Delightful Sally, vocalising with trees is really powerful, it elevates us I think. When I was first speaking with my friend it felt silly, I had to unpick all my conditioning about “mad women” and give myself permission to be wild! xo
Beautiful, I have a tree friend a big Beech tree I can see from my house. It was planted over a hundred years ago in memory of Gideon Webber , who fell from the roof of the barn that became our house. So very special in many ways, I often touch and talk to it , learn from its balance as I do my yoga practice. Last night the rooks were dancing in swirls around it, so wonderful to watch.
Sounds like a wonderful tree Susan, thank you for introducing me. I wish we could post photos in the comments! It is lovely that the story of Gideon is preserved through time through this tree. xo
I LOVE THIS! I recently moved out of the suburbs to a small town, part of a larger forest. I am surrounded by trees. Can't look out of my house without seeing them, everywhere I go. This is why I moved out of the concrete jungle of the suburbs - to live amongst the trees, our oldest friends. I never thought to call them my friends but that's exactly what they are. I retreat to them when I need to breath, they are there guiding my daily hikes. For me, the trees are constant reminders that as a human, I am part of the same ecosystem as the trees. We are living together, connected, me relying on them for oxygen and them relying on me to not let me great human race destroy them.
Heather, welcome! I’m so glad you bumped into us on Substack. This post has bought me so much joy too, hearing everyone else’s stories of tree friends. I too live among trees in the bush. Thanks for saying hi!
I’m thrilled to be in the company of so many in this thread with tree friends! It is heartwarming. The mourning I know too, also quickly followed by awe at the resilience of epidural shoots. Some of my fav areas that burned in 2019/20 are thriving ecosystems again now - very different to US forests that need to regrow from seedlings. Shame and guilt, so interesting, I want to unpick those a bit more. I read a definition of guilt as a way of punishing yourself for something you feel bad about but don’t have any intention of changing - ooff - truth hurts! Shame - collective vs personal - there is something juicy there too!
Hugging a tree is the weirdest yet most comforting thing a human can do. To feel the tree creaking and moving ever so slightly in the breeze, to feel that it's something that's living and participating (rather importantly) in keeping me alive.
We live near a forest, so I have quite a number of tree friends. I love standing next to the big ones, resting against the fallen ones, and breathing in their wisdom, while watching the birds flutter amongst the leaves.
I moved states and I really miss my favourite tree. So many memories of picnics in the shade and my kids laughing as they climb so high through the branches. Yes it was my friend. I also love flowers, they make me feel so happy.
I did manage good parenting with regard to encouraging tree climbing. My youngest once climbed a spruce so high to the tippy top - at the same level as the power lines. That was a tricky one, how to encourage her down without denting her adventurous spirit. I should clarify, I was concerned about being so close to the powerlines - not climbing the tree. Not sure how they have all made it in one piece!
Hehe I love that too! I did a short talk one day on how trees speak to us. I was a lawyer at the time and thought I might get lynched LOL, but I had others come up to me afterward and say Me too! Me too! ♥️
My gaze so often directs itself to the trees in my neighbourhood, along the dog walks and bike paths and localbush scapes. Their formation and texture smoothness and roughness captivate me. But I haven’t got a special tree friend! I am going to find one. And sit with them. And listen. Thank you. ❤️
I climbed up and sat in a cedar tree every day for about three months, for a few minutes at least. Don’t regret it. The sycamores by the river near us do something similar with sending up new sprouts after they topple. That’s one of my favorite spots.
I love the idea of climbing up, I spent a lot of time in a treehouse in my parents’ backyard as a kid - the idea of climbing up taps back into that somehow. I shall now be on the lookout for a climbable tree - they are a bit rare here, you would often have to scale a few metres of scraggly bark before you get close to a branch! I will let you know if I find one :)
Oh my goodness, this is my spark today, and that's saying a lot because I've had an amazing day after my weekend of yin yoga training. This post speaks to me. I love all of my trees, but I've never thought to make one a specific friend. We have so many trees on our property, but it sounds delightful to make one of them my friend. Perhaps he can speak for the others. And interesting that I've already decided it's a he. I'll keep you posted. Thank you Gillian!
I’m so glad you love it! I’d never thought of having a specific friend either, it is so cool. Let me know when you meet your friend. I really wish that we could post photos in the comments to meet each others trees!
Every morning I do my tai chi practice in a small circle of 5 casuarinas and two towering gums, they are my friends. I always greet and thank them.
Lovely post and photos Gill 🙏
Delightful Sally, vocalising with trees is really powerful, it elevates us I think. When I was first speaking with my friend it felt silly, I had to unpick all my conditioning about “mad women” and give myself permission to be wild! xo
Yes I have been there but now it feels more and more natural, certainly feels good to say hello to what gives us life 💚
Beautiful, I have a tree friend a big Beech tree I can see from my house. It was planted over a hundred years ago in memory of Gideon Webber , who fell from the roof of the barn that became our house. So very special in many ways, I often touch and talk to it , learn from its balance as I do my yoga practice. Last night the rooks were dancing in swirls around it, so wonderful to watch.
Sounds like a wonderful tree Susan, thank you for introducing me. I wish we could post photos in the comments! It is lovely that the story of Gideon is preserved through time through this tree. xo
I LOVE THIS! I recently moved out of the suburbs to a small town, part of a larger forest. I am surrounded by trees. Can't look out of my house without seeing them, everywhere I go. This is why I moved out of the concrete jungle of the suburbs - to live amongst the trees, our oldest friends. I never thought to call them my friends but that's exactly what they are. I retreat to them when I need to breath, they are there guiding my daily hikes. For me, the trees are constant reminders that as a human, I am part of the same ecosystem as the trees. We are living together, connected, me relying on them for oxygen and them relying on me to not let me great human race destroy them.
Heather, welcome! I’m so glad you bumped into us on Substack. This post has bought me so much joy too, hearing everyone else’s stories of tree friends. I too live among trees in the bush. Thanks for saying hi!
I have had tree friends. And I've mourned for trees in bushfires. I feel shame at what we do to them
I’m thrilled to be in the company of so many in this thread with tree friends! It is heartwarming. The mourning I know too, also quickly followed by awe at the resilience of epidural shoots. Some of my fav areas that burned in 2019/20 are thriving ecosystems again now - very different to US forests that need to regrow from seedlings. Shame and guilt, so interesting, I want to unpick those a bit more. I read a definition of guilt as a way of punishing yourself for something you feel bad about but don’t have any intention of changing - ooff - truth hurts! Shame - collective vs personal - there is something juicy there too!
Whoa! Gonna chew on this.
Hugging a tree is the weirdest yet most comforting thing a human can do. To feel the tree creaking and moving ever so slightly in the breeze, to feel that it's something that's living and participating (rather importantly) in keeping me alive.
We live near a forest, so I have quite a number of tree friends. I love standing next to the big ones, resting against the fallen ones, and breathing in their wisdom, while watching the birds flutter amongst the leaves.
Different tree friends for different moods! I shall now be on the lookout for huggable trees :)
I moved states and I really miss my favourite tree. So many memories of picnics in the shade and my kids laughing as they climb so high through the branches. Yes it was my friend. I also love flowers, they make me feel so happy.
I did manage good parenting with regard to encouraging tree climbing. My youngest once climbed a spruce so high to the tippy top - at the same level as the power lines. That was a tricky one, how to encourage her down without denting her adventurous spirit. I should clarify, I was concerned about being so close to the powerlines - not climbing the tree. Not sure how they have all made it in one piece!
i have many special trees, but not a special tree friend, i will be on the lookout for that special friend now,
i was very moved by your story of your tree friend, surprisingly so
Do let me know when you find your friend! I was surprisingly emotional after I got up from sitting with them for the first time - I had a little cry!
I am a tree hugger. ❤️
Same, I can't resist the ones that lose their bark and are smooth. They are my favourite to hug.
Ha! One of my other favourite trees here is almost unhuggable with a crazy thick rough, sticky bark - only if you have old clothes on!
Yay! Wonderful to be in such good company!
I absolutely love talking to the trees I pass on my morning walk. They know me quite well by now 😃
Delightful Virginia! I love that I can post something like this and you all come back with, me too! Me too!
Hehe I love that too! I did a short talk one day on how trees speak to us. I was a lawyer at the time and thought I might get lynched LOL, but I had others come up to me afterward and say Me too! Me too! ♥️
I find that so heartening!
My gaze so often directs itself to the trees in my neighbourhood, along the dog walks and bike paths and localbush scapes. Their formation and texture smoothness and roughness captivate me. But I haven’t got a special tree friend! I am going to find one. And sit with them. And listen. Thank you. ❤️
Wonderful! I used to live in Ainslie and do lots of walks in your neck of the woods :)
I climbed up and sat in a cedar tree every day for about three months, for a few minutes at least. Don’t regret it. The sycamores by the river near us do something similar with sending up new sprouts after they topple. That’s one of my favorite spots.
I love the idea of climbing up, I spent a lot of time in a treehouse in my parents’ backyard as a kid - the idea of climbing up taps back into that somehow. I shall now be on the lookout for a climbable tree - they are a bit rare here, you would often have to scale a few metres of scraggly bark before you get close to a branch! I will let you know if I find one :)
Please do!
I love this! A tree must be the most patient friend one could wish for. I’ll look out for one too when I go for a walk.
Yes, patient and non-judgemental!
Oh my goodness, this is my spark today, and that's saying a lot because I've had an amazing day after my weekend of yin yoga training. This post speaks to me. I love all of my trees, but I've never thought to make one a specific friend. We have so many trees on our property, but it sounds delightful to make one of them my friend. Perhaps he can speak for the others. And interesting that I've already decided it's a he. I'll keep you posted. Thank you Gillian!
I’m so glad you love it! I’d never thought of having a specific friend either, it is so cool. Let me know when you meet your friend. I really wish that we could post photos in the comments to meet each others trees!
Tree friends everywhere. We need to shelter them more... they're ever giving and tenderly and tenaciously just being....
Yes! Lovely to see you on the app! Welcome to the conversation :)
Lovely. 💛🏕️
Thank you! xo