Trees

Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.
-Radindranath Tagor

What do you like about trees?

Many that you see in cities have been deliberately planted to beautify an area, and provide shade, and in my city of Norwich we are blessed with a great many, far more than the national average in England, though I fear a few giant Oaks, a legacy of old field boundaries, have recently fallen victim to new homeowners taking a dislike to these gentle giants OUTSIDE their homes and gardens.

Trees have many benefits, as most people like having them around, and the majority of us will feel a pleasant upward feel to our mood when amongst trees at any time of year, observing their beauty, we become serene, restful, calmer, peaceful, even tranquil. The feeling generally is of being 'at home' whether we appreciate it in such words or not, it is homely, if the truth be known!

I mentioned before, that hospitals have noticed the social and emotional benefits of trees, as patients, statistically, recover quicker from surgery when placed in a room with a view of trees. Their are strong ties between humans and trees, and the Germans have an affinity with trees in their cultural traditions dating back many centuries. Residents will object to the felling of trees when road-widening schemes or 'improvements' are proposed...frequently such cries are ultimately victorious!

Individually too, one great tree, or listed tree may be the scene of battle, both historic and current, as a lone fight, or group fight for it's reprieve. Such people must be acknowledged...we need them every bit as much as the trees themselves.

We have all read the Cathedral-like quality of statuesque trees, (in England the Oak springs to mind), through their strength, knarled boughs, scars from time, and of course, endurance.

Through this trememendous ability to live to a great age, we find trees planted as living memorials, and so, we as humans become attached to the trees we plant, or see planted. They become markers of time, of life, of ourselves.

Too often trees are overlooked, by their constant presence, and regarded as 'decorations', but trees are a vital and nurturing force. The key word is force, they are just that, but never a threatening one, rather a friendly one, on our side, for we are part of the same.

"Rooted in the ground, they reach for the sky."

Read anything from any country on earth, and delve into it's literary past, trees can be found to form a fair share of texts. an important literary place, from Christianity's beginnings the Apple Tree lay the epulsion of mankind from the Garden of Eden. The Old Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh, which was written around 2000 BC, the Cedar was a home for the gods, and in JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, the Ents are great trees which come to life and unsurprisingly fight the corner of good.
Greek mythology is nicely endowed with tales of trees.

When we feel stressed, lost, uncertain, it is amazing how often a walk by some trees, or just a muse beside trees can help our feeling, and trees allow our minds to wander, perhaps due to the fact that they are literally rooted by our sides, and yet reach for the heavens above. I again use the Oak as an example, with the majesty of it's stature, yet complication of form, our impression is one of friendliness. Why is this? If we go to the trees, we find their is no word to answer, just...we know.

Though today, paper may be mass produced from soya processes, trees provided the paper of centuries for our books, which is another very strong link.

If you think, 'who cares anyway'...just imagine for a moment, a world without trees...in your mind take them all away...now, is it better, or not?

by lauren6

Good fruit never comes from a bad tree.
-Portuguese proverb

The Mbeere tribe of East Africa had many sacred groves, areas ranging from a quarter of a hectare to three hectares, where tree cutting was taboo. Some of these groves survived up to the 1970s, providing excellent sites for examining the vegetation that had existed a century earlier, as several species of trees were rare or not seen at all elsewhere (Little and Brokensha, 1987).

The abundantly productive sycamore (Ficus sycamorus) and the date palm (Phoenix dactylyfera) were represented in the temple architecture of ancient Egypt. The worship of trees and groves was prevalent in Arabia, Persia, Assyria, the British Isles, Scandinavia, China, India, Ceylon and many other parts of the world (Anonymous, 1971).

Ashton (1988), a tropical forest ecologist, on the traditional Indian perceptions of the sacred in nature:

The Indian sub-continent is without doubt the world centre of human cultural diversity. . . . The Hindus have inherited perceptions of a people who have lived since ancient times in a humid climate particularly favourable for forest life. Settled people, they see themselves as one with the natural world, as both custodians and dependants. The people of India continue to harvest an astonishing diversity of products from the forest. Forests of the mountains and watersheds have traditionally been sacred; springs and the natural landscape in their vicinity have attracted special veneration. The Hindus learned from their predecessors millennia ago, a mythology, sociology and technology of irrigation that has enabled the most intensive yet sustainable agriculture humanity has so far devised.

Do not cut down the tree that gives you shade.
-Arabian proverb

Colour: green and cream...very art deco!
Music: Cesare Martinez: Sambal (Bombay Dreams Mix)

To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance.
-Buddha

Whether we like it or not, 2006 is very different to 2005, and it is gaining momentum now, as I write.
The song I keep in my head, and on my car stereo, which is inspiring my mood so much, is this one;

FREEDOM DANCERS: Middle Sky (Earth Shattered Mix) written by D.A. Navarre

It has given such an upsurge, I am very grateful, and loving it!!

Finally, I've finished all my relative's paperwork, under extreme duress, and as a result of various phone calls, hassling me to complete it all, despite my medicinal weariness.
The paperwork tied-in with the time of year, consisted of several-thousand word annual reports for 2005, including a multitude of spreadsheets. I stopped once, for lunch, surprisingly, and made myself two fried eggs, and wholemeal high-fibre toast. (I am allowed one 'normal' meal and two Special K meals.)

While seeing that the fried eggs were ready, another call made me leap out of my skin, for I knew who it was, (I wasn't disappointed), and in dealing with that, promptly let my hand seek the frying pan blindly, alas, landing on the hob, with a second-delay mouthful of abuse....my left hand's fingers now 'dressed' in 'bubble-wrap' skin formations, from the heat's effect...is this carelessness, or devotion to getting the job done??

I've grown-up being told to always be unselfish, think of others, consider others, notice others, help others, be with others.
Well, quite.
But, I am finding that I want to yell louder, and explode more often than not, and have a deep desire for a spell of intense selfishness. I'm done with unselfishness...I am in no way intent on selling my soul to the devil - far from it - just I want my time, my space, my life, my adventure, my happiness back. I had that for a time, then the cloak of 'duty' was cast over me, to bring me back in once more, just when my life was accelerating.

I really need a spell away, for both health and mind, and have pencilled in four weeks this spring to 'ping' myself thousands of miles away.
My NHS have completely ruined my body, and I have many other grievances which I've decided will be buried away, I want forward not backward living.

Everything around me right now is...(dammit), take, take and bloody take. It's me always giving, giving, giving. I try to be nice, always, and that does not mean I am born to give, endlessly.

You may have noticed, I'm trying desperately to be positive, and am succeeding slightly, but deep inside feel very, very sick indeed. Nothing is finite.

We should all hold on to our space, and sanctuary, which can be our salvation more often than not. Nobody has a truly easy life, nor an especially happy one, but it is how we deal with it, and what we make of it that counts. We can adjust a few things here and there, alter something about ourself, retain the all important positivity and self-belief at all times, but be open-minded, and not dismissive. Happiness has to be found, and is not a lazy quality, but one that needs regular effort in order to make it effortless...however, it is very easy to be happy at anytime, even if it's shortlived. Just make many short moments occur frequently, and it'll become very good!

When we see the trees fighting for space and light, there is no way one can act in a cut-throat way, but rather manage as best they can, with both surviving, and isn't that how we should act too? We should not expect to reach what we desire at the total expense of another, but reach it in the time made to suit our ability, with a push from our heart, and a place for another. It really does work...IF the other is fair.

Like listening to music, in my case, this moment is powered by ethnic beats from equatorial lands, that you can't hear, but may imagine, through my words, how differently you would feel if this post was accompanied by the wave of sound against your wishes? This is what I mean, influences, choices, favourite voices all in their rightful places, not thrust outside your sphere against others will.

My humble blog sits here, in it's own place, alongside yours, I'd never want to impose on another, but as I said when I started blogging, love to be in the room, in the corner, with you all, but not obtrusively. I like your company...and enjoy it!

No matter, what's cooking in blogland buddies?

It's my turn to offer you all a warm hug and thanks for being here, there and everywhere in blogland.
Love to you!!
lauren6

Music: Radiohead: Planet Telex [The Bends] 1995

Pronounced as one letter,
And written with three,
Two letters there are,
And two only in me.
I'm double, I'm single,
I'm black, blue, and gray,
I'm read from both ends,
And the same either way.
What am I?

He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.

Arabian Proverb

yes, live life positively
as if each day is your last
some days of which
I really wish were the last
between fast, hideous constraint
taking my future from my past
spiralling out of arm's reach
legs that laugh at me
demands encircle and preach
engulfed like quicksand
head drawn to screech
today - someone else planned

Perhaps the most interesting common object of the country to-day is the starling; but not only on account of his rippling, fizzling, clattering song, with clever impersonations of other birds thrown in, because he sings every day in winter. Nor does the interest just now depend upon his amazing habit of bathing at all hours in cold water or ice-and-water; for he always does that, too. Nor are his marvellous aerial evolutions by army corps the cause of special interest, for we have seen these daily since autumn.

-E. Kay Robinson, January 6th, 1920 (?)

It's not too late
To turn around
We can be free
If you know how

We run too fast
We rush too hard
It's time to slow it down
Slow it down

We want too much
We lose the touch
It's time to slow it down
Slow it down

-Mads Arp ft Julie Harrington: "Slow it Down"

It's ironic, but those songs that tell us to 'slow it down' (like the one above), make me more and more energetic, especially while I'm driving.

Sometimes words spoken, can have quite the opposite effect of the original intention, something which may have seemed simple, and light, may in fact be received with intensity and a lingering joy or pain lasting hours, days, even months or more. One word, or sentence, can spell thousands more words;
from one breath comes life,
from one word comes life,
from life come words
from this comes everyone of us

Our words can be as precious as life itself to those who hear them, and need to be treasured. When there's a distance, without touch, without routine, words are all we cling to.
When we feel all hope is gone, words can turn it all around, maybe forever.
When we've become accustomed to silence, a word can take on a whole new meaning, especially from someone we were close to forgetting.
At the crossroads, a few words from a song, or from someone near, may make all the difference and write our next chapter.

What do you value most in words dear friends??

Today, I'm sending a gift to Japan, as a thank you for some delicious green tea which arrived two days ago, and The tea is a comfort to me, under this mountain of paperwork I've been given...