Monthly Archives: May 2015

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While visiting the forest, I stop to listen for songs.  I want to hear the songs from different individual tree communities.  I do this meditative walking during my favorite hour when the light is soft and sun is close to setting.  During this twilight hour my senses are sharper and clearer.  In the bright of day, distractions overwhelm my senses: bird songs, light playing with shadow and squirrels scampering. But at twilight, I can hone in to the sensations around a grouping in the forest.  My senses become keen.

Within the ecosystem of a forest,  there are many various groupings and homes for the energies of the forest beings.  A home may be trees encircling a wet spot, or the trees at the bottom of a slope. Or it may be defined more subtly as simply a natural stopping spot on the path.

As I walk at dusk, I stop now and then,  wait to listen to what is presented. Sometimes, I imagine I am "hearing/feeling" something new.  These new sounds are sometimes quite faint or dim.  As I pause, many questions arise: Will the sounds become brighter, louder, clearer over time? For example, I do notice that the trees that are noticed, attended to, and loved in a forest seem to grow brighter, fuller, stronger.  They Glow.

Further questions: Is the song I hear a function of the observer who is listening?  Does the quality of sound say more about my listening skills or the level of my quotient of receptivity to that vibration? Or does the level of sound reflect an actual vibration strength of the emission? Or is the answer both?

The trail of these questions leads me to the following thought: that as we humans learn to "tune in," to notice that what surrounds us, to pause and embrace it, we learn that what we sense is not Other, but a reflection of ourselves. We learn that we are one piece of this great cosmic planet. With attention and practice, we can grow in our skill to be in rhythm and harmony with this beautiful planet and our world.  It appears to me that our rising skills increase the harmony of planetary sound.  This thought brings great joy- that we can be co-participants and creators of the peace,  and beauty that belongs to this planet earth.

"As you begin to pay attention to the direction of the Conductor within, you will begin to play to the rhythm of the Planetary Symphony, harmonizing with others of your species, and with all of life."  Ken Carey

 

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I awaken early these last few days to pray with the Thrush as they sing in our woods.  Their gentle song accompanies my paintbrush with filigree and delight. I feel I am in the woods with them honoring the Spirit of the Forest.

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The other night, just past dusk (one of my favorite times of the day), I was walking through the forest.  The wind was noticeably absent, creating a deep quiet. The light was present enough to see the contrasts.  Color was almost, but not quite gone. Each trunk, outlined, tall and clear was so Very Visible to me as both individuals beings and an individual expression of something larger.  A soft muted glow existed in the surrounding space from the translucent light of the new leaves. I felt as though I was seeing the Forest of tree beings for the first time - with both their individual and interconnectedness selves present. The muting grey and shading of the growing dark contributed to this sense.  As I paused to admire this interconnectedness, I felt a sound.  It pulled on my cellular being.  The sound moved through the body up and skyward.

I felt it first in my heart chakra and then the third eye and crown.  It created movement within. This "sound" had a feel to it.  Was it an expression of that moment in time, and from those trees? Was I singing too on that level? I wondered how we might harmonize with this "song".  How might my song sing in tune to their song?

 

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I find there to be beautiful synchrony that I should be writing and creating a site in honor of trees at a time in their cycle when they themselves are blooming and emerging to increased visible beauty and productivity.  They have transitioned as I prepare this page from dormancy to swelling buds, flowers and new leafy beauty.

The wind caresses their leaves with gentleness now, as I write.  It is a gentleness that we humans forget to give to our selves and others.

That same breeze now lifts my face so soft.  The new leaves of the Beech tremulously and expressively as Aspen does.  As if the wind tickles the tree in play.

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The Pine trees wave above them like Palm trees would in warmer climates, gliding across the  skyline with ease in the rustling wind.

At the time of this writing, most trees have begun to bud in the Northern climate.  Even the oak and ash in many spots have tentatively swollen their buds.  The locust and larch are still dormant.  This welcome change in season comes after a very cold and long winter in the Northeast in which we had The Abundance of snow.  During the winter days the mere miracle of a warm day seemed untenable much less imaginable.  The Maple Sap, as dependable as Spring,  ran a month later than usual.

Nevertheless, the trees have caught up, eagerly opening in this glorious sun.  The migrating birds seemed to all return in preparation of the magic of the massive leaf blooming. Their presence adds to the magic and joy of the forest.

There is a sympatico between the trees and the birds, the wind and the sky. And to live with in this balance is heaven.