The Tree Manifesto

Live life slowly and full of intent

To grow a tree only for its fruit is an insult. We grow a tree for the joy of the tree itself.
by unknown author

Metaphors are the spice of life.
also by unknown author

What if we had an evolving metaphor, a living image, to describe our life? As explorers of our inner world, it is sometimes troublesome to understand what we are “doing”. Legibility for others and for ourselves is important, so that we may tell our story and understand ourselves and others.

I often imagine my life as that of a tree. Slow and steady. Patient and full of intent. The greatest potential from the smallest seed. What is a tree like? What does it need?

The most important thing is: Trees go slowly and cannot be rushed.

This helps me, because when I interact with others or myself, and I get impatient, I remember that there is no point to yell at a tree for fruit. At the right time, the tree gives its fruit away by itself. You can’t tell a tree what to do, but the tree can see what you need, and will give you everything it has.

Trees are actually quite competitive. A tree living in another tree’s shadow will always stay smaller. Some trees like that, some don’t. That’s why space is important. A tree needs a good home to grow. A tree in unhindered growth will reach just the right size and then stop growing. It knows what is enough.

Unceasing is the tree’s work. A tree is working all the time. It is always communicating with the other trees and beings, managing resources, and making the air around it more breathable. While the tree is working, it looks like it’s still. Yet, on the inside, it is always in motion productively.

A tree doesn’t change location much (trees can’t walk) and therefore like to be in good company. A tree and its friends are for life, and they grow together slowly and strongly.

The shade and the canopy of the tree can also be pleasant for little friends and playmates, and friends are the joy of the tree’s life. Together with them, the tree gains in spirit and ability. If the friends allow it, they take pieces of the tree to foreign places. As the tree travels alongside with them, it can see through their eyes, tap into their senses, and experience their motions.

The wind and the tree belong together. The wind helps the tree to talk, in the quiet language of rustling leaves. Those who are still and patient can hear many stories. The wind brings questions, and the tree rustles answers.

The spring is next to the tree, carrying the waters of constant renewal. Her wavy whisper washes the tree of all that is old and not needed, and connects it to a steady flow of newness and nourishment.

The bird is a good friend of the tree. He likes to talk a lot! He brings songs from the skies to the tree. Together with the wind and the bird, the tree can fly and see. The bird and the tree often say hello and goodbye to each other. The bird likes to wander the world and the tree must remain with the earth.

The mushrooms help the tree with communication and supplementation. Through their mycelium, the mushrooms transmit tales from the earth and the underground. These stories are not always beautiful, but they are always true. Thanks to the mushrooms, the tree knows everybody in the forest and the fields. Whenever someone or something needs help, the mushroom messengers carry information and provisions through the network to the required destination.

The monkey helps the tree to move its old branches and stretch its bark. The monkey’s able hands massage the wood and keep it supple and strong. His swinging and climbing are a joy for the tree, just like the tree’s fruit is a joy for the monkey. The tree can’t get enough of the laughter of the monkey, and the monkey finds safety in the big treehouse.

The dog likes the tree and the tree likes the dog. Pee is ok. Especially from god, I mean dog.

There are many other little friends. The cat, the bee, the deer, the bear, and countless others. The tree loves all beings. It wants them to share what they have, and take what the tree has to share.

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Art by the great @evanmcohen.

The I Ching has the following to say about the sign of the gentle, the wind, the wood (57 ䷸):

The Gentle — success through what is small.

Penetration produces gradual and inconspicuous effects. It should be effected not by an act of violation, but by influence that never lapses.

This is the sign of the eldest daughter, or the grandmother. Grandmothers speak in gentle repetitions, which have a trickling influence, which settles into the ground water and stays in the culture years later. (Not sure if that’s true, but that’s what my Grandma used to say.) Just like the wind’s gentle but ceaseless penetration, which causes all trees to speak with their rustling leaves.

For me being a tree means facing towards the sun, and working patiently towards it. Most of that happens on the inside, and much of it happens with friends who can take me to new places. It also means having information — timeless sky songs and earth tales, and also current streams of what matters. As a tree, I need much space and a chance to talk. From there, I have plenty of space for listening and play.

With your own landscapes of images, you can explain your life back to yourself and others without its depths and complications. Metaphors that evoke nature help me to gain faith and trust in the world, so I can stop obsessing over details and trust nature’s process.

What’s the metaphor for your life? What’s your spirit being? I’ve heard of animals, plants, cars and boats! I’ve also created another metaphor to observe your own life: The Village. Check it out! : )

As a goodbye, a poem I once wrote. Maybe I will make it longer one day. Bear with me, trees grow slow.

Much love!

Simon

THE TREE

what's a man's life
but a tree
downwards firmly rooted
upwards free

not free to go
but free to grow
this place is as good as any other
when the sun shines, why bother?

around the tree
space for play
many little friends come by
hooray!

the bird brings songs from foreign lands
the tree waves in the wind
soon it's time to fly again
a bittersweet tune - goodbye again!

by unknown author : )