Love?

On the same day as I visited the Mother Oak, I had better access than usual to jays. Which made me very happy.

Such beautiful birds! the one in the tree was watching me very carefully!

I also spotted an oak who showed more than the average number of fused limbs... in fact, fused limbs are if not rare then certainly not common.

The trunk, which was hard to photograph, was all contorted too - as though all parts of the tree had a spiraling or chaotic tendency. The tree was also very stunted. It was like a tree that had grown in harsh conditions and a strong wind. Maybe it did.

The fusion makes me think of connection, and love, but then I thought again of the hollow centre in the dream vision and considered another idea. The tree seemed to suggest that life runs up the shell of you and the empty space embraces the world. And I thought, maybe this is the place where love and death meet - the wise heart is empty.

Today, I visited the dying poplar, the Butterfly or Transformation Tree, and she said, "Love is not something that motivates you: love is that which arises within you from supporting and embracing the world." She seemed to say that love is effect not cause. She also said that the Oaks are trying to harden me up, because they think I need more bark. She is willing to offer different aspects of tree wisdom.

Much to ponder. As ever. In my arboreal insanity.