Golden Trees

Friendships through the seasons. The beauty of trees, and living intentionally

‘Friendship is a sheltering tree’ unknown

Autumn light shining through a group of trees at The Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh

This week through walks and cups of tea a few things have been on my heart and mind. I have been pondering a lot on friendship and its importance to our health. Having special people that know us, who listen, encourage, laugh and cry with us gives life so much more meaning and colour.

Also, I have loved being surrounded by trees enjoying their jewel colours in the Autumn light, and thinking on their connections to life as they dance through the seasons.

As I write I pour my self a lovely Masala Chai tea and get cosy in my space enjoying the darker nights, candles, fairy lights and all the feelings of the season.

While I start to writing out what is in my heart, I pause to think… I am so thankful for my friends! Each precious in their own way bringing different gems and colours to my life. I am especially thankful my unbiological sister who is such a ray of light and a sparkling gift to me. Greatful for all her wise words, shared jokes, holding space when my world was crashing down and then celebrating even the tiniest win with me! Her friendship is to me a diamond and I treasure it immensely.

The last ten years of life have been a bit of a rollercoaster (which I am sure I will share more of in due course, as it is really what catapulted me into wellness!) Though, this last year has been especially tough. I have realised walking through this decade of my life that friendship and connection is such an integral part of healing. Sometimes I shy away from connection, especially when life is tough, as being an introvert I find it sometimes too overwhelming.

I hid when my first husband left, the pain was too much to bare and with that I withdrew, then when lock down happened soon after, I withdrew even more. I now can see how my mental health was not at its healthiest during that season, and what I thought was protecting me actually made it worse. So through this recent hard time I have tried to stay connected and it has been so healing.

A tree that captured my heart on a walk in The Botanic Gardens. The light, colours, shapes and textures. I could have watched it all day blowing in the wind and shimmering in the Autumn light.

They say that ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’, and I do believe this, we are meant to live in community. That doesn’t mean necessarily living in each other's pockets or sharing houses, but having places of connection, pockets of friendship or acquaintances that create a support structure. Sometimes with a more digital generation we can easily forget or miss those connections that are so important for our emotional, mental and even physical health. Liking a post on social media is a very shallow form of connection, and though I enjoy them, I have realised the need of deep connection and being vulnerable, seen and witnessed has such a powerful impact on our health.

Even the smallest of connections I have realised are important, massively impacting my day and my healing journey. So, I now make sure I have bite sized pieces of interaction consistently with close connections, then making room for additional when I have the energy to connect more.

Intentionally cultivating those friendships that entwine to bring life, and nourishing them.

When chatting with a friend the other day she suggested being aware of those who had walked through this difficult season with me, as a way to help me process the wider connections I have, and what they thought about the situation. It was such a beautiful moment to be so thankful for dear friends who had walked through this season with me and witnessed the abuse and the pain. They had been a voice when I could not speak, echoing to me my identity when I was lost. They have also been like a net, gently catching me, a support as I have been healing. Some of them won’t even know the impact they have had.

I loved the bark on these trees and the way the branches wove together.

Then a beautiful image came of being like trees and she shared that trees support other trees when they are in need of something. They do this through a complex underground network of fungi called the mycorrhizal network. This helps them share resources for example nutrients, water, carbon, and other minerals.

I realised my friendship group of trees have been so generous, kind and supportive. I loved pictureing us all as trees together ready to share, support and love the other.

A forest of trees is a beautiful picture of a community.

I encourage us to think about our own forest of trees, whether wider or close and the ways we support each other. Maybe even reaching out to those in our forest and saying we appreciate them, or checking in to see how they are doing. Norishing and cultivating those connections that are priceless and precious.

Autumn trees and showers of leaves

I was so excited to find this beautiful peom about trees.

Ode to the Sentinels

Leaf by leaf, they capture light,

In gentle sway, they dance at night.

Roots deep down, they touch the earth,

In silent strength, they find their worth.

Bark aged like ancient scrolls,

Tales of sun, and rain they hold.

Green canopies, vast and wide,

Under which our dreams reside.

They breathe out life, take in our sighs,

Watch seasons change, under open skies.

In their shade, we find our peace,

From worldly noise, a sweet release.

Sentinels of time, standing tall,

With open arms, they love us all.

In their presence, we are free,

Trees, in their love, we find our key.

By Nathaniel Bard

Here is a video of a truly beautiful tree. This tree captured my heart on a recent walk through The Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. The light, colours, shapes and textures. I could have watched it all day blowing in the wind and shimmering in the golden Autumn light. I stood in gentle awe taking in each moment, aware that I couldn’t capture the hand of time, knowing I needed to drink it in deep now. Enjoying it bursting out in glorious beauty, whispering in a corner of the Gardens. It reminded me that we need to just be ourselves.

This tree stood around massive Redwoods trees that are like skyscrapers. Gorgeous and breathtaking, with their pine scent filling my senses, and their presence confidently taking their ground. This tree equally beautifully played its own unique melody, fully being and knowing its space. Not shying away around the others, but knowing each has their own place, and can beam their own song. So are we all unique, and needed as our full self, shining and beaming who we are. Remember this week that your voice is needed and who you are has an important place in the world.

I hope to create a piece of art work around this tree soon.

A few things to help norish your week

Song

This song from the album Spell Songs captures a sence of Autumn for me.

Recipie

I have been loving this Pumpkin Spice cookie recipie by Cupcake Jemma https://www.youtube.com/@CupcakeJemma it is also a lovely way to use up the last of the pumpkins!

Some pumpkins I collected at a local farm

Write a small list of a few things you would like to do in the next couple of weeks. Things that will give you life. On my list is

• Make an apple pie

• Practice writing a Haiku

• Enjoy creating some art

• Make a teapot of tea and read a good book

• Visit the Oak forest near me

Hope that you have a wonderful week and find moments to intentionally slow down and live in the moment enjoying things that give you life.

Appreciate you all so much and thank you for reading

Love & joy Rachel X