Healing the Hemlocks

By Steve Forbes

Although I would not define myself as a tree hugger, or a conservationist, I have always had a love affair with Mother Earth and Mother Nature, totally in awe of her magnificence. As my spiritual journey progressed, I realized that everything is consciousness, obviously, including Gaia in all her glory.

In the spring of 2009 I attended an Appalachian Dowsers presentation by Danielle Creeksong, an amazing Shaman, whose message so resonated with me that I signed up immediately to attend a seminar she was offering in the mountains of North Carolina. One item in her presentation which garnered my immediate attention was the “power” of ritual. I had the chance to discuss the importance and power of rituals with Creeksong and it just served to deepen my understanding and appreciation of the repetition of rituals in any endeavor.

During the subsequent daylong seminar my awareness of the elementals expanded as Ms. Creeksong encouraged us to journey into “their” realm – the realm of wood nymphs, fire salamanders, etc. To my surprise the Wood Nymphs were excited to be able to talk with me and talk they did. It was at that moment I knew I had to expand my horizons and begin to work with and through the elementals.

We have eight magnificent Hemlocks on the back of our lot in Hendersonville and like so many others they were infested with the wooly adelgid blight that has, and is, killing them off in this area of the country. I had heard others talking about this and the cost associated with trying to save them through commercial means. I received a clear message to begin with the development of a daily ritual.

Outlined below is the ritual I developed and used. It is important to know several things about the process. First, I “KNEW” that only through repetitive ritual would I be able to garner the healing energies to complete the task. Secondly, I was very cognizant of the fact that I would ONLY be successful if I “KNEW” I had the “power” of will and intent to accomplish my goal of healing these magnificent “spirits”. I was told that any doubt on my part would dilute the effect and render little, if any, service. Thought creates reality and, thus, I had to believe or even better “KNOW” I could heal.

I began my ritual calling upon the energy of the ALL to shine healing energies to these magnificent beings through the rays of the sun. I would call “in love and light” the Lord of the Forest and the Lady of the Forest as well. I would then call upon the energy of the elementals with special emphasis on the wood nymphs. I also called forth the healing energy of Shamballa and a very special friend there named Mal Var. I finally called upon the energy and love of Mother Earth to send healing energies through the roots of the trees to wash away any and all detrimental energies which were manifesting as dis-ease on their branches. I spoke to each as if they were long time friends, which they are. Knowing that each of these trees is consciousness made manifest I would say out loud: “My will and intent is for eternal joy to be upon your spirits and may your spirits shine brilliantly in the everlasting glory of remembering the beings that you are.” Every word was uttered slowly, powerfully and with love and knowing of what I was saying. When I was done calling upon the energies and essences of those whose help I was engaging, I always thanked them, individually, just as when I invited them to assist; again, using the phrase “in love and light”. I just intuitively knew to do this. I later learned that gratitude is the purest amplifier of our words possible.

I performed this ritual every day, usually around sundown, and more than once in the gentle rains that summer can produce.

As time went on, more ideas came to me and I began to spread fresh corn meal around the base of the trees, would field strip a cigarette or two for the elementals and place this and few silver coins where they could be found by the elementals. BTW, don’t even think about taking those coins back. The elementals are far more advanced in their intuition than we are and to renege on a gift is not in your best interest.

Within two weeks I began to see significant improvement. At this time a new message came to me. I would like to say it was a brain storm, but hey, what is that anyway but a message from beyond elevating our understanding? I have always known that music facilitates healing and can certainly shift ones emotions depending of the music played. Yes, you guessed correctly; out came the IPod and portable speakers and each night I serenaded the Hemlocks with the vibrations of Enya. My expanded ritual now with music lasted an hour or more each day. The addition of music seemed to magnify the acceleration of the healing. Within two more weeks there was literally no fungus left on any branch of these magnificent creatures.

To this day nearly 8 months later there is not one speck of sickness evident on any of these Hemlocks and the kicker is that my neighbor told me his were healed as well. The power of intent is beyond imagination, unless, of course, you learn to believe in your inner ability and manifest it through love and ritual for the benefit of others.

I never walk in the yard that I don’t thank the elementals, the Lord of the Forest, the Lady of the Forest and all others in my galactic healing force. I also make sure I touch the Hemlocks and thank them for the beauty they bring to our yard and lives. You gotta love them, and wow, will they respond!

There are many who have these magnificent beings adorning their land, who I hope will move out of the conventional thought of letting these trees die, or cut them down in the prime of their lives and instead, invest their time and energy, but, most importantly, their love. Miracles don’t just happen, they are made.

Remember this, though, it begins and ends with that Knowing that is inside all of us that we are ALL HEALERS!

Steve Forbes is a member of Appalachian Chapter