Platbos Forest

Trees as Spiritual Teachers

by Melissa Saayman Krige. Trees and forests are a prerequisite for life on our planet. Referred to as the lungs of the Earth since they produce the oxygen we breathe, they are also climate-controllers and desert-preventers. They provide us with raw materials, timber, food and fodder, medicines and spices, shade and shelter.

Our physical dependence on trees is becoming increasingly well known, and there is a growing awareness of how our lifestyles and attitudes towards nature are resulting in global warming and subsequent climate change. Yet how many know of the spiritual dimension of trees?