Connection with the Vastness
Day 133 of my tree puja. The final day.
I can’t remember if I knew that this was the end of my tree puja sadhana. The journal entry is fitting. Revisiting and posting this journal after 15 years has been a sadhana in itself, affirming why all civilisations across all time have valued ritual and offering as means to expand consciousness beyond the limited self.
Every time one does puja, or prayer, or deeply loves, one is lifted out of the little self…
You are dear to me
Day 131 of my tree puja
In which I am immersed in the wondrous energy of spring.
I went to the tree this cold spring morning. She is overcome with flowers below, and blossom heavy on her arms…
The Great Teachers
Day 120 of my tree puja.
In which I acknowledge the wise ones who teach us important things for navigating life. The tree has become such a one for me.
This morning’s puja was for the great teachers …
The Human Madness
Day 119 of my tree puja.
In which I acknowledge that humanity has created an alienating, mechanised world which is a form of madness.
Bathe me in your purity…
Offer your mind
Day 116 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on patterns of energy.
Puja is all about lifting up energy. That’s it.
I have befriended the tree
Day 111 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on the transformative power of friendship.
In the past year I have befriended the tree.
For years and years before that, the tree was right there beside me, looking beautiful, sheltering birds, giving shade, but I never thought to give back…
I am full of exclamation marks!
Day 101 of my tree puja.
In which my reading of Bentov’s book validates and expands the experience I’m having with the tree puja.
I am reading Bentov, Stalking the Wild Pendulum, and have just started the section entitled, ‘Construction and Maintenance of a Nature Spirit’. I am full of exclamation marks! So of course, I had this in mind as I went about the puja.
This is the Shakti
Day 91 of my tree puja.
Understanding the flower offering was an important awakening for me.
The flower energy is strong and very particular. It is purely creative. In offering the flower we offer that, invoking it in ourselves…
The purpose of ritual
Day 80 of my tree puja.
Realisations about ritual, about worship, about surrendering to the experience, continue. This is a state of clarity.
The regularity of ritual brings reassurance if nothing else…
No words, no words, they don’t have words
Day 64 of my tree puja.
Without words we know each other.
The earth was cold. I was surrounded by the plants of the garden. They included me in their hold, I was welcome…
The ritual is peace
Day 60 of my tree puja.
New insights into the ritual are revealed to me. I develop an understanding of esoteric ideas in the yoga tradition associated with Hindu deities.
It’s like a mudra, an energy conductor. It is the energy of shelter, and protection, and compassion, which is also in the whole ritual…
Outside my bedroom window
Day 59 of my tree puja.
I suppose that feelings of acceptance and belonging go together.
Today I felt simple acceptance from the tree.
Offering and sacrifice open a pathway
Day 58 of my tree puja.
Important insights and realisations continue.
Suddenly I realised the sacrifice of life that is in the offering of a flower…
I, the human, the gardener…
Day 47 of my tree puja.
Why can’t I connect with the tree today? I suggest a few theories.
I felt separate, so I started weeding. I, the human, the gardener, the controller, the one who kills, and cuts, and pulls out by the roots…
The Emergency of Flowering
Day 46 of my tree puja.
I realised that the tree has been desperate to complete drama of flowering and finally grow new leaves. No leaves, no life.
No longer living on stored food, the tree has passed the time of hardship and the emergency of flowering. There is water in the soil and sun from the sky. The earth and air are warm; it can finally retreat and be at ease, all is taken care of.
Nature is on the Alert
Day 43 of my tree puja.
As the blossoms fade and fall, other flowers have their time in the sun. The movement, the cycling of the season is ceaseless.
Spring is a time of adjustment and work. The changes come so fast and so much is to be done. We see the beauty and it looks so effortless and relaxed, but that is appearance only. Nature is on the alert. So much must happen now.
How Arrogant are We Moderns
Day 37 of my tree puja. I reflect on the interaction of my feelings with the tree, and the importance of nature worship, which culture and modernity have rudely rejected.
how arrogant are we moderns, who have gutted nature and abused the wisdom of those who knew her, loved her, revered her and made offering to her...
The tree cannot walk but it never ceases to grow.
Day 28 of my tree puja. The seasons do not stand still. The brightness of flowers sprinkles the earth, while the tree is yet to emerge from her slumber. And yet, she has a message that helps me stabilise my mind today.
The tree said to me, be steady, be steadfast, one foot in front of the other, keep walking.
I made myself go to the tree.
Day 19 of my tree puja. Eclipse of the new moon.
As I placed the incense in the wet soil, I asked that all people be loved and respected as my teacher was.
…as tired night lets go and day edges in.
Day 16 of my tree puja. In case you are wondering, the winter of 2009 was one of the wettest on record in Hobart. Stay with me, because eventually Spring bursts upon the scene! We’ve a way to go yet though.
I move from the inside realm, and into the presence of pre-dawn, still and pregnant, as tired night lets go and day edges in…
Curious about the image? Keep reading…