TIDBITS 01/09/05

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Tree

There it stands ... tall and phallic
.... its roots dipping into the streams
of the underworld ... its boughs reaching
for the heavens.

It is all things. It is food and shelter. It is
a scratching post and it is wood. It is an
evergreen ... symbolizing immortality. Perhaps
that is why it is the Christmas tree ... the cosmic
tree of light ... glittering in the darkness as do
stars in the heavens ... its candles the reborn
souls of the dead resting upon its branches.

It is a deciduous tree ... shedding and budding
each year ... it is the ressurection ... the dying
and the reborn. Oh the symbolism. Is a cigar a cigar?
Or is it more? To some ... the tree is just a plant
with the feature of having just enough bark to
feed the deer in winter ... and just enough holes to
house the squirrels ... and just enough leaves with
which to create mulch in order to nourish the
slug-infested tomato plants.

Some think the trees are the abodes of deities and
spirits. Some think elves live inside their hollows.
The truth of course is that trees were created with no
other purpose than that of creating houses in their
branches for the kiddies to play in ... and for no other
purpose than for climbing ... and for no other
purpose than for creating a target with which dogs
can practice their aiming skills.

Still ... for those who tend to embrace the mystical ...
trees are the abodes of Gods ... though why an all
powerful being would allow such a lowly cur as a dog
to lift its leg in order to soil said God's abode defies my
comprehension. But what do I know?

There are the various favorite trees which various
favorite Gods inhabit. In Persia ... its the Cypress ...
sacred to Ahura Mazda. In India ... it's the Bo ...
incarnated by Buddha. For Egyptian Gods ... its the
Sycamore. Rome ... cradle to Romulus and Remus ...
it's the Fig tree. For the Greek god Artemis ... it's
the Willow. Zeus ... the Oak. The list is endless.
Think carefully ye of faith ... of what you do when
you cut down a tree for your own purposes ... lest you
displace a being who's been current with his rent
checks and had no suspicion of ever being evicted by
mere man. His wrath may be more than you can handle.
And let us not neglect the displeasure wrought
upon man's best friend when yet another tree is felled ...
and all he has left upon which to practice his aim is
a newly white-washed fence.

And then there's the jeweler ... who understood the deep
richness of the tree ... and decided to make one in gold ...
with green enamel leaves. Ahh ... an abode fit for a deity
.... an abode in gold ... to be worn on a lady's blouse
.... where the mighty spirits can live in eternal peace ...
and where the dog ... hopefully ... can not practice its
aiming skills.

Happy New Year to you all. And remember to plant a tree
and help the spectrally needy.

For those of you who are new to this thing called
Tidbits...may I direct you to my home page at www.tyler-adam.com where
you will scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that
says Tidbits Graphics ... and then click on the link that says: Tree
.... in order to view a golden shelter for the spirits.

And there ya have it.
That's it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark

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