Hi all,
I’ve had a request from members of my UU congregation for any ceremonies or rituals of honor for the death/removal of a beloved tree. I’m happy to create something with them…but I know that they’re independent folks and would love to find and do something on their own.
Might you all know of anything or have created something you’d share? I looked through our books, but didn’t see anything that was applicable, unless I missed it.
Thanks!
I don’t know of anything in AODA books (and I haven’t read all the Trilothons, so there could be things in there), but Dana does have a couple of helpful blog posts on Druid’s Garden. This one is for trees taken too soon: https://thedruidsgarden.com/2015/08/24/druid-tree-workings-holding-space-and-helping-tree-spirits-pass/. This one is for trees nearing the end of a more natural life span: https://thedruidsgarden.com/2021/12/05/druid-tree-workings-witnessing-the-death-of-an-old-tree/.
If this is a public tree, I also read an article once somewhere about a beloved tree on a college campus that was dying and needed to come down for safety reasons. The college put the information out about the tree and the plans to take it down and encouraged people to say their farewells before the date. If I remember right, this led to a lot of people stopping and talking to the tree and maybe even leaving flowers with it and such. It seemed like such a lovely thing to do for both the tree and the people who loved it.
Marvelous! Thank you, Amy – this will be a good start for my folks. It’s a beloved old tree on their property that must come down because it isn’t healthy or safe any longer.
I asked this same question of JMG on one of his Magic Monday posts back in 2021. A large oak in our yard was damaged by a severe ice storm and needed to come down. His suggestion was to speak with the tree at least a few days ahead of its removal and explain what is going to happen and that you are sorry for its loss. He said this gives the tree’s spirit time to prepare and depart.
It was comforting for me as well.
Thank you for this – I’ll pass this along!
Thanks for sharing these, Amy! I have a lot more on this topic in my new book Land Healing as well. Happy to share more here too.
(And maybe as we are revising the candidate guide, we can put something in there, since we have the tree planting ritual).
It would be wonderful to have rites for the circle of life available in the Candidate Guide.
I’ll let my people know that you have material on this in your book, Dana!
You may also bring up the disposition of the remains as a part of the ceremonies revolving around the removal of the tree.
If type and size permit, perhaps a nice bench to enjoy the shade beneath the new tree.
Perhaps some artwork on slabs of the wood for the halls or sanctuary.
Lots of ways to dispose of the remains that allows the tree to remain with the congregation and watch their growth.
These are all very good ideas! Thank you!
(It seems like we have plenty of good ideas to go into the Candidate Guide, @DanaD!)
They’ve saved three rounds from the trunk to serve as seats in the garden, and the arborists left about 14 feet of trunk. I suggested they find a carver to make it into art they can enjoy in their yard. The ceremonies happened over about three days, before and after the work was done. And their arborist made sure to show them the rot damage that meant the tree had to come down for safety. It sounds like everyone did the very best they could imagine.