The Hidden Wisdom of a Tree

I was thinking this morning about how we, as human beings, can learn from a tree. We may admire its beauty, but most of us are entirely unaware of what goes on underground—the deep roots that have to find their way through the dense soil and maze of rocks so it can flourish and share its beauty and adoring silhouettes.

We, too, have roots. However, they don't reach into the ground, but back into the past. What we perceive in another is only the part above the surface: who we are trying to be, our past experiences, the conditioning, the deep-rooted beliefs which have shaped us—unless attended to.

But, with a quiet and open mind, we can learn from the majestic beauty of the deeply rooted tree that only knows how to reach for the sky.

If we can be still like the tree and just breathe, new pathways will clear for us. And with a kind curiosity, we can investigate who we really are—and it's not our past experiences, our conditioning, or our beliefs! When our minds and hearts are open, we can let go of what no longer serves us and those close to us. We can lean into more joy and love, and flourish and blossom. We can grow new "roots," overpowering and destroying the ones that lead us off our paths but made us better by recognizing what is and rising from it.

We can also pause and contemplate others' roots and stop judging and condemning. To understand the complexity of another's "roots" is compassion.

In the end, why waste precious time? When we can richly root ourselves through the darkness and reach for the sky, sharing our inner magnificence, and caressing our loved ones with our shade.

And thank you to my hand model, my Luc, who works on his "roots" every day.