"Woman Emerging"  © 2013  ~  tempera painting by Carol E Fairbanks

"Whatever you do or dream, you can begin it.  Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." 

                                                                                                                              Goethe 

                                     Rooted in My Dreams

"Tartarian Cherry Tree"  © 2014 ~ Carol E Fairbanks

Trees have been a comfort and blessing to humankind since the discovery of fire hundreds of thousands of years ago.  Once humans harnessed that powerful energy, fire has served us in many ways, and trees have generously provided the fuel to keep those fires burning.  Rooted securely in the earth, trees have lovingly given us food to nourish our bodies, wood to build our homes to keep us warm and safe, and flowers and roots for medicine to heal us.  Because of the recognized importance of trees in the survival of humankind, our human existence has been reflected in our myth and lore of trees. Our ancestors saw the vital balance needed to survive and grow reflected and demonstrated in the life cycle of trees.  

Our ancestors celebrated trees as forces of nature in song, gifts and prayers and perceived themselves to be an intimate part of that creation they honored.  Learning lessons from the natural wisdom of trees, they came to view the tree as a symbol of life. According to many of the teachings of the ancients, our universe is made up of a spiral or circular movement that spins on a central axis.  Called the axis mundi, the center pole has often been called the tree of life or Universal Tree.  The ancients believed that this Tree of Life was a symbol of our world as a living, evolving organism that was imbued with spirit.  Since the Tree of Life expressed natural divine law so completely, the tree became a valued symbol that both inspired and supported the human journey through its evolution.

Today, in the Owen Rose Garden in Eugene, OR, an aging tree stands honored with a plaque and is supported by metal poles in celebration of its endurance of 167 years.  As I walk by this magnificent tree, I feel awe and respect for its boldness in surviving this long.  I reach out and touch its trunk and somehow feel the energy of the wisdom it has acquired in the impressive length of its life.  This tree once was a small seed that held the potential for what I see expressed now.  That small seed grew through all the storms and adversity and flourished in the sunshine and blue skies, until it reached its present height of 60 feet.  I have great respect for that kind of perseverance and courage. Lao Tzu wrote in the first century, "A tree that reaches past your embrace grows from one small seed.  A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  Like the ancients, I honor a special tree with hopes that some of its qualities will be transferred to me.

 In my painting at the beginning of this post, the woman figure is emerging from a tree.... perhaps it's a kind of "tree of life".  In reaching for the manifestation of my dream, I take that first "step" from a tree that is rooted and grounded in the supportive truth of the earth.  The boldness and courage to reach for my dream come from the connection to the wisdom of the "tree of life".  This harmony of the tree with divine law instills within me the power to do the things I need to do in order to bring form to my dream.  And the "magic" I experience is in the connection to the"tree" which ultimately unites me with all of creation.  At one with the archetype of the Universal Tree, I too am in harmony with divine law.... with the source of all life.  When one is synchronized at that "place"... a place that trees always occupy... a dream can do nothing but come true.  It's the law...divine law.

"Cherry Tree Chi"  ~ photo of me with a wise 167 year old tree ~  2014