Customer Reviews

The Garden of The Soul: lessons from four flowers that unearth the Self

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Lynn is able to give a fresh perspective on some concepts that have been making the rounds recently. The mix of genre she uses adds to this air of originality and also adds fun to what is, at times, a dark story. The author lays her life bare to the reader and in doing so helps her reader to come out of the shame they may be feeling about their life.

Well worth the read.

I was moved to tears--good ones-and put into a spiritual mood.... There are stories in The Garden of the Soul, like the broken angel wings and how Lynn was inspired by her teacher, that I love to retell and share! This book will help you discover your Soul has a voice. Learn how to treasure and leverage your natural spirit and be inspired to appreciate the power of honoring your own nature. Lynn Serafinn has a gift for lyrical writing and vivid imagery mixed with magic that is delightful. As one who LOVES metaphors, the garden and 4 wise flowers helps me see learning and appreciation opportunities in my own life.

This is a unique book. Part poetry, part fairy tale, part autobiography... she takes the reader on a journey to learn the lessons of four flowers: the rose, the iris, the daffodil and the lily... lessons that are already within her own garden of experience.. that helped her reclaim her lost Voice and bring her back to Wholeness.

Lynn shares her life story (thus far) with candidness... growing up in a 'no-talk-zone' household, attending an elitist music school, immersion in a spiritual community that marginalizes women, years spent in an abusive marriage... all of which led to disconnection with her Self, and eventually serious health issues (such as pancreatitis and fibromyalgia).

The spoiler: Yes, her tale has a happy ending. She's come out the other side, and now helps others to find their own Voices. I found myself in her story, some words bringing me to tears. Maybe you'll find yourself there, too.

On your most distracted days, when you need a moment of calm, step into "The Garden of The Soul." Lynn Serafinn's book is a blend of fiction, memoir, poetry and dreams, appropriate to the depth and richness of her story - her journey to the Self.

You'll feel at home with the restful prose using the garden as a metaphor for the Self. The author divides the book into four sections:

Lessons from the Rose where we learn the Principle of Giving.
Lessons from the Iris where we learn the Principle of Receiving
Lessons from the Daffodil where we learn the Principle of Becoming.
Lessons from the Lily where we learn the Principle of Being.

Perhaps the most important lesson is this: "You are already the hero of your own life," says Serafinn. The work she does in coaching lets people see just how powerful and important their lives already are. Serafinn does a lovely job of bringing us along through the winding path to finding her true self.

Her reflections remind me of the many times I've received a gift of abundance but was unable to recognize and appreciate it. The book is indeed a gift, rich with a lovely sense of fantasy. Enlightening!

Helen Gallagher Release Your Writing: Book Publishing, Your Way

This is a kind of book, that makes your heart smile, it's filled up with eternal wisdom,
and takes you to the Garden of your own Soul, and when you are not reading it you are looking forward to keep on reading.

Visionary Artist

I loved reading Lynn's book. It is an amazing story she is sharing with us. Very creatively put together, I am impressed. Her learnings on her journey is truly inspiring. I am proud to be the artist of the cover of this book.

Kristina Berglund, CPCC

A book with fascinating journeys, exciting fantasies, exquisite visualizations, extremely spiritual, wonderfully written, magical, and touching off sparks from within ones inner self. I found this book took me back to times I spent with Lynn as a child, and also found myself to be with Lynn in spirit through her life, feeling like I was there thru the words written on the pages. Lynn has been able to "fly away" and find meaning with her "self" and in doing so she has given others the ability to do the same.
Thank you my dear friend, thank you.

"Wonderful! An epic journey from the 1950s up to present day - with one woman's personal journey of discovery. Intimate, open and profound, this collection of memoirs, fables and lyrical poetry will provide fertile ground so that your own 'garden' can bloom."

Simon Ireland-Davies
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach
ID Coaching Limited

Using her own spiritual model, Lynn Serafinn has created a book that goes beyond self-help, and beyond her own spiritual journey. The eloquently written and very personal stories paint a word picture in which I saw myself. Spirit gently nudged me and marked places in my path that need to change.

The author's frailty and strength of character emerged equally in each of the four sections, empowering something deep and unspoken within me.

There are no preachy "to dos" or step-by-step instructions. The lessons of the flowers must be grasped and applied to each reader differently. Ms. Serafinn has a way with words that transfer the magic of Spirit from the pages, past the mind, and to the heart. I saw myself in the pages of this book. I saw abusive people in a new light. I saw Spirit in each of us. I recognized where and what I have given. I appreciate what I have received. I am becoming more of my true self, and I am in touch with my inner being.

The book could be charming -- But, the author fails to put scholarship into her work and insights through supportive sources. As an academic, I would have liked to see her support her metaphoric realizations by incorporating some research into her ideas. I was disappointed, too, with the repetition of phrases and also a juvenile simplification of spiritual revelations. If you have studied mysticism and spirituality at the academic level, and generally are drawn to books that internally support themselves through incorporating outside sources -- this book will disappoint you. It all could be condensed into the book's mantra -- "Be, Become, Give, Receive." The author should have shown us HOW her realizations agree with other spiritual revelations. For example, she could have mentioned the importance of the garden paradigm throughout major religions.

I'm disappointed after reading it because the book lacks cohesive spiritual reflection and the symbolism and word association the author makes seems ambiguous. For example, the author notes in the "lessons of the daffodil" section that backyards, catfish, etc. are "spiritual guides" that the daffodil teaches. This is ambiguous and irrelevant unless the author provides mythology to support the symbolism.

Another complaint is that the other does not stick to a style within the book. There are moments of commentary prose and other moments of poetry interjected into the text. At other moments, the book dives into dialogue or short story. I grew incredibly annoyed at the juvenile dialogue happening. For example, I understand it is a metaphor to have flowers holding conversations with the narrator -- But, it comes across as "Alice in Wonderland"-esque rather than spiritual because the flowers begin to hold unnatural human personality. It's odd in my opinion.

Another idea to ponder is the author's concept of "path of least resistance to the self." Unfortunately, the concept is lazy. Resistance teaches one to discover their spiritual strength. Without resistance, or a path of least resistance, one will not be pushed to grow. I caution readers to really examine the paradoxes in the author's book.

My main argument against the book is the genre the author is attempting to frame the book in. It's not a spiritual book. It's simple literature with poetic flourishes. If you want to read a very narcissistic book that really is just page after page of the author's ideas about HER self and HER life -- then, this book is a worthy piece of entertainment literature. But, I did not find any thing spiritual about it and was greatly disappointed because her initial concept of be, become, receive, give has the potential to be something spiritual but the book handles it carelessly with great disjunction and spiritual ambiguity.