Thought for today
"We are slowly advancing the pollution of our planet by the practice of deforestation, particularly the cutting down of the rain forest. The tropical rain forest is nature's natural medicine cabinet, without which the capacity to cure will be greatly diminished. Without the increase growth of trees throughout the world, mankind will drastically poison their own air and empty their medicine cabinets. So let us please return to planting trees instead of plundering our planet by cutting them down.
Trees are a major source of energy on many levels. Physically they help people and the planet by providing oxygen and shade. They can provide shelter and habitats for animals. Some trees also give their fruit and wood to help ensure our survival. There is an energy in trees which many folk feel to be transferable and which can also affect our mental, emotional and spiritual state of being. Consider for example the peace and serenity people feel when they sit under a tree or walk through a forest. And what about the feelings of joy and excitement that children feel when climbing a tree to pick a conker or the magic of spending time in a treehouse? By coming into contact with a tree you will pick up these vibrations whether you are consciously aware of it or not. You begin to resonate with the tree’s energy and you become more centered and grounded. This can help explain the comfort many people feel when next to a tree. Maybe the hippies had the right idea when they advised people to go 'hug a tree.'
The physical characteristics that trees and humans share is scary. We stand upright, have a crown on top and mobile limbs stemming from a central trunk. The pattern of the tubular branches (bronchi) in our lungs is similar to the root system of many trees. Trees like humans are capable of providing security in the form of shelter, along with a sense of place that keeps us rooted to both nature and nurture. Mankind stands taller and becomes more grounded when he harnesses the combined power of nurture and nature.
Trees often assist our spiritual practice that we find essential and helps us to see all manner of life as being a celebration of creation and love. Aside from the Christmas tradition, trees have been involved in a number of religious and spiritual practices since time began. A tree played an important part during the first days of life for Adam and Eve and was also used to make a cross during the last day in the life of Jesus Christ on earth. Indeed, trees are much more entwined with the roots of mankind than we can ever imagine.
Many mythologies around the globe have stories of a 'world or cosmic' tree. The roots, trunk and branches of the tree represent the underworld, earth, and heavens respectively. Even biblical scriptures mention trees as in the 'tree of life' and the 'tree of knowledge of good and evil' in the book of Genesis. Buddhism has connections to the Bodhi tree where Buddha was known to have reached enlightenment as he sat and meditated. Druids and pagans were known to practice worship among sacred groves of trees. Trees have a long and rich history of sharing the spiritual path with humanity.
My first spiritual connection with a tree was during the third night of being hospitalised after having incurred a life threatening accident at the age of 11 years. For over two weeks, because of my extensive injuries, I remained in a hospital side room on my own where I floated in and out of consciousness, somewhere between this life and the next. I heard a doctor tell my parents that I would probably die during the second night of my hospitalisation. As I laid there in pain, I looked outside the room window and being high above ground, all I could see was the crown of an oak tree in full leaf standing there like a sentry of the night watching over me in my sick bed.
Over the next three weeks, my condition was so critical that I received the Last Sacraments seven times. When I did eventually emerge from danger of dying and knew I was alive, I looked out and wondered at the sight of the oak tree, the night sentry that stood alone, 'but lived' outside, in the grounds of Batley Hospital. I was glad to be alive and a large part of me wondered if the tree outside had transferred some of its own life force to myself?
So my message to all is simply, 'Save a tree and know that you save a life!' William Forde: May 18th, 2016.
