“Believe me, you will find more lessons in the woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you what you cannot learn from masters.” St. Bernard of Clairvaux
I was visiting Helsinki the capital city of Finland, last spring, and was mesmerized by the beauty of this watery geography. It’s on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. As I was walking down the pathway in the Kaisaniemi garden one morning I noticed a group of people hugging trees. I was awed by the gesture and watched them do the ritual. They looked calm and peaceful as if it were some kind of therapy.
They then sat underneath the tree like a child sits in her mother’s lap. Looking at me gaping in awe one of the women in the group asked me to join in. I didn’t hesitate a bit and joined them in the peculiar regime. I thank myself for doing so as it has changed my way of looking at things.
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She guided me very gently and asked me to let go of preconceived ideas about reality in general and become one with the environment around me. Plants are our elders and have been here before us and will live on after we have gone, they have so much earth wisdom. We can tap into it if we allow ourselves. She asked me to find a tree that calls me. “How would I know?” I asked. She replied, “Just listen to your heart.” I was pulled towards a white birch tree which was very tall almost reaching the sky.
She asked me to take permission of the tree, even though it seemed weird in that moment I followed them. I had established a connection with the tree, an instant friendship was built. I picked up trash from around it, watered the roots and sang Finnish songs along with them. One of the men played the kantele, a wind instrument. It was blissful.
Love surged within me. We hugged the trees. It was a beautiful moment. The leader of the group guided us to relax and breathe with the tree. I felt my heart beating with the vibration of the tree. We exchanged energy and a vow to protect each other.
Unless we have a connection with nature we will never understand the importance of the Earth Day or the National Arbor Day. We may fear the alarming statistics of global warming or increasing cancer rates or rising sea level and be a part of the mission but real participation comes when we feel integrated with nature and our planet earth. When we plant a tree we reap love in our life.
Have you ever wondered about a place where you can roam in your own heart space? Have you ever stopped by and expressed your gratitude to the trees that stand true to their vow of sustaining life? Have you ever hugged a tree to soak in the higher energy it emits, releasing you from your worries? Have you connected with the innate wisdom of the age-old tree? Have you ever nurtured a sapling?
Communion with nature has a power to transform negative emotions, bring clarity of mind and reduce stress. Spend quiet moments with them. Take a walk in the woods and hug a tree.
Events To Celebrate This Week:
Administrative Professionals Day® – April 22, 2015
It’s Administrative Professionals Day®! It’s time to reach out and appreciate all the administrative professionals you know for their support.
Earth Day – April 22, 2015
It’s Earth Day! So celebrate the beauty and wonder of our planet.
April Showers Day – April 22, 2015
Hey, it’s April Showers Day! So enjoy the sunny skies of April and the sudden showers of rain that make way for the flowers to bloom. Shower good wishes on your friends and loved ones.
National Arbor Day – April 24, 2015
National Arbor Day is the time to plant and take care of trees. Hug a tree.
