As my physical remains crumble into dust and become food for the Earth, for the insects and worms, I enrich and feed the soil that once fed me. The decay of my physical being nourishes the soil that sustained my long and prosperous life. The rains, snows, ice, the freezes and thaws have begun to break down what is left of me.
Grandmother Cottonwood’s stump
My spirit, the energy that supported my physical being continues, as bright, as strong as ever. Now the “I” that was focused and centered in the once living tree experiences an immense freedom, an expansion, a lightness, a joy in knowing my oneness with all that is.
Gone are the days of knowing the baking heat and withering drought, chill winter winds, eroding washes of driving rain, the threat of lightening and high winds.
I loved my life in the form of a magnificent cottonwood tree in spite of harsh weather, boring insects, men with bucket trucks and chainsaws. I lived a beautiful life, connected intimately with the web of all-that- is.
My spirit endures!
And now from my new perspective, my spirit observes the manifestations, the ebb and flow, the dance of life on earth with deep gratitude and great love for all beings.
I have a new viewpoint on the web of life, or the web of spirit, if you like. For in my new reality I know without doubt that all things are one.
I am filled with gratitude for the long and beautiful life I lived under the sky, rooted to the Earth in this place.
I remember the first burst of life within me. I felt the swelling of my tiny fluff encased seed, resting in the mud, taking on moisture and warmth many decades ago.
Cottonwood seeds
My embryonic roots slowly unrolling as has been the pattern for all those who came before me for the entire history of this Earth. My roots obeying the ancient call to life, pushing my seed open, surprisingly strong, beginning to grasp the soil to reach downward as if pulled by a magnetic force, to draw in nourishment, and sustain my life, to hold me here.
Now my tightly folded seed leaves, pale from their time in the dark enclosed seed space soak in the first particle of sunlight through the crack in the seed casing. They reach out as though starved for light and unfold and harden and reach upward and multiply under the sun’s life giving love, with nourishment and moisture from my roots.
This is how my life began, dear ones. The ancient will to live and survive and thrive on this planet was encoded in my seed as it is in all living beings – those that move freely about and those rooted to the Earth.
Grandmother Cottonwood, winter
What love, what gratitude I feel for the magnificent web that connect us all in the never ending dance of life on this planet.
Dear reader, this post is from the archives of AskGCW.
If your leaders guide you astray – away from what you know to be right and true and good, you must let your heart guide you instead. Trust yourself!
When your leaders are mistaken, misguided, ill informed, emotionally stunted, you yourself must step up and be a force for good in the world. You don’t have to shine on a national stage, run for elected office, or head a large corporation to make a positive difference in the web of all things.
Grandmother Cottonwood, winter afternoon
I ask you to allow yourself to become a force for good and kindness, guided by your heart and by Source in your own life, within your own sphere of influence.
If you feel alone in your beliefs and actions, hold fast! Do the right thing and you will respect yourself and gain confidence. Others of like mind will be drawn to you. And you will create ripples of compassion and loving kindness in the web of life.
The ripples you create flow from the center of your spirit and touch all things on the energetic level, the level of spirit. All creatures benefit from your heart’s wisdom and your wise and kind actions.
Let your guidance and leadership come from within, from the depths of your heart and spirit. Let Source be your partner, and you will make the world a kinder safer place.
Dear reader, this post is from the archives of AskGCW.
Can you allow yourself an hour or two of contentment each day? If that seems like a tall order, how about 15 minutes?
A few minutes, an hour or two of simply feeling at peace with your life, letting go of wanting something you don’t have, letting go of striving for the next goal, letting go of pushing ahead, letting go of forcing things to happen, will bring a refreshing new serenity to your life.
Grandmother Cottonwood
The energy frequency of contentment ripples through the web of life bringing more peace to all living beings on this earth.
Contentment is living in the moment. It is bringing your awareness to the here and now and knowing that life is good, that you have everything you need for this hour, that in this moment and the next and next, all is well.
For this hour of contentment, there is nowhere you have to go, no one you have to meet, nothing you have to do unless it contributes to your happiness.
When you know contentment, your body
mind and spirit feel calm, relaxed, and satisfied. Can you give
yourself this precious gift?
Dear readers this post is from the archives of AskGCW.
Rumors of the demise of Mother Earth have been greatly exaggerated. This planet will endure, she will continue spinning on her axis, orbiting the sun. Day will follow night. The sun will rise in the East. The ancient cycle of seasons will endure, the moon will wax, become full, wane, then begin again in darkness.
Full Moon
The ancient cycles will endure even if humans are no longer here to witness the beauty, to name the seasons, and study the stars
Humans are slowly committing suicide as they ignore the warning signs of the stressed and overtaxed environment and atmosphere. I ask you to slow down and listen to your Great Grandmother the Earth. Learn her language. Pay attention to her signs, symbols, her distress call.
When you learn her language, the language of the web of life, you will learn the ancient ways of survival on this planet. You will learn to respect the amazing intelligence built up over eons of time within every living thing and every living system.
Tuning in to the messages and intricate interconnections of the web of life and hearing the voices of all living things here on this planet still means survival.
Technology in your pocket, shiny objects, expensive homes will not save or buffer you from the reality that you are a part of this web of life, a part of nature. We survive together!
Take action to divest yourselves and your human cultures of greed and corruption. Stop over-consuming our precious resources and hoarding wealth for only a few. These things damage the web of life.
Learn to use only what you need. Learn to be humble. Learn to love each step you take on Mother Earth, each breath you take into your miraculous body, each beat of your heart.
Wake up and embrace your precious life on this precious Earth!
While you walk on this planet, breathe her air, drink her water, eat the sustaining foods that come from her fertile grounds, you belong here – all of you – body mind and spirit.
You are meant to be here at this time in this body. How do I know this? Because you are here right now in a body. Period.
Your spirit has chosen to live fully as a human being on this planet. You are part of a larger pattern you might not see now. There is a purpose to your life that is integral to the web of life, that is a vital filament in the pattern of all things. You are needed here!
When you are aging, when life hurts, when you are grieving, your body and mind may get tired and you may find yourself living in your head, possibly forgetting at times that you have a body.
You are meant to live fully embodied and to be whole. Your entire being is meant to fully experience what it is to be human; When it hurts and when it feels wonderful; When you are sick and when you are bursting with health; When you are unhappy and when you are vibrant with joy; When your soul is frustrated and when your soul is inspired and fully satisfied.
When you feel doubtful, when you are not sure you belong, you must choose life again with your body, heart mind and spirit so you can live life at its fullest and richest.
Find someone to talk to – a healer, counselor, dear friend, doctor, member of the clergy for help if this becomes difficult for you.
Recommit to living a fully embodied life, rich in the full spectrum of human experience.
Dear one, have you gone off script, wandered away from your chosen path, slipped and fallen away from the dreams of your youth?
You can get yourself back on the path to the thriving life you dream of. You can right your course, re-calibrate your position and reorient your life once again to what really matters to you.
White and black butterfly on red flower
Begin by discerning what is most important to you, what you will focus on with your heart and spirit and passion, something that will tap into your talents and skills, that will be of benefit to you and will bless this Earth and all creatures. Something you will never tire of throughout your life, something that floats your boat, makes you happy, spins your top!
Now is the the time to step out into the light, to take a stand for what you wish to create in your life and the lives of your children and grandchildren, the web of life on Earth.
Every thought, action , every word you generate reverberates and ripples through the web of life.
When your thoughts words and actions line up with your dreams, you become a powerful creator.
So, be mindful of your thoughts. Do you diminish yourself or others in your mind? There is powerful energy in your thoughts, They are the precursor to creation! Begin to pay attention and gradually shift them to reflect what you want in life, what you want for others, the best of you.
Choose your words with care for they carry the energy to harm or heal. Your words are powerful. You can choose to hurt or elevate others or yourself with words. You can use words to gradually create the life you want or keep yourself and others small and boxed in by hurtful language.
Let your actions line up with the true and deep needs of your spirit. Let your physical presence and the expressions of your body carry out your soul’s purpose, to make it manifest here on this planet.
Yellow Swallowtail on bright pink zinnia
Think about your purpose here, in this body at this time, in this place. Are you digging deep into the vein of gold that lies under the surface appearances of life? Are you listening to the whisperings of your heart and spirit, the hidden treasure deep down among the bedrock or do you see only the surface appearance of your inner landscape, unaware of the riches at your center?
When you long to connect with your true purpose, you can make it happen. With practice, desire, persistence, you too can tap into the amazing treasure at the core of your being where your purpose and the source of all things intersect.
When you know your soul’s purpose and open up to spirit, you tap into abundance beyond measure.
Stop awhile on your hike, your walk to work or school, lean against my trunk, absorb my loving energy. I have much to give.
I share my strength, my shade, my beauty with you. You can trust my solidity. My roots anchor me securely. I will not wobble or fall, back away or collapse as you lean your full weight against me. I am here for you, a sure presence.
Grandmother Cottonwood
I share my loving energy with you. What you might call my love is all encompassing. It does not question or expect or judge, it simply radiates like joy from the core of my being, embracing and enriching and interweaving with the entire web of life.
I share my tree wisdom with you. I have weathered many storms, many cold winters, droughts, floods, beating summer suns, loss of limbs, nearby construction projects that have felled many of my companion trees, yet I endure and thrive. I continue to send my roots into the earth for nourishment and reach my branches to the light life-giving sunlight.
Hackberry bark
Those of you who pay attention with your heart and your 5 senses can learn from the trees. You might learn patience in the face of change. You might learn endurance in all seasons, all weather conditions, You might discover a new way to think about unconditional love.
You might learn that to be strong and stable you must develop deep roots and connect with Earth energy. You might learn how to gracefully claim and take up the space that is yours and spread your branches to the light, because it is your birthright.
You can learn much from a tree. Trust, root deep, love, endure.
When life feels bleak and wintry, when your spark is extinguished your light clouded over, can you find in the innermost part of yourself the quiet voice that asks you to “trust”?
Your higher self asks you to trust that you are supported by the web of life, to trust that there is a wisdom larger than you can imagine that hears your longings, knows your heart, that weaves all possibilities and prayers into the great tapestry of life on this planet.
Goldenrod
The web of life creates the fabric of your experiences from the raw material of your thoughts your expressions of language emotion and art, your actions, your beliefs.
This is the language of creation! This is how you ask for what you desire!
So learn to trust life. Learn to channel your thoughts, words, creations, feelings, and beliefs to reflect the life you desire.
Even when times feel tough, remember that you can learn to see your life from a higher perspective, see the larger reality, the big patterns. Knowing this, you can learn to shift these patterns into alignment with your deepest purpose.
Colored maple leaves
The web of life has your back. It supports and creates the life you are asking for, building it with the energy of your thoughts, words and actions.
Ask Grandmother Cottonwood 