Have you ever wondered what trees think of people, particularly tourists?
A year or so ago my husband and I visited a Redwood forest here in New Zealand. A spectacular canopy tree walk has been created there and I was excited to see it. It was a great way to see the trees up close, and the whole thing has been done really well and to a high standard.
I found myself curious as to whether the trees approved… I thought, surely they would, as by putting visitors ‘in the air’, it stops them trampling about over the tree roots. So, I had a go at meditating and connecting in with the trees.
I didn’t get much back from them, except that they weren’t too thrilled with the tree walk. I didn’t get a ‘why’. (One thing I did notice there was that I didn’t hear any birdsong; native birds don’t tend to like living in non-native forest.)
The following morning I walked my dogs up our farm past where my ‘tree spirit’ friend resides. Man, I can’t describe the feeling of the energy that surrounds and infuses me when I stop in that spot! But, I digress, lol.
I asked the tree spirit about the redwoods. I thought, surely the canopy walk is good – people aren’t trampling on the tree roots, and it’s introducing more people to these wonderful trees and enabling them to be protected.
What I got was, no… it’s bringing in too many people and they’d rather be left alone, and not known about…
I’d been considering going back, taking visitors etc (they do a kind of ‘night glow’ experience that looks cool), but got quite clearly that once is enough!
Then last week we were on holiday on the Sunshine Coast of Australia. We visited a Rainforest Park; at one end was a boardwalk, and at the other was a track to a waterfall.
Once again I found myself wondering what the trees thought of ‘people’ visiting them – in Queensland especially, when the temperatures are high, rainforests and waterfalls are a lovely cool place to visit!
At the boardwalk end, I tuned in and asked if they mind so many people coming.
“No, it’s good.”
Why, I asked?
“They need to know.” They need to know what rainforest is like, and what has been done in the past (ie how it has been decimated – so that, perhaps, past mistakes are not repeated.)
The boardwalks were good, and the trees there were not worried about the number of visitors. They were well protected; people could look, and enjoy the surroundings, but not touch.
But.
At the other end of the park, it was a different story.
The paths to the waterfall were narrow (no boardwalks here), rocky and steep. The trees nearest to the path really didn’t want to be touched – too many people lean on them, and push off of them. They’d be much happier if there were guard rails or banisters for people to use.
At the falls themselves I asked if it was ok for people to go in the water? (There was a beautiful pool at the bottom, and it was easy to picture it full of people on a hot day.)
The answer was no. No-one. It’s sacred. People are polluting it.
As we were leaving, I asked, what percentage of visitors are respectful?
Only 20%…. food for thought.
So what’s the answer? Obviously reserves and parks are needed from an education standpoint. For me in future, I’ll be asking before I step foot in / on a place whether it’s ok for me to be there, and turning away if I get a ‘no’…
The town I live in has got lots of really big, old trees. As I came out of an office onto the pavement recently I was struck by the big tree in front of me on the berm.
I think it was a London Plane. It would take at least 3 people to put your arms round it.
I paused, looking up, admiring it, and wondered whether I should do some tree hugging.
I very clearly got, ‘there’s no need, I can reach you from there‘ ??
The energy field of a tree will provide all the connection and grounding you need.
I was standing approx 10 feet away from the tree. I did feel a sense of peace and connection. ?
Which got me wondering whether tree hugging, which we all love and encouraged to do (to re-connect with nature, and to ground ourselves…) is actually invasive to them… (especially since it invariably means trampling on their roots….)
I’d love to know your experiences of connecting with trees?
If you’re interested in these sorts of conversations and explorations, come and join me in my ‘Spiritual Stuff‘ closed Facebook group!
Keep connecting – not just with your animals, but with ALL beings!
Trisha x
About Trisha
Trisha Wren has been an equine professional for most of her adult life. She rode, competed, and taught Western Riding for 15 years in Scotland, then horse and rider bio-mechanics for 10 years in New Zealand and Australia. She’s been a full time horse and animal communicator since April 2016. Find out more about Trisha here and sign up for her self paced Animal Communication course here.