Trees: The Divine Connection
Humans have engaged in tree-centered ceremony for thousands of years. From the sacred oak groves of the Druids, to the Germanic tradition of the Maypole, to birth/death rituals centered around trees in Africa, to the sacred Sun Dance of American Plains tribes, the tree is universally recognized as both the world-axis and a portal to the Divine. Many of these traditions involve cutting the tree down and transporting it to the center of the village or encampment, there to be placed in the earth. Its presence demarcates the center of the cosmos, and everything within the sacred space then becomes the universe.
For centuries, humans have hung ribbons and small effigies in trees to represent their prayers or wishes, with the understanding that such a tangible offering would readily be heard by the gods. We also hang ourselves from trees in an extension of this idea. The Hanged Man of the Tarot Deck represents surrender and sacrifice--much the same energy we see with Christ hanging on the cross, or Odin suspending himself from the World Tree for nine days. Cultures throughout time have participated in similar sacrifices, enduring intense fasts and piercing of the flesh to gain wisdom and bring Divine gifts back to their communities. The body itself then becomes a prayer hung on the Tree of the Universe.
Ancient Tree Symbolism
Why do we do such things? Why is the world-tree motif so common throughout the world? Ancient cultures understood that the world spun around a central axis, and this axis not only related to our planet, but to the universe at large. The fundamental order of the universe depends upon its relationship to this up-down axis. Energy comes into the axis from above and below. Cycles of change and regeneration originate here, and if properly tuned into the axis and balanced upon its above/below orientation, a medicine person can see the larger picture of world and cosmic events in relation to all life. The tree symbolizes this connectedness. Trees in a forest are connected, we now know, by their root systems via the mycelium, and through the air in the form of pheromones. Ancient people could have told us the same thing; astute observers of nature, they understood the connectedness of all things, and found the tree deeply representational of this.
Communicating with Trees
Ancients also communicated directly with trees and plants, learning from them what was safe to eat or not, how to make medicines, and how to understand weather patterns. To them, trees weren’t just objects to be used for wood, fuel and shelter. They were sentient beings with their own particular helping spirits. That modern people fear the forest is indicative of our loss of this knowledge and connection. Regaining it takes some practice, but it is possible.
Begin by taking yourself into a quiet space outdoors. To do this, you may find it necessary to first burn off some physical energy so that the body is tired. A long hike, a run, or other strenuous workout can help calm the body and tune in your listening skills. You will want to spend some time at this and it may take several attempts, so clear your schedule for a few hours. It helps to tune into a specific tree, but you may find you are tuning into a cottonwood, for example, and then you begin to hear all the cottonwoods in the area. Types of trees are tuned to a specific vibration, and once you’re on that wavelength you may communicate with all trees of that type.
You will want to empty your mind as much as possible and enter a meditative state. From here, begin by introducing yourself. Trees are our neighbors, and a good neighbor always takes the time to give their name. “Hello, my name is…” or “Hi, I am _______.” Tell the tree why you are here. “Hi, I’m __________ and I’m here to learn to listen.” As you advance, you can begin asking questions. But first, you’re just introducing yourself and seeing if the tree wants to talk. You may get a “no” in your body. You may receive a positive, “yes” type of sensation, but no words after that. Notice any images and emotions that come to you. Stay connected with your breath. Words may form in your mind; bodily sensations may come to you; a scent on the breeze that seems more amplified. All these are communications. Trees speak to one another with deep creativity, slowness, and compassion.
Divine Portal
Shamans travel up and down the World-Tree to gain information. They have long recognized that this tree has different levels, as noted in the Viking belief in nine worlds suspended from the central tree, or the better-known idea of three realms (Upper, Lower and Middle). We access these worlds through journeying with the drum.
We are like trees in that we also have a central axis, the spine. At the top is the crown chakra, which opens to the Universe like the crown of a tree. At the bottom is the sacrum and the base chakra, rooting us to the earth and the physical realm. Babies are born through this portal into physical reality; the sacrum/pelvis is the place where the soul manifests into form. As above, so below. As a tree, so the spine. As the World-Axis, so we are. In working with trees, we are working with the Divine Self in greater awareness and connection. By extension, we see that we are the universe: the body itself is the cosmos, with its axis oriented up and down, and the celestial bodies present in our own organs. From this realization, manifesting our reality becomes as natural as breathing. If we are the universe, then what happens in the universe is our doing.
