Of the many trees in your area, which are the most amazing? The oldest, tallest, broadest, or is it some other feature? When you walk by them, or sit near them, do you feel an uncanny presence in their company?

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If you value trees, you may consider getting involved in the following for your town or neighbourhood. Or maybe just for yourself!

In different ways, various communities already honour their favourite, or historical, trees.

If such a tree (or trees) resides in your area, read through this article for possible ideas for serving those trees, as well as the human communities surrounding them.

In earlier times, a culture, or land-holder’s, standing among their neighbours was partly determined by the health of the local trees. If the lands were plentiful with healthy trees, the culture was lauded for its care and regard of those trees. And this sentiment still exists today, although it is greatly diluted.

It used to be deeply understood by people that trees were one of their resources for wisdom, culture, abundance, and regeneration. Some trees were considered to be integral members of the human family. They were also, at times, regarded as spirit beings, or deities, worthy of respect and reverence. Many ancient cultures revered the mythical Tree of Life in the form of a remarkable tree (or trees) within their region.

The ways in which people looked after trees varied from place to place. Some would bring bones and shells to plant into the ground around their special trees, to energize and feed them with minerals. Some cultures would use cool-burning methods to keep the land and trees healthy. Sometimes, the lower trunks would be carefully burned to encourage a widening of the base, which enhanced growth in height. The trunks of trees in certain regions would be plastered with a mineral paste to nutrify and protect them.

Today, probably the most salient reason for caring for trees is that every year, human activity is reducing tree populations almost everywhere.

If we do not reconnect with the importance of trees, and how best to care for them, we will keep losing them – along with their contemplative cultures, which help to maintain an essential balance within the energetic fabrics of this world.

Contemplative Trees Project – suggestions:

1. survey and catalogue all the significant trees in your region
2. some will already be somewhat, or notably, recognized
3. assess each one by location, species, age, health, and other qualities or concerns
4. research the trees’ personal history, and possible stories among indigenous peoples
5. list the significant trees by age, size, canopy, character
6. determine whether those trees can be easily and safely visited by people
7. invite local community members to review your list of trees
8. ask locals to nominate other trees for consideration
9. offer community voting for the designation, and naming, of local trees
10. study and share literature from different cultures about sacred trees
11. carefully determine each tree’s care, drawing from indigenous and modern cultures
12. develop a caregiving crew to care for selected trees
13. create annual events to honour these trees, including indigenous and modern cultures
14. network with other regional groups to create maps of the larger regions’ trees
15. provide local councils and tourist centres with information about the region’s trees
16. organize the creation of local, state, and national maps for visiting them
17. create self-guiding materials for people to engage in trees tours or pilgrimages
18. work with councils to have local trees listed and appropriately signposted
19. work with others to create books (& booklets) featuring nominated trees
20. include trees from towns, national parks, botanical gardens, backyards – anywhere
21. design and sell items to promote trees – to fund support of the trees’ care
22. participate in creating a documentary on the trees
23. promote trees in magazines, newspapers, and online

If you are already engaged along similar lines in your area, or are moved to do something like this, please get in touch, either by leaving a message with this posting, or by sending an email to: stucamels@gmail.com (based in SE Queensland, Australia).

Within our human communities, our individual and collective serving of trees will promote a deeper awareness about all trees, which will in turn enrich us all.

Consider joining the new Facebook group: Contemplative Trees Project: 

1. Photos and brief descriptions of some “Big and Famous Trees” within Australia.
2. Pete’s Ten Remarkable Trees of Sydney, with self-guided walking map.