Electrified, Giggling Flowers, Talking Trees, and Thanksgiving
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He wasn’t the only one who spoke of these things. I spent much time in grammar school at the house of my Polish friend whose mother was an artist. She told us about trees talking and, she used to say, talking to them made her feel happy. At the time I did not think much of it. But now, many years later, on walks, occasionally a tree will say something. Utter a benevolent greeting. And now, I find myself so in love with trees, I shoot portraits of them constantly, singly or in groups, with their “friends and relations.”
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Any doubts I had about trees communicating were put to rest when I read in J.Gordon Douglas’s column in the now defunct Dutchess CountyRegister Herald, about how trees in an area communicate with one another in planning their reproduction strategies for the season or warning each other chemically about caterpillar infestations. Scientists are not sure how. Maybe through the roots.
Not only do plants have feelings, they can also generate energy. See the website by artist, Caleb Charland. He used apple trees to generate light. Perhaps one day we will use plants for alternative energy– just another amazing aspect to nature’s ways:
Of course, hearing them “talk” is a little different. However, Valerie Wormwood, one of the world’s leading aromatherapists, in her book entitled The Fragrant Heavens, tells us not only does the earth hum but it emits a low frequency radio signal known as the ‘Shumann resonance” and this signal can be detected coming off trees. She relays that researchers in America wanted to know if this signal could be altered by human thoughts or feelings. They had a group of people circle a tree and say Native American prayers, sending the tree love. They attached electrodes like those measuring human brain waves to the tree. A response not only registered but the sensors went off the scale. Clearly some form of communication went on, confirming my Polish friend’s mother’s belief and many others as well. When trees are cut down we are not only destroying the tree we are cutting down and giving it a terminal sentence as firewood or worse, but we are also upsetting all the trees around the “victim.” The surrounding trees must witness their friend and neighbor being chopped down. Do they feel outrage, fear, sadness?
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We do know now that they feel something. Wormwood tell us that in 1966 Cleve Backster, a lie detector expert in New York, had a group of students go into a room with 2 plants next to each other on a table. One of the 6 students was chosen to “murder” one of the plants, hacking it to bits and then they all left the room. After the attack Backster attached the lie detector to the “survivor” and had the students enter the room again one by one. The sensors were quiet as the “innocent” students entered but when the “attacker” entered they started jumping “wildly.” I think of this as I weed the gardens in the summer. Sometimes we are forced to cut down a tree and we must pick vegetables to eat. And we have to weed the gardens. But perhaps it is in how we do it. If we can express gratitude and appreciation and maybe an apology. Or if we could ask permission perhaps, as the Native Americans do. When they take from the earth they give an offering as well.
The Native Americans had the real idea for giving thanks, for thanksgiving. It was not about stuffing oneself with sweet potatoes and gorging on gravy and turkey. They gave Thanksgiving to Spirit in the earth, in the trees, in the animals, for whatever they took. Flowers “giggle” and trees “talk”. If only we would be attuned enough to listen. Sentient beings surround us and we must follow the lead of the Native Americans at Thanksgiving and give thanks for what we take from the earth, and, of course, from the animal kingdom, and give back something in return. Even if it is only words, but words with heart behind them, words that understand the sacrifice made by sentient beings for us, words that capture the true spirit of Thanksgiving.
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO THOSE WHO CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING AND HAPPY AUTUMN TO THOSE WHO DON’T!
MOONSIDE 
Simply gorgeous!
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November 23, 2013 at 1:40 PM
Thank you so much!! 😊Ellen
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November 23, 2013 at 2:12 PM
Amazing stories! Humans tend to so underestimate communication in the natural world. We have so much to learn, don’t we.
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November 23, 2013 at 2:06 PM
Definitely much to learn, and listen to. Thanks for your voice.
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November 23, 2013 at 2:33 PM
Lovely post, Ellen.
I believe this about plants.
And I have a couple of Valerie Worwood’s aromatherapy books, 🙂
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November 23, 2013 at 3:47 PM
Thank you very much, Ashley! Glad to hear you are a believer. I have Valerie Wormwood’s books on aromatherapy, too. Do you use essential oils? I use them in my Reiki practice (which is very small) and we use them on ourselves. Do you know Young Living oils? Thanks for the comment.
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November 23, 2013 at 5:45 PM
Yes, I do use essential oils. I often wear patchouli. Peppermint I sniff for nausea. Rosemary in a burner for clear thinking. And I used to make a blend of geranium, lavender, and vetiver and wear it as a perfume which is very relaxing and so many people have told me they like it. Some others too. If there’s something wrong with me I usually look in a Worwood book before trying anything else.
And no I don’t know Young Living oils.
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November 24, 2013 at 3:11 AM
We use them a lot, too. I consult “my books,” too when something is wrong. Young Living oils are the best I have found but they are on the high side.
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November 24, 2013 at 8:38 AM
💕I love your dad-story!! I have made my home in the woods and I just love it…the trees, birds, flowers, and all…minus the squirrels 🐿 😂😅🤣
Happy Thanksgiving and Many Abundant Blessings upon You and Yours!!
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November 24, 2022 at 9:29 AM
Oh, I am so glad you enjoyed my Dad story. Your place sounds enchanted!! Have a great holiday with your two-legged loved ones and your four-legged neighbors❣️❣️🙏🏽🙏🏽
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November 24, 2022 at 10:40 AM
Wonderful and i believe everything tries to talk to us. Absolutely.
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November 24, 2022 at 8:30 PM
Me, too, buy I suppose you figured that out already.:-)
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November 24, 2022 at 8:41 PM
Lovely post and beautiful photographs, Ellen. Glad I stopped by… Always nice to encourage one’s garden by telling them how pretty and well they are doing.
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November 25, 2022 at 8:24 PM
Thank you so much, Cheyenne!! I tried to write you on your blog but could not find a comment section. I love your new work. Reminds me, though very different, of Miro somehow. Keep going!
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November 25, 2022 at 9:22 PM
Many thanks, Ellen. Much appreciated!
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November 25, 2022 at 10:13 PM
Very much appreciated reading this post! Your pictures are wonderful and your story about your dad woven in with the words about different scientific studies and the aromatherapist’s thoughts was all so well crafted, graceful, and well-communicated. I do believe I would like to hear a giggle from plants or trees or both! I have heard more serious thoughts from trees. LOL.
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November 28, 2022 at 4:02 PM
Thank you so much. Your words mean a lot to me. 🙏🏽❣️
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November 28, 2022 at 8:18 PM
♥️
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November 29, 2022 at 12:40 AM
It is not only the North American Indians who express a form of reverence for the life they take for food, or make into tools… all indigenous peoples throughout the World do… it is a pity we lost intelligence when we became smart…!
🇯🇲🏖️
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November 28, 2022 at 5:57 PM
Thanks for adding that and I totally agree. Thank you!🙏🏽
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November 28, 2022 at 8:41 PM
Fantastic, a gift from God talent with such deep character, emotion and love; that the Lord chose for you to possess!
Thank you for displaying it for us to witness and enjoy!
I’m very moved and inspired!
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November 28, 2022 at 6:32 PM
Oh, my, such a big compliment if I read it right! The loveliest one ever. Humbly, thank you… it means a great deal as I am now old and in a dry spell which may be permanent. This is an old piece inspired totally by the little barn we once were lucky enough to have. 🙏🏽
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November 28, 2022 at 9:26 PM
Hi again, well you truly deserve it and it was my honest to goodness sentiment. Sure you read it right…but I’m equally touched that you appreciated it so deeply, while being as humble as you are! That’s a gift too, especially in today’s gimme, gimme high-speed digital world we are in!
My mother always used that expression when we all in our heyday, of “you’re only as old as you feel;” or “think you are she would add!” I never back then was too sure what that meant. But as time went on she did add to it and I figured out what it means to me anyway! It’s what is in your heart and soul that counts, and, I then recall how mom and others also would say “what’s age but only a number!”
Well, dry spells or stretches do come inevitably to any activity or persons endeavors no matter what! To me it’s great to have been able to accomplish such good and now look back reflecting on that precious gift which manifested in your life is fine in and of itself; a promise of such even greater things to come! And what you said there about how you were “lucky to have had the barn;” you’re speaking to memories and nothing can take them away! Because they are not only etched in our minds, hearts and souls, but in time; and will always exist the way I look at it and do believe! To be at the final stop if all goes well enough with an individual’s life in relationship to God and the master plan for that individual; all the negative memories will be null and void leaving only all the beauty and combine that with heaven; which is beyond our mere human comprehension! But is out there, waiting to be provided to the true of heart and faith! I do also like what Einstein said; so that we can add a deep scientific view with religiosity.
“The most beautiful and most profound experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the sower of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their primitive forms – this knowledge, this feeling is at the centre of true religiousness.”
-Albert Einstein – “The Merging of Spirit and Science”
Have a blessed day and this English proverb, “all things come to those who wait.” It’s said that phrase may have originated from a poem by Lady Mary Montgomerie Currie, who wrote under her pseudonym, Violet Fane; which leads me to the following original concept of great hope that we should ponder!
Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.” 🙏🏽
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November 29, 2022 at 1:17 PM
I’m a huge Tree Hugger! I have my own personal story about mine that were taken, which I’m not ashamed to say made me cry, very hard! I’m sure the wildlife that inhabited them and frolicked in their branches or limps were just as brokenhearted! Even baby squirrels with eyes still closed died that day with a piece of my heart, along with those mighty and magnificent beautiful trees!
Thank you for stirring my good memories, which will never die; no not ever!
Amen.
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November 28, 2022 at 6:42 PM
Thank you for that very touching and sad story. Glad you have your memories! Thank you again.🙏🏽
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November 28, 2022 at 9:28 PM
Again you are of course welcome and one hand helps the other as your previous works of art that focused on trees were so moving and compelling for me; a really unexpected gift when it happened to come along into my perception!
See you said it “we have our memories” and that is the truth because as I see things now it was great to have at least had what I did when I did, in regard to those trees; as long as I had that opportunity, because for some others that have so much less, to now see it from that perspective my blessing was abundant and still is effecting me in new profound ways of insight and wisdom; for as we know nothing is permanent here! Later the alterations to the landscape led to change and in a few years things started to happen that were becoming a new living space or environment that began to flourish eventually being not so tall and grandiose but now my personal mini jungle with its own character that I could appreciate; with all hat sunlight shining everywhere things were popping up like crazy, and I love things that grow in the outdoors!
I like to think about tragedy being often times like the “Flight of the Phoenix” if we truly believe and put our hearts and minds to it we can find the intrinsic good waiting to be discovered; that “making the best of things” is so true and vitally needed! “Glass half full or half empty,” the choice is up to the individual!
Up, up and away! 🙏🏽
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November 29, 2022 at 1:40 PM
Well, once again I thank you for your words. I wanted to send you a quote I have with my prayers. The paper is torn so parts of it are missing. “Human being is part of the whole, called by us “universe” just (?) limited in time and space (?). He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the whole, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison.” –Einstein
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November 29, 2022 at 3:33 PM
Great and I was going to send that quote by Einstein in my Albert Einstein file but opted to send the other quote as it said what I felt was most imperative! But this one I would have been sending soon, so this is quite telling!
I just walked in after a walk with my dog and was contemplating; she is so old and weakening but would have been put down way back then if I hadn’t walked in to that shelter that late afternoon before the next day when she was scheduled to be put down! For several months they had worked with that stray unusual dog found as a pup, Basenji-Ridgeback mix that nobody knew anything about nor where she came from, and for months no one was looking for her! But she was deemed unadoptable even with the behaviorists input! The decisions for that euthanizing assessment are final and not reversed, but, if anyone could convince the director to find a way to stop that order it was me through her that director, who went out on a limb as she told me the next day when I returned before opening time, somehow overnight in off hours she worked some blessing for sure.
Oh yes; we humans are absolutely connected to the universe in the most profound way too! All an expression of God’s vastness, greatness and unimaginable love! But it is a journey and a long road that of course has many peaks and valleys with scattered bumps in the road, many trials; all helping to illustrate the many things we can and must learn along the way; while finding our worthiness! But my belief which I have seen proven time and again, is that God wants our cooperation and devoted love to Him! The way I’m so devoted to my animals is a drop in the bucket compared to what God is doing with us! But, He is so pleased and happy when we are getting it and trying our best!
That was right at this time of year many years ago when I happened in there by a very uncanny series of events just minutes before closing time, a few minutes off here or there leading up would have been curtains for the dog, such as my insisting on taking a look at the dogs being so compelled, and as it turned out this dog was scheduled before opening time the following morning to be put down; all of which happened I know for sure by a Godsend! The following link will explain!
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November 29, 2022 at 4:08 PM
Well back on the fly again and out the door for a bit! Hope you enjoy that blog posting!
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November 29, 2022 at 4:11 PM
It’s great you rescued your dog. My husband and I adopted my mother’s dog once she got sick and we both adored her. She lived on a good 10 years before she died at 17 and a half.
Thanks also for the reference to the dog post.
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November 29, 2022 at 6:22 PM
Oh that was very cool what you did and your dog lived a good long life too!! I’m sure you did adore her as she did both of you too!
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November 30, 2022 at 4:56 PM
The thought of talking to the plants and telling them jokes made me smile. ☺️❤️
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December 6, 2022 at 3:30 PM
Yes, it made and still makes me smile and I am sure, knowing Dad, it was true. Thank you for visiting and commenting!💖✨🙏
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December 6, 2022 at 4:40 PM
❤️🙏🏾
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December 6, 2022 at 5:14 PM
Scientists are totally sure how trees communicate. The mycelium from which the mushrooms grow is the biological medium that trees talk to one another.
Beautiful post!!!
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December 14, 2022 at 4:47 PM
Thank you so much for adding the information you contributed and for commenting. You made my day!!🙏🏽
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December 14, 2022 at 5:17 PM