About the Author
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Fred Hageneder is a leading expert in ethnobotany,
specializing in the cultural and spiritual history of trees. A
founding member of the Ancient Yew Group in Britain and a member
of SANASI, a scientific group that helps protect indigenous
sacred sites, he is also a member of the Ecocentric Alliance. The
author of 2 books and a musician who composes music for various
tree species, he lives near the Black ains in Wales.
Anne Heng is a painter and illustrator, who specializes in
painting on silk, which enables her to convey the quiet beauty of
nature. She lives near the Taunus ains in Germany.
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Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
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Nature Spirits and Tree Angels
Accounts of the hierarchy of nature spirits are, to the greatest
extent, congruent with one another, even though they come from
completely different parts of the Earth, and span thousands of
years.
Tiny elemental spirits in their thousands, like numinous sparks
of light, swirl through fire, air, water and earth. There are
also somewhat more constant beings with a limited sphere of
influence, who collaborate with architectural tasks such as the
developing form of a blossom or an insect’s wing. One could
describe these beings as the spiritual aspect of chromosomes or
messengers. There are larger beings who, for example,
supervise the entire design of a tree, and then remain allied to
that tree throughout its life-time. Such spirits were called
dryads in ancient Greece. There are countless stories about how,
when their trees are cut down, these beings at first protest, and
then grieve, before finally passing away. Incidentally this is
the reason that even up to the end of the 19th century many
Alpine lumberjacks used to pray to a condemned tree for
forgiveness the evening before felling it!
Ancient beliefs told how, if the dryad was properly forewarned,
it would be able to assimilate into another tree of the same
species, thereby allowing the spirit being to live a longer life
and gain greater experience and wisdom. Fusing with a neighboring
tree presents no difficulty for a Dryad because, unlike human
beings, they don’t have an awareness of self, and are very much
anchored into the Dryadic group soul.
This group soul exists independently from the life or death of
individual trees. It is the spiritual formative impulse for a
whole species, and lives outside the four dimensions of space and
time. It is eternal and therefore indestructible. The old seers
from India describe this form of angel as Arupadevas. To a
certain extent we can compare them to the human Higher Self.
An ancient tree makes such an impression on us, not because it is
so big, nor because of the size of its energetic field, but
because it has had more time to bring into being the presence of
the tree angel that works through that species. The spiritual
world is more present than with a younger tree, as is the
consciousness of the astral or soul being of the tree (the
dryad). This situation enables the simpler nature spirits to
arrange matter even more perfectly into an expression of the
primeval character of this tree. In this way the spirit and soul
life of nature is generated more by some trees than others.
Certain places in ancient woodland have generated such an intense
awareness that across all cultures generation after generation
honored them as sacred groves. It was not humans that declared
these groves to be sacred; they became so because of their own
nature, because they were living embodiments of spirit unified
with matter.
0 BIRCH
The Birch is life’s ancient yet eternally youthful nursemaid. Her
spirit is a spark of the ancient mother who gives birth to
creation. She brings light to the landscape and into the human
heart. She comforts us with her graceful youth because she
reminds us of the eternal regenerative power of nature: when the
time comes, everything is transformed. It is never too late to
begin again! This is her message.
Birch’s presence helps us to let go of the past, purify
ourselves, and start afresh with an open heart and open arms.
Don’t cling on to outmoded ideas, feelings of guilt, or
constriction. Free yourself from the expectations of others and
those you place on yourself. You are so much more than the
limited picture you have of yourself. Hide nothing, be fearless.
Accept and flow with the changes, sway in the breeze, bathe in
the light and create yourself anew!
Without the presence of Birch, we become numb and stiff. We are
paralyzed by the patterns of the past and fear change. If the
situation becomes chronic, things deteriorate and become toxic.
Mentally we become stubborn and dogmatic, and physically we
develop illnesses such as rheumatism.
The Oracle
You stand naked before God
Newborn. Innocent.
Delve deep within, empty yourself.
Now open your eyes and see!
Follow your heart
And take your first step
Into a new world.
2 WALNUT
Walnut is one of the Earth’s ancient mothers because of the
nourishment it provides. Of course, the walnut nourishes us in a
material sense though its fruit, but its spiritual gift is
wisdom. Coming into accord with the Walnut angel strengthens our
fore, understanding, sensitivity, and ability to empathize.
This creates a y foundation for our powers of judgment and
sense of justice. With the help of Walnut we draw the right
conclusions from our experiences and attain a mature and deep
understanding of life and its governing principles. Since time
immemorial, the gentle power of Walnut has been honored for its
contribution to our spiritual development.
Without the Walnut we act in a superficial, hasty, and
shorted manner. Ignorance and coarseness gain the upper
hand, which quickly leads to misunderstanding and injustice. All
too often, this results in needless confrontation, quarrelling,
and conflict.
The Oracle
Wait and watch.
Listen and learn.
No judgment, no action.
Every coin has two sides
Every problem three solutions.
Find the path
That in time will nourish all.
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