Nature Spirits: Tree Spirits - IV
When you first go to a tree that you’ve never met before, touch it very lightly. Say hello, introduce yourself, stroke the tree, and show it respect and affection. Ask what it can teach you or do for you, because every tree has its own special knowledge to share. Then thank the tree, kiss it goodbye, and leave. Stay at a tree until you feel it’s time to go. Your first visits to a tree will probably be longer than subsequent visits, since once the tree knows you it doesn’t take it long to tune your fibers.
It’s best to sleep at a tree; next best is to doze, or just turn off your mind and listen to sounds, or meditate. But even sitting there thinking or reading has its beneficial effect; it’s just that the tree can perform its work more easily if you have your mind turned off. You can bring a groundcloth, pillow, mosquito net, or whatever else you may need to make yourself comfortable. The tree is not going to be impressed that you are sitting in e.g. a lotus position, if that is not truly a comfortable position for you. The important thing is to just relax.
Observe that you must not kill bugs, because trees regard that as a violation of their hospitality – one of their guests killing another – so if bugs bother you, shoo them away gently, or use insect repellant or netting.
You have to touch trees very lightly, in all senses. You have to be respectful. If the tree directs you to climb it, you do so agilely and nimbly, not heavily and clumsily. You don’t blather and wipe your self-importance over trees like you do with the people you meet; you keep your thought forms (excuses, doubts, etc.) to yourself, because trees don’t relate to them.
It’s a good idea to bring tree spirits little gifts now and then, such as flowers, pretty stones, or special foods you have prepared lovingly yourself (a token portion will suffice). You don’t have to do this every time you visit a tree – you’re not trying to bribe it, but just give it a little joyous gift now and then as you would to a dear friend. One wouldn’t suppose that spirits would care about such things, but in fact they are delighted with little presents and the thoughtfulness behind them. They themselves will sometimes ask you to bring them a little something on your next visit.
Occasionally a tree spirit will give you a little gift in return: a piece of bark that breaks off in your hand by itself, or leaves or needles that fall on you as you sit or lie under the tree, or which stick to your clothes when you get up. Ask the tree, “Is this a little gift for me?”; and if the tree answers in the affirmative, thank it and regard its present as a true gift of power. Such power gifts should be placed in a small cloth bag and worn around the neck, or placed under your pillow at night, to keep the power of the tree spirit with you even when you are not physically with it. Whatever you do, don’t break off a piece of bark on your own account: trees don’t care for crassitude.
One thing you should ask the tree spirit is what its specialty is, since all tree spirits have particular virtues. There are tree spirits who grant wishes, make you loving, build your self-confidence. There are trees who can help you lighten your spirit, and others who can put you in touch with repressed grief. There are trees who facilitate gazing, lucid dreaming, and seeing the future. There are trees who can help you put your life into perspective, inspire you artistically, and heal your body and spirit.
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