Transformed into Nourishment
Day 121 of my tree puja.
In which I perceive freedom in the nakedness of the tree, and in its loss of finery, the passing of time, from which comes wisdom.
The leaf samskaras lie rotting into the earth whence they came, the tree is naked …
The Great Teachers
Day 120 of my tree puja.
In which I acknowledge the wise ones who teach us important things for navigating life. The tree has become such a one for me.
This morning’s puja was for the great teachers …
The Human Madness
Day 119 of my tree puja.
In which I acknowledge that humanity has created an alienating, mechanised world which is a form of madness.
Bathe me in your purity…
Puja for two trees
Day 118 of my tree puja.
In which I compare my experience at home with offering to a tree in the bush.
Yesterday I did tree puja elsewhere. We held a retreat. Everyone did tree puja at dawn…
Slowing down
Day 117 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on how grounded in reality the tree is, compared to us.
The air is cold now. It penetrates my clothes and finds my skin. My skin goes on alert.
Offer your mind
Day 116 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on patterns of energy.
Puja is all about lifting up energy. That’s it.
Breathe and Grow
Day 115 of my tree puja.
In which the tree reveals a simple truth.
Thank goodness for the tree, she pulls me outside, out of the walls and into her world.
The flame of her renunciation
Day 114 of my tree puja.
In which the tree’s renunciation of her leaves and their flame-like appearance, heightens my connection with her.
The shift into spiritual life
Day 113 of my tree puja.
In which the metaphor of renunciation continues as I perceive the tree’s withdrawal of energy from the external to the internal.
I went at dusk, after gardening all day. When I returned from India last summer to find the undergrowth all cleared and the ground naked, I promised the tree I would plant things, and now I have.
Like the naked sadhus of India
Day 112 of my tree puja.
In which I see the autumn tree as a metaphor for the renunciation practised by Indian sadhus.
I have been away, now I am back. In the meantime, she, the tree, has dressed herself in burnt orange, terracotta, which is like the geru (orange) robes of swamis.
I have befriended the tree
Day 111 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on the transformative power of friendship.
In the past year I have befriended the tree.
For years and years before that, the tree was right there beside me, looking beautiful, sheltering birds, giving shade, but I never thought to give back…
Spiritually I have my connection
Day 110 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on our need for a spiritual centre to help us navigate the storms of life.
The tree felt distant, or I felt distant, unable to tune in…
Even as the waves toss us
Day 109 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on the ability of trees, oceans, and hopefully, me, to withstand the storms of life.
Autumn is finally being felt and the tree is withdrawing herself, her energy. She is very quiet…
Difficulties keep arising
Day 108 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on the interdependence of all things.
We think we are independent, but we are not…
At the time of a death
Day 107 of my tree puja.
In which I realise that in the aftermath of Charlotte’s death, the energies of the garden take a little time to realign.
At the time of a death there is a sudden shift/change/gap in the energy around us. The energy field has to adjust…
Energy fields
Day 106 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on the absence of Charlotte, our cat, who has been part of the garden for 12 years.
Could it be that the tree misses Charlotte? By that I mean that the absence of Charlotte is ‘felt’ by the tree and other energy fields in our garden…
Our little friend is gone
Day 105 of my tree puja
In which I contemplate the passing of flowers, and of our fluffy little pet cat Charlotte, who lived happily and sleepily in our garden.
As I went about the puja my heart and mind were with our little cat, Charlotte who is gone to the subtle realms…
I felt impatient
Day 104 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on the possibility of having been too patient in my life.
I have been in Sydney. This morning is wet and underfoot I felt the sting of cold, very sharp. There were some birds making a racket…
The garbage truck
Day 103 of my tree puja.
In which an intrusion from the industrial department crashes in.
The garbage truck came along in the still, silent dark…
Trees do no violence
Day 102 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on the non-violence of trees.
Last night I watched a very violent film; Nazis. Tarantino.