Remembering with Trees

Memory Work and the Arboreal World

The aim of this exercise is to develop dialogue with trees through memory. Memory is always a dance between people and plants:

remembering/being remembered
recollecting/being recollected
making memories of plants/making memories with plants

Science shows us that plants remember changes in light, temperature, pressure, stress, and other variables. Plants display multi-generational inheritance of stress memory. They can forget memories with potentially harmful effects on future generations. The world wood web or rhizosphere is a memory network in which sentinel and mother trees in old forests pass memories on to enhance the well-being of future generations.

This method of connecting to forest sentience involves accessing our memories of trees while at the same time becoming cognizant of the trees' memories of themselves, us, and their environments.

Locate a tree or object made from plant materials in your immediate area. This could be a potted plant, dried herb, wooden tabletop, piece of paper, or anything else.

Touch the tree, plant, or object. Make sure your hand and arm are in a comfortable position for holding the tree, plant, or object for an extended time.

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath.

Notice how the tree, plant, or object feels. Is it hot, cool, or cold? Is it smooth, hairy, or coarse? Is it dry, moist, or wet?

Notice how you feel in contact with the tree, plant, or object. Do you feel peaceful, calm, tranquil, uncertain, restless, or uneasy?

Recall your earliest memory of this tree, plant, or object. How did the tree, plant, or object enter your life? When did you first meet? What were the circumstances?

Now shift the focus of memory to your tree, plant, or object. What are your plant’s early memories? Of being a seed? Of growing in a particularly good habitat? Of being raised in a greenhouse or on a plantation? Of being processed into a material? How deep does your plant’s memory go?

What is your plant’s earliest memory of you?

Notice how your plant communicates these memories. Through words, whispers, images, colors, sounds, odors, feelings, or sensations? Perhaps your plant communicates in a language recognizable to you? Or through feelings and sensations?

Take a deep breath. Now open your eyes.

Write down, draw, sketch, sing, or otherwise record the first words, phrases, or images that come to mind

In the next few days, take note of any signs, signals, dreams, visions, feelings, or sensations connected to your plant.