During our Wild Hearts group today a sister brought up her rage at how a neighbor had cut down a perfectly healthy blue spruce tree. She allowed herself to move through the energy of rage. I felt powerless and sad initially but then decide to do a short ritual honoring a tree I have never seen somewhere in Canada.
I immediately felt so much better. This was something I could do. I know others may think what is done at the quantum level is not as important as what is down on the physical level. I notice that does not land for me.
In my life I have I felt drawn to a few trees that have made a big difference in my life. The first were two weeping willows from a neighbor near our summer cottage on a lake. I was often drawn to those two trees and felt soothed by their beauty, even by the name since I was a very melancholic child.
The next tree was on our property in Toganga. When we came back from 2 1/2 months living in Guatemala while completing the adoption of our daughter, our neighbor had determined the tree was actually on their property and cut it down. It made no sense where the property line was drawn as it was upslope from the neighbor and shaded our yard. It was also something we tied our hammock to. Everyone knew how much I loved that tree. The neighbor had the grace (yes that is a judgment) to say she considered whether it was better to cut it down while I was there or before we returned so I would not have to see it.
The next tree was one that provide intense refuge on possibly the most difficult night of my life. Intensely surfacing trauma threw me out into a wild winter night with a storm lashing. I ran and ran ultimately collapsing against the tree and was so held. Within a few minutes I entered a peace I had never known.
From that day on I hugged the tree almost daily until one day it too was felled by a neighbor. I had noticed just the day before that it was not well and asked it how I could help. Now I sit on the stump and dialogue with my old friend almost daily.
My current friend is named Hercules and we smooze almost daily too. Last year when he developed a fungus, I went to a nursery for assistance. They were so kind and called their friend a big expert on fungus and got expensive remedies. I had to dig up around the roots and apply the different remedies. It is not on my property so when the owner saw me digging up the roots, I braced for his response. I was so delighted he offered to help me with some equipment. I was so relieved and delighted. I was not surprised he never followed through.
The expert had not given Hercules a good prognosis. I am happy to report he is doing great. I like to think it is all the love and hugs he receives. Some of the neighbors even know his name and I have seen them hugging him once! What is interesting is today when I hugged him I asked him to send a greeting of love to all the trees of the world. I had never done that before. When I later heard about the loss of a tree friend in Canada, I started to cry. I had the feeling a premonition had me ask Hercules to send a message of care for both the tree that was felled and the trees neighbors who in their own way would feel the loss.
Yes.
I am not sure why I am writing this other then to honor the fallen spruce and perhaps to recommend choosing a tree friend. I have a story you won’t regret it!
Picture is of Hercules. I was unable to capture an image of a blue spruce so I gave it up.
