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A Soul Care Meditation: Echoes in the Vineyard, A Spring Blessing - Mental Health Awareness Month Edition
- Andrea Angie (GA)
- May 8
- 6 min read
Today, we welcome 'Echoes in the Vineyard' as we Sankofa (SAHN-koh-fah) with open hands + contemplative hearts, going back to get what is precious, even as we step forward.
A Holy Haiku - Echoes in the Vineyard
Old vine echoes call
Memories grow and connect
Bless each echo, soul.
Amen + Asé
The Sacred Vineyard of Echoes
In ancient vineyards, old vines speak a language all their own. Their gnarled trunks + searching tendrils tell stories of seasons passed, of drought and abundance, of patient tending.
Your Sacred Echo - Your Vineyard
Have you ever caught yourself repeating a sound or phrase—like a soft mantra that gently centers your breath + focuses your mind? This experience, known as echolalia, is a deeply human rhythm—a subtle echo resonating within us all. Yet for many neurodivergent souls, it becomes something more: an embodied, emotional language that pulses through the body—a sacred way to be fully present, to connect, and to soothe the soul from the inside out.
Echolalia—the repetition of words, sounds, and phrases—creates a similar vineyard of experience, where echoes call across the landscape of mind + memory, not merely a linguistic curiosity but a profound way of processing + connecting with the world.
Echolalia allows for both exploration + expression. Like vineyards that improve with age, these patterns deepen in meaning through recurrence.
What appears as simple repetition is a complex system of roots + connections, much like the intricate underground networks that sustain the whole.
It can be internal or external, manifesting in two distinct yet interconnected ways:
Inward Echoes: Deep Root Systems
Inward echolalia grounds the soul beneath the surface within the mind + throughout the body, with phrases silently rotating like soil being readied for new growth. These internal echoes create the root system for processing sensory input + emotional complexity, remaining unheard by others, but providing essential stability + nourishment.
Your rhythmic inner voice echoes are more than mere sounds or words; they form a foundation, offering familiar pathways through new terrain. Internal repetition is meaningful and can ground you like meditation, nourishing you like water to thirsty vines—connecting your internal experience to external expression:
Silently repeating a comforting phrase (“breathe" or "peace”) in your mind to manage sensory overload in busy environments creating a sense of safety + self-soothing from within.
Mentally rehearsing instructions before starting a new activity, helping to organize thoughts + reduce overwhelm.
Replaying the sound of a soothing noise in your mind to calm your senses in a noisy environment.
Outward Echoes: Tendrils Reaching Skyward
When spoken aloud, echolalia extends like vine tendrils seeking sunlight + support. These audible repetitions aren't random but purposeful—each reaching toward understanding, each amplifying deeper connection from the inner experience to the outer world.
Whenever I receive assistance in public, I make it a gentle ritual to ask for the name of the person helping me. I invite them to say it, to spell it, and then I repeat it aloud and in my mind several times letting the syllables settle. This practice isn’t just about memory; it’s about presence.
As a scribbler (aka writer), I do something similar when I scribble + read: I linger on a word or a line, repeating it before moving on. This isn’t a nervous habit, but a conscious act of savoring—allowing my words to fully take root, to generate new meaning. My echoes aren’t just for me; they call out to create a sacred pause, a space where intimacy can bloom between my lived experience + the heart of my reader.
Just as vineyard keepers know that vines must be trained outward to bear fruit, outward echolalia trains language to bridge internal + external worlds. The spoken echo becomes harvest—something others can receive + understand:
A repeated phrase from a book connects to a feeling of safety
Repeating a password or PIN number connects to routines + the security of familiar patterns
An echoed question connects to time needed for processing
A returned greeting connects to social participation on one's own terms
Repeating a soothing mantra connects to self-calming + emotional regulation
Repeating a friend’s encouraging words connects to reassurance + emotional support
Echoing instructions connect to understanding + remembering what to do next
Singing a list (for example, reciting a grocery list or the to-do’s for the day in a sing-song voice) connects to memory through rhythm + melody, making information easier to recall + process.
Memories Grow + Connect
In a vineyard, vines don't merely grow in isolation—they connect. Tendrils reach for one another, forming a community of mutual support. Similarly, echolalia connects memories, sensations, and meanings in collective wisdom + understanding.
This repetition serves not as redundancy but as reinforcement—enhancing the connections between thought + expression, between self + world, and between past + present embodied experiences.
Reflection for Your Journey
What repeated words or phrases have become old vines in your inner + outer voice?
Consider the echoes that call to you in moments of delight or distress. Notice how they've grown over time, how their meanings have developed complexity like a well-aged vine.
To honor the sacred vineyard of repetition:
Listen for the echoes that sustain you
Recognize how repetition creates connection
Observe how echoes reach both inward + outward
Consider your own repeated phrases as blessings
Blessing each echo means recognizing its purpose—not as deficiency but as botanical beauty.
Each repetition serves the soul, just as each vine serves the vineyard.
Today, walk mindfully in the sacred vineyard of your words + neurology. Touch the gnarled trunks of phrases you've returned to for years. Feel how they've weathered storms, how they've grown stronger through repetition. And notice the tender new growth of recent echoes, still finding their way.
Old vines don't merely survive—they thrive through connection, rooting deeper with each season's return.
For May's Mental Health Awareness Month, affirm: "Through empathy, I/we return to our belovedness + reclaim in the spirit of Sankofa, to go back and get it, by the enablement of the Holy Spirit”
A Special Free Gift for You
To deepen your journey into sensory awareness + sensing pleasure, I invite you to download my complimentary PDF guide, Savoring Sensuality with Soul.
This pastoral guide explores the importance of presence, surrender, and gratitude in experiencing life's replete pleasures more fully. It offers pastoral care on how to engage your senses and celebrate your neurology.
Download Your Free PDF Here:
As you explore this resource, remember that your unique journey is a celebration of soulful living. May you find daring shalom + sensual pleasure in every moment.
With soul,
Pastor Angie
SOULjourner, go Deeper on my Autism+ page for more resources.
A Gift Set SOULution
Featuring the botanical-themed Charcuterie Gift Box
Elevate your next gathering with the Melanated Musings Charcuterie Board Gift Box Set.
In the heart of your home or gathering, add flair wherever you dare with a fusion of art, Black culture, and whimsical elegance.
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Let the captivating charm bring a touch of soul to your next soirée (bridal shower, hostess gift, team party, bachelorette party, birthday party, anniversary celebration, or just to feel lavished), as they remind you that sometimes, the most beautiful stories begin with a simple, heartfelt gesture.
What’s Included: Free Gift Wrapping
1 x Choose board shape: Round Charcuterie Board with Groove - 13.5” x 13.5” or Rectangular Charcuterie Board with Groove - 12" x 9"
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1 x Tamarind Oh! Sauce, 10.5 oz. Ingredients: Guava, Water, Tamarind Puree, Ginger Juice, Brown Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Organic Lemon Juice, Organic Lime Juice. A phenomenal sweet and tangy sauce for veggies, meat, and YES—desserts. Use it on your charcuterie boards to replace jams + jellies.
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Until next time,
Gift from your soul.
✧
Deepen Your Soul Care Journey
Beloved SOULjourner, as you continue to nurture your gift-giving practice, discover sustainable gifts designed to embody intentional gift-giving + connection.
Soulful gifting for social change in the soul care boutique. Be inspired to amplify your ARTvocacy through peace + play vibes.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only as I share my pastoral care, my journey, and bring to you valuable research. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing any medical concerns or symptoms, please seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.
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