An Exercise in Healing, with Debbie Rosas.
Have we forgotten that we are each a part of a sacred tree of life? And, have we forgotten that we are, each of us, living in a forest of human bodies which are both separate and yet connected? Like all living things, trees and bodies are information processing organisms with complex communication systems. More questions we might ask are, “Am I listening to my body and responding to it?” “Do I make choices and decisions based on the environment to which my body is adapting?” “Do I function cooperatively, knowing that I am part of a holistic physical and even non-physical world?” “Do I help others?”
If a tree receives a signal about drought and disease, it does not remain silent, caring only for itself and its children and its family of trees.
As a part of a larger tree of life, we each seed, nurture, and feed the sacred tree of humanity. The metaphor of the tree of life is a story. It is a story of listening, sensing, nurturing, connecting, responding, caring, loving – even diversity, and inclusion. Unlike humans, within the culture and family of trees, each tree proudly distinguishes itself among the endless varieties of trees without criticism or condemnation. Like human beings, trees have a unique and distinct voice, size, shape, and design. How trees think, feel, act, and behave is truly quite remarkable. To learn more, I highly recommend the links below.
The stories of human bodies and trees are both examples of the stories of birth, life, death, renewal, and survival. They are evolutionary stories guided by needs for adaptation to environments on the earth. Even as our whole being might be guided by the wisdom of the Body’s Way as well as meaning and purpose, or our felt sense and memory; trees also are guided by their own kind of sensory wisdom, meaning, purpose, felt sense, and a unique form of molecular memory that draws upon previous experiences to influence responses for adapting to their many varied environments all over our planet Earth.
It sends out signals to the other trees. Moreover, if a tree needs water, it will share with other trees. It will share its water and its nutrients.
Healing activity, such as in human tissue wounds, begins the moment skin is cut. A cut in a pine tree heals by sending sap to the affected area to seal it off. A thirsty body will seek water, just as a thirsty tree, will seek water by sending roots to grow toward the sound of running water. Who inside the tree is “thinking” and “listening?” Who inside the tree is “sensing” and “feeling?” Do we think for and care for forest communities, knowing that inside our lungs, there are living “trees,” that help us breathe? Do trees “think for” and “care for” us, knowing that without them we could not breathe cleaner air?
Amazing sensory connectors with healing, rooting, and strengthening parts, with systems just like trees; our bodies are designed to communicate with self, nature, and the universe in an enormous network of communication and communities. The big difference between human bodies and trees is that trees never turn off their sensory intelligence. They never disconnect from the earth and the universe. They take responsibility for themselves and for their community. We have a long way to go to evolve, and to think, and to behave like trees. As a journaling exercise, you might like to ask yourself a few questions.
Even better, you might like to seek out a tree, spread a blanket beneath it, and breathe deeply as you not only look, but really see the tree.
In response to these questions, there might be others that come to mind. Maybe a response includes sketches with pencils or illustrating with watercolors. Perhaps the shaping of clay or the weaving of fibers. Possibly an ongoing project. Whatever you choose, ask yourself, where are my communities? Ask yourself, who are those in my communities? And then, what are my communities doing today? This is an excursion in seeking out your nested communities in your world and in the larger world around you. This is an exploration in discovery and rediscovery. This is an example of healing, rooting, and strengthening you.
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