Now, let’s talk about the next essential component in the Garden of the Soul: the WATERS. Waters represent the prayers and trust that nourish our garden. St. Teresa of Avila described four levels of prayer, each like a different way of watering the garden. These ‘four waters’ are a beautiful picture of how our relationship with God deepens over time.

1: Water from the well

Imagine drawing water from a deep well. It’s hard work! You lower the bucket, haul it up, and carry the heavy load. For beginners in the spiritual life, prayer can feel like this. It takes effort. You might feel awkward or distracted. You don’t always ‘feel’ like praying, and it doesn’t always seem to ‘work.’ But this is where we start. Every garden needs water, even if it’s just a bucket at a time.

2: Water from the water wheel

Now imagine a water wheel. With less effort, you can draw much more water. As your relationship with God grows, prayer becomes easier. You begin to pray with faith, and you see God at work in your life. But there’s still misalignment. For example, your mind might trust that God is your provider, but your emotions or body still feel fear and anxiety when faced with scarcity. The garden is growing, but it’s not yet flourishing.

3: Water from the stream

Next, picture a garden nourished by a nearby stream. The water flows freely, and the garden thrives with little effort. At this stage, your faculties—your mind, heart, and body—are aligning in deep trust. You know God is with you, and you rely on Him more naturally. Prayer becomes a rhythm of life, and the garden begins to bear fruit.

4: Water from the rain

Finally, imagine a garden watered by gentle, steady rain. This is union with God. You don’t even need to ‘draw’ water anymore; it simply falls from heaven. Your trust is complete. You don’t consult your faculties because God is your ultimate reality. The garden flourishes effortlessly, bearing abundant fruit. This is the goal of the spiritual life—to live in such deep communion with God that His presence nourishes us completely.

THE JOURNEY TO CHRISTLIKE VIRTUES

The journey to Christlike Virtues is a journey of deepening trust in God.

That’s what sets a spiritual formation journey apart from a self-improvement journey. This is not about attaining results through greater effort. It is really about trust. Trust comes about through intimacy. And trust transforms.

The heart and soul of the Enneagram of Christlike Virtues is TRANSFORMING TRUST. Jeremiah 17:7-8 is our banner Scripture, which says:

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Let’s explore how this transforming trust can help us move from deadly sins to Christlike virtues, cultivating a garden that flourishes with the fruit of His Spirit. We’re going to describe nine transforming trusts in the next lesson. We have provided a worksheet handout, as well as an audio recording of different voices describing them. As you move through them, listen with an open heart whether God is inviting you to trust Him in particular ways right now.