Dear Friend,
Stand Tall and Proud
Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
Reflect the light of a greater source
Think long term
Go out on a limb
Remember your place among all living beings
Embrace with joy the changing seasons
For each yields its own abundance
The Energy and Birth of Spring
The Growth and Contentment of Summer
The Wisdom to let go of leaves in the Fall
The Rest and Quiet Renewal of Winter
Feel the wind and the sun
And delight in their presence
Look up at the moon that shines down upon you
And the mystery of the stars at night.
Seek nourishment from the good things in life
Simple pleasures
Earth, fresh air, light
Be content with your natural beauty
Drink plenty of water
Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes
Be flexible
Remember your roots
Enjoy the view!
by Ilan Shamir.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the wisdom that a tree can give us? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to draw wisdom from a life-form other than human? What helps you enjoy the view while living?
I have for a couple of years felt stuck. And as things changed drasticly and the unpredictability and unserteinity level was high for a period of time. And that's when the heat of that summerday struck me with a overwhelming remebrance of my mother wich I haven't seen or heard from since age 3. While following attentively the leaves dancing in the wind, an admiratiaon and awe for trees, rooted itself from that day. Standing tall, deeply rooted and yet dancing in the wind. The remebrance from that summerday expressed the Trees sacred knowledge. Sry* (if my English isnt 100 percent)
Our roots is the soul,the eternal life force full of peace,purity,power ,love & harmony. Just go internal to realize all this and get it hearing the melodious music inside. This is beautifully permanent while enjoying the transitory external world.For me this is like finding the meaning,truth and purpose of the invaluable human life without loosing anything at all but only gaining- benefiting fully from the Nature.
A tree is not in a hurry to grow from a sapling to a towering giant....it grows and changes at its own pace, as nature intends it to, and it accepts the changing seasons of its journey. A tree is a truly wise teacher, showing us what we need to learn by its example.
Considering several huge, beautiful Cuban Laurel trees felled recently by hurricane Irma in SW Florida, "And when it is time to come down, allow your roots to release the earth and fall in the direction of the least damage to other life." (Which is just what they did.)
Blessings,
njk
I love trees!! My child, Banyan, is named after a tree. :-). They give so, so, much, including the very air we breath and ask of nothing from us in return. Love the joy they provide with the changing orange, yellow, red of the leaves. Love that they are a testament to slowing down and just be. Love all their wonderfully diverse barks, smoothness of crape myrtle, sponginess of the cork tree, roughness of elms:-). Can't say enough about them! They have brought me so much joy and peace.
We can learn much from a tree. It does its thing. It lives in the present, responsive to what is happening as it is happening. It grows, with no second guessing, no self-doubt, no self consciousness. It plays no games, has no hidden agendas. It takes no more than what it needs. It gives in simply being itself. When used, it is used without guilt giving or bargaining. When misused or injured, it adjusts and heals and continues living as best it can. It lives as fully as it can until it dies. We can learn much from a tree. I drew wisdom just now in reflecting on the tree. What helps me enjoy the view while living is knowing enjoyment and purpose are in the process or journey and not in trying to make a particular outcome happen. Time spent being like a tree, present and responsive, is alive and satisfying.
This poem warms my childhood soul, it is the best advice I have heard yet.