Tree Hugging

This doesn't come as a surprise to people who follow nature-based religions but for those who need more evidence it may be quite a shock. Tree hugging has been around for ages. The benefits have been observed through personal experience but it is also scientifically validated. Matthew Silverstone, author of Blinded by Science, has scientifically approached the conclusion that the vibrations given off from trees and plants prove to be beneficial to health. Some of the affects caused by hugging trees include:

• calming those with ADHD
• improving concentration levels
• healing headaches
• emotionally stabilizing

For more information about these discoveries you can visit the article about tree hugging by clicking here.

I learned through my studies of Wicca that different trees can help heal different ailments. Each tree gives off its own vibration depending on its type of wood. That is why when considering what wand to create or use, you should also consider the type of woods and their magickal properties. For example, lets say you had a wand created of Black Walnut wood. Black walnut is a type of wood that kills all the plants around it because of its toxicity. In that case, black walnut does not have good healing properties and you would not want to use that type of wood for a wand that you intend to use for healing purposes. However, it is good with transitions in life and helping sever ties with the past and looking toward the future.

So basically, think about what vibration the tree or the wood from the wand provides. What are you seeking? Happiness? Love? Relief? Which vibration do you need the most? If you are unsure then common trees are the best choice such as Oak, Willow, Cedar, Ash, Birch, Maple, Elder, and Sycamore.

If you'd like to look at some trees and their meanings, you can check out this article connecting tree meanings to the Celtic Ogham System by clicking here.

The Trees

The Trees

Sometimes I tell my sorrows to the trees
and they shudder as if in understanding.
Sometimes they sway as in nodding their heads
and it comforts me knowing I am heard.

Sometimes I sit at the base of their trunks
and look up into their long flowing branches.
Sometimes I wonder if they see me there
nestled underneath them with my journal.

Sometimes I give them big tree hugs
because I need a hug every now and then.
Sometimes I feel like they hug me back
and they know my pain and hurt.

Sometimes they give me their kindness
with the energy and light that flows through them.
Sometimes they help me heal and forget
what it was that was troubling my mind.

Sometimes I wonder if they are ever thanked
or appreciated for their efforts for so many years.
Sometimes I wonder why they never feel resentment
or anger at us when we do nothing but take from them.

Sometimes I ask them how they are feeling
because it is only polite to ask.
And sometimes I imagine them smiling
because they have not been forgotten.