We are all Part of the Earth: Tree of Life

Tree of Life

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness”. John Muir

While hiking through the woods in Sequoia National Park one summer, we came upon a grove of redwood trees. Entering the group of Standing Ones, we felt ourselves become quiet as the awe within us grew. The trees formed an almost perfect circle. Allowing the silence of the place to sink in, we breathed deeply of the forest scent and relaxed into the peace surrounding us. In this sacred grove of trees, we felt the connection with the Infinite.

In our home, we have on our walls beautiful woven pieces depicting “The Tree of Life”

symbol. Each was created by a weaver from a different culture: Indian, Guatemalan, Native American. The Tree of Life is a common image in art from around the world. This ancient symbol is understood by people everywhere. The symbol speaks of roots buried in the earth with branches stretching upward to the sky. The tree serves as a living connection between this and other worlds. Many myths describe gods and their messengers traveling from one world to another by climbing up or down the tree.

Long ago, in many cultures, trees were intensely worshipped. The Native American peoples called them the “Standing Ones.” They respectfully used trees for medicine, food, fiber, dye, musical instruments, lodges for habitation and ceremony, and many other things. Something precious was lost once modern peoples no longer viewed trees as living beings. It became easy to clear cut acres and acres of trees to use as lumber without a thought of how great a loss this created. For the sake of our Mother Earth, it is time to recall Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s words, “Reverence for all life.”

We cannot live without trees. Trees are called “the lungs of the world.” They clean the air we breathe, taking in the carbon dioxide we exhale and we breathe the oxygen they exhale. Trees are needed to produce rain and without the rain, topsoil is blown away, leading to the creation of deserts and hunger from famine.

“Oxford University scientists, after years of research, have determined the best technology to suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and try to reverse global warming is to plant trees.” (Bloomberg News)

Over the past seven years, we have planted over two hundred trees in Orange County, CA. Man has taken so many trees that it is now time for us to reforest the earth that provides us with the basis for all life. Your help is desperately needed to replenish trees, locally and around the world. “God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools.” John Muir We must always remember that we are all part of the earth.