12/04/2024
I've been thinking a lot about onions lately. Not just because I got in over my head and bought way too many for the time, space, and energy that I have to plant them. Not just because an onion is a typical symbol we psychology majors and therapists often use to describe humans (the analogy of "peeling back the layers, like an onion, to get to the core").
But as I separate my onion starts (the little baby onions), I'm realizing how important a healthy amount of space is.
When I pull these out of the seed-starting trays, there are about 20 tiny baby onions in a 2-inch square.
If left this way for too long, they will become root-bound (all the roots get tightly wound together and don't have enough space to grow or receive proper nutrients).
What does it take to start the separation process? In depth psychology terms, we might liken this to the process of individuation (although, sometimes our initiation into individuation is much more harsh than what I'll share next).
Unraveling all these roots takes water (psychologically, this could be seen as nurturance, nourishment, and/or tears), gentle breaking up of the seed-starting soil, gentle pulling (compassionate challenging/encouragement), tons of patience, and giving each individual baby onion room to grow. Planted at the right depth and spacing, given enough nutritious soil, sunlight, and water.
It's not that we must be totally alone and isolated in order to grow, but we need space to do so, while still receiving the appropriate support for our needs.
If we remain bound to things that have kept us in survival, that contribute to our neglect, or just simply don't fit us anymore, we will psychology die.
The natural world is not far separated from our inner, psychological or physiological worlds. 🌱
