Last tree-hug of 2020!

Wild looking tree-top to go with this wild year.

Grateful for the grounding energy of the trees, the rocks, family and friends!

I hope you do something fun for New Year's Eve!  Peace

This old tree-friend wouldn't let me pass by without a hug.  ​I stayed for a bit and met some interesting new tree-people.

A laughing tree-giant lifted a friend onto his shoulder.

A joyful tree-dancer popped out to say hello. ​

A handsomely sculpted tree-fellow gazed up at the sky, wondering.  Message:  The new year is almost here.  Laugh, dance, question, wonder.  Celebrate being you.  Peace

My heart was happy revisiting this mighty oak-friend today.  

Her tree-statement to the universe still powerfully expressed.

While gently contoured earth-connections secure her balance and stability.  

A most exquisite tree-prayer.  Message:  Come home to your heart.  Find the prayer, the hope, the power within.  Sit for awhile and remember.  Peace

As 2020 comes to an end I've found myself wanting to revisit my favorite big-tree-hugs.

This powerful tree-group has memorable rock-steps leading up into the center area.  Looking more closely today, I discovered that the rocks are embedded into the trunk.  

Each member of this tall tree-crew has their own unique personality.

And, what gorgeous bark textures.  Message: Gather the nectar of life's experiences.  The solidness you need is there.  Appreciate all of the textures.  Be yourself.  Peace

This morning I revisited one of my favorite trees for another giant tree-hug. 

A tree-centaur out exploring encountered a friendly and most unusual multi-headed trunk-being.

Father-tree kept a watchful eye out.

Illuminated by light a divine tree-being offered her blessings and prayers for peace.  Message: Take time to be present in nature.  Find a tree to get to know.  Beauty, blessings and loving support await you.  Peace

I visited an old tree-friend this morning for another big hug.

Tree-trumpeters on high welcomed the sun.

An ancient wise-eyed trunk-being shared stories of surviving life's struggles.

Grandmother bark-being still safe in her hollowed-space.

 Rock and tree spirits harmonious in their long-standing relationship.

Nearby, amber sap icicles dripped artfully from a decaying fallen-one.  Message:  Greet the sun.  Appreciate the lessons learned through your struggles.  Hold hallowed space.  Treasure your friends and loved ones.  Live artfully.  Peace

I needed this hug today.  It reminded me of my first tree-hug back in March when social distancing started and we were faced with so many unknowns.  No visits with family today.  Seeing all the beautiful snow gone was also sad.

Nearby a very young pine reminded me of hope.

The snow melt turned a quiet stream into a loud rushing torrent.

Tree-art on a fallen and decaying trunk still had a story to tell.  Message:  Feel what you feel.  Sometimes letting go is all you can do.  Hope is ever present.  Your story matters.  Peace & Merry Christmas

A giant Christmas Eve tree-hug.  Wishing everyone peace and good health.

It's getting easier to walk on the trails again so we ventured out further today.

The richly textured bark-landscape inspired a journey to this treetop-world.

Arms raised, a powerful trunk-being maintained balance and security in their tree-realm.

While below a long healing wound offered nourishment to others in the forest-world.

A robed tree-being contemplated the sun's power over the melting snow.  Message: Be filled with gratitude for your healing, whatever measure it may be.  Look from within your heart for truth.  We are enveloped in love and healing grace.  Peace

Extra: As I took my pictures I was serenaded by the song of the gentle breeze through nearby winter leaves.  

A sitting tree-hug in the snow this morning.

This convoluted tree caught my eye and left me somewhat at a loss for words.

A tree-survivor. 

A magical first day of winter tree-hug this morning.

My imagination was captured by this mysterious rune-like tree-letter.

The deeply textured bark adorned with mosses and lichen and a soft snow flourish.

An arched tree-window opened to a serene winter-world.

While a happy tree-couple danced in celebration of the new cycle of light.  Solstice blessings.  Peace

A smooth-barked beech tree leaned in for a cold-bark hug this morning.  

Its highest branches radiated a joyful feeling.

While a snow-finger pointed inward.

Nearby a lacey angel wing perfectly formed by the icy flowing water.  Message:  Look within for joy.  Be touched by the angels and the ancient ones seeking oneness with the Light.  Peace

I think this is a young Bigtooth Aspen, a close neighbor to today's beech-friend.  It looked surprised to have a visitor stop by. The raised spots are lenticels, the pores through which the tree exchanges gases with the atmosphere.  

This morning's pondering began with why would anyone need to go hug a tree in the woods when the temperature was 3 degrees.  

A little later the most amazing puff-clouded sky answered my question. To see this magical  view.  Ahhhhhh

I'm learning that some barks feel warmer than others.  This was a warm-bark tree-hug.

An overseeing tree-angel spread her protective wings down.

Glistening ice-crystal light cascaded through the woods blessing all those that stepped into the tree-world on this cold morning.

As I took in the cold gentle peace my eye green was drawn to a green-survivor dressed in ice crystals and a pop of red.  Merry wishes for the Holiday Season.  Peace

While trudging through the snow this morning I pondered how the rolling-hilled trail I was on was a lot like the proverbial story of walking to school uphill both ways in the snow.  Today's tree-hug was truly a welcome relief.

My new tree-friend, a snowy coifed birch, didn't hold back her amazement.

I was impressed with how her papery bark-swirls and twists played in the snow.

A sweet tree-maiden's long lashed bark-eye peeked out at me.

Her smooth lenticel impressed limb stretched up to the sky.

The soft curve of snow-crystals delicately placed in between the trunks inspired wonder. Message: Imagine the gentle flow of nature shaping your life.  The ups and downs, the struggles and times of relief.  All part of the Way.  Imagine peace

And then things changed ... a lot.  A midday tree-hug after a strenuous snowshoe trek.

This oak-lady's flowing snow-gown caught my eye.  She and her shagbark hickory partner made a lovely couple.

I now have a new curiosity.  How do the trees wear the snow?  Tucked into crevices and folds or splashed like portraits of wolves or jesters or dancing unicorns?

As the cold sun peeked through it warmed my mind to seeing the beauty and mystery of the snowy winter-woods.

What a blessing to travel through the seasons with the trees ... and you sharing this journey with me.  Message:  Be bold.  Bundle up.  Visit the magic outside your four walls.  Nature is an ever-present year-round adventure.  Peace

Me, bundled up and snow-shoed.

A cold tree-hug before the big storm.

Trunks stand tall and united.  

An old tree-spirit greeted me with wooden pipe in hand.  He's seen a lot in his time.

A young tree-boy leaned on his wise spirit-guide.  The boy seemed a little sad, but knows he is safe.  Message: Follow the trails of the wise ones before you.  You are never alone in spirit.  Peace

At the beginning of my tree-hug this morning I got a quick message.  It said that this tree was receiving tree-hug energy from all the previous trees I had hugged.  I hadn't thought of the energy being passed through me this way.

Two delicate young tree-beings seek their way.

To the sky and the light.

Appreciating the guidance of their watchful tree-elders.  And today's gift of hug-energy from their woodland cousins.

Elsewhere on the trail snow-blossoms on the bare branches, winter's version of spring.  Message:  Listen to nature.  Energy flows from us, to us, and through us.  Subtle and powerful.  New beginnings are at hand.  Be grateful for the wise ones in your life.  Peace

A wonderful old tree-hug this snowy morning.

This great tree has survived the many challenges of woodland-life.

Secure in her knowedge of self-healing.

A watchful tree-sentry peered out over his home-land.  Ever ready to alert others.

As the invigorating and cleansing snow fell, a triumphant tree-hand held the torch of victory high..​​

A world within a world within a world.  Message: Goodness will prevail.  Wounds will heal.  It is time to move forward with greater knowledge and clarity.  Peace

On the walk back a winter wonderland display.

I couldn't resist a rock-climbing tree-hug this morning. 

A friendly tree-dragon greeted me from above.

The ancient glacial rock-energy is part of the tree's life-blood.

The tree-energy is part of the rock's transformation.

Glowing moss-tufts danced along the rock-face. Message: There is incalculable strength and beauty in our interconnectedness.  It is life itself. The path is Light.  Peace

A cloudy off trail tree-hug today.

Deeply textured and weathered bark-energy.

While around the trunk an enthusiastic tree-choir sang out joyfully.

And then the rain began to fall.  Message:  Our tree-friends possess great wisdom.  Quiet caring. Joyful encouragement. Strong shoulders to lean on as we navigate life's challenges.  Peace

Entwined in my tree-hug this afternoon.

A healing dose of soft green pine light from above.

Tree-beings wrestled playfully.

And danced for an appreciative audience.

While the early setting sun slipped away.  Message:  Soak in the light of the near still sun.  Stand in the shower of the ever-green cascade of color.  Dance.  Play.  Enfold yourself in natures pure flow of energy.  Peace

A powerful tree-hug this morning.

It was no surprise to read that the American Sycamore is one of the largest trees in the eastern United States.  They are planted along waterways to control erosion.  

Trails of melting snow added their ephemeral signature to the organic bark-art.

Streaks of tears on a camouflaged tree-creature.

A bushy eyed tree-grinch didn't dampen my spirits.

Nearby, water droplets glistened on a small hardy plant.  Message:  Be strong. Stand tall.  Come out of hiding.  Draw the line of truth.  We, as the trees, are part of nature.  Vastly interconnected.  Interdependent.  Open your hearts.  Peace

Another cold gray-morning tree-hug today.  ​

A towering tree-wayfarer pointed the way.

One spoke of a long and winding road.

A round-nosed tree-creature sniffed the icy air.  Snow flurries on the way.  Message Like the trees we each are special in our own way.  Embrace your unique identity. Follow your guidance from above and within.  Treasure your place in the vast open woods.  Breathe your truth.  Peace

  

We came upon this fallen tree yesterday.  I was amazed to see it was still alive and had to give it a hug. Today I returned to get more pictures and make my tree-hug official. 

It was a lot colder today with some icy precipitation.  

Walking, very carefully, along the trunk was like entering a special new tree-world.

Branches transformed into trunks growing upward, part of a complete landscape laying in the pond.

A moss-backed root-being pointed  its delicate finger at the icy pellets.

Yesterday's sunshine lit the golden leaves beneath the ice.  A lesson in reflection and perception.

Down the path a ways, on the inside of some fallen bark, an abstract masterpiece!  Message:  The marvels of nature are never ending.  Step outside.  Witness all that is hiding in plain view.  Be transformed.  Peace

An elevated tree-hug this morning.

I must admit that I've developed an urge for climbing trees. When I spotted this easy two-stepped one I had to indulge.

I also love imagining the lives of the varied tree-beings.  Like these regal tree-ladies up high sharing resources and responsibilities in a most balanced way.

And a much less obvious bark-creature carrying off a nut for his winter nourishment.

Message:  From top to bottom, inside and out, obvious and hidden, life carries on.  We work, we have fun, we gather, we share.  Treasure it all.  Peace