Sacred Grove

In an old-growth forest, pine, fir and larch stand side-by-side. Gnarled branches grow intertwined, becoming one tree reaching for the heavens. A warm breeze hums softly through the thick needles, while treetops sway together in a primeval dance.

I stand at the altar.

A forest in my hand...

Towering, majestic ponderosas with cinnamon-red bark, pose overhead with twisted, turned branches reaching skyward. I feel humbled by the immensity of the trees sculpted like mammoth bonsais in the mountain basin. Lodged between the giant roots,and feathered out through the pine needles, I gather the fallen seed.

At high noon, I cradle a forest of dormant seed in the palm of my hand- a sacred offering to return to the earth.

Gathering Pine Seed

Ponderosa pine cones burst in the summer heat, expelling seeds from sienna-colored cones on heavy branches. Seeds glide to earth on parchment-hued wings floating on a gentle breeze. Blustering storm winds fling seed far afield from the mother tree.

The winged seed spins round and round on a miniature propeller nose diving down to earth. Each seed glides into a soft landing amid deep beds of long ponderosa pine needles or onto parched summer soil.

A single seed becomes a giant.