The Emergency of Flowering
Day 46 of my tree puja.
I realised that the tree has been desperate to complete drama of flowering and finally grow new leaves. No leaves, no life.
No longer living on stored food, the tree has passed the time of hardship and the emergency of flowering. There is water in the soil and sun from the sky. The earth and air are warm; it can finally retreat and be at ease, all is taken care of.
Nature is on Tiptoes
Day 45 of my tree puja. Blossoms all but gone, lengthening days feed an abundance of light to the eager leaves.
This morning has the quality of mist – like a cat’s fur without the cat, or cherry blossom without the tree. Still, silent, and soft, nature is on tiptoes, quietly breathing, nothing else.
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.
Nature is on the Alert
Day 43 of my tree puja.
As the blossoms fade and fall, other flowers have their time in the sun. The movement, the cycling of the season is ceaseless.
Spring is a time of adjustment and work. The changes come so fast and so much is to be done. We see the beauty and it looks so effortless and relaxed, but that is appearance only. Nature is on the alert. So much must happen now.
Here is Home, the Wild Home
Day 42 of my tree puja.
Spring is an energy moving through the garden, its air, soil and mind.
I went to the tree, and held her flowers to my face, burying my nose, eyes, mouth, appearance in the petals…
You have Birthed all these Babies
Day 41 of my tree puja. The rain returns, but the power of flower and leaf speaks loud and clear.
The nourishment of light is running in her veins again, the time of sleep and hunger and internalised energy is over.
Sit Quietly and Listen
Day 40 of my tree puja. The surging energy engulfs me, welcoming me into its organic totality of self.
Birds are singing and racketing all around. Lapwings call to one another, while smaller songbirds trill away in the background. I imagine the vibrations we sit amongst, the tree and me.
In the Deathliness of Space
Day 39 of my tree puja. With her spring blossom comes a fresh, enlivened energy and magic. My relationship with the ritual and the tree shifts into a deeper, more subtle and intimate place.
...bunches of petals have emerged from wood, a common miracle. She surrounds me. I squat, eyes closed, hands joined in prayer; I think towards her.
Then Zoomed Past a Car
Day 38 of my tree puja. Nestled in nature, I am disturbed by a passing car, an industrial invasion clashing with the blossom universe unfolding around me.
The flowers are very relaxed, just hanging there in mid-air, waiting for visitors on the wing...
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 Throb of Life
Day 35 of my tree puja. Now the tree is awakening, the festival of colour begins, and I am simply present.
I feel the rain, I hear the birds of dawn, the breeze doing its rounds, I see the lush masses of leaves and flowers all around and I crouch there, part of it, nothing more, nothing less...
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.”
The Wide Arms of the Tree
Day 32 of my tree puja. A storm followed by peace and flowers.
The last weeks have been hectic. This morning, I finally visited the tree, its buds full with spring but not yet revealed...
I awoke filled with love.
Day 31 of my tree puja. I am becoming elemental.
The ground was very cold, biting, but so strong, and rich, and alive. My feet joined it, becoming part of the soil’s life, just another biota, another bit of matter, with water flowing inside, and air inside that...
Some aspect of me has merged with the tree.
Day 30 of my tree puja. I realise that the ritual has become part of me.
Something pulls me now to do the ritual and I don’t resist.
The tree is so silent.
Day 29 of my tree puja. I hear birdsong as the voice of the tree. I consider the importance of ritual, and the disturbance of its loss when tradition is trampled by modernity.
I was there at the grey time, listening to the silence of the tree, thinking how I talk too much.
The tree cannot walk but it never ceases to grow.
Day 28 of my tree puja. The seasons do not stand still. The brightness of flowers sprinkles the earth, while the tree is yet to emerge from her slumber. And yet, she has a message that helps me stabilise my mind today.
The tree said to me, be steady, be steadfast, one foot in front of the other, keep walking.
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.