My WIP has a lot to do with trees, so I whenever I can, I read a lot about tree mythology, tree folklore, tree care, interesting tree facts... anything tree I can get my eyes on. If I meet a horticulturist who specializes in trees... oh you can' t imagine the conversations! I had one expert ask me, "Why aren't your eyes glazing over like my wife's do when I talk about trees." And he kept saying, "You're sure this isn't boring for you?" Couldn't he see, I was rapt with fascination! I took notes, for crying out loud! Later that night, I watched as my husband's eyes glazed over with every tree detail. Fascinating! Truly fascinating!To me, trees are truly captivating. I love learning about them. (Thanks Lainey for your quote, btw... "You can always tell an old soul by how they treat trees.") Trees are important to me. They always have been. I can't really explain why or how this came to be, but it's true. As a young child, I used to play in the trees, creating secret worlds only my sister and I knew about. Under it's canopy I felt at peace and as I got older, I felt (and still do) that I am with G-d when I am amongst the trees.
I began today with something new. Meditation. A few people keep telling me I need to meditate. I'm not good at meditating. My brain is too active and I can't just sit there, thinking about nothing. But, I am also open-minded, so "why not," I thought. "Why not start today?" I began by meditating on the things I am going to give to the Universe so they will no longer fill me with worry or doubt. That actually felt pretty good. There, POOF! Gone. Then, I went on to meditate about what I wanted to accomplish today - which was to answer more questions before outlining.
When I was done, I must admit, I felt focused and attuned. So, I began my research for the day - interesting facts about trees. I typed in "trees associated with evil" and came upon, of course, The Tree of Life - Adam and Eve's Tree of Good and Evil, genesis 2.3. When I think of it in terms of my story.... fascinating!
Then I was lead to the Mayans. I have no idea why. I don't know much about that culture other than what I had to learn about the in the seventh grade. I am not particularly interested or uninterested in the Mayans. To show how little I know... I thought they were a bloody civilization who believe in spilling blood at alters to please their G-ds. But I might be very mistaken. As I said, I never had much inclination toward learning more about their unique civilization.
Almost immediately, my search led to a site about the Mayans beliefs about trees. I was enthralled! The thought that trees could be good or evil was not even a thought until Roman Catholicism - I have no idea why?? The Mayans only saw the trees as sacred and good. Their word for tree was te (T) - which to me is also fascinating - think about the letter T's shape - very tree-like. Or the other word for tree was che. Humans and trees are shown as related in their word baalche meaning "thing of (the) trees."
The Mayans believe Trees first, then animals, then humans. They believed if trees ceased to exist, all life would cease to exist. They knew, even in those ancient times, that the wind from the trees had to do with creating the air we breathe.
The Mayans were convinced trees were a life form that felt reactions similar to humans. The term uahomche (see the word che or tree in there?) means "the tree awakens us” or “we awaken in the tree.” A uahomche was a cross made of our wood, or in the wood of a tree. It seems to suggest that our consciousness lives within the wisdom of the trees.
Another fascinating fact is that every major religion has a sacred tree.
Here's my challenge to you, and no, I haven't gone off the deep end... At some point today or tomorrow, really look at a tree. Spend time with a tree. I know it sounds crazy, but just try it. Read under a tree. Eat your lunch under a tree. Spend some time looking at its bark, it's leaves... I bet you'll feel lifted in spirit when you're done.
