Living in the Elements
Day 128 of my tree puja.
In which I reflect on the extension of my tree puja beyond one year, the expansive experience and awareness of belonging in nature.
I was reminded of camping in the mountains, living in the elements, how right it always feels.
The relentless years
Day 126 of my tree puja.
In which I experience instant peace.
Something is taking its toll, perhaps it’s the winter, the moon, or simply the years, the relentless years…
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.
Energy of ritual and consciousness
Day 99 of my tree puja.
In which I experience the power of the puja as yoga - unity of energy and consciousness.
I nearly didn’t go to the tree. I was wanting to save time and not go to the tree…
The matrix of natural energy
Day 82 of my tree puja.
Feedback from the tree continues as our relationship unfolds.
A group of birds were singing madly and urgently together somewhere. In the gum blossom, full of nectar and rain, a wattle bird flapped and supped…
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…
I felt our secrecy, our privacy
Day 79 of my tree puja.
The puja creates a sacred space.
I was a bit late. The day was moving into rajas, action…
The elements are in balance
Day 76 of my tree puja.
Balance, the elusive goal, is experienced.
The elements are in balance – earth, water, fire, air, and space…
A sustaining force
Day 72 of my tree puja.
The principle of an energy field and caring for it becomes clear. This is a traditional idea that modernity is alienated from.
Over time the ritual creates, or perhaps connects with and opens a field of energy. This must be maintained...
Protective energy derives from love.
Day 70 of my tree puja.
I sense the energy exchange between us.
I stood beneath the tree, doing the things, chanting the mantras, asking that all trees may be loved, respected, and protected as she is…
I get dissipated and lose my discipline
Day 67 of my tree puja.
The tree is a brilliant psychologist. I’ll leave that for you to think through.
She is right – routines help ground us, and I need to be stronger at maintaining them…
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…
Everything is about energy
Day 57 of my tree puja.
Structure and energy and continuum are the themes at the moment.
…the energy of the ritual has somehow been captured, stabilised, and strengthened.
The tree responded
Day 56 of my tree puja
Sunrise is at 5:40am, so even if I’m late, it’s still early!
All those months last year I would not offer a flower. Then in India I spent ten days decorating a shrine with flowers, culminating in an amazing marigold extravaganza…
Today I am better prepared
Day 54 of my tree puja.
Earth, water, fire, air, ether… the elements are the foundation of ritual in India, acknowledging the building blocks of life.
I squatted on the earth and my feet felt how hard it has become.
Sydney, then India
Day 52 of my tree puja.
I can roam but the tree cannot. I say farewell until December 30th.
I assured the tree that I will return. The ritual creates these feelings and connections, by whatever means.
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.