Choosing to Live In Awe and Wonder.

There is a tree I have made friends with. She stands proud on a hill and is graciously facing east reminding me of a figurehead on a ship. She must be ever so old and around her I assume are her children, smaller trees of similar form. 

I have walked past her from a distance many many times but for some reason felt the call to draw near to  her some weeks ago. In doing so I feel a magical presence and I feel honoured to be permitted to rest with her (I always ask).

It is winter turning to spring and as yet she has no foliage but  small buds are at the end of her many gnarled looking branches and finer twigs. One of two red berries from last year's growth are still bejewelling her otherwise bareness…. I think she is a hawthorn but to be honest I’m no expert on trees and for now am happy to wait and see her blossoms and foliage to tell for sure.

In her trunk are embedded stones from the earth where she has grown up and out of the field where she stands. Some of them are literally enveloped in her bark and so have become part of her. Some are half a meter up from the ground as they are carried skywards with her majesty. Her presence is soothing for my soul and nervous system and her root structure lends itself to a comfortable seat where I can rest and merge with the sound of the wind in her canopy.

I am recovering from a nasty flu like virus, which has left me emotionally very low as these viruses can. This morning before I had woken up properly I set an intention for my day to elevate my spirit; and that was “I welcome a day of awe and wonder”. Not knowing how this may manifest but trying my best to be open to all possibilities I repeated this as a mantra as I went through the morning ritual of getting my son off to school and the dog out for his walk.

Still weak from the virus I headed to the tree for a rest while the dog happily lost and re found his ball in the long grass. For once it wasn’t raining and there was a bit of a wind. The birds were singing their joyful spring’s coming songs. I heard a woodpecker in the distance, a wren was hopping round the tree branches and a skylark was high in the air somewhere near. As I sat with the tree drifting in a slightly altered state I looked next to me at her trunk and to my amazement saw tiny drops of what looked like water hanging suspended from rough bits of her skin… I knew this wasn't rain, because her bark was dry, so I reached out and gently touched one. 

It was pale yellow in colour and when I rubbed it between my fingers I swear it was fragrant… Could this literally be her sap rising? Was she showing me this? Sharing this with me as a gift? An offering? A blessing? It felt like it and was an extremely special magical moment.

Whether this is my own flight of fancy or not I feel blessed, I feel I have asked the universe through intention to experience Awe and Wonder and here it was in all its magnificence. 

I am so grateful  for this experience this morning that I’m sharing it with you as food for thought. To inspire you to play with intention and see what magic you welcome in.

There is so much more I could write about intentions but I will leave that for another word ramble. For now I wish you a wonderful day full of awe, wonder and magic.