The Sacred Grove

“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden… the Lord God made all kinds of trees to grow out of the ground – trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.” - Genesis 2

I’ve always wondered why groves of trees feel so special. I don’t know if you’ve experienced this, but there is always something about walking among a grove of trees that feels different. It’s hard to put my finger on it. There’s kind of hush that falls over you the when you step inside that space. The air feels different, denser, almost alive, as if the trees are breathing with you. You feel almost as if you are being... watched and… welcomed.

I have always felt this unusual sense of Presence inside a grove of trees. I’m not alone in this – across cultures and time, people have revered groves of trees as sanctuaries, places where the veil between the physical and spiritual thins, where friendly spirits live and move. Why is that, I wondered?

Communication with the natural world is about opening your heart to receive a different kind of communication than that received by human language. It’s as if there is another type of communication that can happen, that’s on a deeper level than any language.

As I moved into that space within the grove of trees, I remembered the mycelial network down beneath my feet. What is this? Science has discovered that the roots of trees form a symbiotic relationship with the fungus mycelium, which can roughly be thought of as the “roots” of fungus that inhabits the earth. Fungus is integral to breaking down matter into the creative and life-giving earth. The neat thing is that this mycelial network connects between all roots, which means the entire forest is connected. But the amazing thing is the trees use this network to send nutrients to each other!

That’s right. If a tree is sick or lacking nutrients, the older trees with more abundance will freely share their nutrients with that tree through the fungal mycelial network. And through this Wood Wide Web, it’s been proven that trees will give the lion’s share to their own daughter/son trees.

Trees take care of their own family first, then help others? Wait, doesn’t that sound like the trees are making the same type of decisions that we would make? Yes – there are studies that have researchers arguing that trees and plants have a form of consciousness that even includes feelings. And that the “Wood Wide Web” represents a shared collective forest consciousness that each tree contributes to.

But as I stand in the grove, feeling the sense of Presence, I’m not thinking about science. I’m feeling what seems like the connectedness of a family unit… and of a linked Presence feels like is aware of me, and wants to communicate with me.

Here’s the other thing: a grove is planted by human beings, with intention to create that space. Does this human participation in the birth of this space create a unique plant-human connection that can be felt? Is this the reason for the unusual sense of presence humans almost universally seem to feel among groves of trees?

Are groves of trees an echo of Eden – deliberate plantings that bring human beings and the natural world into an entangled relationship? I can’t answer that, but I can ask the question.

Nearly a hundred years ago J.R.R Tolkien and C.S Lewis began creating a series of books that have dramatically impacted the popular consciousness. The science of the day envisioned a pitiless, harsh, and soulless universe with humans as the apex of consciousness. These guys, and others, rejected that depressing construct and re-imagined a universe filled with magic, mystery, and possibility. Generations have become enchanted with their stories in which trees and animals can communicate with us.

Indigenous people say, “Yeah – we never left that world. We always stayed in communication with it! Welcome back.”

Come out on a Nature Walk that will give you tools to open up that heart communication with the forest!

And if you’ve never experienced what a grove feels like, seek one out. See what you experience. If you are in Lancaster, Pa., Buchanan Park is one place that has them. It’s inspired me so much... maybe, just maybe, I’ll create a “Nature Therapy Light” shortened version of my Nature Walk designed for experiencing the fascinating power of tree groves. Stay tuned!