Maria Lisa Polegatto - October 18, 2023
Tree Awareness Meditation: What Do Humans Have In
Common With Trees?
Common With Trees?
The boreal forest that stretches across the country I live in, Canada, has many different kinds of trees, such as fir, pine, popular, birch, spruce, aspen, juniper. Think of all the trees in the forest where you live. Nature is truly amazing with so many varieties of species of trees.
Are you ready to do a tree meditation to get to know a tree? First, take a few seconds and describe what you see in the picture above, ie tree, branches, color.
Now spend some time looking at the tree to see it in more detail. Really consider what you see. Imagine you are close enough to touch the tree - what does it feel like? What does it smell like? What color is it? Is the wind blowing through the branches? It is warm out or cold? What color are the leaves/needles? Are there leaves on the ground below it? What season it is? Are there birds flying about it or resting in the branches? Are there any animals in or around the tree? Are there flowers growing near it? See the tree from different viewpoints - above, beside, in front of it. Be aware of the tree and take in its awe and beauty.
Are you ready to do a tree meditation to get to know a tree? First, take a few seconds and describe what you see in the picture above, ie tree, branches, color.
Now spend some time looking at the tree to see it in more detail. Really consider what you see. Imagine you are close enough to touch the tree - what does it feel like? What does it smell like? What color is it? Is the wind blowing through the branches? It is warm out or cold? What color are the leaves/needles? Are there leaves on the ground below it? What season it is? Are there birds flying about it or resting in the branches? Are there any animals in or around the tree? Are there flowers growing near it? See the tree from different viewpoints - above, beside, in front of it. Be aware of the tree and take in its awe and beauty.
Viewpoints of a tree (Design credit: Polegatto, M.L.)
Next imagine you are going for a walk in the forest to a time when you found a tree that really took your attention with how it stood, how the branches reached out, how the bark was, maybe a mushroom growing on it or moss or some chaga. Were you reading a book in the tree or on a blanket under its branches? Were you on a hike in the forest? Did you have a picnic near the tree? Do you recall the scent of the forest? Were you more relaxed when you left the forest than when you started your walk? What are your favorite memories of the tree? Memories can be powerful and sometimes we need to focus on things other than our busy life, chores, work, mind boggling things and let our minds relax. Memories stay with you even when you are in different places.
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Now let's do a tree meditation. Close your eyes and spend some time with the special tree. Meditation does not have to be for a long time. It can take only minutes to relax your mind. Spend as much or as little time as works for you. Now focus, relax, and breath in and out calmly. Just be with the tree. Just you and it in the forest. Be conscious of your breath and your heart beating. Surround yourself with the tree scent and use your senses to smell the tree, taste the needles, hear the wind blowing through the branches, see the bark, and touch the tree with your hand. Focus only on the tree and your interaction with it. Let any other thoughts drift away during this meditation. Come back to the tree if you get distracted. It's ok if you do get distracted but don't let it take your attention away from the tree.
Now ground with this tree by imagining you are connecting with the tree from the tip top in the sky all the way to the bottom of the tree and into the ground to all of its roots in the soil. Bury in the soil any worries, unwanted memories, stress or negativity. Take your time and then imagine you are leaving the roots and going back through the soil to the top of the ground, up the tree all the way to the top and back to you. You have now cleansed yourself of any negativity and the tree is filtering it out through the soil. Nature have amazing resilience.
When you are done, take a deep breath and exhale completely. This is your special place in the forest of your mind. While a tree stands silent but strong, recognize it is part of nature and has deep roots that connect it with other trees and the same ground you walk on.
Now ground with this tree by imagining you are connecting with the tree from the tip top in the sky all the way to the bottom of the tree and into the ground to all of its roots in the soil. Bury in the soil any worries, unwanted memories, stress or negativity. Take your time and then imagine you are leaving the roots and going back through the soil to the top of the ground, up the tree all the way to the top and back to you. You have now cleansed yourself of any negativity and the tree is filtering it out through the soil. Nature have amazing resilience.
When you are done, take a deep breath and exhale completely. This is your special place in the forest of your mind. While a tree stands silent but strong, recognize it is part of nature and has deep roots that connect it with other trees and the same ground you walk on.
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Take your tree out in your mind anytime you need some quiet relaxation. Don't forget to give a tree a hug next time you are near one. Yes, it might feel silly at first but lean in and reach all the way around and give it a good hug. It will appreciate the carbon dioxide from your breath and the tree will reward you with oxygen. It's a win-win for the tree and you!
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Now that you have spent some time getting to know a tree and spending some time meditating with it, did you know humans and trees have things in common? What things can you think of? Examples are:
Can you think of more ways humans and trees have things in common? What are your favorite kinds of trees? I hope you enjoyed getting to know trees a little bit more :)
- Both humans and trees need to breathe.
- Both humans and trees have an outer skin (bark).
- Both humans and trees have water inside.
- Both humans and trees touch the ground.
- Both humans and trees grow upward.
- Both humans and trees can fall down to the ground.
- Both humans and trees benefit from the sunshine.
- Both humans an trees have roots.
- Both humans and trees have families.
Can you think of more ways humans and trees have things in common? What are your favorite kinds of trees? I hope you enjoyed getting to know trees a little bit more :)
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Reference
Suzuki, David, & Grady, Wayne (2018, August 7). Tree: A Life Story Paperback . Amazon.ca. https://www.amazon.ca/Tree-Life-Story-David-Suzuki/dp/1771644192/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QU8HTFKI8P6G&keywords=david%2Bsuzuki%2Btree%2Bbook&qid=1697940721&s=books&sprefix=david%2Bsuzuki%2Btree%2Bbook%2Cstripbooks%2C85&sr=1-1
Ji, David (2017, March 7). Secrets of meditation revised edition: A practical guide to ... - amazon.ca. Amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/Secrets-Meditation-Revised-Practical-Transformation/dp/1401953085
Keltner, Dachner. (2023, January 3). Awe: The new science of everyday wonder and how it can . Amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/Awe-Science-Everyday-Wonder-Transform/dp/1984879685
National Geographic. (2023, September 27). Seeing a tree from multiple viewpoints. Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/seeing-a-tree-from-multiple-viewpoints/
Ji, David (2017, March 7). Secrets of meditation revised edition: A practical guide to ... - amazon.ca. Amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/Secrets-Meditation-Revised-Practical-Transformation/dp/1401953085
Keltner, Dachner. (2023, January 3). Awe: The new science of everyday wonder and how it can . Amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/Awe-Science-Everyday-Wonder-Transform/dp/1984879685
National Geographic. (2023, September 27). Seeing a tree from multiple viewpoints. Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/seeing-a-tree-from-multiple-viewpoints/
(Design credit: Polegatto, M,L, WordArt)
#mindfulness #meditation #trees #forest #biodiversity #sustainability
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