Trees Can Be Symbolic and Therapeutic

While hiking the great Smoky Mountains last week I was in awe. I felt the energy of the forest. My husband, far in front of me on a mission to achieve a number of miles in a certain amount of time, missed the pure delight of what was unfolding on the trail. I later pointed it out on the return trip back to the car and he remarked “really, I hadn’t noticed, but cool”. I smiled. I understood. We are all wired differently.

For me the magic was everywhere. Reminding me that we are one with nature.

A tree that’s fallen into the arms another; the standing tree offering support.

(what friends and family do for each other when they feel broken)

Enormous roots spreading and grounding themselves for safety, stability and growth.

(what we do in our yoga practice, collectively becoming a union and grounding ourselves together in time)

Moss clinging to trunks to grow.

(what babies do when clinging and nursing on their mother’s breast)

I see more than a tree when I’m in the woodlands. I see messages and metaphors to every day life. The next time you take a walk, whether it’s a forest, a beach or a meadow, I encourage you to walk with your eyes instead of your feet. Tread lightly and move quietly. Create your own story.