The Wisdom of Trees
Today I’m sharing a revised version of an article I wrote for Spirituality & Health magazine in collaboration with Hilary Nicholls—the energy healer who leads our quarterly Circle of Light meditations that welcome each new season in community. The article includes a lovely 7-minute guided “Mother Tree” meditation to give you a taste of Hilary’s beautifully soothing and restorative work that you can experience live this coming Tuesday, March 19, from 5:15 PM to 5:45 PM Pacific. FREE—Please join us!
I live on a farm on the central coast of California with two small groves of towering redwood trees that I visit each morning when I walk my dogs. I love to stand amid the trees, my head tilted up, enjoying the view of the sky through their branches. I often lean back against a tree, tuning into its strength before turning around to hug its thick bark. My arms would need to be much longer to fit all the way around the circumference of these giants. It makes me feel like a young child embracing a beloved grandparent many times my size—comforted and protected.
One of the often-hugged redwood trees on Myra’s farm
I have always been drawn to trees. As a teenager living in an 11th-floor apartment in Manhattan surrounded by concrete, I identified with the lone, thin tree confined to a small square of soil cut out of the sidewalk in front of my building. Deeply craving the greenery and freedom of the countryside, I soothed myself by reading poems about trees and forests that made them come alive in my imagination.
The well-known tree researcher, Dr. Suzanne Simard, got her PhD in Forest Sciences because she wanted to protect the forests and understand why they felt so powerful to her ever since she was a young girl. Her groundbreaking discoveries include the ways trees communicate with one another through underground fungi networks, and how they help each other by sharing resources. Mother trees—the oldest and largest in the forest—are especially important to the ecosystem because they act as central hubs for vast below-ground mycorrhizal networks.
In her popular TED Talk, Dr. Simard assures us that everything in the forest is connected and communicating. She says, “Most of us have forgotten that we’re connected to each other and to nature—that we are one. Nature is not some separate thing, but an intimate part of us.” She believes trees perceive many things in their environment, and that it’s likely they’re able to feel the presence of humans when we’re nearby.
Redwoods live 500 to 800 years on average, but can survive for 1,500 years. Giant sequoias live up to 3,000 years or more. That means we can touch trees today that carry the wisdom of when the earth was a very different planet. Contemplating the long lifespan of trees can help settle our minds and put day-to-day dramas in perspective.
Hilary Nicholls—the energy healer who leads our quarterly Circle of Light guided meditations—says that trees symbolize wisdom, stability, shelter, growth and renewal. “You can see the signs of stress, resilience, and regeneration within the rings of the tree,” Hilary explains. “Trees set a beautiful example of gracefully weathering the seasons of our lives, including times of high winds, heavy rain, freezes, extreme heat, and drought.” She also reminds us that we have a reciprocal, symbiotic relationship with trees—in the exchange of carbon and oxygen, their exhale is our inhale, and vice-versa.
Even when we are not able to hug a tree outside in nature, we can access the powerfully healing and grounding energy of trees through our imagination. “When we visualize extending our roots and deepening our foundation, we’re better able to journey through the storms of our own lives with greater patience and ease.”
Hilary says that there is a strong longing in our body, mind, and heart for peace, and when we imagine leaning into an ancient tree, we can feel how she is ready to receive us and offer peace and strength. “The energy of trees can help spark your growth, deepen your roots, branch out your creativity, and reach your light.”
To help us access the wisdom of trees, Hilary recorded a beautiful 7-minute guided grandmother tree meditation set to lovely music. The link is below. We also offer the following script for a self-guided meditation that can be done anywhere in just a few minutes.
Close your eyes. Place one hand on your belly and one on your heart. Take a few deep, slow breaths.
Now imagine yourself in a beautiful forest, walking around in wonder until you discover your grandmother tree. Sit down upon the earth amongst her roots in a special notch that’s been waiting for you. Lean your back against her trunk, letting yourself feel fully supported.
Breathe in, feeling grateful to receive your grandmother tree’s strength, resilience, ancient wisdom and protection. Feel these qualities fill your body, heart, and your entire being as you nestle further into her embrace.
With every exhale, release any stress, worry, or tension. Continue to breathe, slowly and deeply, as you feel the beauty of your connection with your grandmother tree, and through her, all of nature.
When you are ready, slowly open your eyes and look gently around.
Remember your grandmother tree. Thank her for bringing you back to your true nature of peace and connection.
For a beautiful auditory experience, enjoy Hilary’s 7-minute guided meditation that will leave you feeling calm, grounded and connected to nature.
Please join us on Tuesday if you’d like to experience a live guided mother tree meditation with Hilary in community. FREE—Sign up here!
