The mystical teachings of trees are beautifully expressed in Ursula K. Le Guin's poem, Kinship, in which she explores our own primal origins.
Tag: Trees
Matthew Kohut – White Ash
A reflection at the end of winter on the cycles of death and renewal.
Tracy Ahrens – Thicket of Memories
'We all age. We all die. We all should keep trying to rise to the sunlight. Saplings will learn from this determined climb.'
Does Spirituality Need Religion? – Rabbi Rami
Rabbi Rami addresses the question of spirituality and its relationship to religion, and the way in which the two realities interact and support one another.
Jane Hirshfield’s Ode to Optimism and Resilience
"Poetry itself is an instrument of resilience," Jane Hirshfield wrote more than a decade ago when referring to her poem 'Optimism' for the Washington Post. Poetry, she continues, reflects "life's continuing embrace of its own implausible, risky existence." A residential Zen student of many years, Jane Hirshfield's work embodies a continuing sense of wonder and… Continue reading Jane Hirshfield’s Ode to Optimism and Resilience
The Lesson of a Tree – Walt Whitman
After Walt Whitman suffered a stroke at the age of 54, he spent his time immersed in nature as he slowly recovered his health. This passage from the collection of his notes and sketches called Specimen Days is a beautiful meditation on trees and their eloquence, endurance and imperturbability. 'It is, yet says nothing,' he… Continue reading The Lesson of a Tree – Walt Whitman
The Most Penetrating Preachers: Herman Hesse’s Ode to Trees
This wonderful fragment of Hermann Hesse's writing comes from a book that's actually out of print and one of the hardest of the author's books to come by - Wandering: Notes and Sketches. The book itself follows the author's contemplations through nature and the insights that transpired. Here he talks about his reverence for trees,… Continue reading The Most Penetrating Preachers: Herman Hesse’s Ode to Trees