In honour of Tree friends and our natural world familiars
This post explores the idea of nature familiars, how they reveal themselves, and the relationships we form with the natural world around us.
My visit to this beautiful Tibetan Cherry has got me reflecting on our nature or earth familiars.
Many of us may have animal familiars or guides. The term 'Familiar' is from European indigenous lineages and has two uses that I am aware of. Both of them refer to the external encounters with animals. One is where one or more profound encounters with an animal confirm that they are your familiar - and the other is a household pet or other frequent visitor.
My visit with this tree had me considering other forms of familiar that aren't as mobile, though just as potent.
I'm sure we feel certain affinities with specific trees or rocks, and more generally maybe with the sea or mountains and so on ... these beings are just has supportive and magical.
When I first met this beautiful Tibetan Cherry tree he would hide and try to make himself invisible. One day though he caught my attention and asked me to remove an old label as the wire was starting to cut into him. Now each time I pass, he is one of the trees I visit and over the years he has got over his shyness and is quite boldly taking up some room to shine!
I have never seen him produce any flowers or fruit, but his bark smells of Cherry’s and he gave me some as a contribution for some incense I took off local tree resins to the Appalachians - this was my first visit since my return.
And he hid !!! I couldn’t find him … well not at first … he’s getting cheeky too!
On my way home I reflected on how much he mirrored a part of me that has also stopped hiding, though I still can if I want too.
I’d love to hear your stories and experiences of your nature familiars - whether trees, rocks, rivers - maybe it’s a stretch of coastline or a curve of a hill … what in the landscape talks to you?
I'm curious to see how this may play out with out Medicine Walks and this months meditation.
With much Love
from my Heart to yours,
~ Tania Aurora White Crow ~
