Meditation in Nature: Tree Wisdom

Meditation in Nature: Tree Wisdom
By Dr. Toni Biskup

They say
You are scarred, marred
Your body stooped and crooked
Your limbs twisted, gnarly, broken
like an old woman
like an arthritic
youth is but a memory

They say
You are weathered and worn by the strongest winds
torrential rains, bitter cold, heavy snows, prolonged droughts
and human recklessness
Your core is split from life’s tragedies
from Nature’s harsh realities
In age
you grow discolored
orange, red, gray, green, brown
Fungi and parasites append themselves to you
Your skin is thick and knobby
no longer smooth
Your adornments fall off with the seasons.

Yet
Through time you stand firm, flexing with the winds of time, no falter
only the superficial changes
according to life’s seasons and trials

You are adorned
with colors only Nature, in her infinite wisdom, could create:
orange, brown, yellow, green, red

Your contours, your adornments surpass the imagination
Your core is strong and unyielding
Your roots connect deeply with the earth
with the forest’s life

Your meandering limbs provide shelter
Your silhouette displays decades of triumphs,
character and immeasurable strength

Your essence is magnificent
the ultimate definition of beauty

You stand tall
full of truth and complexity
Strong, flexible, resilient, beautiful

You inspire me and remind me
I am wise
I stand strong, my roots go deeper, my spine more resilient,
my reach broader

You say,
Come to me for respite
from burning glare, for protection
for fresh perspective
for solace, for compassion
to connect

And you see me
the evidence of my life
my trials and tribulations
my strength and perseverance
through it all brings comfort

I am growing
being
generous to all around
I exist as I am
taking it all in
giving out freely
knowing who I am
being me.

Author Bio

Dr. Toni Biskup is originally from the state of Nebraska in the US, which gave her many opportunities to be outside and appreciate nature. She grew up loving outdoor adventures, work, languages, math, and travel. Her background is in Linguistics, French, teaching both internationally and in the US. She currently lives and works in Alaska and works as a med-peds hospitalist with Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s Rural Provider Network and faculty at the medical school. She enjoys working in the community, pediatric clinics, with refugees, and teaching.

The Mindful MD Mom’s Reflections:

Society gives us a limited view of a woman’s beauty, self worth, and obsession with youth. Nature, however, gives us expansive wisdom, that each stage is beautiful and worthy.

What are your thoughts on the nature of beauty, age, wisdom, grace? Share your reflections with us!

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