Genus: Cedrus (cedar) Family: Pinaceae (pine) (Part II – in a two-part series on “Truth and Trees”) My love of trees began in Holzhausen Park near our home in Frankfurt, Germany. It was filled with wise old oaks, plane and chestnut trees that spoke to my heart and expanded my mind. “Nature is the source…
Sycamore – Plane
Genus: Plantanus (plane) Family: Platanaceae (plane) (Part I – in a two-part series on “Truth and Trees.”) Trees have been intertwined with truth for thousands of years. In fact they share the same Indo-European root “deru” – meaning solid, strong, steadfast. “Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen…
Banyan – Reflection
Genus: Ficus (Fig) Family: Moraceae (Fig mulberry) I recently found myself reflecting on the 150 year old banyan tree in Lahaina, Hawaii. Experts are optimistic in its survival after suffering a devastating wildfire on the island of Maui. Nearly a hundred people have lost their lives and thousands have lost their homes or been displaced….
December – Holly
December (Mensis December) is named for the latin word “decem” meaning “ten”. December was the tenth month in the old Roman calendars that began in March. In 153 BCE, the beginning of the year was moved from March to January, and December became the twelfth month. Holly has long been associated with the twelfth month…
November – Yew
November (Mensis November) comes from the Latin word “Novem“, meaning “nine”. In 738 BCE it was the 9th-month, of the 10-month lunar Calendar of Romulus, which began in March. In 153 BCE a revised twelve-month year began in January. November now became the eleventh month, but its name remained unchanged. Nine has long been a…
October – Persimmon
October (Mensis October) is named for the Latin word “Octo” meaning “eight”. Its name dates back to the ancient 10-month lunar Calendar of Romulus (c. 738 BCE) when the year began in March and October was the eighth month. In 153 BCE the new year changed to January, October became the tenth month, but its name…
September – Almond
September (Mensis September) is named for the latin word septum, meaning “seven”, based on the ancient 10-month lunar Calendar of Romulus (c. 738 BCE). The year began in March, which made September the seventh month. September was aligned with the Fall Equinox. In 153 BCE the beginning of the year changed to January. September was…
August – Laurel
August (Mensis Augustus) is named for Augustus Caesar, the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus (Octavian) on September 23, 63 BCE. On March 15, 44 BCE, Octavian learned that Julius Caesar, his great-uncle had been assassinated and that he had adopted Octavian as his sole heir before his death….
July – Date Palm
July (Mensis Iulius) is named for Gaius Julius Caesar (b. July 12, 100 BCE – d. March 15, 44 BCE). Julius Caesar was a Roman general, statesman, scholar and orator. He was the last dictator of the Roman Republic as well as the first Roman to attain “divine” status. Caesar’s interest in his own divinity…
June – Oak
June (Mensis Junius) is named for Juno, an ancient and complex goddess of love, marriage, motherhood and protection as well as the cycles of the moon. In Roman mythology, she and her husband Jupiter were the divine King and Queen of the gods. Juno and Jupiter were equated with Hera and Zeus in Greek mythology….
Tree Spirit Wisdom 