The Myths of the Forest

Much like us, a forest is a group of family members. Trees are capable of intense love for one another and care deeply for our environment. Trees depend on the life forces around them, including birds and animals.

Trees spring originally from seeds dropped by their good friends, birds. A bird will drop a seed. The seed will grow. It grows into a beautiful, sad tree. Why is the tree low? It is lonely. The sadness will go out into the earth, signalling and searching for its counterpart. It’s soulmate.

In the meantime, birds rest in the beautiful but sad tree. The sadness makes the birds sad, so they know they must help. The birds support the sadness by retracing their steps, their long journeys, migration. They bring seeds with them, and another one falls. A tree can make other trees, but it needs the love of a particular tree to fertilize it. The birds provide the seed for a second tree; the trees will now love one another.

Once the two trees bond, then they can reproduce. The bees help fertilize the trees, spreading pollen. See, nature works in unison; different species love each other. This cooperation is the hallmark of a forest.

From a First Tree to a Forest

I can give an example of a first tree. She is a beautiful female tree called Renannah. Renannah slowly moves her branches in the breeze. Her leaves hang downwards. She bows her branches; they are low. The sounds she produces are whispering, gently calling.

The birds listen to her sadness; they find seeds and bring them to her. Of course, not all grow. Time moves on, and there grows a tree, a male tree, Ohan. Ohan and Renannah communicate. They sing songs and tell their stories. Their roots tenderly reach out to one another. They become a pair.

Since the pair have both male and female pollen, together, they can reproduce.

They want to spread their love across generations and watch the saplings grow and develop. The trees raise their branches joyfully, showing the world their little family is happy and excited. With the help of their friends, the birds, and insects, they cross-pollenate to produce fertile seeds. The seeds fall on the land and start to grow. Renannah and Ohan’s children grow into strong, healthy trees.

The birds flutter and sing as Renannah and Ohan allow them to build their nests in their branches. The insects that arrive live in the environment too. The insects enjoy the cool shade, the cracks in the tree bark. The bees are busy working, making honey in their hives on the tree branches. The two older trees understand the importance of cooperation to achieve happiness.

The trees are a family, so much so they reach out their roots to one another in love. The roots stabilize the trees; they transmit the emotions of one another too. In time, Renannah and Ohan become grandparents and great-grandparents.

In all families, there are different personalities. Some trees are only happy with trees of the same gender. One of Renannah’s grandchildren, Bethan, prefers female trees around her. It isn’t a problem in the forest; it tolerates trees that aren’t the same. Why? Every tree is different. Some are bigger, and some are smaller. Some have other preferences on how to live. Bethan loves her parents and grandparents, and her friends. They have connecting root systems transmitting love. Also, because no saplings are growing, it allows different seeds to grow. The flowers that arrive attract various birds and other insects. Nature loves variety.

Conversely, some trees prefer the company of males, and male colonies within the forest have similar benefits. Different plants and flowers grow. Various birds and insects. The cover is lighter, and more sunshine gets in. The ground dries, and only the toughest grass grows. Clearings are created for the deer to rest in.

As the forest gets bigger, other animals come and visit. Many stay. The way the forest works means they can fit right in. The whole ethos of cooperation means how they live their lives intertwines and benefits the forest. Rabbits live off the grasses and plants; this stops any one plant from smothering the rest. Rabbit warrens are stable in the root systems of the trees. Deer races through the leafy glens, also helping keep plant varieties under control. Renannah and Ohan welcome all who want to work in cooperation to live happily together.

Above the ground, the forest is green and peaceful. Under the ground, roots entwine as trees love other trees, family groups develop, and they all function together.

What would happen if humans could achieve this cooperation, acceptance, and love? What if we could accept differences, co-exist peacefully, and rely on one another?

Could we achieve the peace of the forest?