Tree Medicine

Yesterday I took myself and my camera out to a small area filled with trees that I had noticed several months ago. It wasn’t a big forest but I found the presence of this little forest quite beautiful. You might say there was nothing special about these trees, but to me they are

Tree Medicine

for the soul. Spending time among the trees fills me with joy. I feel the benevolence of trees whenever I am with them.

It’s such an unusual year to be able to make a photograph like this in late December in Minnesota and not see any snow on the ground. The clouds even parted for a brief while so that I could see some blue sky on a day that had been mainly gray. We’ve been calling this month “second November,” because it looks far more like November than December.

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.

   — John Muir

I consider these snow-free milder December days gifts after the winter we had last year. Are you also enjoying second November or do you wish for snow and “real” winter to arrive?

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”

― Mary Oliver, Evidence: Poems

I hope you have a chance to walk among the trees for a little tree medicine soon.

May you walk in beauty.

And a few photos from French Regional Park…

I made this photo from the car while Jon was driving us home on the freeway. Can’t believe that I caught a decent image of a hawk in a tree while the car was going 65 mph!