Use Your Real Christmas Tree After Christmas
Hildegard von Bingen, says “The Pine tree is more warm than cold and contains many energies and powers. The tree is the symbol of strength.”
Over the last couple years, I have struggled to buy a real tree. I kept thinking, why am I doing this? What does this symbolize? What I'd come up with that made this OK for me was: its for the kids, well, in my case, the kid.
Last year, our son was gone for the holiday, so the choice was easy: No kid, no tree. I bought a cute glittery turquoise tree at Target and called it a Christmas day. But the year before that and this year, we decided to get a real tree.
This year, it was a last minute decision. I thought we'd go to Home Depot and find an artificial tree, but when we got there, the ones we wanted were either too expensive or sold out. We settled on a Douglas Fir. It was 39 dollars and 6 ft. tall, which was more than I was going to get in a artificial tree. Perfect. And the one thing that I really wanted that I was going to buy candles to circumvent, I was able to receive, that good old pine smell.
"Pine (Pinus abies) A coniferous evergreen tree that has been with us for over 200 million years – found in North and Central America, North Africa, and South East Asia, Pines have been revered for their strength and strong healing qualities for centuries" (www.evolutionaryherbalism.com).
It never occured to me that there really was some validity to having a real tree in the house. Or, that doing so was not just about my kid, but would also be helpful for my husband and I as well. Here are just a few ways that I have learned while researching the benefits of pine trees, that you too can also use your real Christmas tree now and after Christmas.
1. Throughout the holidays, take time to sit by the tree and breathe deeply.
"The Celtic and German ancestors used Pines as a protector from negative energy and burned it in sick rooms to strengthen those in healing. Pine strengthens the nerves and gives energy, courage and and builds the vital force. Today we use Pine for respiratory conditions like bronchitis, coughs, asthma, rheumatisms and urinary tract infections" (evolutionaryherbalism.com).
2. Pick leaves and wrap to dry to make smudge sticks.
"There is no right or wrong way to craft smudge wands. Get a nice thick bundle of fresh herbs and tie them at one end with string. Wind the string tightly and evenly around the bundle, tucking in any loose bits as you go. Tie off the string again at the opposite end. Trim any sticky-outy bits with scissors and then allow to dry in a paper bag in a warm, dry place for a few weeks before use. You can light smudge sticks with a lighter, a small blow torch, a burning charcoal, a gas flame, a fire, or even a car cigarette lighter. To extinguish, snuff out in dry sand or dirt until no part is glowing orange or smoking – do not get wet" (sarahannelawless.com).
3. Use the needles for cooking or tea.
"...using them for tea will boost the system with vitamin C and antioxidants. The needles can be harvested year round and used in teas or infused into oils for cooking meats, poultry or dressings – a really nice way to get these plants into your system!"(evolutionaryherbalism.com).
Over the last couple years, I have struggled to buy a real tree. I kept thinking, why am I doing this? What does this symbolize? What I'd come up with that made this OK for me was: its for the kids, well, in my case, the kid.
Last year, our son was gone for the holiday, so the choice was easy: No kid, no tree. I bought a cute glittery turquoise tree at Target and called it a Christmas day. But the year before that and this year, we decided to get a real tree.
This year, it was a last minute decision. I thought we'd go to Home Depot and find an artificial tree, but when we got there, the ones we wanted were either too expensive or sold out. We settled on a Douglas Fir. It was 39 dollars and 6 ft. tall, which was more than I was going to get in a artificial tree. Perfect. And the one thing that I really wanted that I was going to buy candles to circumvent, I was able to receive, that good old pine smell.
"Pine (Pinus abies) A coniferous evergreen tree that has been with us for over 200 million years – found in North and Central America, North Africa, and South East Asia, Pines have been revered for their strength and strong healing qualities for centuries" (www.evolutionaryherbalism.com).
It never occured to me that there really was some validity to having a real tree in the house. Or, that doing so was not just about my kid, but would also be helpful for my husband and I as well. Here are just a few ways that I have learned while researching the benefits of pine trees, that you too can also use your real Christmas tree now and after Christmas.
1. Throughout the holidays, take time to sit by the tree and breathe deeply.
"The Celtic and German ancestors used Pines as a protector from negative energy and burned it in sick rooms to strengthen those in healing. Pine strengthens the nerves and gives energy, courage and and builds the vital force. Today we use Pine for respiratory conditions like bronchitis, coughs, asthma, rheumatisms and urinary tract infections" (evolutionaryherbalism.com).
2. Pick leaves and wrap to dry to make smudge sticks.
"There is no right or wrong way to craft smudge wands. Get a nice thick bundle of fresh herbs and tie them at one end with string. Wind the string tightly and evenly around the bundle, tucking in any loose bits as you go. Tie off the string again at the opposite end. Trim any sticky-outy bits with scissors and then allow to dry in a paper bag in a warm, dry place for a few weeks before use. You can light smudge sticks with a lighter, a small blow torch, a burning charcoal, a gas flame, a fire, or even a car cigarette lighter. To extinguish, snuff out in dry sand or dirt until no part is glowing orange or smoking – do not get wet" (sarahannelawless.com).
3. Use the needles for cooking or tea.
"...using them for tea will boost the system with vitamin C and antioxidants. The needles can be harvested year round and used in teas or infused into oils for cooking meats, poultry or dressings – a really nice way to get these plants into your system!"(evolutionaryherbalism.com).
When we take from the earth, we should be conscious as to how we consume the earth. If we eat meat, we should be sure to eat all of the animal in thanks. The same goes for plants. Giving thanks for what we have been given means taking care of it, blessing and consciously consuming it. When the holiday is over, your real tree was not just a place to hang lights and ornaments, it was, whether known or not, sending out a smell to not only strengthen the body but also the spirit.
I have for years discarded my tree without knowing this and gone against what I know is certain: the way we treat our environment affects the way we treat ourselves. In yoga, the yamas, speak about right living. Right living and the ideas that coincide with this are not to keep us bond but to provide all life freedom. When we treat life with reverence, we can more easily see God in all. And if God is in all, might we use all that God has to offer.
In freedom,
Courtney
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