So much unfolds in this story, Candace. Old self evolves into new self, but really it’s oddly reversed. The newest incarnation of us is our oldest self, in terms of time passing. “The child is the father of the man,” says Wordsworth. We couldn’t evolve into who we are now, if it weren’t for who we were when we were younger. All those “mistakes” and naive notions helped to build our wiser beings. And yet, we would do well to hang on to the best parts of our younger selves as we grow along. Hopefully we can keep honing our skills by using the tools of youth, such as curiosity, wonder, and appreciation, to help us stay open to change. I love the image of bright green needles arranged neatly beside dark green to represent the experiences of our lives. This is a very wise tree that can teach us so much about how to live. Thank you for using your wonder-full tools to share it with us!
"We couldn’t evolve into who we are now, if it weren’t for who we were when we were younger." Jill, that line just made me tear up, in the best way -- how profound, and how true. I'm so glad the wisdom of the evergreen resonated with you in this story, and as always, I'm so grateful to you for taking the time to share your own wisdom with us as well. This was such a beautiful comment to read, thank you! 🙏🤍
Oh I love the wisdom that trees impart, when we get quiet and spend time with them 💚 Here in NZ right now, the trees are talking to me of impermanence and the importance of letting go of the old to make space for the new 🍂🍁
Thank you so much for your beautiful comment, Vicki -- I'm so glad to hear this story resonated with you and where you're at on your journey right now. Trees truly are such amazing teachers, and how to live with impermanence definitely must be one of their greatest lessons (especially during cherry blossom season :) Thank you again for reading and taking the time to write, and I hope this autumn has been filled with inspiration for you so far 🌲
I can smell the incense now, Candace! What a lovely post. I, too, have been questioning the narratives of growth, especially how relentlessly we are asked to grow.
Ahh I know! Working on this story had me longing to smell cedar incense in the air again :) And I'm even happier to hear that this story resonated with you on a deeper level as well, Priya, and with where you're at on your own journey.
"Relentless" is such a perfect word to bring into this conversation about growth -- that's absolutely how it feels we're expected to keep growing and evolving so much of the time, and I think perhaps that's why the picture of this cedar tree spoke to me the way it did. It seemed to whisper that there's a different way to grow, and that there's so much we can bring with us as we grow, too -- that maybe much of what we need to grow is already a part of us, and can come with us into our next evolution.
Thank you so much as always for reading and being here! 🌲🤍
This essay brought back lots of memories of the tamarack trees (lodge pole pines) in Truckee. Like your Deodar pine) It's a two-year cycle of shedding leaves. The needles last for two years, but each year, new needles emerge alongside the old. So the old and the new are living together; thus keeping the tree green all the time. As the old needles fall on their second year, yet another batch of new needles emerge. The trees will never be bare or look tortured or dead between new growth. I love your analogy and wish for old and new living and growing together.
Sue! I'm so grateful you took the time to share about the growth cycle of tamaracks (and I imagine the cycle is similar for many evergreens). I clearly need to spend more time with them, because I'm finding them fascinating! The idea of old and new growing alongside one another is speaking to me so much right now, and I'm so glad it resonated with you, too🌲🤍
I long to be in the hills again! I have such find memories of deodar trees spiralling the mountain side on the way to Uttrakhand in India. Often accompanied by another beautiful tree with bright red flowers - Fire of the Forest the locals call it. Your beautiful essay reminded me of the peace and calm and wisdom trees bring to us.
Mohika, I can't tell you how much I loved your comment -- thank you so much for taking the time to write and for whisking us all away to the hillsides of Uttrakhand, you painted such a vivid picture of their beauty and peace 🌲🤍✨
How wonderful to hear what sacred wisdom the tree 🌳 wanted to share, thanks for sharing it with us. It also made me think that sometimes it just takes a little longer to see the evidence of change/growth/or new things begin to manifest in our lives. But the beginnings of it are already within, and they will someday be seen. 🙏🏻😌
So much unfolds in this story, Candace. Old self evolves into new self, but really it’s oddly reversed. The newest incarnation of us is our oldest self, in terms of time passing. “The child is the father of the man,” says Wordsworth. We couldn’t evolve into who we are now, if it weren’t for who we were when we were younger. All those “mistakes” and naive notions helped to build our wiser beings. And yet, we would do well to hang on to the best parts of our younger selves as we grow along. Hopefully we can keep honing our skills by using the tools of youth, such as curiosity, wonder, and appreciation, to help us stay open to change. I love the image of bright green needles arranged neatly beside dark green to represent the experiences of our lives. This is a very wise tree that can teach us so much about how to live. Thank you for using your wonder-full tools to share it with us!
"We couldn’t evolve into who we are now, if it weren’t for who we were when we were younger." Jill, that line just made me tear up, in the best way -- how profound, and how true. I'm so glad the wisdom of the evergreen resonated with you in this story, and as always, I'm so grateful to you for taking the time to share your own wisdom with us as well. This was such a beautiful comment to read, thank you! 🙏🤍
Beautiful. I can see this as a textile wall art piece!
I love that idea, Kathryn! 🌲
Oh I love the wisdom that trees impart, when we get quiet and spend time with them 💚 Here in NZ right now, the trees are talking to me of impermanence and the importance of letting go of the old to make space for the new 🍂🍁
Thank you so much for your beautiful comment, Vicki -- I'm so glad to hear this story resonated with you and where you're at on your journey right now. Trees truly are such amazing teachers, and how to live with impermanence definitely must be one of their greatest lessons (especially during cherry blossom season :) Thank you again for reading and taking the time to write, and I hope this autumn has been filled with inspiration for you so far 🌲
I can smell the incense now, Candace! What a lovely post. I, too, have been questioning the narratives of growth, especially how relentlessly we are asked to grow.
Ahh I know! Working on this story had me longing to smell cedar incense in the air again :) And I'm even happier to hear that this story resonated with you on a deeper level as well, Priya, and with where you're at on your own journey.
"Relentless" is such a perfect word to bring into this conversation about growth -- that's absolutely how it feels we're expected to keep growing and evolving so much of the time, and I think perhaps that's why the picture of this cedar tree spoke to me the way it did. It seemed to whisper that there's a different way to grow, and that there's so much we can bring with us as we grow, too -- that maybe much of what we need to grow is already a part of us, and can come with us into our next evolution.
Thank you so much as always for reading and being here! 🌲🤍
I love the idea of the old and the new growing together. This is a lovely post, Candace. Thank you!
I'm so glad the evergreen's wisdom resonated with you, Jeffrey -- thank you so much for reading! 🌲
This essay brought back lots of memories of the tamarack trees (lodge pole pines) in Truckee. Like your Deodar pine) It's a two-year cycle of shedding leaves. The needles last for two years, but each year, new needles emerge alongside the old. So the old and the new are living together; thus keeping the tree green all the time. As the old needles fall on their second year, yet another batch of new needles emerge. The trees will never be bare or look tortured or dead between new growth. I love your analogy and wish for old and new living and growing together.
Sue! I'm so grateful you took the time to share about the growth cycle of tamaracks (and I imagine the cycle is similar for many evergreens). I clearly need to spend more time with them, because I'm finding them fascinating! The idea of old and new growing alongside one another is speaking to me so much right now, and I'm so glad it resonated with you, too🌲🤍
I'ts and lovely and powerful metaphor. Thank you for writing about it.
This is beautiful! Absolutely love it 💫 🌲
Thank you so much, Victoria! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it 🌲🤍
I love how you painted a really beautiful metaphor of oneness
Ahh thank you! That means so much to hear 🙏
So lovely. I love seeing your word pictures.
Thank you, June! 🤍
I long to be in the hills again! I have such find memories of deodar trees spiralling the mountain side on the way to Uttrakhand in India. Often accompanied by another beautiful tree with bright red flowers - Fire of the Forest the locals call it. Your beautiful essay reminded me of the peace and calm and wisdom trees bring to us.
Mohika, I can't tell you how much I loved your comment -- thank you so much for taking the time to write and for whisking us all away to the hillsides of Uttrakhand, you painted such a vivid picture of their beauty and peace 🌲🤍✨
Love this one!
I'm so happy to hear it! 🤍
Love this. I’m from the Pacific Northwest and have grown up around evergreens 🌲 💚
Such beauty and wisdom. Thank you for this journey
How wonderful to hear what sacred wisdom the tree 🌳 wanted to share, thanks for sharing it with us. It also made me think that sometimes it just takes a little longer to see the evidence of change/growth/or new things begin to manifest in our lives. But the beginnings of it are already within, and they will someday be seen. 🙏🏻😌
Really beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.
This is so beautiful . Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with us, it felt very calming to read it.