Hug A Tree

As I recently found out, 2011 was designated the International Year of Forests. I often find much joy and tranquility in the forest, whether walking among the trees, or sitting up in one, contemplating life or simply enjoying the energy they provide.

First, here is a beautiful short video (7.33min) on the importance of TREES:

Video from KarmaTube

Next, to honour forests and our connectedness, I put forward two small tasks:

First. Hug a tree. Any tree. Try once a day, and hopefully you'll notice the wonderful energy that can flow between you.

Second. Next time you're out in nature, whether alone or with a friend, consciously decide to take in all the sounds of your surroundings: the forest, a field, a beach, etc. Often, especially if we are living in or come from a big city, we tend to think of nature as quiet. But when we consciously listen, we realize that there is a chorus of sounds :) Next, if there is a tree nearby, put your hands on the tree and close your eyes. Feel the energy that flows between you - and you may even feel the pulse of the tree, the sap flowing through it, giving it life. You can even picture the energy of the tree flowing down into the roots, and then see how all those roots are connected to other roots underground. Soon, you can visualize how you are a part of everything on earth - by connecting to that tree, which is connected to everything else, your energy can flow into the energy of the Earth :) I hope this will help create a new appreciation and respect for nature.

My hippie two cents ;)