Branching Out

Posted on by Miriam

And the wind said, may you be as strong as the oak, yet flexible as the birch. May you stand as tall as the redwood, live gracefully as the willow and may you always bear fruit all your days on this earth.   Native American Prayer 

We saw some beautiful Ghost Gums in the Northern Territory. Tall, grand giants of nature with sleek white trunks and striking branches, imperfect yet perfectly aligned.

Trees lifting their leafy arms to salute the sky. Strong and sturdy and bending in the wind, adapting to their landscape and to the elements around them.

It made me want to hug them, no surprise, most of you know by now I’m a tree hugger.

Ghost gum at Trephina (800x600)

They dot the landscape, they line the dry river beds and color the terrain with their presence.

Trunks, leaves and branches of life surround us.

Back closer to home the old gum tree next door, dead as a doornail, still stands.

Barren and devoid of greenery, it’s nowhere near as beautiful as it once was, yet it’s stark branches are a home and haven for galahs, cockatoos, crows, rainbow laurikeets and kookaburras. The other day I even saw an Ibis perched there.

It’s proof that even dead branches serve a purpose, until the day comes that they’re cut down and then, in their burning, they become part of the earth again.

For in everything there is a season and a reason.

Out the back of my house, in the paddock beyond, a pile of branches waits to be burnt.

The pile has grown over the past month as trees are pruned and gardens are neatened.

Cutting down the old to make way for the new.

It makes me think about my life and the direction it’s heading.  Letting go of old thought patterns and limiting beliefs, outdated ideas and expectations of others.

Otways (800x600)

As I entrench myself on my new path and goals, new views are opening up to me and I feel a huge sense of excitement and expansion. There are moments of uncertainty amongst the wandering and at times I feel overwhelmed, but I remind myself that through the challenges come  light and clarity.

It’s a bit like the tree isn’t it? As we cut down the old branches and discard what stunts it, we open up the possibility of new growth.

As I sat outside in the sunshine today I meditated and gave thanks: 

  • For the ground beneath me, keeping me steady 
  • For the grass underneath the soles of my feet that continually grows and renews
  • For the sky above giving space 
  • For the sun above me giving light and warmth 
  • And for where I am on the journey, knowing that things are just as they should be. 

And we can all do the same. May your life branch out and expand in all directions filling you with joy, hope and love.

Wishing you all strength, resolve and passion to go after what you want.

Don’t be scared of trimming down any branches in life that clear the path to a better way.

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Keep looking up and enjoying the journey.

In light and love.

In response to Where’s my Backpack – Travel theme: Branches

 

110 thoughts on “Branching Out”

  7. As always, Miriam, I have a massive smile on my face after reading one of your posts. I love that you took the time to appreciate yourself, and the journey you are on. What a beautiful journey it is. I too am going to reflect and give thanks that I am here and get to enjoy this crazy thing called life. Every day I have the opportunity to look up and see beauty, I know am profoundly blessed! Thank you, for being such an inspiration. You are a gift!

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    1. Aw, thanks Tanya, what a lovely thing to say. By the way, I just tried to leave a comment on your Sticky side down post, both on Instagram and WordPress, but neither of them allowed me to. What a bugger! Anyway, it was a great post, really made me laugh. 😊

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  13. I love clouds and I love trees, they both get you to look up ! Lovely blog. Loved the prayer, and the ghost gums are amazing ! A lovely thoughtful post of nature and of life. Well done.

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  14. Oh my beautiful friend, you have come so far from where you were when I first met you! I am so happy for you, that you’ve found that sense of purpose you were seeking! ❤

    I think I'm on a journey too. This whole year feels like one big chaos moment, even my computer died! But I feel that undercurrent and I know things are shifting.

    Sending you love and hugs (I'd hug those Ghost Gums, too, gorgeous!) from across the blue! xoxox ❤

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    1. Oh my dear Ness, it’s so wonderful to hear from you. Yes, it’s been a time of shifting with so many changes in my life and by the sounds of it, it’s been the same for you too. Maybe your computer dying is a sign of new beginnings for you and better things to come. That’s what I wish for you my friend. I honestly feel like the year ahead is going to bring lots of positive changes for us all. The vibes are good. Big hugs and lots of love from me to you Ness. Take care and warmest wishes on that Journey. It’s never boring is it? xo ❤️

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  21. Your lovely meditation on the beautiful ghost gum trees and the journeys we find ourselves on are echoes, I’m currently in the middle of pruning my world and I’m not yet sure what it will look like or where it will lead me, your words remind me that I’m not alone! Thank you (always!) for sharing your wanders with us…

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    1. You’re most welcome and I have to admit, I feel much the same way, although I’m starting to understand how necessary it is to let go of much of the old if we’re to move forward. Yes, you’re definitely not alone. Hope you’re having a lovely weekend. Sorry for the late reply, I’m away camping. 🙂

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  23. What a beautiful post, Miriam! Those white gum trees are stunning. I just love the picture of you hugging one 🙂 Shows how enormous the trees are! As it’s fall here for me, is it spring for you? I always think it’s funny how we’re opposite. Not sure why I started thinking/writing about that, lol! Hope you’re doing great and have a lovely weekend! Jenny xx

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    1. Thanks Jenny and yes, those ghost gum trees really are stunning. We’re in our last month of Spring here, one of my favourite times of the year I must admit. Summer officially starts here on 1st December. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. I’m currently away camping, it’s early Sunday morning! 🙂xo

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  24. Exquisite! I love your meditation!! Yes you are right there are old branches that we need to remove to allow growth of new ones. The old ones served us well but if we want to experience new growth we must leave behind what no longer serves us. Sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye to a dear friend, but in the future we realize how necessary it was. And we will look back with a smile and say ah I see what that taught me and how it enhanced me to move to where I am now. Goodbye dear friend and thank you. Hello new friend you have so much to teach me, let’s get started! I think you need to go give that old gum tree a hug or two or three….that’s what it’s waiting for. Big gum tree hugs xo 🙂

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  28. What a wonderful post Miriam. I do love those Gum trees and the Snow White bark. No wonder you want to hug them….or the others. The reference back to yourself and your life is one I understand. You make me long to go back to my retreat with all the trees where each day this feeling of closeness to nature comes unbidden.

    I do a gratitude meditation too each morning. It lifts me up.
    🦋😊🌈 miriam

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  31. Those trees are gorgeous! And thank you for the message of this post. Sometimes I forget that in order to move forward, I have to declutter and trim away some old thoughts, feelings and behaviors that no longer serve. Thanks, Miriam!

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    1. Thanks Ann. I think it’s part of life, no matter what our age. To continually move forward we need to be true to ourselves don’t we, which often means changing, adapting and letting go of the old stuff that doesn’t serve us. Hope you’re well. x

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  33. I love everything about this post Miriam! I am a huge lover of trees. I still remember that when I was seven I went to camp at our local Conservancy. At the end of the week there was an assignment to pick a tree and write a description about it. A girl and I were drawn to the same tree and I remember we told our counselor that it spoke to us. She told us to write down what it said…time has faded that response, but I remember the interaction clearly. Recently, somebody commented on a IG account that I follow that a study had found that trees have pulses. They haven’t located where, but know that they do. I can definitely believe that.
    I have seen white trees, but none like those. They are magnificent. I had not heard that prayer and find it so soothing. Thanks for sharing it. <3- Amy

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    1. I can believe that too Amy, that trees have pulses. Like you I’ve always felt drawn to trees. One of my favourite memories of my childhood was outside climbing them, especially our old peach tree. Them I’d sit up there and eat the fruit lol. Thanks for sharing your happy memories too. Lovely comment. x

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  35. Ooo so beautifully written and as always, so introspectively interwoven with wisdom and life. Keep weaving your wisdom my friend (and keep hugging those trees) I believe your love infuses their branches with magic and possibilities ❤ Wishing you a soulful Sunday sweet one xx

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  37. Dear Miriam, this is a lovely comparison with nature and life. Keep up the good work, always great to see another blogger, using their creativity in making a difference in a person’s life. 🙂 I have a similar writing about nature as well, although contextually it is quite different, it would mean a lot if you could drop by to have a read. 🙂 I look forward to more of your work :).duanzeav.wordpress.com/2017/10/11/a-dedication-to-the-blank-paper/. Hope you enjoy this post as well :).

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  38. The Ghost Gums are aptly names…spookily luminescent white trunks and atmospheric photos of them all! I think I was meant to come across your post this morning after my husband’s trimming of our lilac tree yesterday. With a slight cough I didn’t want to venture out into the cold and asked that he trimmed it a bit…I went back indoors and returned an hour later and it was almost gone!! Just some bare branches a couple of metres below the height of the original tree! Your words here bring sense to the bareness of the tree, new growth, space, new beginnings and yes, may we carry that into our own lives. Who know where our lives will branch…hugs xx

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      1. It was a huge shock and it was my favourite tree to stare out at whilst doing the dishes and full of birds for the feeder…luckily they’ve come back! 😀 Thank you, the cough will get better soon…for once I’m being wise and slowing down for a couple of days! It’s been rather manic and stressful…just want to enjoy living life!

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  40. Miriam, what a beautiful Meditation, So many things to be thankful for with the gifts our Earth Mother brings us, And top of my list is Trees, I so love those Ghost Gum trees, how special are they.. And your photo’s are stunning. Trees are the Lungs of the earth, and bind our Earth together bringing not only ourselves our life giving breath, But so many insects, birds etc a habitat in which to live.
    Such a beautiful Philosophy you have written.. I loved every word..
    Sue ❤

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