Leaves are the Support Team
Day 44 of my tree puja. As leaves replace the flower festival, the tree seems relieved. Now she can relax and replenish.
A glowing morning, after blessing rain.
I stood with my face in the tree, amongst the new leaves, and said hello to them, and welcome to them.
How Arrogant are We Moderns
Day 37 of my tree puja. I reflect on the interaction of my feelings with the tree, and the importance of nature worship, which culture and modernity have rudely rejected.
how arrogant are we moderns, who have gutted nature and abused the wisdom of those who knew her, loved her, revered her and made offering to her...
Remember the Purpose of the Flower
Day 36 of my tree puja. Still raining and cold, but the tree is awakening.
She is busy with pregnancy and production. All efforts are in that direction, with serenity and perfection of purpose. Remember the purpose of the flower...
The Flow of Life
Day 34 of my tree puja. I belong in the flow of life.
Underfoot – cold and wet and squishy. Air, cool and grey in the dawn. All around – sounds of life waking...
Get on with it!
Day 33 of my tree puja. Amidst the wet and leaves and petals and life, the tree gives me a message I need.
All the tree would say was, “Get on with it.”
I went outside. The door slammed behind me.
Day 27 of my tree puja. Things do not go so well.
The tree, like the Divine, is forgiving of my stumbling efforts.
A rainy mood
Day 26 of my tree puja. I’m early today but the rain goes on and everything is soggy, including the tree’s mood.
I woke very early, as if having learnt my lesson…
I made myself go to the tree.
Day 19 of my tree puja. Eclipse of the new moon.
As I placed the incense in the wet soil, I asked that all people be loved and respected as my teacher was.
The tree and the rain are old friends
Day 17 of my tree puja. I almost don’t go because of the cold and rain… but the tree and the outside summon me.
I turned my face up, and the softest rain was sprinkling down upon me. I opened my mouth and felt the gift of the sky…
…as tired night lets go and day edges in.
Day 16 of my tree puja. In case you are wondering, the winter of 2009 was one of the wettest on record in Hobart. Stay with me, because eventually Spring bursts upon the scene! We’ve a way to go yet though.
I move from the inside realm, and into the presence of pre-dawn, still and pregnant, as tired night lets go and day edges in…
Curious about the image? Keep reading…
The tree becomes a projection of my mental state sometimes
Day 14 of my tree puja. In which I share my misery in the cold and wet. Oh well.
I offer my soft, warm breath
Day 13 of my tree puja. I realise things about the transformation of fire from the furnace of the sun, to the warmth of my breath.
The ground is like a full-soaked sponge, the water very cold. The sounds are of drips and drops and flowings. Everything is touched by rainwater…
The tree is silent, still, and receptive
Day 11 of my tree puja. I hear the sounds of silence, touch her bark and drink the rain.
In the drippy, damp dimness I listened to the sounds – water flowing in the drain, drops falling on leaves and from leaves, distant hum of traffic with Doppler effect…
The tree stood silent under the moon
Day 8 of my tree puja. In which I offer the warmth of my body to the cold soil.
This morning, I went to the tree, which shone in the moonlight.
Tears are little but they have big causes
Day 6 of my tree puja. Emotions come and go, but the tree is always grounded.
This morning with my bare feet I stubbed my toe on a rock in the dark.
Tree, you bring me outside
Day 5 of my tree puja. It’s warm and cosy inside. I venture out to meet the winter morning.
You bring me outside to feel the dripping rain and sodden, rough ground.
The soil is the tree’s ocean
Day 4 of my tree puja. I’m back after some time away. It’s winter now.
I looked up and saw the bare hands of the tree, now that the leaves are all gone.
Trees contain the wisdom of God
The first day of my tree puja, 2009. It begins in the rain. And the rain goes on and on.
Last night it rained softly and there are traces of water running in dark lines on the tree trunk. It runs down her body and thence into the soil, having enjoyed her skin and the winding journey of her limbs before disappearing into the dark depths of soil and planet.
Puja ~ The Tree and Me
Tree puja (worship) is an Indian custom in which an offering is made to a tree. In 2009 I vowed to practice this ritual at dawn for one year. As the seasons passed, my relationship with the tree evolved.