Consoled by Oaks

trees as friends and companions

May 28, 2026

If you liked reading this, feel free to click the ❤️ button on this post so more people can discover it on Substack 🙏

Welcome!

For those new here, Hedge Mystic is a reader-supported publication where I explore spiritual topics alongside seasonal wisdom and creative practice.

All of my articles are free to read, but you can make a one-time donation if you appreciate my work or upgrade your subscription to show your support.

I want to write about trees today. Trees are part of the quaternity of nature: earth, water, stone, and tree. There’s something deeply mysterious and powerful, yet fully accessible about the fourfold structure that symbolizes the nature of the divine and the natural world. Somehow, interaction with and contemplation of these four elements show us both our current home and give us glimpses of how the spiritual world operates.

Earth (soil, humus, or simply dirt in the vernacular) is fully alive, filled with microbes, invertebrates, and fungi. Earth is receptive and passive, calmly waiting for seed and rain and then nurturing what grows. Earth is full of electrons and subtle electrical fields coursing through the dirt just as there are subtle electric fields in the atmosphere, such as the ambipolar electric field, which is weak but plays a significant role in controlling the shape and evolution of the upper atmosphere.

The subtle electric fields in the earth are essential for the proper functioning of our immune, endocrine, and circulatory systems, and for balancing our biorhythms. This is why walking barefoot, gardening without gloves, or sitting directly on the ground is so beneficial for us. Human beings have a long history of close contact with the soil. In fact, our direct contact with the earth is both primal and fundamental to our health and well-being.

Water is always understood as a source of life, both temporal and spiritual. Life-giving water, springs of living water, rivers of healing water flowing from the throne of God are all commonly used and well understood descriptions of the visible and invisible properties of water. Water sounds, whether a running brook, ocean waves, or the patter of rain, are among the most popular for calming and soothing the nervous system, inducing restful sleep, and settling thoughts during meditation. Whether we drink cool water on a hot day or plunge into an ocean or lake, the goodness and necessity of contact with water is instinctive for us.

Stones are often called the bones of the earth. They are often thought of as a symbol of eternity, as in the expression the eternal hills. Stone, rock, and mountains are often associated with lasting truths and spiritual elevation, and signify a quest for higher spiritual realms. Spiritual truths are The best that the ancient mountains can give, the treasures from the everlasting hills. I suppose stone is as eternal as anything can be in this created and ultimately temporary universe.

Now we come to trees. Trees hold a special place in my heart. Trees are like the people of the earth, critters and humans being of an entirely different type and order. Trees fully and truly belong to the earth; they are part of it in a way that roaming beasts and industry-driven humans are not.

Today we will talk about the totems of the Standing People, the trees. These Chiefs of the Plant Kingdom are our Sisters and our Brothers who continue to provide oxygen to Earth’s Children. They provide shelter from their trunks and branches for the winged creatures of Earth. Their roots give a place for burrows for the smaller creatures and we are given materials for homes from the Tree Nation. Had you thought about the Standing People giving so much of themselves for the other creatures of Earth?
The Cherokee teach that the Standing People and all of their plant relations are the givers of the Earth. They are always giving of themselves to provide for the needs of others. Each tree and plant has its own gifts, talents, and abilities to share with the humans and other creatures of Earth. Some will bear fruit while others provide healing properties. ~ Beverly Two Feathers

Maple Leaf Viburnum in bloom, oak trees in the background, Jan Blencowe©2026

In my backyard growing up, there were three trees. A maple planted by my parents when my brother was born, a black cherry planted when I was born, and a positively massive oak tree that technically was in our neighbors' yard along the fence line, but whose presence dominated both our yards.

I loved all three trees. The maple was friendly and shady, and I played for hours beneath it in the summer. Its large golden leaves were a delight in autumn. The cherry was a lesson in seasonal changes, fluffy, delicate flowers in spring, and deep black ripe fruit later on, loved especially by birds. I particularly remember its dark, shiny bark. But it was the oak that commanded both awe and admiration. Unlike the maple and cherry, which were planted, the oak was just there. It was easily 80 feet tall or more, with huge, spreading branches. It dropped copious amounts of catkins in the late spring and bushels of acorns in the fall. The squirrels loved it, and occasionally one of the neighbor's cats would get stuck in it after climbing too high and becoming afraid to climb back down. I witnessed more than one rescue operation involving ladders and cans of cat food fixed to a broomstick or rake handle.

Growing up beneath a mature oak leaves an impression and changes you. If you are the quintessential nature child, as I was and am, you’re going to be not only aware of, but in communication with the oak naturally and be affected by it as a matter of course.

Because I grew up under the shelter of an oak I always find comfort and security when I’m around them. They have a certain kind of energy that radiates safety, strength and longevity. I think of oaks in the way I think of wolves, they are the apex species. Oaks are truly the king of the trees where I live. We have plenty of oaks in our woods and I find that to be comforting, bringing stability and calm to my life.

When I am troubled, as I have been recently, bearing the weight of concerns and challenges my thoughts can become burdensome driving away relaxation in the body and stillness in the mind. That state of being is very often a concern in itself because it disrupts my daily routine and robs me of the rhythms of prayer and work that organize my days in peaceful and fruitful ways.

One of the gifts that oaks trees give us is that of being able to bear or hold our emotional weight. They are such a picture of strength and shelter that you just know that they will help hold your troubles if you ask them to. This past week I spent a good deal of time gardening and it was then that I turned my thoughts to the oaks all around me. My heart was heavy but I was consoled by their presence and reminded of their strength and how they thrive season to season growing tall and majestic despite stebacks. Years of drought, bitter blizzard filled winters, or huricanes with gale force winds come and go but the oaks remain. When branches are snapped or growth slowed in difficult years they simply continue on until times are better. Resilence and longevity are two of the most important lessons the oaks teach me.

Turning my mind to the oaks brough back many memories of the grandfather oak in my childhood backyard and from that a sense of peace and protection flooded my soul. Trees are gifts to us from the Creator. They are here on this earth for many reasons, but one that is especially close to my heart is that of restoring joy to the soul.

"For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break out before you into singing, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

As the season moves from spring to summer I encourage you to spend time among the trees. Take your troubles to them, seek out memories that will uplift and restore joy in your inner being, rest in their shade, marvel at their height and strength in the face of storms.

Trees are symbols of knowledge, wisdom and eternal life. They are used as symbols of the lampstand of God that enlilghtens and shines forth the Spirit, as the menorah in Judaism and the Cross of Christ for Christians. Going back even further many cultures across the world recognize a World Tree that marks and articulates the center of the world and the connection between the worlds above and the worlds below.

Clearly trees are special, sacred and meant to help us understand the world around us and how we are to move through this life. I encourage you to make time in your life for trees they are a potent antidote to screens and artificially created content. Trees are true and real something we can all use right now.

Enjoy every moment of the year. Each month is a gift, each season of life filled with goodness beyond measure.

Thank you for reading Hedge Mystic and participating in this vibrant and growing community of creative, spiritual humans. You are always welcome here, appreciated, and loved.

Are you moved by this piece and want the Hedge Mystic Community to benefit and grow? Then, make a one-time donation. Click the Donate button below!

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?