Make the world a better place — plant a tree!

Summer was beginning to outstay its welcome in northern Spain. Last week temperatures remained unseasonably warm – so much so that the roses and clematis decided to come out of hiding and give us one more display of colour and pageantry. But at last autumn has arrived.

Asturias, my little province on the Costa Verde, is awash in oranges and reds with leaves blowing across the lanes. The air is crisp. And the views are unimaginably sharp. You can see each cow, sheep. But invariably your eyes return to the trees.

This is the time of year for the annual tree harvest. Hills that were covered in eucalyptus or chestnut are felled and the timber removed from the forests. It happens almost overnight with lightning speed and precision that can only come through years of experience.

At first, I was shaken and saddened when I saw how a favourite hillside was left with something that could only be likened to an awkward haircut. But then something happened. New trees were planted. And a cycle was restarted.

They call it sustained forest management. And even if you aren’t that familiar with northern Spain, you’ve probably heard about the thousands and thousands of acres that burn uncontrollably each year when they aren’t monitored, managed and appreciated.

I have to admit that living in big cities most of my life I hadn’t sufficiently appreciated trees and their contribution to our collective environment and personal wellbeing. In ancient times, trees were respected as something beyond sources of wood. They were treated with reverence and awe.

They marked boundaries and identified meeting points. They also possessed religious and spiritual significance as they were protected and preserved by temples, mosques and churches. Trees were known to be of magic and magical.

Today modern witches know, for example, the protective benefits of an oak tree, the uses of poplar trees in gaining and maintaining financial security and the love power of a maple tree.

Slowly we seem to be remembering our ancestral attitude toward trees. It’s no longer hippy-dippy should you decide to hug a tree. Leading spiritual magazine Prediction even features a photo each month of a reader hugging their favourite tree.

Even if you don’t plan on getting up close and personal with trees or are interested in their potion potential, you cannot beat their power to help with our environment. Every day we hear more and more about global warming and are warned about impeding disaster due to climate change.

Governments talk about solutions. Reports criticise their efforts. The common man is left thinking that recycling and taking showers instead of baths is the only thing they can do. And this is when I look back at the hillsides in Asturias and think back to the tree lined streets of cities such as London, Paris and Washington, DC.

Did you know that a single tree can absorb nearly 3 tonnes of carbon pollution a year? That same tree can then pump out enough oxygen each day for as many as 18 people! Additionally, trees act like air conditioners. A city with trees will be five to nine degrees Celsius cooler than one without sufficient tree cover.

Trees can also help insulate our homes by providing shade as well as by blocking winter winds. Plant the right kind of tree and you could be rewarded with fruit, nuts or berries. And I haven’t yet mentioned the most obvious benefits – they look great and just make us feel better.

For myself, I’ve taken a section of what used to be sheep pasture to start an orchard. I’ve planted a variety of apples, plum, pear and cherry trees – not to mention medlars and quince trees. And come February (and a waxing moon, of course) I plan to dot my own hillside with more trees.

Granted, living in a rural location I’ve probably got more space for trees than some. But even if you could find enough room for one tree you’ll make the world a better place. Do you live somewhere that cannot accommodate even a single tree? Then contact your local government about planting more trees in the surrounding parks. And then there’s always organisations like The Green Belt Movement, Trees for Cities and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust who will plant a tree on your behalf.

There’s no reason why each of us cannot do our share to help Mother Earth by planting more trees! If you’re scratching your head about which tree to plant, then perhaps I could help. This week’s special offer - just email me with details of your location and proposed site and I’ll do my best to recommend a suitable tree.

And of course, if planting a tree isn’t at the top of your agenda this week and you have other pressing matters, well perhaps I could help in other ways. Have a look at the range of psychic readings and services I offer here.

Over at IntuitiveBridges, I look at something we all do instinctively and take for granted — breathing. But just because we do it automatically doesn't mean we can't learn to do it betterl! Click here to read article in full.

As always, feel free to email me with any comments, suggestions or feedback on PsychicBridges.

Thanks again for all your support and until next week,

Kindest regards,

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