The Wisdom and Healing Power of Trees
A Forest's Healing Wisdom.
Trees, holding a sacred and valuable position in the kingdom of plants, are not solitary beings. They grow from tiny seeds into long-lived entities, with roots extending deep into the Earth Mother and branches reaching high for the heavens. They live in symbiosis with fungi on and below the forest floor, fostering a network of communication and nutrient sharing. This interconnectedness allows them to provide habitat for millions of species of forest beings, emphasizing the unity and shared responsibility in the ecosystem.
Blocking sunlight and providing shade, trees draw water from the soil into their leaves to cool the air, and their roots stabilize and protect the soil during flooding. Trees also clean the air by removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in their trunks and the soil. Old-growth trees hold significantly more carbon and harmful pollutants than younger trees. Nature's ultimate goal is a natural landscape succession, from meadows to young trees to old-growth forests.
Givers of life and keepers of wisdom, trees help us quiet our busy minds and listen to our inner intuitive guide. When we seek answers in a forest, sitting mindfully beneath a tree allows us to center ourselves in a space of calm and peace while deeply connecting to the Earth. Focusing on our breath and noticing the grounding and stability of the tree roots, the strength of its trunk, and the expansiveness of its branches, we are expanding our consciousness into the Earth and upward and outward to receive wisdom and healing energy. It's no wonder that engaging mindfully with the forest, a practice known as forest bathing, draws people to the profound healing that trees offer.
Our journey with trees has been one of enlightenment and inspiration. We have learned so much by preparing, using, and researching our tree essences. The essences carry a strong element of life purpose, reconnecting us with the strength and flexibility we need to follow our vision and dreams. In their immense strength and generosity, they hold the light and connect with all that is. They reconnect us with the resilience and inner alignment at our core, showing us how to stand in our own power and embrace our inherent qualities. They reveal our life lessons so we can move through challenges more easily, as well as who we are and why we have come into this life during this time of change on the planet.
Alder - clarifying what is true and good for oneself
The essence of Alder is beneficial when we struggle to understand the deeper significance of life's lessons. We encounter numerous opportunities for personal growth and spiritual development throughout our lives. When we fully comprehend these teachings, we can align our responses with what is ultimately best for us. However, our past experiences and existing belief systems can sometimes hinder our ability to recognize what is truly beneficial and positive for our well-being. Alder's essence assists in broadening our perception and accessing knowledge and insights beyond our usual range of understanding. This expanded perspective allows us to gain clarity and a deeper understanding. Perceiving and comprehending the truth of a situation empowers us to surpass restrictive mental patterns and respond to opportunities for growth in a way that nurtures our soul's progress.
Black Spruce – remembering wisdom from past experiences
Black Spruce embodies the ancient grandfather energy of nature. Its essence helps to open our perceptions to the wisdom within us, our ancestral heritage, and the planet's collective consciousness. This essence is essential when we overlook the lessons within situations that repeatedly carry the same challenge. It helps us connect more fully with the eternal aspects of who we are. With the help of Black Spruce essence, we can learn from past experiences and apply that knowledge and wisdom to present life situations, thus creating a broader perspective on our life journey.
Paper Birch - gaining a clear perspective on your life purpose
When we feel lost and uncertain about the best course of action, making important life decisions that will affect our future can be difficult. Accumulating outdated thoughts, fears, and anxieties can make it hard to see our true selves clearly. Paper Birch essence offers a fresh perspective and helps realign us with our life's purpose by reconnecting us with our genuine and essential selves. This essence brings a calming and clarifying energy that allows us to shift our focus from confusion to a place of peace and joy. With this newfound clarity, we can make essential decisions that align with our true selves.
Tamarack - growing awareness and confidence in your unique skills and potential
Tamarack essence is helpful when we need more confidence in our unique skills and potential. If, deep inside yourself, you believe you can’t do it, that belief is making it difficult for you. The energy of Tamarack enhances your awareness of who you are and strengthens your knowledge of your true self, your unique abilities, and what you can do. It helps maintain a conscious, grounded connection with the source of your individuality.
White Spruce - integrating all aspects of self for wholeness
White Spruce is a gentle grandfather healer. It is deeply rooted in the Earth yet constantly communicates with the cosmos, making it a touchstone to our higher knowledge. Connecting with this essence can illuminate our unique wisdom and how to apply it to our current situation. It can bring balance and stability, allowing us to integrate our inner polarities to bring logic, intuition, spirit, and emotion into unified action in the present moment. This essence is beneficial for those who have experienced trauma and may feel disconnected from themselves. It can assist in reconnecting with all aspects of the self and reintegrating fragmented energy, leading to a sense of wholeness.
Sitka Spruce Pollen - integrating strength and compassion
Sitka Spruce Pollen essence is a catalyst, an expression of life force. It is likened to manna from heaven, providing complete nourishment and traveling long distances through wind dispersal. This essence reminds us that true dynamic silence and stillness are possible when masculine and feminine energies merge into balance. This potent pollen essence is a 'grandfather' essence, catalyzing right-action in the present moment by fostering a healthy relationship with personal power. It is beneficial for individuals who are hesitant to embrace and express their power and those who fear that their power may cause harm to others if fully embraced. The essence facilitates the harmonious integration of strength and compassion in individuals, regardless of gender.
Balsam Poplar - balances the circulation of life force in the body
Balsam Poplar essence encourages energy flow through relaxation, taking us from being stuck and resistant to being open and receptive. Drawing nourishment from deep within the Earth, this essence encourages an upward flow of energy from the planet into our physical body. This grounding connection helps us become more aware of how our physical bodies feel rather than ignoring what is happening and allowing injury or illness to manifest.
Red Elder - helps to feel more centered and present
Red Elder, a tree-like shrub, brings a feminine, nurturing, and gentle message from the Earth that all is well. It improves the relationship between our energy field and our bodies by connecting all parts of our being with the Earth, including our emotions and thoughts, to enjoy the bounty of life deep within our physical selves. It also grounds earthly abundance by increasing our sensual appreciation of our planet's beauty and substance.
“When you go into an ancient Spruce forest, everything stops and is silent with infinite dynamism, like a meditative trance. Still and yet a powerfully strong life force. Peaceful, comforting, protective, silent. The big trees are regal. They block the sun. They create a special place. Few things can deter their strength and determination. Their nature is to be strong and true. These trees are supreme and sovereign beings. They help us see how far removed from nature we have become. They are our elders. We must not forget what they know as times change.” ~ Steve Johnson, founder of Alaskan Essences