Gift From The Forest

~ Ancient Cedar Tree Speaking ~

Ken James McLeod

Ancient Cedar © Ken James McLeod

Except for the occasional twitting of birds, the rush of the little rill, and the sound of my own footsteps upon the forest floor, I was alone . . . completely alone! And as I trekked further through the laurel, I kept having the feeling as if being lured to a specific location, that I suspected must have some deep meaning.

"Over Here," I thought I heard someone say in a low rusty voice.
But nobody was there!

I glanced over through the emerald-green forest upon the rib that flanked the little rill. There, anchored to the earth stood one of the most magnificent ancient cedar trees I've ever seen. In awe, I clamored up to it.

The HUGE tree was dying and much of it resembled a snag, but it was still alive and near its top sprouted new green growth. As I pondered its enormous size, I began to measure it with my arms held out resembling or equaling that of a yard (3 feet). Round the trunk I went counting the feet until I came to the circumference of nearly 40 feet. Simply amazing I thought!

I sat down next to it for a long time thinking about how long it had been growing here since being a seedling -- certainly it had stood all the tests of time and had probably grabbed its hold before the coming of white men upon the North American continent. And what about the words I thought I had heard . . . "Over Here." Was I lured here to visit this ancient tree by some unforeseen power? Was this something mystical? These questions I do not know the answers to, but I did have the inert feeling I had been drawn to it. And that feeling was very intense!

Later, down the rib and just before losing sight of the magnificent tree, darned if I didn't think I heard the words spoken, "Come Again" echo throughout the still forest air.

Now ancient trees of the forest don't talk or do they . . . some say they speak to your soul but only if your soul is open and willing to listen.......

~ est. 40 foot circumference - location up on Triple Creek, Mt. Pilchuck 3/4 mile above Rd. #4021 ~

KJM

5-19-2003

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