The Wisdom of Trees

Rev. Jeanne Loveless, Senior Minister & Teacher

Wisdom is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. And happy are all who hold her fast.

– Proverbs 3: 18

I asked Clive over breakfast if he could name his three favorite things from our trip. Touring Warner Studios’ “The Making of Harry Potter” for his birthday in London was a given. But he surprised me when he mentioned, "the tree at that old church you really liked." I realized he was talking about the tree he was climbing around in while I was sitting on a bench praying and clearing energy with my ankle propped up at Glastonbury Abbey. In fact, I noticed, all the favorite things he mentioned from our trip had to do with trees, animals, or being out in nature.

He reminded me that being in relationship with trees is a very ancient and important spiritual practice. The notion of being “a tree hugger” has been used derisively. But I think being in relationship with trees (and even hugging them) is a stellar idea. Trees are full of wisdom about being rooted and in relationship. They are places of shade and rest. The scriptures are full of trees. The Creation Story of Genesis 2 features two important trees “The tree of the knowledge of good and evil” and “the tree of life.” And Jesus talks a lot about trees in his parables- whether they are yielding fruit, growing, or withering. In one of his powerful teachings in the Gospel of John, Jesus even describes himself as “the vine” and us as “the branches” which is an extraordinary metaphor for our interdependency and the importance of being rooted in spirit and community.  (John 15) 

Near the tree Clive was climbing around in on the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey there is another tree in a little protected area that I connected deeply with. It is a descendent of the thorn tree Joseph of Arimathea (the owner of the tomb Jesus is laid to rest in- according to Matthew’s Gospel) is said to have planted nearby on Wearyall Hill when he was on business in the area as a tin merchant. And while Clive climbed around in his holy tree, I hobbled over slowly from my bench and picked up a tiny, dropped leaf from the ground to keep in my light/shadow worker's bag- as a reminder of unbroken spiritual lineages and the subtle turning of seasons at Lughnassahd.

I’ll wind up my reflections today with an invitation from Clive and Mary Oliver to get out- to be curious, to “walk slowly and bow often” and to notice and be in relationship with the trees in your life. Count them among your favorite things. They will make you stronger, wiser, and shinier. And if you listen closely enough- they may just save you too. – Rev. Jeanne

“When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks, and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.” 

(Mary Oliver “When I am Among the Trees”)

1) Clive hanging out in his own holy tree at Glastonbury Abbey.

2) The descendent of the holy thorn tree planted by Joseph of Arimathea. This is also the tree Queen Elizabeth receives a branch from at Christmas. (A deeply symbolic gift that hints at Divine succession from the ground team founders of Christianity, through Guinivere, Arthur, and Avalon).