A seed is made of an embryo, that is, a baby plant that has all it needs to grow, develop and blossom into what it was created to be. It has the materials to develop its leaves, stems and roots to gather needed nutriments from water, light, minerals and such to produce food and provide support for itself. That’s what we’re like when we’re born. We have all we need to be who we were created to be - all the unique qualities, talents and knowledge that is needed in the world.

The Pod

Now the seed has another part that it needs for its growth, and that’s its seed covering or pod. The pod provides protection, support and nutrition to the seed during the growth process. It provides

food for the seed until it can produce food on its own, and protects it from harsh elements in the environment. We also have something similar to the pod in our lives to help protect our seed from harm and support it during our growth process. I like to look at the seed and pod in us as our true and false selves. The true or real self, like the seed, is the life-giving core of our being. It holds all the beauty and light of whom we are - it is the soul of the individual. The true self also has our entire real feelings and thoughts, feelings and thoughts that may not be acceptable to those around us.

This is where the pod or our false self enters the scene. Like the pod, the false self protects and hides the real self from harsh elements of the environment. It responds to the demands, beliefs and possible abuse from our parents or caretakers, family, siblings, peers and other places and people that impact us as we grow. The false self takes on the mistaken beliefs, misguided directions, and sometimes harsh treatment we experience as growing up so our true self is never touched. The false self or pod becomes our mask, our facade to