The Giving Tree

"Free yourself from mental slavery, no one but ourselves can free our mind"

- Bob Marley

One of my favorite children's book is the The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. This story, while simple, in fact holds a very powerful message. As a healer, I often use this book to see how people identify with the story. Do they see the boy as selfish, do they see the tree as naive, or do they see something else? 

In the holistic healing arts, perspective/perception of mind dictates how our life unfolds. If our mind is clouded in pain, we will see pain, if our mind is consumed in stress, life will mirror this stress. If our mind is a pool of peace, the world is seen as kind.  All of the great teachers throughout the ages have commented, in one form or another, that the path to salvation lies within.  The book The Giving Tree offers a simple and effective mirror into the lens of our own mind and can serve as a wonderful teacher in life perspective. 

For me, what seems true about this story, is the focal point of the Tree. The boy, over the course of the tale, simply takes and takes and takes from the tree, and yet at every turn, and with every offering, the Tree, in its place of pure generosity, is Happy.  This Tree asks nothing in return for this boy, and only finds love in being a source of support and sustenance for this boy over the course of their lives.  This Tree yields every fiber of its being and in the end when the Tree has been reduced to a stump, here sits the Tree offering its stump as a loving stool for an aged boy.  

I encourage you to read this story and sit in an honest place of contemplation about how you truly feel about this story.  In this place of honest connection, ask yourself if your perspective and or thoughts serve you, or do they feed a lens of pain and stress?  

If the Tree can be happy at every offering, how can you discover the depth of this unconditional Love in your life?   

As I write this, I do not have the answer for you, and all I can do is ask you to read the story and begin the dialogue with your heart.  Teachers come in so many shapes and forms, and to me the message in all of the teachings is clear, reconnect with your heart, use your heart to feel your truth, and in your truth you will be free.  Go within and see what unfolds.  Go within, inquire and see what feels true to you. Go within and be free! 

I look forward to hearing from you.  Blessings on the journey. 


 

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