December 20th, 2025
“I see a time of seven generations, when all the colors will gather under the sacred tree of life and the whole earth will become one circle again.”
Crazy Horse (Lakota Leader of the Oglala band; UNKNOWN ~ September 5th, 1877)
Introduction
“In every healthy community, village, or barrio, historically and traditionally, there was a sacred tree where individuals, families, and the community as a whole would gather. The tree had roots connected to the sacred elements of the universe: the earth, the sun, water, wind and grandmother moon. These elements connected generations of energy and life, serving as the symbolic focal point, rod of life, or spiritual alter.”
“There have been significant trees throughout my life. The golden locust tree in the front yard in my Eugene, OR. childhood home. A deciduous tree known for its vibrant golden-yellow foliage. I remember the leaves being so delicate. If you gently stroked the length the compound leaves (many leaflets on one stem) they would retrack to close. I felt like I was interacting with the tree in a very personified way. The long willow branches hung low enough to grasp a bundle and swing across the lawn. Always watchful for my parents yelling from the living room to, “Stop swinging on the branches and breaking them off! During my teenage years, I remember scrambling through the redwoods. Building forts and play hide-n-seek amongst the magical giants. As an adult, I nurtured and loved a few Japanese maple trees that I planted when my children were born. Upon leaving this home, I noticed how treasured and mature these beauties had become. As an elder, I have yet to find my tree. I am confident I will find it and it too will add to my journey.”
Gatherings in Circles, Ceremony, Traditions, and Customs
“…families and communities increasingly understood that in order to survive and grow, they needed to continually be re-grounded in their sacred roots, their authentic history, and the positive principles of life. People have always gathered around the sacred tree or in sacred places, in circles, mirroring nature, as a way of honoring and keeping in harmony with these principles. In circles, and through positive ceremonies, traditions, and customs, the principles and values were taught, reinforced, and strengthened. The sacred principles provided the way for the individual, the family, and the community to survive through difficult times and not lose focus on one’s greater purpose. The ceremonies and traditions also assured that life affirming values and principles were taught, maintained and passed on from generation to generation in a sacred way. And when one did stray from this sacredness, there was a welcoming, safe place to re-root oneself.”
“The seed of a tree that goes way back and connects all of us to a genetic memory of wholeness that calls to us throughout our lives, especially in times of darkness and struggle. Despite this, we have all. at some point, found ourselves in that place of darkness– a state of imbalance that leaves us wondering how to get back to that place of health, harmony and fulfillment. …In that stats of prolonged imbalance, one may begin to believe that this sense if disorientation, distortion, and darkness is normal. …Because when we get to that state of being we tend to forget what health, wholeness and sacredness is. Without that feeling of wholeness, the thought of one being sacred or having a sacred purpose is not even a consideration.”
“This was my old life. I was trapped in a narcissistic chaos which consumed and created my context for living or not living. As an indigenous woman who was raised in complete assimilation, I feel very disconnected to my ancestral roots. As I have grown into my authentic self and realizing I now am the elder in my family, I feel drawn to my native roots. My dad had shared that his grandmother had told him I was a seer. I had never explored or even considered what that meant much before now. As I watch how I interact with the world I see it popping up organically as a part of who I am. My empathic vein makes me a conduit for others to seek me for help. I love helping others and also realize how taxing this is to my emotional state. I am getting better at tempering when I offer my sacred insight and when I chose to keep it close to my heart. I have always described my existence similar to a battery. If unmetered, it simply runs down and I pay the price. I now am a better listener to my inner voice and my own needs to create better balance and flow in my life journey.”
–Trello, Jerry. “Recovering Your Sacredness: Ancestral Teachings For Today’s Living”. Sueños Publications, L.L.C.. (2018). Pages 1-5.
I challenge each of you to post comments to this blog series so we all can grow together.
My Distilled Life 