Maria’s Roots

Maria Allen

Maria is a gardener, a writer, a practitioner of massage and craniosacral therapy, and the founder of Real & Powerful. The Garden People came to Maria in a magical way — when she was least expecting it during a typical day in her garden.

One summer afternoon after harvesting vegetables, Maria quietly observed the basketful of shapes and colors collected, and she noticed a few pieces were “calling her” to put them together. In the next minute or so, the first garden person’s face emerged and stared up at her as if to say, “well, hello! I’ve been waiting for you to see me!”

The first emotion was pure joy, and Maria’s laughter filled the garden. Her phone was laying on the edge of the raised garden frame a few feet away, and it just made sense to photo the moment and the person she just met.

Then she sat with the face for a while and asked herself: “What story or message does this person want to share?” As someone who loves listening and learning to know people and who also loves to write, the next natural thing to do was to pick up a journal and begin writing the story coming through this sweet face.

What has emerged is a growing community of personalities, stories, and unexpected wisdom — as if the vegetables were waiting to be seen and heard. During growing season, The Garden People take root. Meeting them, getting to know them, and writing their stories became a regular practice and part of her gardening. Each face brings a reflection and a gentle invitation to see herself, others, and life more clearly.