We share so much with our tree friends: a planet, an atmosphere, a love of the sun and water. I believe the parts of a tree might help us understand ourselves, as well – plus, tree vocabulary is full of just plain fun words like “xylem” and “phloem”.
I made a yoga flow based on the parts of a tree so we can feel just a bit more in touch with the gorgeous specimens around us. As you go through, identify just a bit with that part. A callus, for instance, is the protective ring formed by a tree around a wound. Unlike us, trees are generative, not regenerative. When they get wounded, they will not heal with new skin as we would. The wound stays there forever – with just the callus there as a barrier. Although we don’t share that physical trait, I do think that we have certain emotional wounds that don’t ever really heal. Grief and the ongoing pain caused by a toxic relationship, for instance, never truly go away. We may form a barrier and that is healthy. But I feel like if you had the right sort of vision you could see our emotional wounds and the calluses we build around them.
Likewise – a tree (and other plants) have a rhizosphere – an area that is effected by their roots’ microbiology and chemistry. Who and what is in your personal rhizosphere – that you might not even have considered?
So without further ado…
Thoughts...?!