Trees
Saturday, March 9th, 2013
Photo Credit: Vision Share
Yesterday was International Women’s day and I sent out a newsletter thanking all the women who have helped and supported me in a range of ways throughout my life.
Today I want to remember and thank the amazing Wangari Maathai for the incredible work she has done globally in sustaining trees across the globe and being responsible for the planting of 45 million trees in her homeland of Kenya. In the 1970′s she founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya an environmental organization that promoted the planting of trees, women’s rights and environmental conservatism. The Green Belt Movement has contributed to the lives and businesses of thousands of women across Kenya by creating rural employment in rural areas. In 2004 she became the first ever African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
I would love to have met this amazing woman and shared a conversation with her about our shared love and appreciation of trees and how much they add to the possibility of human life here on earth. When she started her work she was driven by passion. She had no idea that her actions would turn into a global movement. She was quoted as saying,
“There’s a general culture in this country to cut down all the trees. It makes me so angry because everyone is cutting and no one is planting.”
“When I first started it was really an innocent response to the needs of women in rural areas. When we started planting trees, to meet their needs, there was nothing beyond that. i did not see all the issues that I have come to deal with.”
We do not have to see the end as many of us believe to begin. By doing and responding to what feels right can be a catalyst for great things.
Her work reminded me of a lovely book I have entitled, The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono. It’s a story of a shepherd who plants trees over a number of years and slowly transforms the barren landscape he is surrounded by where people believed nothing would grow. Though this story is fiction the two stories hold many similarities.
Wangari passed away from cancer complications in 2011.
This blog post today is in remembrance of the great tree planter warrior Wangari Maathai (1st April 1940-25th September 2011).
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Monday, February 25th, 2013
- This Monday morning how will you find a better connection away from Wi-Fi?
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Saturday, February 9th, 2013
Here I am with Sanctuary in 2009.
In early 2000 I was a dedicated early morning runner, well actually more of a jogger. I would get up at 5am jump into my running gear and head out the door full of energy. On the days when I ran around my local park I would finish off my run by taking time out under the comfort and shade of a huge sprawling Evergreen Oak which stood at the top of the park’s highest point.
The tree is unique as it never sheds its leaves and so holds a resplendent crown of leaves all year round. It is stout with muscular branches stretching through the air mirrored by roots below almost as thick burrowing underground occasionally raising up above ground, high enough above the soil to provide you with comfortable seating.
The space underneath the trees branches are wide enough to house over fifty people comfortably. If it rains you’re guaranteed to remain dry as a bone under the trees shade.
Once I visited Sanctuary almost every week for an entire year. It was a dark and dismal time in my life when I was truly broken open. But Sanctuary the name I eventually give the tree was the one calming and grounding influence in my life. She was both the daily faithful witness watching over me and the silent listener. She threw no judgments my way and gave unconditionally.
Even today when I visualize Sanctuary in my mind I feel a warm glow inside the kind one feels when visiting a dear old friend from far away.
Though we don’t meet often I do consider this tree an old friend from far away who is full of wisdom and in whose presence I find myself returning home to myself.
I know that on days when I am feeling overwhelmed or maxed out that even a quick visit to Sanctuary or one of her tree cousins closest to where I now live will ground and center me.
Remembering my early mornings with Sanctuary remind me of how far I’ve come and how much has changed since that time.
I can look back to that time in my life and see what seeds planted over thirteen years ago have sprouted and blossomed and most of all I know the strength of my own resilience, knowing that whatever life sends me like this tree I am capable of weathering the storm.
Do you have a special place in nature that has meaning for you?
Photo Credits: Robin Rezende
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Monday, February 4th, 2013
There are times when no amount of taking photographs of a tree will capture the sheer beauty of the tree that is seen when looking at the tree in person with the naked eye.
Today driving past what looks like a Cherry Blossom tree or it could be a Birch I was struck by how even in it’s apparent nakedness the beauty of the tree managed to catch my eye on a grey, dismal Sunday afternoon. Its colours of muted browns, reds and oranges sparkled from the bark and some of its thick branches that I wanted to run my fingers over it’s crumpled skin.
I could see the tips of the emerging tiny buds promising new life, which, in a few weeks would be awash with blossoms of freschia pinks and orchid whites. This tree holds the promise of things yet to come. Reminding me that sometimes life strips us bare and then almost in what may at a first glance seem like a cruel joke sends blessings awash with such goodness it can catch you off guard as life reminds us as spiritual teacher Marianna Williamson describes that, “After every devastating loss comes a stunning win.”
Sometimes life feels like there’s no goodness in it but unless we look close enough like I did today with this tree we will not see the pockets of dare I say beauty that may still be there. From a few yards this tree looked like an ordinary tree with nothing much to boast about, but on closer inspection revealed so much more, providing a feast for my eyes.
Today take a moment to stop and write down five things that are good in your life no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. And on your travels this week why not stop and take a few minutes to really take in with fresh eyes a tree in your local area or your place of work.
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Monday, January 28th, 2013
This was the feast that greeted me this morning as I looked out of my office window. A morning after Full Moon was still resident in the early morning sky.
The Moon was a treat for my eyes. Seeing her was a much welcome start to my day. I wanted to share the image with you. Did you catch her presence last night when she was full in the sky or did you manage to say goodbye to her this morning?
- What are your memories or associations with a Full Moon?
- We’d love to hear?
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Sunday, January 20th, 2013
Photo credit: Jackee Holder 2012
“Solitary trees if they grow at all, grow strong.”
- Sir Winston Churchill
I captured this photo of a solitary tree that caught my attention along the banks of a train station in a village just outside Oxford.
Its solitary nature spoke no words but was felt. It definitely was giving off some kind of an aura.
I had three minutes before the train arrived.
Thank God for the iphone camera. I felt I was given a gift capturing the tree with my phone camera seconds before the tree pulled into the station. I climbed onto the train smiling taking the tree with me.
I have thought about this tree often. I’ve taken out the photo and looked at it.
More and more I am noticing solitary trees as I go about my days.
Solitary trees take my breath away.
I am hungry for more time alone.
Time to think
Time to reflect
Time to create
Time to sleep
Time to rest
Time to wander aimlessly
My body and soul craves more solitary downtime and playtime
Solitary trees remind me of my own need for solitude.
I find admiring solitary trees centering and grounding. They stimulate memories of time alone, running across London at 5am in the morning claiming the back streets as my own. Watching the Moon in the early hours of the morning and feeding my spirit with my own company.
Look around you and take a moment to notice the trees in your neighbourhood that stand-alone. How does admiring a solitary tree make you feel? What message is the tree giving off? What does it remind you of?
“And even more I revere them when they stand alone. They are like lonely persons. Not like hermits, who have stolen away out of some weakness but like great solitary men like Beethoven and Nietzsche.”
- Hermann Hesse
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Friday, January 11th, 2013
“Lost”
by David Wagoner
Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.
Savour this poem for a moment. Let the words seep into you and find where it takes you. Nature, trees it’s where many of us find ourselves again. Stand still. Stillness will speak if you let it. Be.
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Saturday, January 5th, 2013
Welcome to the final free gift in our series of free Manifesto’s for the start of 2013. We’re really excited about our Nature Manifesto and love the cute design our designer Chi created for this Manifesto.
Sometimes people are really curious about why I have a Tree blog on my website? I follow up the question with a question, ‘Where would we humans be without trees and without nature?’ The answer is quite simply, ‘We would not be here, full stop.’
In my work as a coach, a coach trainer and a creative writing tutor an essential part of my work is helping individuals from all walks of life return to their true nature.
Some of the common challenges I work with in my coaching practice are individuals feeling depleted and lacking in energy and motivation, feeling uninspired, stuck and lacking ideas or feeling that they’re coasting along, embracing the status quo and not making much of a difference.
In fact I’ve felt all of the above and more many times in my career and have turned to nature to help lift me out of that sinking black hole.
Embracing nature more intentionally and wholeheartedly can be the cure for all of the above and much more. That’s why great thinkers like Sir Isaac Newton (gravity) and George de Mestral (velcro) discovered many of our greatest discovers whilst out and about in nature.
Nature is an amazing resource that restores and replenishes diminishing energy levels naturally and effortlessly. It’s a great environment to engage in more generative and creative thinking.
Our best ideas don’t come at our desks, in team meetings or in the boardrooms but out in nature where the mind is free to roam and freeassociate, think outside the box and find it’s own original solutions.
Even more nature refills the hole in your soul and lifts your sometimes failing spirits. Nature is a flourishing resource at our fingertips despite our ravaging of her resources she still has so much to give that we can naturally gain and benefit from.
Right now I’m sitting in bed on a Saturday morning and listening to the different distinguishing bird songs being played out along the South London skyline where I live. The birdsong is both enchanting and comforting, encouraging me to relax and soften into my own body and thinking in the moment. Such are the many jewels nature holds for us at no cost.
In 2013 discover ways in which you’ll get out and connect more with nature. Place our Nature Manifesto somewhere prominent to remind you of the values of reconnecting with nature and natures valuable contribution to your physical, mental and spiritual well being, your business and leadership and expanding the reach of your own inner nature.
If you’re inspired by any of the Manifesto’s in our series how about writing your own Manifesto for the year ahead and give your year that creative kick start it well deserves.
Click here to download our Nature Manifesto
Click here to download the Nature Manifesto Wallpaper for your desktop
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Friday, December 28th, 2012
Yesterday I was fortunate enough to find time on my holiday to make my fourth visit to the amazing Baobab tree, one of three surviving specimens still alive on the island of Barbados. These trees native to Africa, Madagascar and Australia are amazing trees. They’re built like a fortress, strong, robust, solid and stout trees. It takes 15 people standing with outstretched hands to hug the width of the trees trunk.
It’s rumoured that the seed survived crossing the Atlantic ocean possibly carried as a form of food by slaves during the time of the slave trade. I like to think of this tree as an ancestral tree.
Its botanical name is Adanisonia Digitata. It has no tree rings (which is why it is hard to tell the trees age) and some Baobab trees are reported to have lived for thousands of years. Its branches resemble tree roots, which is why it’s often described as the upside down tree.
The tree has many useful purposes: It’s bark is used for cloth and rope. Leaves are made into condiments and medicine. It’s fruit can be eaten Its stout and fat trunk is attributed to the fact that it stores gallons of water in its trunk to survive the harsh drought conditions it lives in.
In Burkina-Faso when a Baobab tree dies it’s given a solemn funereal and drums normally reserved for the death of a chief are played. If you see a white cloth hanging from the tree then you know that the villagers use it as a place of worship or prayer.
It’s the national tree of Madagascar but native to 31 mainland African countries.
I unintentionally discovered that two Baobab trees exist on the island of Barbados where my parents are from in one of my many searches about the Baobab tree.
The images below are of the larger of the two Baobab trees on the island, which is situated in Queens Park in the centre of the islands capital city of Bridgetown. It’s reported to be over 1000 years old.
I make a ritual of visiting the tree and taking a new set of photographs of her every time I’m on the island. This includes a ritual of self-portraits with the tree.
Enjoy my photo journey and self- portraits with the revered Barbados Baobab.
You’ll find out more about the mighty Baobab in my book Tree wRites due out 2013.
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Thursday, December 27th, 2012
Yesterday on my way to my cousin’s Boxing Day breakfast I passed this tree and was compelled to stop and take its photo. It sat in the right hand corner of a garden in the home of people I did not know.
I stopped the car and grabbed my iPad. I am so thankful for the immediacy of technology, which can be such an invaluable resource to spontaneous creativity. I was immediately struck by the thickness of the trees stout, robust branches. Perhaps I want more of that solidness in my life and my work.
Taking in the tree through the camera lens I was captivated by the trees physical and energetic presence. It felt solid, sure of itself, yet humble and open.
Surveying its branches the following words came to me:
Strength, Resilience, Robust, Staying Power, Hardy, Solid, Hardworking, Reliable, Steadfast, Bold, Full Bloom. Mature, Endurance, Humble, Hardwearing, Steadfast, Huggable, Protective, Supporting
This is a practice you can do whenever you come across a tree you feel drawn to. Write down the words or images you associate or remind you of the tree.
I imagined what the trees roots would be like. In some of the books I’ve read about trees its reported that the labyrinth of a trees roots can sometimes be twice the size of it branches above ground. I visualized this trees root system surging through the soil beneath its feet for several feet.
There are a few ways you could use your words
1. Write down the words that remind you of the tree. What words do you associate with the tree? Brainstorm a list of your words.
2. Collect your words and write a poem about the tree.
3. Choose one or two words from your list and use as a focus for your day. Can you look at the word until it shines? This quote from an old post from Susannah Conway’s blog really helped me.
“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one and I begin to look at it until it shines.” Emily Dickinson
Conway, S. (2006) Blog post
Today I have chosen the words “staying power” It begins with staying with writing this blog post and making sure that it’s gets posted before I head outside into the glorious sunshine.
4. Use your chosen words as writing prompts. The words “staying power” are stimulating ideas for a short essay about the staying power of my parents and their generation of Caribbean immigrants who planned to spend five years maximum in the UK in the early sixties before they returned to Barbados but who ended spending 40 years.
5. Use the image of the tree as a visual writing prompt. Free write for 10 minutes using the image of the tree as your starting point. Free writing is a writing technique where you write fast without stopping, writing down whatever comes into your mind. So you don’t need to write directly about the tree for the whole 10 minutes. Simply use the image of the tree as your starting point and then write freely about just anything.
6. Keep the image of the tree somewhere that is easily accessible to remind you of the words you want to use as focus words.
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