what is the connection between trees and spirits
Answers
Trees are probably the most evolved of all plants. There is a special relationship between trees and humans, as trees produce the oxygen that we need to breathe, while we exhale carbon dioxide which trees thrive on. You could say that our exhalation is their inhalation and vice versa! Trees are multidimensional beings. They have their roots deep down in the earth which signifies their connection to the Underworld. Their trunks and lower branches are in our world, the world of men, which in shamanic terms is called the Middle World. The branches of tall trees reach high in the sky which makes them a bridge into the Upper World. In fact, in many cultures shamans journey into the Upper World by visualising themselves climbing a tall tree to the very top and then flying up into the sky! Trees also connect us to other realms, such as the Faerie Realm, which is in a parallel dimension to ours. The cutting down of forests and trees in our reality gradually destroys the Faerie Realm as well. Tree spirits are only loosely connected with their physical bodies, the actual visible tree. Because they are multidimensional and enjoy great freedom on the astral, and because of their connection to other realms, they can help us in journeying and inter-dimensional travel. Besides, meditating with a tree can be very relaxing and helps us to get grounded. Trees are great energy converters as well. They can transmute our negative energies and help us heal. This is shown by the very fact that they thrive on our metabolic waste products (carbon dioxide). For this reason we can draw energy from a tree without depleting it simply by giving it some of our unwanted energy in exchange.
Working with the Land
Go to the forest with the intention of finding a tree to meditate or journey with. It is important to develop a relationship to the spirits of the forest where you do your shamanic or magick work. When going to a forest for the first time, or if you have not worked with its spirits yet, an introduction is appropriate! On entering the forest speak to the nature spirits and tell them your magickal or shamanic name. Tell them a little about yourself, your intentions, and the purpose of your visit. Then respectfully ask for permission to proceed. Wait to see whether the spirits of the forests are friendly and allow you to go further in. If not, you may have to win their respect and trust over a period of time. Here is my story of working with a hostile forest that later became my favourite place:
When I first began to work with the land, I on the country side. Not far from my home were two forests, one that was frequently visited by hikers and another that nobody ever seemed to go to. As I love solitude I became attracted to the second forest which was located between a road and several fields. It was not a very big forest, but big enough for my purpose. On my first trip to the forest I only explored the perimeter. I could feel a lot of anger and hostility from the forest. But somehow I was drawn to it nonetheless. However I did not enter, it didn't feel right. On my second visit I spontaneously entered into a light trance. I saw how this forest was a tiny remnant of what had once been a gigantic forest. Now all that was left of it was a thin sliver of forest between roads and agricultural land. This made me very sad. This time the spirits of the forest were a bit more friendly and they allowed me a couple of hundred yards into the forest. There was an invisible threshold that I passed and with every step beyond that point I became more uncomfortable. I decided not to push it and turned back. I also noticed a lot of rubbish lying around in this forest and removed some glass bottles and took them home for recycling.