Have you ever wondered how certain people connect with trees? I had heard folks talk of spirits of trees, how they felt love for trees, and identified them by gender, and although I had always been fond of trees, I never felt a strong connection with them until I noticed something one day.
In my mid-fifties I thought it was high-time for some real peace and joy in my every day life, and started doing things like attending a yoga class regularly, eating more greens and natural food, and regularly walking in parks. The more I immersed myself in activities that fed my body and soul, the more peaceful I was, and the better I was at handling life’s ups and downs.
I decided to try a walk in a secluded area of a park near me one day, when I was feeling a bit low, thinking that the more immersed I was in nature, the more benefits I could reap. As I entered the area, I felt scared. I was completely alone, no cell phone or way to protect myself against an attack by someone in the woods or an animal. As I tried to focus on the trees, I realized my fear was keeping me from fully experiencing what was around me, and I wanted the blockage to be gone. So I thought about it, and realized that the worst thing that could happen is that I would be attacked somehow, and die. I realized that if I died, I would simply become part of nature, so there was really nothing to fear. I also decided I would walk this secluded part of the trail only one time during my walk at the park, so if someone spotted me and had bad intentions, they wouldn’t have the chance to approach me.
As my fear left me, I began to notice every tree, wild flower, brush, grass, you name it. The trees were mainly enormous Sycamore trees, and as I rounded the back corner, and worked my way toward the entrance, I felt an enormous feeling of love for myself, somber and strong, yet so deep, that I could feel my heart lifting as my mood changed, and I walked out of the area feeling sure of myself in the universe like I had never felt before.
What was that, I wondered!! My spirit was healed simply by walking alone in a wooded area that day, and the sadness I had left earlier was gone.
As the weeks and months passed, I continued to walk in this area of the park when time allowed. I walked there during all weather conditions and seasons, and each time I approached the bend in the path, I felt the same enormous love for myself, walking out with a renewed sense of purpose in the world, and profound respect for my soul. I wondered exactly how this was happening, slowed down, noticing everything along that trail, and realized the feeling came when I looked at one particular huge Sycamore tree. I had found my spirit tree!
To summarize the steps to finding your spirit tree:
- Find a secluded place you can walk alone in a wooded area.
- Take a minute to feel any fear or other feelings blocking you from opening fully and experiencing what is around you at that moment, and imagine a way to free yourself from the feeling.
- Connect with nature around you by using five senses. Touch the bark of a tree or a flower, smell the air, taste your lips, listen to the sounds of bird or leaves rustling in the wind, and look at everything, noticing colors, any water or moisture, textures, shapes, everything.
- Open your soul to feel whatever is there, and let your emotions surface until you feel love for yourself.
- After finding a place that makes you feel loved, return to that place periodically until you can identify exactly the source from which the love is radiating.
- Touch that tree, say thank you, and acknowledge it each time you walk there.
Finding your spirit tree, or a place in nature where you feel love, is a great way to get perspective on your life, dissolving negative emotions, and creating happiness. My connection with trees has evolved to the point where I feel all trees are aware of me, as I acknowledge them, aware of their connection to each other and all of life. It is easy to get caught up in the stress and worries of modern life, forgetting where we come from, and the purpose of our lives in the big picture of life. Finding a quiet place to feel the peace of nature, a place that you can go to anytime can be the best form of therapy. Pure and real, peace and love just for you from the universe and beyond, transmitted to you by a magical tree.