Naked Tree Climbing

Visitors pass within 30 feet of Spirit Tree and without ever seeing it, even though it is huge (the front right crotch is over my head when I stand next to it). I have climbed on it, and sitting on its shoulder with blue mud scraped out of our sacred pond and smeared artfully on my and my friend’s body. As we danced around and on the tree (we actually climbed on that limb), I was riding it like it was a horse. Its hide was rough and with the stiff mosses dried in the summer sun. My friend and I seemed to go into a timeless realm. I think it was because somehow the blue clay freed up our spirits and allowed us to dance with the spirit of this exquisite California Myrtle. Some people see them as weeds because happy Bay trees (another name for this tree) make lots of baby Bay trees. I live on the edge of a forest which Bay trees abundantly frequent.

Some of the other old growth Bay trees in our neighborhood had large pieces cut out of them, probably in the fifties. I feel sad when I come up to an ancient one and find that it has a rectangular block of it removed—maybe 8 cubic feet—two by two by two. I love it when they look like Spirit Tree with arms outstretched--for me, another manifestation of God/Goddess.

The photo that I posted on Friday was taken in July of this year. I have a few more that I have taken over the years. This tree begs to be touched. My kids and extended kids loved to climb and jump off this tree. I have also drawn it and painted it from observation. When I draw or paint, I like to show how I see with eyes of spirit. Many times, I don’t “see” what came through until I look at it at later through different eyes. It is my intent to connect with the spirit of everything I photograph. Not trying to capture the soul, simply connect in a way that allows a peek into a different realm. I guess that would be allowing spirit to work through me. Or is that the same as being the God/Goddess that I AM? Or seeing the God/Goddess/Goodness wherever I look. I walk in beauty. May you walk in beauty. We are at choice as to how we perceive the world, and how we be and act. As both Mahatma Ghandi and Challenge Day say, “Notice, choose, and act.”