What would happen if every time someone asked , you said “ Yes ”? We decided to find out and ... Andrew Clover is The Man Who Says “ Yes ”. This week , Andrew branches out and talks to the trees . Of course he does . But what do the trees say to him ?
The Hidden Life of Trees , Peter Wohlleben ’ s 2016 bestselling novel may have revealed trees talk to each other : but what would trees say to us ?
Yes … the idea seems odd – but it wouldn ’ t to Druids , The Sioux , or early Buddhists . It ’ s no surprise that the Buddha found nirvana by the Bodhi Tree , or that the Old Irish word for oak is duir : a druid is someone who connects to the oak – which brings wisdom , strength , and - even - vision .
But how does this work ? How would you do that ? Well … 1 ) Walk to your favourite oak . Already you ’ ll be feeling good . ( Trees ’ dappled light calms the mind ; they emit chemicals that boost our immune systems ). 2 ) Greet your oak in some way . I fancy they like a hum . So I place lips and heart , and hum the question , “ Can I sit , and be your sapling ?” 3 ) Most oaks will seem to say “ Yes ”. ( Most yews will tell you to sod off ). 4 ) Sit , shut eyes , breathe slowly out . This stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system - releasing oxytocin – the body ’ s own version of the valium . 5 ) Meanwhile , mouth the seven magic words , ‘ I breathe down and push down roots ’. You ’ ll get a sense of fears and worries being drained down into the earth . 6 ) Breathing up , mouth : “ I breathe up and breathe up strength ”. Imagine energy coming up , from the ground , filling your chest , your head , and passing up into the oak ’ s strong trunk . ( By now you ’ ll be feeling way stronger ). 7 ) Next time , breathe up to the oak ’ s calmly
The Whistler Poem spreading boughs , mouthing , “ I breathe up and breathe up calm ”. 8 ) Next , breathe to the oak ’ s playfully wiggly twigs . In Latin , the oak was called quercus : and the oak is quirky . It ’ s the playful grandad of trees . Mouth , “ I breathe up and breathe up lightness ”. 9 ) Now , don ’ t hurry . If the oak might wish you to do one thing it ’ s that -never hurry . But when you ’ re feeling very calm indeed , breathe on the essential invitation the oak offers : think , “ I am safe , to imagine , the future , that I need ” 10 ) Let your imagination fly , like a bird , five years into the future . Imagine a tree , growing by the house , that you need . How big is it ? What can you see in the garden ? 11 ) Imagine entering its front door . What ’ s the floor like ? 12 ) You might see a photo of you , on the wall . What are you doing ? 13 ) When you ’ ve returned home later , write down what you saw . The oak is known as The Gatway To The Mysteries . Your vision could be the start of something .
Perhaps imagine the oak as Phil Oakey , singer of The Human League , a strange but trusted figure , inciting you to Open Your Heart . Imagine its rutted trunk is leading you into a better future . And it may .
When I first did this exercise , I saw the future I needed involved a shack , surrounded by jungle trees , that I ’ d helped plant , which , a year later , inspired me to sail the Atlantic , to plant 2500 trees . I lead this meditation , once , for a coaching client , who saw herself creating a company to empower female sport . Six months later , she ’ d raised a hundred million in investment .
Now … hang on … I ’ m not saying breathing on trees makes you rich . Far more likely , you ’ ll embrace the lesson of the chestnut , “ I want nothing … I have it all right now .” I ’ m just saying that there ’ s powerful magic , in the oak - and in all trees .
And that connecting to them can bring a powerful , quirky magic into your life .
What ’ s your favourite tree ? Would you like me to walk to it with you , to tell something of its magic ? If so , get in touch . You ’ ll know what I ’ ll say . mrcloverthefamoussnail @ gmail . com
A Brighton Courtship
He said “ My dear , you ’ re more than fair With deep blue eyes and golden hair ” But she just kept on writing He said “ My darling , can ’ t you see This world is meant for you and me ” Biut she just kept on writing He said “ Yes , my mind is made Our wedding plans can ’ t be delayed ” But she said Now please sir take this ticket You ’ re batting on a sticky wicket Avoid this corner my good fellow ‘ Cos where you ’ ve parked , it ’ s double yellow
Robert Sells , age 91