“It is curious how one’s feelings about trees change, in proportion to one’s appreciation of their importance and dignity as live beings. Trees are individual beings: they can be comic, heroic, tragic to the sensitive, practiced eye of the landscape artist.”
John F. Carlson,
Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting
Tree essences are a way of recording the energetic qualities of a tree or plant, but there are other ways. Images, both photographs and paintings, may reveal the special qualities of an individual tree as well as the feeling of the forest.
Here are some examples from my own photographic work and fro paintings of my father, Grant Tigner (1921 – 1999).
Grant Tigner painting on a beach, surrounding by curious children. I can vividly remember this scene and I am still touched by it. My father was totally absorbed in his work. He had a very Zen and silent presence when he painted. The children gathered around, a very appreciative audience. Children are fascinated by art.
Gatineau Park, Western Quebec, about a half hour from Ottawa. With its spectacular fall colors, the park remains a favourite place for artists.
Recently, I have worked quite a bit with Being A Man essence, and consistently I have received resistance to the essence because of its name. One person even went so far as to suggest we change the name to Clarity of Actions or Chivalry, anything but being a man. This reminds me of Johnny Cash and his song A Boy Named Sue…
About Being a Man, the title was inspired from the famous poem “If” from Kipling:
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!
So the name may be a challenge, but it is true to the essence and all the challenges of being a man at this time. I hope to envision a time when the name Being a Man inspires, when that name is felt as something noble and with honour and integrity… in the same way the Woman’s Own inspires…
To note, the Being a Man Essence can be used by men for extended periods of time with much benefit, as it brings awareness and insight into many aspects of being a man. But, this is also an essence for women to balance, heal and understand their male side.
Here is a book from budding Ottawa, Canada publisher Skyrock Forest Arts Inc. that pays homage to trees and explores our connection to them through poetry, story and art.
A Tree is My Friend Second Edition is a diverse compilation of positive stories, poems, images, and drawings, all acknowledging the many fantastic qualities and benefits trees have on us and our world. This book contains a little something for everyone, as it features several different styles and views; from inspirational poetry to compelling tales, practical trivia, and thought inducing forest science. Brief articles and plenty of graphics throughout the pages attract readers’ interest at a glance. Great for anyone who has a passion for trees! Read on for an excerpt from one of our brilliant contributors, Tibetan Legend:
“The Blossom Tree was the most beautiful tree in the garden, and very old, having been there for many years before the Royal Garden was established.
‘This is my favourite tree,’ cried the King. ‘I always come here to sit and think. This tree reminds me of the cycle of life…I don’t want to cut it down, but the Royal Mansion needs timber for a new pillar…I must do the right thing for my family…’”
To purchase a copy of A Tree is My Friend contact Hope LaFrance:
Hope LaFrance hope.lafrance@hotmail.com Talent Support
Skyrock Forest Arts Inc.
Creative Expressions for a Better World Or, contact Skyrock Forest Art Inc. 613-231-2922
Tree in Wenatchee Valley, Washington State (1977), Grant Tigner
Avatar is perhaps the 1st major film to treat trees as beings endowed with consciousness.
Like any allegory (if that is the correct word in this case), this film is about us, right now, and our plundering of nature.
James Cameron has created a world of breathtaking beauty, portraying the miraculous interconnectedness of all life, trees that are radiant and are majestic presences that nourish and support all beings…
Doesn’t this sound just like the trees on planet earth?
This is a meditation that can help healing at all levels for ourselves, our families and friends and for the larger world… It involves taking in, absorbing and transforming our own suffering or that of others in our heart and then breathing out love and compassion.
It is a meditation that is effective and easy to do.
I have done it many times, when I am feeling emotional pain this meditation transforms that pain; when there is an emergency and trauma, this meditation helps soothe and comfort; and when someone is making a transition, for example in the process of dying, this meditation helps bring light and support for the dying person and for those close to them.
The source of this meditation is originally the Tibetan Master Atisha (980-1054 CE) and the technique of this meditation is explained in detail by Osho in his wonderful discourses about Atisha found in “The Book of Wisdom.” So, I suggest to anyone to go to this book for an in depth discussion and understanding of Atisha and this technique.
My understanding is that it is best at first to use this technique for our own healing and that of those close to us rather than for the greater world and people we do not know. Once we have a feel for this technique we can expand our approach to taking in more and more people and beings.
This meditation is fundamentally easy to do and can be done at any time and any place.
As we breathe in we take in any suffering or pain into the vastness and infinite peace of the heart. So say some close to use is hurting, we would feel that as we breathe in we were talking in all their pain and hurt into the very center of our heart. In the heart it is absorbed and transformed. As we breathe out we send to that person love, peace and compassion.
We can do this meditation as often and as long as we like.
The beauty of this meditation is that it works: it is alchemical and can bring very positive benefits.
all images of the trees in Life Embrace are copyright Daniel Tigner
Life Embrace is a wonderful essence that can be of immense support when we are facing important trials of life such as separation, divorce, loss of employment. When ever feelings of despair or depression because of our circumstances arise, Life Embrace may be of benefit.
It a gentle, positive and powerful essence and it can always be used as a starting point to life our spirits and help us regenerate our inner forces.
There are 5 tree essences in Life Embrace, each essence empowering us in a particular way:
Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
Empowers us through vital engagement in the moment. Supports the quality of witnessing in meditation.
Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
Magnificence and awe are experienced in the presence of the Giant Sequoia. We become aware of being supported by life and allow our inner radiance to shine.
Gulabo under the General Sherman, the biggest tree in the world, Sequoia National Park, California
Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)
Jack Pine offers protection, a sense of connection to the mother earth and sacred landscapes both with and without.
Juniper Excélsa (Juniperus excélsa)
Brings forth an appreciation of beauty and a sense of grace.
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
The Sugar Maple tells us of delight, the sweetness of life. There is a sense of freedom and let go.
Forest Secrets Essence is a universal essence to take with us at all times. It helps us get grounded, realign, focus and keep our balance. When nerves are frayed, feeling overcharged, dislocated because of travel, experiencing a shock or having difficulty sleeping, Forest Secrets is an ideal choice.
Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta var contorta) coming back to our center.
Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) speaks of opening and welcoming, being a part of the natural realm.
Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia) speaks of resolve and of maintaining our composure.
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) speaks of friendship and opening.
Yellow Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) awakens all our senses. We can experience the joys of being in this life and of nature.
All Creatures Great and Small is an original animal wellness store.
Born out of a passion for animals and a holistic lifestyle, All Creatures is a destination spot for animal lovers everywhere.
At All Creatures we recognize and appreciate the great gifts that our animals bring to us. Our goal is simple…to improve the health and quality of life for all of our animal friends…and have fun doing it!
All Creatures specializes in natural health and wellness and is proud to offer an excellent selection of health promoting foods including raw food and bones, herbal and homeopathic remedies and of course the extremely popular Canadian Forest Tree Essences. The tree essences are so popular with our clients that we have a couple that takes the train from Brampton all the way to Cobourg just to get their Animal Rescue for their kitties!
It is so rewarding being able to teach others about the benefits of emotional health and balance…the animals readily accept their remedies and their people love the results. It gives us great joy to offer you and your animal companion fantastic products and a unique shopping experience. Hope to see you soon!
