Over 10,000 years ago humans in the Northern Hemisphere began to see trees as cosmic ladders that connected them to a stationary star in the center of the universe. As fixed poles they helped to record the movements of the sun by day and the stars at night. Some cultures also began imagining super natural…
Author: Laural Virtues Wauters
A journey down chestnut lane
My desire to share the stories of trees is directly related to the “chestnut” trees that lived in our backyard. They lined the alley behind our home that led to Holzhausen Park in Frankfurt, Germany. Holzhausen Park is where I first met the “Tree Spirit” who changed my life. I was almost seven years old…
April – Apple
April (Mensis Aprilis) the second month of the ancient Roman calendar, received its name around 738 BCE. At that time, it followed March, Mensis Martis (named for Mars, the Roman god of war and agriculture), which was the first month of the year that aligned with the Spring Equinox. The word Aprilis comes from the…
The true story of cedar
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 oak, plane and chestnut trees that spoke to my heart. “Nature is the source of all true knowledge.” – Leonardo…
The “plane” sycamores
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…
Tree Spirit Wisdom 