A Tribute to the Old Oak Tree
A story of gods and warriors
Rosana Souto S. Vieira
|
Edward Bach certainly encountered it while walking along the Usk River in Crickhowell, Wales. The immense oak tree was a magnificent example of its species and could not be left unnoticed. How many years had it been there – 400, 500 years? It is difficult to tell. However, its huge trunk and imposing crown attested its longevity and left no doubt that we were facing a majesty of the plant kingdom. Yes, that tree alone could represent why the oak trees were considered sacred to the Celts and also holy to Zeus/Jupiter in Greek-Roman mythology.
|
|---|
| The capacity of these trees to attract lightning from the sky was certainly one of the main reasons why they were associated to this god who ruled over all the others in the Olympus. Jupiter is also known as the God of Lightning, his way of making justice or to express his will. Therefore, the oak trees served a divine purpose. |  Jupiter |
|---|
Nothing different than the oak people whose main traits are: loyalty, endurance and perserverance, to attain what they believe is instilled for a greater purpose. They become warriors fighting for a cause or mission, many times surpassing their own needs or physical limits. Quoting Edward Bach, they are brave people, fighting against great difficulties, without loss of hope or effort.
For those familiar with the work of Julian Barnard, a great connoisseur of Edward Bach’s work, teacher, author of many books, photographer and Bach essence producer, that oak tree was the example chosen to represent the oak image. And, through the slides, cards and books of Julian, that tree became intimate to us, the teachers and students of the educational program - Learning to use Healing herbs. Based on its image we are able to teach and learn.
|
In June of 2005, Julian Barnard himself would guide a small group of Brasilian teachers to him. Reverence, admiration .. “Our” oak tree bravely resisted the damage that it had been suffering for years. Its trunk with a huge hole was used by irresponsible people to set fire to. Although it continued to support the weight of its crown without becoming tired. It bloomed and continued to give fruit as if nothing was happening.
|
|---|
Finding myself in Crickhowell after the International Bach Cromer Conference, I ran to the bank of the Usk River once more. I wanted to see it again and I knew that Impatiens would also be there “invading the territory”.
As an Impatiens, I walked determined to meet him without stopping to observe the other flowers on the way. Something called me from inside that park.
I slowly acknowledged the signs but refused to believe. The sawdust, the sky which seemed all the brighter in that place, the isolation ribbons…
It was difficult for me to accept the fact that I was facing the trunk lying on the ground split in many parts; the branches with its leaves still green in the clearing brightness of the woods. No, I could not be seeing all of that – it was not possible!
|
|
|---|
In the midst of my tears, I just kept walking in circles around the scenario. That is when I realized another circle. Young oak trees full of fruits seemed to join hands around the fallen tree.
The fruits of a young tree
Slowly, I calmed myself down. I knew that all this meant something that I was not prepared to understand.
I began to think of Julian. Did he already know? Everything seemed so recent. I found the answer right away when I spotted my colleagues Telma Buarque and Arden Wong entering the park. Julian Barnard had recommended that they visit the old oak tree. I guided them to it. There, the three of us stood in silence contemplating that image.
Later, acting as Mercury who was Jupiter’s messenger, it was time to break this news to Julian. Tough, I could not find a better way to tell him. Perplexity, revolt, grief... It was difficult to talk about this for the following days.
|
The understanding of all this would come later on when back in Brasil, I had to make a choice of sacrificing another typical English sample: my beautiful beagle. She was very old and very ill, not able to support her own weight anymore. |
|---|
In Cromer, Julian Barnard assisted by his friends Vivien Williamson, Gérard Wolf and by a team of exceptional collaborators, won one more of his famous battles for the wishes and ideals of Dr. Edward Bach. They accomplished what seemed impossible after so many years of rivalry within the community of the Bach flower essences. There we watched quite touched, the participation of Judy Howard, a trustee of the Bach Centre, Mechthild Scheffer and other authorities linked to this institution, along with other reknown researchers of the work of Dr. Bach as Julian Barnard himself, Richard Katz and Patricia Kaminski of the Flower Essence Society. We witnessed the prevalence of love and fraternity over material interests, initiating a new phase of cooperation so that the work of Edward Bach would benefit a wider population worldwide.
Mercury ran to Crickhowell to tell the good news to the old oak tree. Happy to have inspired its most loyal friend to achieve such an important victory, it could not help but speak of its fatigue and desire to free itself of its physical weight. These words soon reached the ears of Jupiter who, acting as a compassive and reasonable god, ordered the men to honour the oak tree’s desire as quick as possible. |
 Mercury |
|---|
The old oak tree – a great warrior
Photos: Rosana Souto S. Vieira
INSTITUTO COSMOS DE TERAPIA FLORAL
R: Serra da Mantiqueira, 125 - Jd. Proença - Campinas / SP - CEP 13026.540
Fone / Fax: (19) 3233 4861 - www.cosmosinstituto.com.br
