Hidden throughout the Coast Range Mountains of Oregon state are a number of secluded groves, filled with magic and wisdom. Some of these groves are filled with Birch trees, symbolic of the Goddess and birth. Others are populated with ancient Oaks, representing strength, magic, and the God. But most of the groves I frequent are composed of ancient Douglas Firs, forever reaching for the sky. Even if the depths of winter, their green reminds us that life never ends, that it is always present in some form.
When you step from the road and cross the boundary that leads into the mystical stands of trees, you immediately sense a change in the energy around you. As your feet begin to walk in the shadow of the forest elders, the air around you begins to deepen, to grow fuller and rich with potential. As you begin to wander amidst the massive trunks, you begin to realize that the energy comes from the trees around you, from the way they interact with the weave of the Nature around you. You begin to make connections in your mind, understanding that each tree has stood here for hundreds of years, simply watching, absorbing the world around it. As the boundaries between you and the realm of spirit begin to relax, you realize that the wisdom the trees hold can be tapped into, if only you knew how. While I certainly don't have all the answers, I do have a few techniques that have worked for me.
The first thing you must do is to let go of the mundane world. Machines and thoughts of technology and commerce have no place in the forest. It isn't that they are wrong, but each thing you hold within you that is not apart of the forest, draws a line between you and Nature. If your thoughts are filled with computers and cars, then that part of you is occupied with something other than the magic before you. As I reach the edge of the forest, as I step from the road and onto the grass, I breath deeply, letting go of the things that I've carried inside me, slowly clearing my mind. I simply focus on each breath, visualizing the modern world fading away until all that's left is what I choose to carry with me: my intent, my attitude toward the energy around me, and my love for the forest.
When you feel relaxed and at ease, when you have cleared your mind so that you feel like an empty vessel, take a moment to observe how you feel. Pay attention to the unencumbered feeling you have. As you slowly step into the shadows of the trees, begin to extend your awareness with each step, feeling what the air is like around you, how the presence of the forest appears. Every stand of trees will be different, depending upon their species, their immediate environment, the impact of the modern world around them, and the energy of the site. Occasionally, you'll find that the trees have "fallen asleep," that they've stopped experiencing the world around them, and while it is possible to awaken them, it should never be done outside of the confines of a sacred site you have worked with for some time and continually care for.
As you begin to experience the energy of the forest around you, stand quietly for a moment and see if a specific tree calls out to you. As you allow yourself to sense the energy around you, let a specific tree draw your attention to it. It may be a subtle "calling" or it may be unexpectedly vibrant, but it will happen. When you've heard the call of a specific tree, go over to it. Touch the bark. Allow yourself to focus on the energy that's present within it. You may be surprised at what you find.
Why should you wait for a tree to call? While it is possible to work with the energy of any environment or any natural being, you'll find that certain areas, trees, stones, and environments are much more open to a practitioner interacting with them than others are. By focusing on this open energy, you'll find that any work you do or wisdom you seek will come much more easily to you.
Once you have found such a tree, sit at its base (on the ground or on one of its roots) in such a way that you touch the trunk from the base of your spine all the way to the back of your head. As you sit there, in contact with the tree, clear your mind once more. Allow images to come to you. Realize that you're sitting with an elder that is hundreds of years old. Where a forester can read the history of the environment in the trees rings, those of us on a magical path can listen to the wisdom that's held within the tree itself. While it's impractical to look for answers to specific questions, if you allow yourself to be open, you may find insight into your situation paralleled in the visions you see.
When it's time for you to go, always thank the tree you've worked with and the energy of the forest around you. I'm found of leaving gifts behind. Normally I pour a libation around the trees roots (either water from a distant natural spring or organic apple cider as Apple is symbolic of love) or I scatter birdseed on the stones or the edge of the road (as birdseed will take root if you leave it in soil) and ask the birds to accept the gift and bless the trees with their songs.
And it doesn't have to be a forest that you work with. I first learned to work with trees while caring for a neglected apple tree that came with a house we were renting. What matters is your approach, that you listen for the trees that are eager to work with you, and that you simply accept the offered wisdom and be thankful when your time is done.