“The treasures within the earth were long hidden, and trees and forests were thought of as her ultimate gift to mankind. … Even images of shining gold and ivory are worshipped less by us than forests and their silence.” Natural History, Pliny
There is nothing like a forest. Especially in spring. Plant, animal and mineral meld seamlessly into a vibrant whole. How can we even begin to describe the confluence of factors that makes it so wonderful? Colors, textures, shapes, and smells. And sounds.
The best silence is not that of absence, but of presence. Somehow the sounds of the forest give emphasis to the silence, as though it were calling out, like a thrush in spring; to us.
One is struck by the emptiness, an emptiness of all that is not real, not natural, not belonging. Here I can just be, and be filled by that emptiness. Somehow I too belong, even while being an interloper of sorts.
A forest is not the ultimate gift, nor is it a proper object of worship. But it is indeed a gift: one much more precious than gold. And perhaps those who worshiped forests and their silence had glimpsed something, something we too often miss.
Would that we could learn how to see, and to hear. That silence. Especially in spring.
Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) was a Roman naturalist and general. His Natural History is an important early work in natural science.
Image: the woods behind my home this morning.
Originally posted at Bacon from Acorns
1 comment
Elizabeth Perdomo
Inspired in part by your article:
The Mystery of Trees
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” – Psalm 1:3
“The treasures within the earth were long hidden, and trees and forests were thought of as her ultimate gift to mankind. … Even images of shining gold and ivory are worshipped less by us than forests and their silence.” Natural History, Pliny
Trees
& the mystery of trees,
Primal & primary relationships,
Ones which we must
Actively protect,
Reclaim,
Not worship;
Not even venerate,
But rather, respect, revere
As elder teachers, greatly marveled,
Faithful photosynthesized life
Breathed.
It is not
For forest silence
That we ourselves fall
Into utter quiet, but for what
Forests speak, what we
May learn, hear:
Interconnection,
Vitality, sacrifice, peace.
Silence
Should always be our
Approach; entering, humbly
Taking off shoes; treading
Upon always holy
Ground.
Forests speak
Generations, beauty,
Birdsong, rivers, wind, leaves;
Forests speak constantly
Of birth & death
& life,
Graceful cycles
Spent growing deep roots,
Growth rings, enriching soil,
Breathing life for the planet & producing
Natural diversity & in season,
Good fruit.
3 May 2015 – Pharr, Texas
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