Listening…

I have three pine trees who a decade ago, chose to grow on the Land we tend to. Now, these trees stand robust and tall, their limbs reaching out toward our garage roof and into the rain gutters. I reached out to an arborist to arrange a trim, but the very next day, pine scent literally penetrated my entire body beckoning me to take a moment beneath their branches. Despite my busy mind protesting that I had no time for such indulgence, I found myself yielding to the Pines’ calming presence, feeling their soothing embrace wash over me. In that deeply nourishing moment, I sensed a shift within; the incessant chatter of my mind quieted, allowing me to attune to the trees’ needs, not just my own. I gently whispered, “Do you need trimming?” Several long moments passed in silence before a palpable change coursed through me—my heart transitioned from a steady rhythm to a more hurried pulse—trimming felt completely out of alignment. I lingered in their company, before I felt drawn to search online for the best times to trim pine trees. It was no surprise to learn that the ideal time is late winter to early spring (February to April) when they are dormant, minimizing stress and promoting quicker healing of pruning wounds.

This experience deepened my understanding that Doyo applies to all beings, not just humans, reminding me that my need for swift action might not align with the needs of our non-human companions. As you can imagine, I decided to wait until spring for the extensive trimming and instead focused on pruning just the smaller branches that were obstructing the gutters, a heartfelt compromise that felt right for both of us—trees and human alike…