Earth Blessings

Plants are wonderful creations. 

Man and animal have used them for millennia to heal, for flavour,  pleasure, and our well-being. 

After years of ignorance, disinterest, and profit, we have reached a place where we understand that we can't continue to decimate and abuse the gifts Mother Earth gave us. Deforestation is largely driven by greed, or for living space as populations increase. 

We sadly don't appreciate nature like our ancestors did. Think of stories from older relatives reminiscing about pickling, canning, and drying fresh produce they had grown themselves. Gifting, swapping, or storing those for colder seasons was standard practice when homemade was best and there was little variety of tinned goods. The shops were far, or maybe gran didn't drive and hubby put in a six-day week, shops closed early on Saturday and never opened on Sundays.

The modern age crept up and jobs opened up to more women. Big business began making more foodstuff available in cans and ready-to-eat meals. Microwaves were suddenly a necessity in many homes. Time became precious and healthy food less so. 

Fruit trees were seen as messy and time-consuming to manage, and in this country at least, people began getting rid of them. As children, we would climb the neighbours' walls and steal a peach or a plum, and run away when they came out of their home shouting about giving us a "hiding" (which I think is a term almost exclusively used in South Africa). Nearly every house in South Africa had a fruit tree whether you lived in the suburbs or in the more "upmarket" areas in a township. We knew who had which trees, whose yard we could get in and out of quickly, and which would have the neighbour showing up at our house to tell our parents that we were stealing their fruit - and getting that "hiding" for it. Still, it was worth it then and a lot of us have fond memories as a result.

Our municipalities do an annual prune, where they cut the branches of trees to make space around power cables. One day there would be a beautiful tree and the next day a big gaping hole in the middle or top of its foliage. This saddened me.

Then I noticed how the trees never let it get the better of them. They healed. Some started sprouting branches at the bottom or in the middle of their trunks, they became fuller at the base and continued growing up. A willow tree can grow after a lightning strike has toppled it. It's truly remarkable!

I have something akin to awe when it comes to trees. They provide life, shade, food, and housing for many creatures, including us. Trees are sturdy, resilient, watchful, and adaptable. They watch as decades and centuries go by, bearing witness to life and death, seasons past, and joy and sorrow. Like dinosaurs and birds, trees have been around since prehistoric times. Imagine if they could speak.

It is heartening to see the old ways come to the fore once again, and great that there are forums, social media, and websites where we can discuss what trees or plants are best for specific uses like the best suited to your garden, for a besom, or a set of runes. 

We've begun showing respect, care, and love towards nature. We communicate our thanks and appreciation when removing something. There's a renewed affinity with nature and each other. 

Whatever life throws at us, no matter how tough, we can learn and adapt. The last two years have been difficult for most, seemingly impossible for others. On the flip-side, this period has given much time to reflect and reconnect with nature. As a community, we are fortunate to have resources and skills (like meditation) to help us through it. When grounding, I picture people all over the world doing the same thing and all of us connecting at that moment. I often choose to emulate a tree when doing so with my roots reaching right down to the earth's core.

Patience, strength, determination, survival, dignity, humility, and at the same time pride in who you are. These are the properties of a tree worth emulating. 

Stand tall. Be true to yourself. Look within and acknowledge the strengths you hold. Adapt and build on your base if necessary. Nurture, take the time to nourish yourself too. Be kind without allowing others to cut you down or walk all over you. Rise again, stronger and when things get you down, as they sometimes do, look at your nearest tree, and remember...

Be like a tree.

Survive.

Thrive.

Tell your story.