“If we surrendered to earth’s intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

I am relying on trees to help sustain us during these most difficult of times.

Maybe you can walk in the woods, read a poem about trees, or take in a photo or painting or precious memory, that connects you to a tree. Feel into that and consider how it nurtures you. Draw on that wisdom.

When I am Among the Trees
Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It's simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”

Listen to Amanda Palmer read Mary Oliver’s poem… exquisite.

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I delight in sharing my thoughts, such as these, in a newsletter, typically every few months. And now and then, ideas show up our Facebook page. Always love to hear from you via email.

Photo credit: Simon Berger