By Krista Verrastro, RDT
Truth be told, I am a literal and figurative tree hugger. I really do hug trees sometimes while hiking, and my wedding and engagement rings are even tree themed because of my love for trees (the wedding band looks like tree bark, and the engagement ring that stacks on top of it does as well but also has a leaf accent and a small diamond that looks like a hole in a tree).
There are so many reasons why I’m drawn to trees. Firstly, they are such an important part of our survival and health as humans, from providing oxygen to absorbing harmful gasses to providing us with food. Second, they are scientifically fascinating. They can live for hundreds to thousands of years and can often survive even the harshest of environments. Some trees have complex communication systems. Third, several studies show that spending time in nature, including among trees, is healing. I can spend hours writing about all of these aspects, but this is not meant to be a science lesson, so I will move on.
As a drama therapist, I constantly think about the various roles we all play and about how we might view things differently from the perspective of other roles. This sometimes includes inanimate objects. This article focuses on how you can take on the role of a tree to gain some wisdom from that perspective.
Advice from trees
There’s a brand that I love called Your True Nature ®, and they make merchandise that has what they call Advice from Nature. They identify the following as the advice that trees give:
Stand tall and proud
Sink your roots into the Earth
Be content with your natural beauty
Go out on a limb
Drink plenty of water
Remember your roots
Enjoy the view
Breathe deep
Be full of life
Stay close to the Earth
Reach high
Root for friends
Don’t bark at friends
Grow up
Think long term
Share your gifts
Celebrate each growth ring
Let the gentle winds soothe you
Reach your full potential
It’s okay to be a little sappy
In addition to these wonderful pieces of advice, I feel that trees also offer the following advice:
Accept the different seasons of your life
Know when to let go
It’s okay to be any size, shape, or color
There is beauty in diversity
Bloom at your own pace
Role play as a tree
Since I’m a firm believer of focusing on both the mind and body in wellness, I’d like to suggest a physical activity that you can try to let the above wisdom sink in and to see if any other wisdom emerges. This activity is also very grounding and soothing, and thus it can be used any time that you feel anxious, sad, or otherwise upset.
Find somewhere quiet and private to do this activity. Feel free to try it outside to fully embrace the role of a tree!
Stand on the ground, either with your feet together or shoulder width apart. I personally feel a bit more stable and grounded with my feet shoulder width apart, but you can go with whatever is more comfortable for you.
Raise your arms, to shoulder level or higher depending on your comfort. Stand up straight.
“As a drama therapist, I constantly think about the various roles we all play and about how we might view things differently from the perspective of other roles."
Take a few deep breaths in this pose, and envision yourself as a tree. Feel your confidence in your strong body. Imagine your feet having roots that connect you to the Earth. Savor the feeling of being stable because of those roots. Remember that you are not easily shaken or knocked down because of them. Also remember that you are nurtured through those roots. You are also nurtured through the air and sunshine that touch your arms/branches. Savor the nurturing energy that you feel flowing through your roots and branches. Imagine sending nurturing energy back out into the world. Feel your connection with other living beings in this world. Think about the above pieces of advice that you know to be true as the wise tree that you are. Take a few more deep breaths, and when you are ready you can return to being yourself with the wisdom and inspiration you gained from stepping into the role of a tree.
Other actions you can take
Feel free to share below if you thought of any other pieces of advice from trees. If you did the activity, how did it go? Did you have any insights that you would like to share?
About the Author:
Krista Verrastro, MA, RDT specializes in helping people of all ages who feel used, abused, neglected, or rejected transform from surviving to thriving. She combines talk therapy, drama therapy, and EMDR therapy as needed during sessions to help clients heal.
In addition to being in private practice, Krista has worked in outpatient mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. Her expertise in trauma work developed from working at an agency that helps survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault/abuse, and human trafficking for eight years.
Krista presents nationally and internationally about drama therapy, trauma, and other mental health issues.
