Hi, I've tried to search for this topic on these boards so as not to duplicate it. Obviously if it has been discussed before I shall immediately disembowel myself to save honour, (I hope no one is eating whilst reading that!).

I've been reading some of Glennie Kindred's books and she talks about communing with trees and plants. She talks of their aura's and how you should approach trees reverently etc. These are hard principles for me to grasp. I appreciate the majesty of trees but I don't think I have the ability to 'tune' in to their energies.

Tree huggers is a collective term often used in a derogatory way to describe people who have misguided beliefs. I view people who can connect in such a way with envy not contempt.

Can anyone here describe the nature of their communication with 'nature,' so that I can get a better understanding of what's possible?

Chris

First, you need to get over the silliness of hugging a tree. I have hugged a tree because I simply wanted to find out what happens and I was fascinated with this very old and knarled tree. Don't expect them to hug you back but you could very well feel the energy. It may take some time though.

Walk in the wood or park where there are a lot of trees. Search them to see what one you may be attracted to. It could be it's knarled bark or branch or that it is simply attractive.

Hug it for maybe 15 minutes to get used to it and to be able to 'feel' the tree's energy, your and then both of yours in a lot of cases.

When you start to feel a difference in the energy then turn around a lean against it and see if you can feel and enery shift. It's important that you focus on you and the tree so it may be a good idea to go somewhere where you won't be observed or otherwise distracted.

It's a good exercise to tune into the energy of the Earth.

Whilst I think it would be interesting to hug a tree, I don't think I could let go of my feelings of self-consciousness for long enough to get anything from it.

Why just stick with trees. All plants are miracles.

OK OK, it's rather hard to hug a dandelion...

I went to Kingley Vale the other day and they have said to have the oldest Yew Groves in Europe. You only have to be there for a few seconds to feel the energy there. It’s an orsum place to go. I know it seems silly to some, but I felt myself naturally talking to the trees, thanking them for letting me photo them.

I have put some of the photos in the gallery, so all can see these amazing trees.

I have a friendly arrangement with a local oak and a holly. I often speak to them, and at times have embraced them (you have to be careful with the holly though as it has an ant highway running up the trunk)
There's something very 'still' about an old tree, the oak (who I call grandfather as it seems apt) is older than the holly and it is quite noticable when you tune into it.

I find that at times when I am stressed or tired some time with grandfather oak returns some stability and returns some of my strength (I am not leeching off the tree only accepting what is freely given).

Its unfortunate that I am unable to spend a great length of time with them as they grow on the main road........

There is something 'still' about many long lived trees. That might be because they function at a slower rate to us and we don't automatically link in with the pace a tree functions at. However, there is much going on there.

http://members.tripod.com/~onespiritx/story15.htm

There is more of course.



Good point. I tend not to hug trees and plants, although physical contact does help. I find the soil immediately at the base of a plant works well as a good point of contact. So you could sit with your finger touching the soil and make a good contact.

BB

Mike

There is a tree I visit as often as I can, especially when I am feeling low or need to think. I lay back agains it as (it leans slightly over a river)generally I feel the trees energy almost as if it envelops me. Within a few minutes I feel more relaxed and my head/mind is clearer... the tree itself is always warm to the touch, even when I have gone to it in the middle of winter when its been snowing or very frosty, others seem colder to the touch so I am assuming Its because I am feeling its energy flowing through it.

If you have never done something like this I do recomend it, once you get over the feelings of self conciousness it can be very beneficial

Thanks for the replies.

Gypsimoon wrote:

I must admit I normally have my kid's within ear-shot when I go 'into nature' so I must try this as a solitary practice.

Cosmic_Fool wrote;

This sounds like a very equitable arrangement. West Cornwall isn't exactly heaving with oak trees, but I'll just have to find one where I won't get shot for trespassing.

Seawolf wrote:

Thanks I'll check them out.


bejahu wrote:
And aren't they supposed to make you want to use the loo!

Thanks for the link Cern. I loved the poem.

Chris

Trees are like people, some you will get great feelings from, others you will get sod all and they will feel as dead as the proverbial dodo. I have an old holly tree in the communal back garden that I go and have a chat to sometimes. It feels like its quite stern and patriarchal but I don't feel it actively discourages my visits I don't hug it but I pay my respects. I do have some hug type interaction with other trees, yes in public too, you just really have to let go of your inhibitions - I mean what is the worst someone can do, think you're bloody daft ?

I've been to Kingley Vale a few times Seawolf yes it is awesome and beautiful countryside, I have to say although I have much respect for those ancient yew groves there is something mildly oppressive about them.

I have a beautiful oak at the bottom of my garden, and yes I talk to it and it has a very ancient spirit, full of wisdom.

Love trees!! You have a kid? Perfect excuse for tree hugging, in public!! lol

Tho, I really love old forests, but trees, like cat said have definate energy, and well personalities, isn't quite the right word.. but something like that, lol.

I always feel relaxed and calmed, there has only been one tree, in my life, that i've ever gotten a really bad stay away from feeling, so i did, lol..

Also, a friend of mine , lived in the Redwoods, in ca and he said, eventually they had this really forboding, go away, gloomy strong presence.... stuff you wouldn't mess around with, very ancient trees. I thought that was interesting.

Thats not to discourage you, lol, just saying, go with your gut.. and hugging a tree, can feel good and they do give energy back, like a gift and wisdom..strength, security..

So go and play, be a child again. Its a wonderfully refreshing way, to relook at the world again and to really get in touch with nature!!

Enjoy!!
Whispered~

I do find trees majestic and powerful. I slightly envy people who have no fear of public humiliation as far as hugging goes... I do touch and admire trees but hugging is something that will have to wait until I know there's nobody else in a five mile radius...

I find forests and woods quite oppressive though. I don't know if it's because of the energy, the feeling of being isolated or claustrophia. Probably the last two. And concerns about wood ants, etc...

I get a lot of positive energy from my garden at this time of the year. I love touching and admiring my plants. It's amazing to me to think that I can have such wonderful things in my own back garden.

I hadn't really thought of myself as a tree hugger. But it seems I am. I have always had a deep respect for trees and in fact all growing things. Recently when I started a new job I found a special place I had not come across before and was really attracted to one of the Yew trees there. I would walk that route, when I could, specifically to visit with her and it really brightened my days. It was a great time for contemplation and inspiration. The grounds were all overgrown and buzzing with wildlife. I started to wonder about this tree and it's neighbours and after much research in books and on the inernet I checked out her, dimensions and found she was much older than the church, about 1,500 years old as it happens, and that she was probably part of an old Pagan site due to her northerly situation of the church. Plus what was written of the area in the Doomesday Book about it being a 'wasted land' a term used for non-christianised areas I believe.

I posted a more full explanation in the Animism topic if you are interested.

This all seems very clinical but I thought that seeing as the tree had taken an interest in me that I should find out more about her. It has been an amazing experience and I am sad that I can't get there as much anymore as that job has now ended (I'm a temp). I said goodbye on my last day and thanked her for all the lessons I had learned over the months, and as that part of my life past away and a new one began I walked around the church only to find myself in a funeral procession which seemed very apt.

Snowstar*

Wow, Snowstar, you are a really good researcher!

I read the old animism thread. It occurred to me that maybe people are drawn to paganism *because* they are sensitive enough to believe in animism?

Is there anyone out there who really thinks there's nothing in animism?

Well include me out on that one as Cecil B de Mille would say ... as I believe in it. And tree " energies " and spirits. Hmm not sure if pagans or potential pagans are more sensitive to believe in animism, maybe more openminded, or perhaps wishful thinkers ... ?

I've found that when I lean against a tree using my hand or sit against one with my back to it then I settle into it in a strange way. Each to their own I say

I hope its ok to 'ressurect' an old post....yes I find trees have energies, different trees have different types of energy, the old ones have wisdom and calm, like grandfathers of the forest, the very young ones a sort of youthful exuberance, like children I suppose - I dont have a special tree but I do have a wonderful tiny pond in the middle of our ancient woodland which is surrounded by young and middle aged trees, when I go there and sit I can feel the energies all around me and protecting me, they give me calm if I am worried, peace if I am sad and I hope when I go there feeling good I give something back.

Yes, some trees ask to be touched or hugged, some want to give and some want to take, sometimes I find it really difficult to go from a sad tree that wants me for some reason (usually damage of some kind) and have to summon up enormous will power (or something) to do so. I have no idea why but I have more empathy with the pines than any other trees when it comes to individual trees but chestnuts (sweet chestnut) when they are in a group or cathedral.

Yes I talk to them too, and many other plants as well, sometimes a quick hello, sometimes I am with them for half an hour or more at a time. Somehow time seems to stay still when I am in the woods or forests anyway, I can find Ive been there for four or five hours and it only seems like half an hour.

I also feel immense power of a different kind from wild open spaces - the Grampians and Rannoch Moor in Scotland spring to mind immediately but there are many others.

I wonder if anyone can tell me why I feel all trees as being male though? Not something I can ever remember being taught but just my instincts.

No problem, its better to add to an old thread that start a new one, though I do appreciate that some sites don't like thread necromancy, we seem to be of the opposite oppinion in the Valley.


Hmmm aren't there some eastern european legends of vampire trees, or am I just thinking of Strange


Yep there are certainly different feeling from different places. For me I interpret this as each having their own spirit just as the componenet trees, heathers, rocks etc do. Think of it like a jigsaw puzzle of 'souls'


Hmmm I must admit that a lot of trees do feel male to me too, though apples tend to feel female. Odd that.

Kev

I havent yet worked out how to do the quote things being a bit pathetic with computers so will have to do this my own style!

Hmmm aren't there some eastern european legends of vampire trees, or am I just thinking of Strange

I hadnt heard that , Ive now got visions of the tree that tried to eat the little boy in Polterguist, aarrgghh definitely some research needed on that one.

Yep there are certainly different feeling from different places. For me I interpret this as each having their own spirit just as the componenet trees, heathers, rocks etc do. Think of it like a jigsaw puzzle of 'souls'

I like that idea, when I am next in Scotland I'll explore my feelings further where thats concerned, I certainly get very different but special feelings from these very empty wild places.

Hmm, I dont think Ive had much close contact with apple trees, mostly forest variety, definitely something else to explore, thanks

oh completely aside - I just read the old thread on fluffy people, I was trying to decide if I fit into that category then decided although I am fairly strictly non-harm to animals etc in my personal ethics I do accept that nature is 'tooth and claw' and marvelled at the bird of prey that recently took a ringed dove from the air in our yard recently (and ate it only a few yards from me as brazen as anything) - so think I must be partly fluffy (perhaps like one of those poodles that are clipped in strange pom pom shapes)

I've got a "girl" apple tree and a "boy" apple tree in my garden just now. My last garden the apple tree was male - very definitely!

One thing I have noticed is that the two trees I have now are less... forthcoming... than the last one. And I wondered if it was maybe something to do with the fact that they're espaliered trees, and the last one was free-standing. But they're definitely far more reticent, harder to communicate with (and harder to hug, that's for sure! ).