is for trees
I love trees and they’re definitely regular recipients of my gratitude. Besides being beautiful and huggable, they are such wisdom teachers. I love this quote by Jen Delyth:
“Threefold wisdom of the tree:
Leaf wisdom – of change, ever releasing;
Branch wisdom – of growth, ever reaching;
Root wisdom – of endurance, ever deepening.”
Although I live in a major metropolitan area in a neighborhood with very small property lots without room for backyard trees, almost every house our block has a street-side tree. Every day I think of their benevolent presence watching over our neighborhood, holding branch hands across the block, welcoming birds and squirrels, keeping an eye on us all. Mostly they’re silent and watching, probably in deep meditation, but they whisper in the breeze and dance in the wind, and it all makes me happy.
We had a newsworthy high wind storm over the weekend and it did its part to shake all the remaining leaves off the trees. So now they’re in their winter outfits, energy pulled more inward, a clear visual reminder that invites us to do the same. And I feel it – this inward pull into slow deep reflection. I just wish I could do it with as much grace as the trees.
When I walked down my front stairs after the storm I noticed a gingko leave lying on the sidewalk. There are no nearby gingko trees – the nearest one I know of is three blocks away – and so clearly this little leaf traveled a ways to get to my house. Then this morning as I was poking through some long-forgotten files in my studio I came across this piece I had created with two gingko leaves.
Clearly gingko wants me to pay attention. And so I shall. I’ll do some additional research, but one thing I do know about gingko is that in Japan it’s known as the “bearer of hope” as four gingko trees were the only things that survived in the epicenter of the atomic blast that devastated Hiroshima. Hope is such a beautiful blessing and that’s also something I’m grateful for today.
What about you? What’s shown up today on your gratitude list? Is there something you’re feeling particularly hopeful about? Have a favorite tree? Think of yourself more as a leaf, a branch, or a root? Do tell – you know I love hear.
We don’t have gingko trees here in western Canada so I looked them up. Was amazed to learn the leaves are used in treatment of depression as well as altzheimer’s. I have visited Hiroshima and came away feeling very moved. Seeing photos of the trees still standing in the epicenter was incredible.
They really are amazing and beautiful trees. I hope some time to make a visit to Japan as well.