The Majesty of Trees

The Majesty of trees

I believe trees should be honored and cherished and respected.

As a child, I thought trees grew for my own enjoyment. I would frequently climb on and hide within the trees around my home. As a young adult I took down trees without a second thought, chopping several in my lifetime for the purpose of planting gardens, building fences and heating my home.

Recently that changed. It is over the past decade that I have learned to connect with trees in a way that was previously impossible to me. Through this connection I have discovered that trees are every bit as alive as I am. Although our physical bodies may differ in appearance, height and texture, I have come to understand the basic truth that I am connected to these majestic creatures. Experiencing oneness with them brings me closer to nature.

Since that discovery my life has improved. I feel such a strong bond to the energy of trees that there is physical pain in my body when I witness them being cut down. I can no longer mindlessly fell a tree for my own purposes. After all, it takes years to grow these beautiful beings and only moments to take them down.

Trees are living energy, carrying wisdom and knowledge within their branches and bark. They filter out carbon dioxide and provide us with oxygen to breathe. They are the lungs of our planet and each one is precious to our survival. I recently learned that for every person there are only 61 trees left on this earth. Isn’t that a precariously dangerous number? Could humanity survive with any less? That doesn’t sound like enough when I take into consideration the number that must die each year from disease alone. It sparks in me a feeling of urgency to ensure the long and healthy lifespan of every tree.

I wonder; is it possible to stop leveling wooded areas and instead, better use the structures or lots that are already vacant? Is there a way to consider every tree when building a new home or business?

I believe that being still and experiencing trees instead of looking to them for pleasure and profit has given me a glimpse of the truth. Their energy is massive and expansive. Trees have an innate intelligence that I don’t entirely understand, but which exists in spite of my ignorance.

We are all connected, every living organism. Learning to respect that connectedness has helped me to be a better person. I believe that by honoring, cherishing and respecting these majestic beings, I continue to enrich my life and spirit, while leaving a better world for those who follow me.