Trees of Life

Trees.  They are everywhere, and yet we take them so much for granted.  Some people totally dislike trees because they shed leaves that they have to rake up every autumn.  But how often do we stop and think about the trees around us and really appreciate them.  Trees are the stuff of life.  They take our carbon dioxide in, and breathe out oxygen for us.  Oxygen!  We  need that!   And now with the sun being so much more dangerous to us, we need the trees for their shade.

I am passionate about trees.  I know, it sounds pretty boring.  But have you ever sat and just looked at the trees outside your window?  You would think there is nothing much to look at, but it can be very meditative.  The way the sunlight plays on the leaves, the way the wind turns them, the birds that are chattering away inside them and building nests, and squirrels that are chasing each other through the branches.  Not to mention all the insect that live in trees that are food for the birds that live there. When a tree sheds its leaves in the fall those very same leaves provide a warm place for some insects to winter.  When a tree dies its trunk and bark break down in the compost for the soil.  Animals can live in the holes left by branches.  All sorts of life is protected and nourished by trees.  Humans need trees for their oxygen, for the wood, for the fruits that are produced, for the shade they provide.  Have you ever noticed how stark a new subdivision looks before the trees  mature?

How can we change people's feeling about trees and make them realize how vitally important they are, without coming across as a tree hugging hippie?  Although there are worse things a person could be called.  I hate to see trees being cut down to make way for a house being built.  It disturbs to see wooded areas cleared for a new subdivision.  And I can't even let myself think about what's happening to our rain forests.  It sends a chill through my very being. And I don't think people will realize how much we need them until they are gone, and then it's too late.

 When I moved in to my apartment two years ago, there was a really nice tree just in front of my balcony, I could actually reach out and touch it.  And there was a birds nest in it from a family of robins who had lived there in the spring.  I was SO excited that I would be able to watch this.  And then Hurricane Sandy came along and my tree became a victim of it.  I woke up one morning to find it leaning at a dangerous angle.  A few days later it was gone.   It broke my heart. I actually grieved for the tree.  Maybe I am little too invested in them!

The next time you are out walking, take a few minutes to just stand under a tree and enjoy it. Breathe it in.  Look closely at the leaves, and if there are none, look at the way the bare branches look against the sky.  I have many photographs of this.  It never gets old.  And as you are doing this, offer up a silent thank you to the universe for this glorious gift.

Forest Gumption

I know you probably groaned when you read the title of this blog.  But there is a reason for my terrible pun.   Studies have shown that spending time in a forest actually increases your energy level and decreases your stress level significantly.

One of my favourite forests is part of the Royal Botannical Gardens.  It's called Cherry Hill Gate.  It's magical.  The minute you walk through the entrance gate you feel it. It's like stepping in to another world.  A world free of pollution, noise, traffic, and all the many things that make us crazy.  The path slopes down a winding hill right away.  There is a railing along the edge so people don't accidentally fall down into the valley.  You are compelled to remain silent or speak softly once you enter this space.   Even young children are quiet in there.  They know.  They can feel the spiritual pull.

At the bottom of the winding hill there is a beautiful, huge, tree root.  And that tree root is full of life.  Just stand there for 10 minutes, silently.  Take in the smells, the sights, and the sounds around you.  Look up.  Breathe deeply.  And in a short while you will hear nature accepting you in their forest and inviting you to enjoy their home.  If you bring bird seed or peanuts, the birds and squirrels will eat right out of your hand.  They will land on you.  Some will linger and eat, some will just grab a seed and fly off.  Chickadees especially like to grab and go.  They take one seed and fly to a nearby branch and eat that one seed, and then come back for more.   There are sparrows, nuthatches, woodpeckers of the hairy and downy variety, warblers, blue jays, cardinals, cedar wax wings, robins....so many birds.  The forest is alive with all the busyness of animals living in a place where they feel safe and respected.  The squirrels and chipmunks will eat right out of your hand as well.  There are more chipmunks there than I have ever seen in one place!

Further along there is a board walk with a pond on each side.  We have seen turtles, swans, geese, ducks and even a muskrat once.   The trail goes much further, but I usually only go as far as that boardwalk.  It's a long walk back up that winding hill!

So, if you are feeling stressed out and anxious, don't reach for a cigarette or a drink, or a Xanax.  Go find a forest and sit there for as long as it takes for you to feel rejuvenated.  You will.  I promise.

http://www.hphpcentral.com/article/forest-bathing