Lately I have come to realize that loving the world and appreciating its beauty somehow seems of paramount importance, arguably the most important “thing” you can do. Some day we all will face the big, as a topic usually avoided at all cost, big final moments on earth, and are we prepared for death coming as a lover? Are we prepared to let go?
But I digress, because this post is about these trees.
Final embrace
The parched earth here drank deeply from the waters coming down during this AR (Atmospheric River) Storm during the last 2 days this late October 2021. This uncharacteristically early in the season storm also bent over one of our beloved magnificent and still fully leafed tree, who fell and took with it, almost carefully, a beautiful beloved Juniper evergreen. A lesson in impermanence, again.
On closer look, I can’t help but see the embrace in the encounter of those two trees, who have been standing next to each other for decades now. Knowing that the main body of the tree and its brain are underground, with a vast network of roots, mycelium and microbiome, who knows, those two might have communicated for many years, just waiting for the perfect time, the perfect storm.
Neither one of the root balls are anywhere near dislodged enough for the trees to actually die. They are very much alive and simply changed positions now also touching above ground – finally, maybe, how would we know? Already the birds love being in there, in that embrace of intertwined branches. It reminds me of things I read about trees, even fallen trees, and their functions in the ecosystem.
I am aware that some, maybe most people in our society will simply call musings like this sentimentality, weirdness, wacko, impractical and what not. And I say…how do you know so much of what really is going on underground in these beings that can outlive you by many years? Have you seen some of the images, or read more recently published books or papers about it? Have you opened your senses of perception in a way that might have you consider other perspectives or more expansive truths, some seemingly crazy or radically different?
The automatic and reflexive course of action will be to cut them up, a little sooner now that they are across the driveway. I see that, and there is this: when in Rome, do as the Romans do, even though a driveway does not actually need to be circular, but fair enough.
Let us be aware tough, that these two trees are not dead at all. What happened was a perfect move if touching above ground was wanted, to experience a proximity not previously known. I have had encounters like this, of proximity, for the briefest time, and yet, something occurred that was a gift beyond words. A sensing and feeling never before felt, or known it could exist. Death came too soon. A deep gratitude for the encounter persists. So, beloved trees, may this embrace, this touching, be worth the price. In any case, you magnificent beings, you are seen and loved. With deep gratitude always.