My sacred WILD place in May and the spirit of the Tree

Today was the day to check out the sacred spot I spend most of my summer in. It is near a popular trail where many people bike and hike, yet away from them enough to have solitude. In fact, I rarely see any people when I travel this way.
It is sacred to me for many reasons. There are many medicinal and edible plants there that I can partake of, study and learn about. The birds really enjoy this area so I hear their constant communication as I walk about. And for myself, I feel the spirit of the earth herself here, and it gives me the opportunity to work through my problems and to listen to what spirit has to say.

This is on higher ground in the forest, so the snow has just barely melted from this particular place and the plants are now emerging.

One of the first things I found was Mountain sweet cicely. The leaves already have good flavor, much like licorice or anise, but the seeds that come later are truly my favorite.


The Anise hyssop is emerging and so beautiful and tender.


I walk along the path I always take and the yellows greet me.
The Frittilary dotting the landscape.


I munch on some delightful yellow violet which I just adore. Not enough to really bring home for salad yet, but a tasty morsel for the hike.


The wild geraniums are doing quite well already and getting big and lush


The horsetail is not even peeking out of the ground yet, which is my favorite harvesting place for this. It is still quite cold here and even patches of snow, as you can see by this beautiful lime green lichen that fell onto a snow patch.


I wander to my favorite arnica place to find it coming up. This IS EXCITING! I must be honest, of all the herbal aroma's arnica is my favorite. It is herbacious but clean with a hint of green and floral in the scent. If I could capture this I would never have any problems....ever...lol as it really heals me on many levels.


Then I wonder around the bend to find a tree up ahead crossing the path. Having traveled this way all last summer, I know this tree had recently fallen there.
I walk over to it and notice it had been completely uprooted. I place my hand upon it and can feel the spirit of the tree. It is masculine that had lived a long time.It has 3 small trunks coming from its main trunk I discovered as it encouragedme to walk along it to the end. I could see later that everything I felt it was urging me to do was supporting the inner child within. One thing I struggle with as a single mom with many responsibilities.
This tree then wanted me to sit back on its roots and listen. I felt so loved and supported. Most interestingly, I felt when it was time to go and that it opened the gateway to safety in these mountains with its blessings.

And ironically as I walked a few feet up the path I ran into a moose


Typically when i cross paths with a moose I go back, but after my time with the tree, I knew it was totally ok to hike up higher.
Taking in the amazing forest air and the birds song, I feel my heart warm and my spirit connect to all that was around me. Taking this time away from the pain and struggle from everyday life is really grounding and healing in itself.
Along the path, usnea, arnica, dandelion and buds on alder, serviceberry, wild cherry, surround me close with their life, while the lime green leaves of aspen dot the world around me. I stop of admire usnea covering a tree (that picture is the first one in this blog) to find nettles, which i harvest to eat.


I can still feel the sting in my hands 8 hours later, but in truth, I feel energized by nettle sting most of the time so it really is no bother.
By now it is time to go down the path back to my vehicle.
Of course I pass the lovely moose again

And the tree that spent a good time trying to teach me more about life today.

The Robins mating, old nests that had fallen to the ground and the scent of decaying pine needles filling my nostils with peace.
On my way to do errands back into town, I pass a pond with a mama moose and her scrawny little babe. Sadly I was in traffic and could not get a picture, however the sight was truly beautiful.
After my errands, I had enough time for a quick hike a little ways up Snow King to see a whole other world of flora and fauna and to find an old tree that had messages for me last year. I sat next to this tree and the humus rich earth enveloped me as I remembered last year when i encountered this tree and felt to hug it.
It dawned on my later what had occurred with the tree last year and the one today in the path. Both encounters at 2 different seasons and 2 completely different ecosystems supported the inner child. Fun, playing, skipping and faith.
Just food for thought you may want to explore in your own ventures, as I try to understand my own as well.

Namaste'