditative practices and practical how-to guide that encourages readers to start fresh.