Pohutukawa trees are hardy souls. They live in coastal areas, exposed to salt spray, strong winds, hot sun, and limited soil.
One way they sustain themselves in these challenging environments is to grow aerial roots; these roots go looking for water and the nutrients they need,
‘As well as having knees and elbows, pōhutukawa sometimes also have beards. These are made of aerial roots and can form huge masses hanging from branches. Aerial roots help the trees absorb moisture from the air and collect any rain or condensing mist drips down branches and trunks.
Grow your Aerial roots.
While I am not suggesting you grow a beard to cope with dry periods, I wonder where you might develop your aerial roots to sustain you.
Some of your activities may already nourish you if you take the time to ground yourself in what you are already doing.
Being present in our lives
Often, it is recognising that our activities can nourish our spirit, body and mind if we are present in the activity.
"Don't just go through the motions, daydreaming or lost in an interior dialogue of agendas. "Please inhabit your place fully," as Jane Hooper delightfully puts it, fully present to what you are doing. This kind of attention is like a brisk northwest wind blowing away the smoggy awareness we usually settle for."
Cynthia Bourgeault, The wisdom way of knowing
Body, mind and Spirit Nourishment
Sometimes, the things that used to sustain us no longer do; they feel dry and dull; maybe this is an invitation to find new ways to make ourselves feel alive.
How can you find nourishment for your spirit, mind and body?
It may be the need for quiet and solitude; this can be as small as finding a sit spot ( a sit spot is a place, usually outside or at least with a view of outside, where we sit for a few moments a day and notice)
Or standing outside in the morning and taking a few deep breaths.
Or something longer, silent prayer of meditation
Do you crave creativity in your lives? Are there ways you can weave in some time to journal, doodle, knit, bake
Is it community we desire? Where can you find community in unexpected places? I am no singer, but I have started attending a local Waiata (singing) group and love the sense of acceptance and community there.
Or do our bodies need rest, sleep, nourishing food, water, exercise?
At the beginning of any of these activities, take a few minutes before you start, being aware, ask for God (or love, however, you name God) to be present.
Do you need to ground yourself in nature and just be?
Noticing small moments of joy
Etty Helisum was a jew who lost her life in a concentration camp; in her diary, she writes.
Last night, walking that long way home through the rain with the blister on my foot, I still made a short detour to seek out a flower stall and went home with a large bunch of roses. They are just as accurate as all the misery I witness each day.
Etty Helisum, An interrupted life, Pg230
Amid the terror she experienced in her everyday life, she sought out nourishment and joy, in small ways.
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