Thank you so much. This is exactly what I needed to read. How fortuitous that I read it at exactly this moment in my life. I have been struggling with coming home to myself and with finding peace and joy with being me. My instinct and drive has been what Hesse describes, coming back to mother, finding meaning again. Getting rooted down like a child in the safety of mothers arms to then run out again energised and free. This is what I hope I can learn to remember and practise in my life. To keep coming back to nature in order to come back to myself. I like that it is in both good times and difficult times that I should do this practice.
This captures the peaceful sanctuary feeling of my home in the mountains, in the sacred and profound forest, and why I love the resilience of the aspens, pine and spruce trees—they are inspirational. It is the trees that make it so special, and frame the spectacular view of the mountains. The aspen leaves turn golden and some even red, urging me to feel their beauty before I must go before the snows come. I always get teary when I have to leave here. The trees endure the winter snow and bitter cold while I’m gone. When I return in the Spring the aspens are still naked and it’s magical when their bright vivid green leaves begin to bud. The cycle of life.
The longing I feel when I listen and watch the branches and leaves dance to the wind, bring memories of my childhood, the only good ones of when I had a family. We would spend what I call my favorite time in a farm that belonged to my dad. Shortly after my family disintegrated and those days were just memories that stayed forever in my mind. Trees have so much to give! It hurts my soul when I see a tree being cut down. Thank you for this beautiful post! 🙏🏽❤️
I live between three places. Each has many trees with one that stands more extraordinary than the others. I see the big tree as ‘the mother,’ who communicates underneath the earth through her dominant roots - sending nourishment to the other trees in her midst. I learned to live among the trees from my mother when our small family camped among the giant redwoods every summer. My mother died when I was barely a teen. The sadness unbearable, I could always find her spirit among the trees, their limbs like arms lifting and embracing me. Now as an elder, no matter where I am I can sense the essence of my mother’s spirit at the top of the highest tree - within the mother tree of her forest tribe.
I’ve always loved trees. Your post made me think of my 18 year old son, ILAN. Some may know that his name means ‘tree’ in Hebrew. I recently read that ILAN also means ‘Good Person’ in Arabic. There is much alignment for me. I picked his name when we adopted him as a 2 month old, when i already associated his presence in my life with that of a tree. Planted. Growing strong. Offering shade and comfort to those who get to know him. Sprouting at just the right time. Shedding leaves when the season calls for it. Growing wiser as life unfolds within and around him.
He is one of us. An observer. A quiet listener and an introvert. With a beautiful heart. I wrote a poem for ILAN many years ago in which i likened him to many of my favourite trees.
I am most at home amongst the trees, and moved away from the City and back to Northern Minnesota where I can be at home…I sleep better and am more at peace when trees are around me🙂.
I hated living in Los Angeles and love living where I am in Northern California . It took me too long to figure out that it is the trees. I think they help bound my spirit so that too much doesn’t escape.
This is beautiful and makes me want to learn from trees. I haven’t paid enough attention to them, but I have my own connections in nature: I feel the most kinship with water. Rivers, lakes, ponds; anything. Some of my best epiphanies have come from spending time with them and really paying attention. I hope one day to commune with trees in this way, but in the meantime I’m very happy to have this other point of connection, which I’ve been developing more and more in recent years.
It warms my heart and makes it flutter. For some years already, I just love trees. And when they're old, not only tall or big but with long roots, sometimes curving into the scenery, opening themselves to be alive, they just bring this sense of wisdom, holiness and strength.
In the city where I live in, there aren't many trees. That makes me sad.
And when winter arrives, sometimes they cut them and it makes me suffer. I feel their pain, because they're being amputated, not taken care of.
Thanks Susan for conveying such beautiful voices and finding gold amidst the literature. I will treasure this quote forever.
Your words resonated with me so much! I love listening to trees. The whisperings, words and songs vary with each season. It was affirming to realise that other people felt the same! I also have a favourite tree which is where I used to live in Surrey. It is an old giant sequoia which was planted in the Rhododendron Garden at Leith Hill at least a hundred years ago. When I lived in that area I used to walk there frequently and give it a hug and talk to it! If I go back I always visit the tree! Thank you so much..
I really love this! I've had the honor of living among the big redwoods as well as the hardy little forests that spring out of the rocky earth of the state of Maine and all trees are inspiring to me! I enjoyed this post you shared as a simple reminder for the simplicity and gravity of how trees affect our lives. That last line you echoed is profound, too. It's funny that people have used the term "tree hugger" as a sort of derogatory word. Hugging a tree, especially a very big one, is so fun! Once a couple of decades ago, I took some mushrooms with a friend and we wandered out into Acadia National Park. At one point I leaned on a tree and stood there, very still. Then I heard a voice: "Where have you been?? Welcome back." That brought such a deep exhilaration I can't explain with words:)
Thank you for this! I am teaching a creative writing class in Broad Ripple (Indiana) tomorrow with the theme of connecting to nature and nurturing the self. How awesome is this post to read out loud then! I’m adding it in now…🌳💗
I wonder, if it's part of a book or of his personal notes/comments...
I never thougt about trees that way, but I feel the truth Hermann Hesse's words transcend. Personally, I experience calm, protection, safety, down-to-earthness, in some way the beauty of life when resting under a tree or leaning against its strong trunk while listening to the softening sounds of its leaves singing in the wind. Thus being in nature, I feel whole, I feel rich. I wouldn't call it home, yet a sense of belonging. In that moment, nothing else is needed. It's nature's way of talking, gently offering to take a seat - and simply be...
What do I think? I’m smiling, I feel a calm smile everywhere inside me as I read. I didn’t know this is true for me about trees, and has been since I was a little girl, until I read what you’ve written. Thank you and bless you!
I love trees too. My meditation is grounding in the roots of the tree. Knowing without the roots I would not be able to stand.
Thank you so much. This is exactly what I needed to read. How fortuitous that I read it at exactly this moment in my life. I have been struggling with coming home to myself and with finding peace and joy with being me. My instinct and drive has been what Hesse describes, coming back to mother, finding meaning again. Getting rooted down like a child in the safety of mothers arms to then run out again energised and free. This is what I hope I can learn to remember and practise in my life. To keep coming back to nature in order to come back to myself. I like that it is in both good times and difficult times that I should do this practice.
This captures the peaceful sanctuary feeling of my home in the mountains, in the sacred and profound forest, and why I love the resilience of the aspens, pine and spruce trees—they are inspirational. It is the trees that make it so special, and frame the spectacular view of the mountains. The aspen leaves turn golden and some even red, urging me to feel their beauty before I must go before the snows come. I always get teary when I have to leave here. The trees endure the winter snow and bitter cold while I’m gone. When I return in the Spring the aspens are still naked and it’s magical when their bright vivid green leaves begin to bud. The cycle of life.
The longing I feel when I listen and watch the branches and leaves dance to the wind, bring memories of my childhood, the only good ones of when I had a family. We would spend what I call my favorite time in a farm that belonged to my dad. Shortly after my family disintegrated and those days were just memories that stayed forever in my mind. Trees have so much to give! It hurts my soul when I see a tree being cut down. Thank you for this beautiful post! 🙏🏽❤️
I live between three places. Each has many trees with one that stands more extraordinary than the others. I see the big tree as ‘the mother,’ who communicates underneath the earth through her dominant roots - sending nourishment to the other trees in her midst. I learned to live among the trees from my mother when our small family camped among the giant redwoods every summer. My mother died when I was barely a teen. The sadness unbearable, I could always find her spirit among the trees, their limbs like arms lifting and embracing me. Now as an elder, no matter where I am I can sense the essence of my mother’s spirit at the top of the highest tree - within the mother tree of her forest tribe.
I’ve always loved trees. Your post made me think of my 18 year old son, ILAN. Some may know that his name means ‘tree’ in Hebrew. I recently read that ILAN also means ‘Good Person’ in Arabic. There is much alignment for me. I picked his name when we adopted him as a 2 month old, when i already associated his presence in my life with that of a tree. Planted. Growing strong. Offering shade and comfort to those who get to know him. Sprouting at just the right time. Shedding leaves when the season calls for it. Growing wiser as life unfolds within and around him.
He is one of us. An observer. A quiet listener and an introvert. With a beautiful heart. I wrote a poem for ILAN many years ago in which i likened him to many of my favourite trees.
Would you pleas share your poem about ILAN?
... thank you.
I would love to read it, too.
I can hardly bare the beauty!!
I am most at home amongst the trees, and moved away from the City and back to Northern Minnesota where I can be at home…I sleep better and am more at peace when trees are around me🙂.
Love this (and Marginalia!)
I hated living in Los Angeles and love living where I am in Northern California . It took me too long to figure out that it is the trees. I think they help bound my spirit so that too much doesn’t escape.
This is beautiful and makes me want to learn from trees. I haven’t paid enough attention to them, but I have my own connections in nature: I feel the most kinship with water. Rivers, lakes, ponds; anything. Some of my best epiphanies have come from spending time with them and really paying attention. I hope one day to commune with trees in this way, but in the meantime I’m very happy to have this other point of connection, which I’ve been developing more and more in recent years.
I've had to read this quote several times.
It warms my heart and makes it flutter. For some years already, I just love trees. And when they're old, not only tall or big but with long roots, sometimes curving into the scenery, opening themselves to be alive, they just bring this sense of wisdom, holiness and strength.
In the city where I live in, there aren't many trees. That makes me sad.
And when winter arrives, sometimes they cut them and it makes me suffer. I feel their pain, because they're being amputated, not taken care of.
Thanks Susan for conveying such beautiful voices and finding gold amidst the literature. I will treasure this quote forever.
Your words resonated with me so much! I love listening to trees. The whisperings, words and songs vary with each season. It was affirming to realise that other people felt the same! I also have a favourite tree which is where I used to live in Surrey. It is an old giant sequoia which was planted in the Rhododendron Garden at Leith Hill at least a hundred years ago. When I lived in that area I used to walk there frequently and give it a hug and talk to it! If I go back I always visit the tree! Thank you so much..
I really love this! I've had the honor of living among the big redwoods as well as the hardy little forests that spring out of the rocky earth of the state of Maine and all trees are inspiring to me! I enjoyed this post you shared as a simple reminder for the simplicity and gravity of how trees affect our lives. That last line you echoed is profound, too. It's funny that people have used the term "tree hugger" as a sort of derogatory word. Hugging a tree, especially a very big one, is so fun! Once a couple of decades ago, I took some mushrooms with a friend and we wandered out into Acadia National Park. At one point I leaned on a tree and stood there, very still. Then I heard a voice: "Where have you been?? Welcome back." That brought such a deep exhilaration I can't explain with words:)
Thank you for this! I am teaching a creative writing class in Broad Ripple (Indiana) tomorrow with the theme of connecting to nature and nurturing the self. How awesome is this post to read out loud then! I’m adding it in now…🌳💗
It's such a beautiful excerpt!
I wonder, if it's part of a book or of his personal notes/comments...
I never thougt about trees that way, but I feel the truth Hermann Hesse's words transcend. Personally, I experience calm, protection, safety, down-to-earthness, in some way the beauty of life when resting under a tree or leaning against its strong trunk while listening to the softening sounds of its leaves singing in the wind. Thus being in nature, I feel whole, I feel rich. I wouldn't call it home, yet a sense of belonging. In that moment, nothing else is needed. It's nature's way of talking, gently offering to take a seat - and simply be...
🦋
What do I think? I’m smiling, I feel a calm smile everywhere inside me as I read. I didn’t know this is true for me about trees, and has been since I was a little girl, until I read what you’ve written. Thank you and bless you!
PS and overall I want to also say thank you for the topic and excerpt and reminder about Herman Hesse