I believe it was Thuja whose branches I set up my prayer camp beneath for 5 days of ceremony in the Inyo Mountains of Southeastern California. In the high desert (9,000 ft), they were like giant ancient bonsai. In that five days, the weather swung from extreme to extreme. Desiccating heat to frozen hailstorms... these trees held their gorgeous gnarled dancing poses in a way I will never forget.
Oh what a lovely letter. I would have loved to attend your Appalachian tea ceremony if I would live close by. Wish Cedar would grow where I live but it is a little too hot.
I enjoy reading your writing very much. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Take care of yourself.
Cedar is one of my very favorites! I have the majestic Western Red Cedar in my area, Thuja plicata. I like to find a tree on my regular walking/rambling routes and stop by to say hello any time I take that trail. I call them my Mother Trees, and love to lean against them, slow down and find a bit of ease. Such a lovely, lovely letter to Cedar - thank you for sharing!! 💚
What a beautiful ode to cedar. I also have a deep connection with white cedar, Thuja occidentalis. There is this sort of ambiguous place we call "up north" here where people go to escape into the wilder parts of the state, though there's no real lines to determine where that begins. But I have a theory that it begins when the white cedar forests begin. There is such a distinct smell and feel to a place rich with cedar. It feels like stepping through a door. So much medicine. Beautiful tincture too! Hope everyone in your family heals well.
Thank you so much, Val! I bet your theory is right- that where the White Cedar forest begins, the clutter of the human-made world ends. Love to you and all "up north"!
I believe it was Thuja whose branches I set up my prayer camp beneath for 5 days of ceremony in the Inyo Mountains of Southeastern California. In the high desert (9,000 ft), they were like giant ancient bonsai. In that five days, the weather swung from extreme to extreme. Desiccating heat to frozen hailstorms... these trees held their gorgeous gnarled dancing poses in a way I will never forget.
Oh what a lovely letter. I would have loved to attend your Appalachian tea ceremony if I would live close by. Wish Cedar would grow where I live but it is a little too hot.
I enjoy reading your writing very much. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Take care of yourself.
Cedar is one of my very favorites! I have the majestic Western Red Cedar in my area, Thuja plicata. I like to find a tree on my regular walking/rambling routes and stop by to say hello any time I take that trail. I call them my Mother Trees, and love to lean against them, slow down and find a bit of ease. Such a lovely, lovely letter to Cedar - thank you for sharing!! 💚
Oh, the grand plicata! Thank you for sharing, Erin, and I can visualize these moments of leaning against the Mother Tree and finding ease.
What a beautiful ode to cedar. I also have a deep connection with white cedar, Thuja occidentalis. There is this sort of ambiguous place we call "up north" here where people go to escape into the wilder parts of the state, though there's no real lines to determine where that begins. But I have a theory that it begins when the white cedar forests begin. There is such a distinct smell and feel to a place rich with cedar. It feels like stepping through a door. So much medicine. Beautiful tincture too! Hope everyone in your family heals well.
Thank you so much, Val! I bet your theory is right- that where the White Cedar forest begins, the clutter of the human-made world ends. Love to you and all "up north"!