Moved about on the undulating breeze; an unnoticed hitchhiker, or possibly placed by one with a twisted, emotionless sense of humor, they stand alone. Moisture and nourishment are their first and most enduring concern. From the moment they grasp the earth and hold their position, they are assured a trying existence and tenuous survival. They stand alone.
Near Twin Rocks Trading Post
It seems I have an affinity for trees that stand alone; the solitary, out- of-place ones attract me and inspire my imagination. Maybe it is the Native Americans I see on a daily basis that make me feel this way. Their ancient association with the earth has inspired and instilled in me an unusual personal perspective on my surroundings. Whenever I discover one of those trees, I have to become personally acquainted with it. Whether it is a cottonwood, juniper, cedar or even a lowly Russian olive, I have to know it; the species does not matter. What does matter is that each of these "individualists" has a story to tell. They share the unique quality of being alone, while also being an essential part of the whole.
The character of these curious beings reminds me of families and the way they develop. They speak to me of the past, present and future. When the roots begin to force their way into the resistant earth, it is like uncovering the mystery of creation. This process helps me understand and appreciate my ancestors, the courses they charted through life, their hardships, pain and sorrow. It is an awakening experience, one which brings me closer to the good times, happiness and love they shared. Those who have gone before anchor us to who and what we are through the experiences they survived and the trials they overcame. A solid root system, based in historical tradition, provides much needed stability.
In Navajo culture the trunk of the tree, like the trunk of the individual, indicates personal growth, an upward moving way. With luck those trunks become strong and stout, with just enough give to withstand the storms life invariably sends our way. Through the years layers of knowledge, understanding, compassion and love are added. If we are open, honest and willing to learn from our mistakes; if we pay attention to those who care and look out for us; and if we respond to the messages whispered from the past, we grow and progress. Through these processes our tree can become majestic. The wonderfully textured bark, crisscrossed and woven about the trunk, indicates the unique character each of us develops through our lives.
As the tree extends it branches, it reaches upward, scratching at the sky in an effort to receive both physical and emotional nourishment. There is also an outward growth; an attempt to cover and protect that which the tree holds dear, an overwhelming desire to promote and provide for what dwells within its shadow. Thick, well formed branches weave their way in and among each other in a pleasingly aesthetic mat of personal experience and perspective.
Navajo Basket by Elsie Holiday
At some point the tree produces seeds, perfectly formed and eager to venture out and find a niche of their own. These seeds are the guarantee that life will continue as it has from the beginning of time; the process repeating itself again and again. One of those tiny kernels finds its wandering way to an unlikely patch of seemingly infertile ground. Tendrils push obtrusively into the sparse soil and await life giving moisture. Another tree raises itself and provides an object lesson for those of us willing to see. They stand alone. To me, however, they represent an exclamation point for what is right, true and important in life and love, standing alone in the larger pool of life.
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