01 January 2017
The Birch
One of my favorite books is called “The Meaning of Trees” by Fred Hageneder. Many of the greatest joy’s we humans experience comes from learning something new. The Meaning of Trees is filled with botany, history, mythology, and folklore offering us knowledge of what trees have meant to us throughout the ages. They have provided us with construction material to build our homes, weapons, boats and bridges. They have given us fruits, nuts, medicines, and have inspired legends as well as music and poetry. Over the past several years I’ve intentionally changed my life by embracing a more metaphorical view of the world achieving a balance I never knew could exist. This metaphorical awareness within me didn’t come about by accident, it was a very mindful experiential journey and at times very painful. After retirement from the US Army, my wife Josie and I managed a Bed & Breakfast Called Blue Heron on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in Ely, MN. The Spiritual stories I share are a direct result of spending countless hours among the trees not only in the North Woods of Minnesota, but also from our travels throughout the world. And so this is the beginning of a series I’m calling “Lessons from Trees”. A dear friend of ours, Micheal Menroe of Grand Mari, MN, has many songs he’s dedicated to trees. His entire passionate life of music is devoted to honoring, protecting and creating a deep spiritual awareness of trees and nature in general. The first tree I’m going to feature in this series is the Birch in honor of our most recent addition to our family. Our son Eric and our daughter-in-law Lauren just adopted a new puppy, a mixture of Blue Heeler and Shepherd from the local shelter and her name is Birch. Here’s to you Birch!
Birch has about 60 species of deciduous trees and shrubs that can be found throughout the northern temperate regions of the world. Practical uses of the Birch among indigenous people of the northern hemisphere include, canoes, wigwams, yurts, writing paper and even shoes. Natural Healing practices by Russians and Scandinavian traditions includes the use of small branches from the Birch “to swat their bodies” while sweat bathing in the sauna.
Myth, Symbolism and Culture. Birch, deriving from the Indo-European word bher(e), meaning “Shinning White” is symbolized with the deity Brigid, a muse to both poets and craft masters. In both Norse and Germanic Traditions Birch is associated with Frigga, wife of Odin, also known as the (God of wind) and Freya, Lady of the Forest. In Irish mythology the god Ogma (birch), gave the gift of writing to the early Celts. They also used Birch in the construction of their babies’ cradles, aiding them with protection from evil forces. Siberian shaman use Birch in their shrines and is the “deity of the door” to the spirit realm. Nine notches are carved into a birch branch by the shaman, number nine representing Earth Mother, invoking her guidance and to honor her.
Natural Healing. A three-week spring “detox” using young leaves and leaf buds to make tea are used for stimulating the wellness of the gall bladder, kidneys and liver. They are also used to relieve ailments associated with gout and rheumatism. A tonic can be made with the blood-cleansing sap assisting with the whole metabolism. Young leaves are used to garnish fresh salads.
My Story. Often times Birch are found near a water source (The Beavers Realm) providing one of the beaver’s favorite dietary supplements’ and the necessary building material used in the construction projects of their dams and houses. Or differently stated, as I’ve heard more than once from people that hate the beaver say, “their Dam Houses”! The Beavers have voiced their same feelings to me about our homes. Another reason for my sharing this blog is, to give Nature a voice. To create an awareness in humanity that we have a responsibility to protect and preserve our Natural treasures and resources. It’s because of the deep spiritual connection I’ve established with the beaver that the Birch has become one of my favorite trees I use for building a Peace Chair. I’ve spent many hours harvesting the remains of birch branches the beaver (one of my spirit totem animals) cut down and left submerged at the bottom of the lakes and beaver ponds. Other times they’ve been left on the shore and bleached bone white from the exposure to the sun’s rays. Some of the most powerful chairs I’ve built are because of the association of the Moon energy that is infused into them. I love spending evenings observing the Beaver work her magic at night in the soft white glow of a full moon, while sitting in a freshly built Beaver Spirit Chair. The beauty of my passion and what I love about it is, every chair is unique, every Chair has a unique story, a deep connection to the Natural world. Every time I sit in nature, I learn a little more about myself, I learn a little more about understanding her language. And so It has begun. In this new year 2017, we invite you to go sit under your favorite tree and listen to what It has to say. The wind whispering through the trees are the Songs of the Forest. Can you hear it? Our son Eric makes what he calls, Colorado Mountain Flags and on one of them it says, “Between every 2 Pines is a door way to a new world”. What lesson have you learned from the Trees? Did you discover a new world between of them? If your answer is yes, we ask that you share your Story with us. My readers and I would love the read it.
Nature's G.A.S. Station 