After many years, I’ve rediscovered the deep peace, joy and power of tree-hugging. It perfectly complements my study of Tibetan Buddhist somatic meditation (earth descent & whole body breathing), the treasure-trove of esoteric healing practices revealed by Master Dhwaj Khul, and provides a context for intentional collaboration with the deva kingdom (nature spirits, angels, or creative beings of the natural world).
In First Nations culture, trees are sometimes called “the standing people”, as all denizens of the various kingdoms (mineral, plant and animal, as well as the devas and souls of the ancestors) are included in the phrase “all my relations” - often accompanying a prayer or offering of cedar, tobacco or sage into the ceremonial fire.
In the park next door, I now embrace a variety of species - at least two during each daily walk. I’ve created a stance minimizing unwanted attention and simply appear as a tuckered-out senior leaning with one arm around a trunk for support. 😀
A few years ago, during a rare lapse in my long hugless drought, I cozied up to some arbutus trees on Salt Spring Island, BC.
Young-uns (planted 6-15 years old) have strong energy & the old ones are so wise & infinitely patient! Each genus and species contains it’s own healing properties – physical, emotional, mental & spiritual – just like our sibling species of the animal kingdom and the vast array of human personality & soul types, each with their own healing attributes or ‘medicine’.
Trees, when I take the time and invoke the presence to witness, acknowledge and touch them, drain me of worry & invite my grief - down, down and down to their foundation where the whole ‘community’ of intertwined roots from neighbouring trees discuss my condition and proceed to provide delicious cool emptiness where before there was bloated congestion, inflammation, tension & aggravation.
It reminds me of a verse from a Hafiz poem:
Squirrels and birds sense your sadness
And call an important conference in a tall tree.
They decide which secret code to chant
To help your mind and soul.
The multi-level healing from this practice has ascended like sap from my own roots and found residence in this short blog celebrating a re-found pleasure – so easy, and like the best things in life – FREE!
Since re-noticing this treemendous phenomenon, and choosing to collaborate with leaved & rooted mothers, fathers & siblings, my practice of the ancient art/science of tree-hugging is already evolving:
After witnessing, in deep mindfulness, the effects from each embrace, I note the species and relative age or size.
I’ve started giving back, either at the beginning, end (or both) of my treemend-itation - a silent prayer of gratitude, compassion and whatever healing medicine I might muster up from the roots of my own being for the tree and our mutual Mother Earth home.
Am now looking forward to practicing this during the frozen season to notice what nuances might accompany a winter tree-hug.
Hug a tree; maybe you’ll like it!
Kiss one and it will love you back! 😀
From your friend on salt spring island😀