Spirits of the Tree

[avad]

Took another beautiful walk today- this time with a specific destination in mind-to visit a big strange (2
faced/headed) tree I had seen before...



to photograph and sketch it and pay
homage. In India, growth forms like that would be revered as signs of a
goddess/gods... whole villages making shrines around them, painting them,
adorning them with flowers, making puja offerings, etc. I find that SO
beautiful/moving somehow. I really wanted rub oil on the 'faces', (like I've
seen in one of my favorite photo books-BEAUTIFUL flash website here: Meeting God:Elements of Hindu Devotion), and I even brought some fragrant lavender/sandalwood oil with me...but there was too much
bark and lichen attached so I didn't. Photographed and sketched it instead. It was the only way I
could avoid looking toooooo odd staring and Being with this tree for so
long as people and cars went by.;)

Comments

Re: burls

[sibyllam.livejournal.com]

The ones I've seen in the forest in Mendocino grow out a little bit, but then take a sharp turn to grow upward. I think it's really fascinating that the "new" tree grows out of the "old" tree and even uses it's existing root system.