Sentinels of the Forest

Trees eat fish to provide oxygen to every lung on this planet. During the fall, salmon rush upstream in huge numbers. Bears love this fish buffet - they swat a handful out of mountain streams, carry them up into the forest, and gorge themselves on the tasty fish heads, scattering headless salmon all over the forest floor. Over time, the decaying salmon seep into the soil, enriching, giving the tree roots new energy for branching out into the sky, sending transmuted fish souls into swirling mists.

As guardians of the wilds, these ancient sentinels stand rooted in the earth yet reach for the heavens. They are conduits between air and earth. 

Cultural Perspectives
 

Basil Brave Heart, a Lakota Medicine Man, has been noted as revering trees as examples of strength that comes not just from what is seen, but most importantly from what is unseen. Saying that the roots are what supports and feeds the tree, and sometimes those are tiny roots supporting a huge tree! Through this example he gives us a wonderful metaphor for how quick we are to believe what we see in front of us to be the strongest, or the most important. However, without that supporting structure, the tree would not have grown into this magnificent structure. Its very life force depends upon the humbleness of its roots. 


Over and over again trees are found to be in the center of very sacred practices. I think of the Yew Trees that line the paths of Glastonbury's Chalice Well; the trees of Costa Rica where they have ancient beliefs of burying their dead between high roots of the trees base will help lift the spirit to heaven; the oak trees for druid festivals; the cottonwood trees for the Lakota Sundance ceremony; the Christmas tree to help remind us of the reason for the season in Christian belief. Yet caution should be exercised in discerning between worship of a tree and the tree being a symbol within a ritual.

The Lakota have the Sundance Ceremony that is very powerful, very sacred and in the center stage is the tall cottonwood tree. The tree there is forked to represent a man with his arms stretched up to heaven. Called the standing ones, trees are very sacred to native Lakota so the one who offers its life to be part if the most scared if ceremonies is especially revered, which is quite different than worshiping the tree itself. To know that the tree is a living being and it gave its life to be part of the ceremony is very humbling and as such the tree is honored, but it is not a 'tree worship' ceremony. The tree cutting at that time is a ceremony in itself and is very humbling.

What do trees say to you?

Think back about a particular tree that called to you. This does not make you strange or meant to label you as weird or different. Even people who do not consider themselves as being particularly spiritual will recall a particular tree that made them stop even for a moment to admire its shape and form for a while. 

Without trees the world would be a very different place, not just on a scientific level, but on a spiritual level as well. They provide shelter, food, protection, oxygen and provide an essential resource to our very planet. Lovers have met beneath romantic moss draped branches and the lonely have felt their support against their backs and many a poet, philosopher and physicist have been inspired by them.

My personal favorite book about a tree that represents unconditional love is "the Giving Tree"

“Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.”
― Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree

What tree In Spires you?

authors: Rhonda, Michael