Thank you so much Priscilla, this is such a profound teaching you reflect on here, very moving for me. I have always been very aware of trees and attracted to them., I miss the trees of my Aotearoa homeland, the beautiful red flowering pohutukawa and rata, the immensity of the kauri. Here on Wangal Country where I live now I delight in the casuarina and gums in the park. I do my tai chi within a circle of them , dancing together , their branches holding many different families of birds, all in communion creating this shared feeling of home and family, many spirits together.
Sally, I just looked up your red pohutukawa tree. Magnificent! I don't wonder that you miss them. And your casuarina—what a special form! All those long needles flowing so softly downward. They look very friendly to tai chi, and I can imagine them and the birds and all making a beautiful space for your meditation. Thanks for introducing us!
How lovely you looked these special trees up Priscilla. The pohutukawa, coastal lovers, are so magnificent in form and flowers and the casuarina, river lovers, not only create a beautiful space they make a very soulful song as they dance with the wind.
"Western science for the most part remains there, drilling deeper and deeper into the parts rather than moving outward again toward knowledge of the whole." This has been my experience as well. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this. What a special encounter with your birch tree.🌳
Wow, Mary Beth, I'll take those words of confirmation from a scientist! There is terrific knowledge to be had from the parts, as you know. It has taken us far. However... So glad you enjoyed the post, and thanks for stopping in to say so. If you liked this story, there are more like it—of connecting with various beings—in my book Kissed by a Fox; the birch tree lives happily in chap. 1.
What a blessing to wake up to your comment, Katharine! Thanks for the good words. Will go check out Jason too, looking forward to it. Hope hurricane recovery keeps happening and life takes its new shape again for you and everyone in your area.
I am a fellow observer and "knower-with-love" of trees. I've asked them to adopt me many times. My husband and I got married in a redwood grove and I felt their blessing. I wrote the ceremony, which honoured their blessing and what they represented in lessons to us as we embarked on our relationship together. As someone looking for unorthodox ways to participate in spirituality this piece offers much. I wish more people shared this worldview.
Oh, Nancy, redwood groves are so special, aren't they? I feel a sense of hush there that I don't feel with any other tree or kind of being. A real blessing to begin your relationship there. If there are other people in your life who might resonate with this way of practicing spirituality, please do feel free to share this or other pieces with them. I too would like to make it more available—there are so many people looking for ways to express and cultivate their deep love for Earth and not receiving much sustenance for it in the more common paths. Have you heard of Church of the Wild? https://www.victorialoorz.com/
Love this. I am constantly awed, humbled and delighted by the in-depth teachings that communing with plants (not just trees) brings. It’s like each holds a whole universe of wisdom with its own constellation of teachings. It’s impossible to get bored or to feel like we know anything more than a tiny portion of all that is to be known in nature.
I love that way of saying it, Heidi: "a whole universe of wisdom" in every being. That's my experience of them too—every plant, fungus, animal bird, we could go on forever, couldn't we? :-) Learning forever—what a beautiful life!
Just like stepping outside and talking with trees or gazing at the sky makes me feel suddenly at home, listening to your voice reading these beautiful words brought me back to myself. Thank you, Priscilla! I loved this reminder of what the real world is.
So much wisdom here, Priscilla. Both that of the Yurok man and your reflections on his words. Thank you for the very personal story of the birch tree too. The older I get the stronger connection I feel to trees and what they have to teach me. I’ve written about this and composed a suite of orchestral music which I’ve shared here. Perhaps you’ll find it of interest. https://open.substack.com/pub/glynsmusic/p/i-stand-silent?r=3w1kec&utm_medium=ios
Wow, Glyn, what a rich and accomplished project! I listened to the first track and enjoyed it a lot, very evocative. Especially because I used to play in orchestras! I love that the whole project grows out of connecting with trees and expresses being in relationship with trees. I look forward to exploring more of the tracks. Congrats on a beautiful album!
Thank you! What a powerful reflection on deep connection with the living beings of nature. I feel like being aware of trees has always been important for me. I remember the hawthorn trees in my childhood home, the chestnut tree in another home, the sequoia outside another home. Today I love noticing the changes in the magnolia in the garden of the home in which we will see out our days (it is now beginning to bud once more!)
Wow, Hilary, you've lived in some wildly different areas! Those are trees from a lot of different regions, and I can just about conjure up the whole eco-community of each place just from hearing the name of one tree there. Isn't it wonderful how trees provide shelter for the eyes and heart wherever we live? Enjoy the beautiful magnolia buds unfolding.
Thank you so much Priscilla, this is such a profound teaching you reflect on here, very moving for me. I have always been very aware of trees and attracted to them., I miss the trees of my Aotearoa homeland, the beautiful red flowering pohutukawa and rata, the immensity of the kauri. Here on Wangal Country where I live now I delight in the casuarina and gums in the park. I do my tai chi within a circle of them , dancing together , their branches holding many different families of birds, all in communion creating this shared feeling of home and family, many spirits together.
Sally, I just looked up your red pohutukawa tree. Magnificent! I don't wonder that you miss them. And your casuarina—what a special form! All those long needles flowing so softly downward. They look very friendly to tai chi, and I can imagine them and the birds and all making a beautiful space for your meditation. Thanks for introducing us!
How lovely you looked these special trees up Priscilla. The pohutukawa, coastal lovers, are so magnificent in form and flowers and the casuarina, river lovers, not only create a beautiful space they make a very soulful song as they dance with the wind.
Omg I didn’t even think about how those long flowy needles would sound with the wind! Thanks for the tip.
"Western science for the most part remains there, drilling deeper and deeper into the parts rather than moving outward again toward knowledge of the whole." This has been my experience as well. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this. What a special encounter with your birch tree.🌳
Wow, Mary Beth, I'll take those words of confirmation from a scientist! There is terrific knowledge to be had from the parts, as you know. It has taken us far. However... So glad you enjoyed the post, and thanks for stopping in to say so. If you liked this story, there are more like it—of connecting with various beings—in my book Kissed by a Fox; the birch tree lives happily in chap. 1.
I love this so much.
The energy under your writing is exquisite.
Thank you for your work 🌱🌿
PS This essay fits beautifully with Jason Anthony’s latest.💚
What a blessing to wake up to your comment, Katharine! Thanks for the good words. Will go check out Jason too, looking forward to it. Hope hurricane recovery keeps happening and life takes its new shape again for you and everyone in your area.
I am a fellow observer and "knower-with-love" of trees. I've asked them to adopt me many times. My husband and I got married in a redwood grove and I felt their blessing. I wrote the ceremony, which honoured their blessing and what they represented in lessons to us as we embarked on our relationship together. As someone looking for unorthodox ways to participate in spirituality this piece offers much. I wish more people shared this worldview.
Oh, Nancy, redwood groves are so special, aren't they? I feel a sense of hush there that I don't feel with any other tree or kind of being. A real blessing to begin your relationship there. If there are other people in your life who might resonate with this way of practicing spirituality, please do feel free to share this or other pieces with them. I too would like to make it more available—there are so many people looking for ways to express and cultivate their deep love for Earth and not receiving much sustenance for it in the more common paths. Have you heard of Church of the Wild? https://www.victorialoorz.com/
I have not but looks like my kind of church!
Love this. I am constantly awed, humbled and delighted by the in-depth teachings that communing with plants (not just trees) brings. It’s like each holds a whole universe of wisdom with its own constellation of teachings. It’s impossible to get bored or to feel like we know anything more than a tiny portion of all that is to be known in nature.
I love that way of saying it, Heidi: "a whole universe of wisdom" in every being. That's my experience of them too—every plant, fungus, animal bird, we could go on forever, couldn't we? :-) Learning forever—what a beautiful life!
Hehe totally!
Just like stepping outside and talking with trees or gazing at the sky makes me feel suddenly at home, listening to your voice reading these beautiful words brought me back to myself. Thank you, Priscilla! I loved this reminder of what the real world is.
I'm so glad it helps, Lisa! We all need the friends who bring us home again. Deeply honored that the trees can reach you through my voice.
So much wisdom here, Priscilla. Both that of the Yurok man and your reflections on his words. Thank you for the very personal story of the birch tree too. The older I get the stronger connection I feel to trees and what they have to teach me. I’ve written about this and composed a suite of orchestral music which I’ve shared here. Perhaps you’ll find it of interest. https://open.substack.com/pub/glynsmusic/p/i-stand-silent?r=3w1kec&utm_medium=ios
Wow, Glyn, what a rich and accomplished project! I listened to the first track and enjoyed it a lot, very evocative. Especially because I used to play in orchestras! I love that the whole project grows out of connecting with trees and expresses being in relationship with trees. I look forward to exploring more of the tracks. Congrats on a beautiful album!
Thank you for listening and for your kind comments, Priscilla.
Thank you! What a powerful reflection on deep connection with the living beings of nature. I feel like being aware of trees has always been important for me. I remember the hawthorn trees in my childhood home, the chestnut tree in another home, the sequoia outside another home. Today I love noticing the changes in the magnolia in the garden of the home in which we will see out our days (it is now beginning to bud once more!)
Wow, Hilary, you've lived in some wildly different areas! Those are trees from a lot of different regions, and I can just about conjure up the whole eco-community of each place just from hearing the name of one tree there. Isn't it wonderful how trees provide shelter for the eyes and heart wherever we live? Enjoy the beautiful magnolia buds unfolding.