Shamana Flora has a wonderful, inspirational post over at her blog, Gaia's Gifts about her love of the Walnut. And it really got me thinking about something I've been mulling for several years now. Once upon a time, while I was under the influence of Sacred Datura, I saw an old wizened little man in the trunk of our walnut tree. And ever since then I've wondered about it. I've considered making offerings, feeding the tree with fertilizer, decorating the tree, etc. But, for some reason, I've never made a move to do any of these things. I just wasn't ready to acknowledge something I could only see during a journey. Now, thanks to Shamana, I'm considering making use of the walnut's medicinal properties. But more than that, I'm finally ready to take my vision of the walnut tree spirit seriously. I'm accepting that I really did see him and he really is there. And it's time I honored him. Karya is the Greek name for a nut tree spirit but that sounds very feminine so I think I'll try to commune with the tree spirit and learn his name on my own.
I don't know whether or not to consider him a genius loci, a Roman spirit who safeguards the land, or a hamadryad. I'm leaning toward hamadryad as a genius loci isn't necessarily tied to a specific thing whereas a hamadryad is bonded to its tree for life. The more I think about him the more I think he is a hamadryad as he looked like he really belonged to the tree. This little man was old, still healthy like the tree, but definitely not a childlike figure. I can't help but wonder why he is such a small figure, almost like a wrinkled old dwarf. Perhaps I'll learn more as I get to know him and his tree better. And I think he might need some help as he seemed a little sad. So, I'm going to do what I can to honor him. During this Sacred Datura experience (my only journey) I saw a barely remembered figure in another tree. So I think I'll start making offerings to more than one tree. I feel like I'm finally learning and grokking the lessons Sacred Datura was trying to teach me.
P.S. Lest you wonder, dear reader, I'll tell you straight up. Yes, I am a little crazy.
5 comments:
Not crazy at all Livia - we need more like you!
When the opportunity to become a Shaman presents itself, it's wise to follow up on it, in my opinion.
Love,
Terri in Joburg
Thanks for the encouragement! This is somewhat new territory for me.
crazy wonderful!
Thanks Deborah!
Crazy no. After all, you wouldn't say that William Blake was crazy, but a poet and he saw all kinds of wondrous things... tho' without Datura admittedly.
Anyway, I have always found that it's those who think they are 'sane' you have to worry about.
Nothing bad about you, our kid and that's what counts.
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