|
Seems fitting that on my 6-month anniversary of tree-hugging (180 trees!!!) I found this unique S-tree to hug!  Oh, how she creates her own path to the light! No doubt overcoming many obstacles.  Like a Super-Hero in the tree-world.  We all have a unique life-path. Reach for the light. Stay positive, even if you don't seem to fit in. Hug a tree and believe in yourself. 
0 Comments
There was much meandering through the woods enjoying the colors and autumn smells before meeting this special tree-friend.  With its trident of expressive tree-arms lifted to the sky.  Perhaps a tree-wizard practicing his magic coloring the leaves golden orange.  Or a tree-musician singing their praises to the heavens, and light, and all the woodland-beings. Find time for peace. Color your imagination in light. Let the trees inspire you.  A joyful tree-hug this morning. My invitation the abundant golden light and open space. A beautiful circle of white light.  The leaves descended in a spirited dance with the breeze.  They made me laugh like a child as they swirled down around me.  And how do you like this heart-leaf! It says, you are loved.  Tree-hugging requires careful observation. This 'hanger' was looped securely over a long branch. Definitely a message there. Sometimes we carry 'things' along with us through life that are not easily released. Rather than avoid looking at them, we can appreciate them as part of our whole self. Part of our depth and the texture of our life story.  There are even flowers still blossoming after the few cold nights. Give yourself permission to laugh in delight as the colorful leaves dance down around you. Enjoy being in nature. Its endless richness awaits us.  A peaceful tree-hug this morning.  Quan Yin looking out over the forest.  Channeling light through the trees.  A tree-lady dancing dancing up high like no one is watching ... except for the birds and an occasional wandering tree-hugger.  Nearby this tree, on the other side of life, got my attention with its beautiful flowing lines and texture. A bearded dwarf perhaps heading out on a woodland-adventure. Have fun. Be peaceful. Live life.  The trees are starting to paint the landscape! What a thrill to come upon this beautiful Beech tree.  A majestic tree-goddess.  Tree-legs reaching to the sky.  Smooth bark is cooler to the touch than textured bark. It is also more comfortable to lay your cheek on when tree-hugging. Though I am noticing as the temperature is getting colder, the smooth tree bark is getting colder too.  Temperature doesn't seem to be a problem for these kissing tree-lovers. Message: Dance with the colors and the Autumn light. Peace, Love & Nature.  Black Birch bark. Pretty cool looking with the lichen and embossed leaf. If you scrape a twig from this tree it will smell like wintergreen.  It is truly amazing that we share the world with such magnificent tree-beings.  Beauty. Power. Presence. Incalculable purpose.  Please do what you can to protect and preserve the natural world!  I am deeply grateful having the opportunity to meet these tree-beings in my 'backyard'. Even though I have done a lot of hiking and camping as an adult I have not spent this kind of time 'meeting' the trees I encountered.  As a kid I loved to play in the woods across the street from where I lived. I used to think the trees told me stories then. There were Indian maidens, star crossed lovers, and stories about many different family dynamics No doubt I was trying to work out some of the things happening in my own home.  Things I never talked about. Things I didn't even know how to begin talking about. For a long, long time.  A most unusual tree-hug this morning.  This tree-entity looks so comfortable in her body. All stretched out and relaxed. Smiling at who ever may wander by. her most unusual form.  The tree's mission is to gather and transmute light in its countless leaf-factories. In the woods this means branches need to be highly creative in reaching the light.  The roots are also creative in their quest for water and secure footing.  Message: Keep reaching for the light. Smile. Be yourself. Know what direction your feet are headed. Stay grounded.  A transformative tree-hug this morning. And a welcome time to sit in meditation.  Lift your arms up to the light.  Recognize the simple signs that come your way.  Sign #1- this leaf sprig transforming into a perfect leaf-dragonfly.  Sign #2 - A long-tree-fingered peace sign.  Sign #3 - A spirit face appearing through the split in the tree trunk.  I could feel the special energy of friendship between these two trees.  And a final message: Claim your freedom!  Happy first day of Autumn! A beautiful, but cold morning (34' at 7am.) Among their many wonderful attributes, trees offer a comforting presence, unique beauty, and I'm discovering, humor.  Since I started paying more attention to the trees I'm seeing patterns in how they grow. They're definitely not all the same, but there are certain patterns of growth that I'm noticing. Like with this tree, you can see one of the boughs angling off to the right. With some trees the boughs stay all together on their journey toward the light.  I love seeing the intricacy of the bends and truly in awe of how nature builds these amazing living giants.  I also love seeing the unexpected - in this case a baby tree-dinosaur scurrying up its mamas neck. It made me laugh.  The sensitive sculptural curves of these oak limbs create a beautiful frame for the soft greens of the woods beyond. The artistry of Nature is breathtaking to me.  Message: Be peaceful. Love Nature.
Can you imagine the thrill of discovering a tree that you never knew existed? I'd like to introduce you to the Hornbeam. It's got the same beautiful smooth bark as a beech, but is in the birch family.  This hornbeam-bodybuilder is looking back over his shoulder, making sure I check out his muscular physique.  The ultra-smooth bark of this lovely arms-raised tree-ballerina is a perfect canvas for the leaves to paint their shadow pictures.  And, why not finish with a tree-kickboxer! I'm not surprised another name for the hornbeam is musclewood. Message: Strength comes in all shapes and sizes. Experience the thrill of finding your undiscovered strength.  A special tree-hug today.  This tree's ornately sculpted trunk revealing a world of tree-stories.  I love the tender embrace of these two gentle tree-beings.  And the dance of light and leaves made sure I would notice this Easter Island tree-guardian with his trusted steed in the background. Message: We live to love. We live to dream. Time in nature feeds our soul.  This tree-being spoke to me of Rip Van Winkle falling asleep by the tree, not far from here, in the Catskill Mountains.  And here we have another smiling, rather impish tree-creature saying hi! There are more friends than we realize in the woods. If we enter with care, caution and an open respectful heart, I believe, we are protected from harm. Peace to all.  What a giant of a tree-hug today!  This magnificent one looks like a great tree-school-mistress teaching her class important lessons of the tree-world. Taking us on tree-journeys of the mind.  We are all different, she says. Some tree-viewpoints are quite simple and straight forward.  While others ask you to stretch and go beyond what you thought possible.   This lovely and wise elder tree-entity had a lot to say in her lesson today: Keep seeking the light. Allow yourself the gift of freedom to bend and flow as you grow. Keep coming back to the strength at your center, your core, your roots. Trust and persevere.  Todays tree first caught my eye with its graceful and smooth flowing lines.  After a while I started noticing its quite unusual textures and markings, like how the lower trunk has a rougher textured bark and up above it is smooth.  Mysterious tree-hieroglyphs telling many a story for those that are fluent in Tree-Bark.  When this perky raccoon popped out he made me laugh. Message: Follow your heart. Be aware. Pay attention to the signs and messages life presents. Don't be afraid to laugh, even when things aren't going your way.  I've never seen anything like this bent and hollowed out tree-trunk. The woods are filled with new experiences, unseen pieces of the world, and lessons in life. I was honored to meet this towering giant of a tree.  I love its powerful root-toes spreading out over the ground. And its treetop-fingertips dancing with the sky and light.  This friendly tree-lady said, come on up and visit a while!  And join the joyous circle of tree-sky-dancers celebrating. The leaves will be changing color soon and falling. Drink in their rich green light while it's here.  Message: Be here now. There is always something to celebrate. Some days it's through your roots. Some days its through your highest aspirations. Honor your whole self in the light of love. And, as best you can, paint the sky with peaceful intentions.
How blessed I feel having the opportunity to connect with these most awesome trees! Something good coming out of the pandemic. When my mother had cancer she used to say, 'if life gives you lemons, make lemonade'. I hope my journey is making her proud.  I love this beautiful tree-lady, with her amazing mossy-bark-trained gown, ...  ... leading the other tree-beings in joyous celebration.  And this marvelous Atlas-tree-torso holding it all up for the forest-world to see!  Message: We are stronger than we realize. Make lemonade. Practice patience. Come to your center. Lift up your arms. Be grateful.
This lovely Beech tree caught my eye with her graceful dancer tree-pose.  So delicate looking alongside her stately tree-neighbor.  She is here to stretch out and tree-arm-hug the air and light.  And sometimes she just likes to be her goofy spiral-armed tree-self.  Message: (we've heard this one before) Be comfortable being yourself. There is no one else just like you in the forest. Enjoy being you. Have fun being you. BE you.
I was taken aback by this great maple.  Majestic. Gothic. So rich with characters and stories  A conga line of joyous tree-beings.  Colossal tree-feet ready to dance off through the woods.  And why not a sweet tree-kiss, within a tree-heart! With tree-chaperone, of course.  Watching over the festivities, a tree-angel so beautiful she took my breath away. Message: Be strong. Celebrate and be joyous. Dance with each other and the angels. Love.  On the walk back this sunlit tree stump back off the trail caught my eye. It was like something was on fire. Message: Don't forget to tap into the fire within.  Very tall tree-hug today. Within the first minute of hugs I usually release a deep sigh of relaxation. Sometimes two. The feeling of peace and calm that comes over me is a bit like coming home inside. Tree-hugs are a meditative time. And when I say tree-hugs, I mean the whole time I spend with the tree. I am inviting the tree to show me or tell me, in some way, more about itself. The more I can get out my own way, the more I see and hear the tree's story. Sometimes I think it is my story too, but I like to listen and let it be what it is.  This tree's story was way up high.  An amazing powerful presence I stood in awe of!  I was led to this side view of a wise-tree-overseer looking out over his piece of the earth. He does what he can to maintain balance. There is much he has no control over. Message: Stand tall. Be who and what you are - it is your statement. As best you can, enjoy all the seasons of life.  Message: Stand tall. Be who and what you are - that is your statement. As best you can, enjoy the seasons of life.
My tree-hug today was in the Taconic Range along the border of NY, MA & CT. It was perfect weather for a more strenuous hike. This sweet white birch was at 2200' elevation!  A sun salutation.  These girls were dancing and stretching in the glorious sunlight.  There was even a tree-mudra.  And in case you've never seen a purple mushroom, they exist!  Message: Keep exploring. Reach for the sky. Dance and see the magic in life. Love.
.The biggest shagbark hickory I've seen. It felt like an honor to hug this tree.  First looking up I was greeted by this powerful bearded tree-king.  A different perspective revealed this majestic tree-angel.  Her angel-wing-bark softly draping down the contours of the tree.  Another tree-king overseeing his woodlands.  In the top picture you can see that a great limb had fallen from this tree. Injury, illness and death are a part of all our lives, including the trees. And just as I don't like to see people suffer, I don't like to see the trees suffer. The limb was part of this great trees balance and wholeness. It no doubt provided habitat for many a creature. It's leaves even supporting the air we breathe. But I also know there is a natural flow of life and death. As the tree limb decomposes it feeds the earth and other creatures nutrients. When I first approached the fallen limb I noticed the smoothness of the wood where the bark had fallen away. It's smoothness felt wonderful to the touch! I then noticed, looking up at me, a toothy smiling wood-being. He seemed as happy as can be. Message: If not for this limb falling and decomposing, you would never have seen my smiling face. There is much more to life than meets the eye. Open your heart to it all.  It is always a thrill to discover giants in the woods.  I was surprised to see a sad bark-story of a little little boy. Maybe injured in an accident. It may explain why this part of the woods has an uncomfortable feeling for me.  But the power of this tree ...  And the aura of serenity around it brought me comfort.  And THEN this outrageously colorful 'devil's dipstick' (not making this up!) sure stood out and up! Message: Gotta keep laughing!  This young tree got my attention with it's tuning-fork-like shape.  On closer viewing it appeared to be more a shaggy tree-creature with a rather unusual hairstyle. If you look closely you'll see a large millipede climbing up it's face. That would make my hair raise up too !!!  Then I noticed this perturbed-looking tree-fellow looking right at me. His bent arm holding somethin up. I thought maybe an umbrella would be nice, as it was starting to rain.  But when I noticed the milky quartz tree-tooth embedded into the root below him I figured he was on the way to the dentist.  Message: Enjoy your imagination, it may be better than what's on TV.
This old and massive tree was a marvel.  I wonder if you can see what seems to be a Zen Master next to me in the tree-hug?  The wise tree-beings beckoned me to stop for a while and appreciate the woods-world with them.    It is amazing the magic that happens when the breeze and the light and leaves dance together.  Even small trees are good for tree-hugs.  You can look at something in many different ways.      The message from this tree-seeker of the light: Keep your mind free. Be open to seeing something you may not have expected. And always reach for the light.
Still grieving my kitty, Scout.  I think the angels are here to help.   And a Divine tree-hand reaching out to bring comfort ...  And to show me how an entangled flow of energy can be beautiful and inspiring. Peace and Blessings
|
RSS Feed