Ancestral Roots: "Old Tjikko", the World's oldest known living tree:
9,559 Years Old. Photo by Karl Brodowsky |
KE NOVA : SOUL SEED BOTANICALS : SPRUCE My 2017 sun cycle was immensely challenging. During epic transitions, life initiated and tested me daily. I’m by a nature a water babe; I flow with the tide, shapeshift to the needs of the moment, absorb the energetics in my environment. This was no longer healthy for me. My need for grounding became central to my existence. I devoted my energies to finding and establishing Root. Our Tree family teach us flexibility and resiliency, bending gracefully with the storms and harsh winds of life. But the Truth is that we will get knocked over, we will break, if our roots are not firmly anchored into our Earth Mother. The deeper the roots, the more balanced we be, and the higher we can extend to the Cosmos and Star people. Here in the Northern Boreal forest, the Trees are responding to the returning Light. The underground aquifers are flowing steadily, the rivers are gushing with the winter thaw, and the sap waters are flowing strong. I listen to the conifers' whisperings. Pine, Cedar, Fir, and Spruce all have different Spirits and energies. The one that sings to me during this season, is Beloved Spruce, found Here in abundance. Her presence shelters me, a warm insulating canopy of elegant draping branches protecting me from the fierce Winter's breath. |
Look closely to Her underbelly, and you may find a scab of resin formed where the tree has been injured, typically where branches were cut or knocked down. This resin protects Her against pathogens. The indigenous chewed this resin as a delightful gum, and I reserve some for enjoyment throughout the busier summer months. I offer my gratitude and prayer, and sustainably harvest Her pitch. Arriving home, I transform it into a rich healing salve. Soon, in late spring, Her tender yellow green shoots arrive. They sparkle in the mouth communicating they are rich in Vitamin C. They are delightful garnishing salads (both fruit and vegetable), in sauces, syrups, and brewed as beer. Also, late Spring is a wonderful time to harvest Her fine Roots that crawl along just under the surface of the forest floor. With prayer I have transformed them into baskets and used them to sew birch bark baskets.
Spruce wood forms the harp of my grand piano, an extension of my Soul. She is Beloved amongst instrument makers and is commonly used as the tone wood in guitars, violins, mandolins and the like.
May you connect with Her Spirit and Blessings. May Her presence grace you with an even deeper intimate connection with Our Beloved Earth Mother.
