The Spirit of Trees

By Elena Iglesias

This mystical literary production highlights decades of contemporary books with ancestral stories, myths, and legends about the existential coexistence between man and nature. A theme aided by the beauty of nature helps construct the fraternity between the plant world and human kind. Just as Shel Silverstein developed in his book, “The Giving Tree,” the emotional relationship between the child and the tree, Elena Iglesias has brought to life in these stories the spirit of an inanimate being, “The Tree” as told with the help of a wise old Owl. This is an ode to the gentleness and kindness of nature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: YourSpecs
• Release date: Dec 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9780744321043

Elena Iglesias

Elena Iglesias, an independent journalist and art reporter, is the author of four books of poetry: Península (1977); Mundo de Aire (1978), which includes poems that earned awards from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello of Caracas; Campo Raso (1983), the product of a Poetry Workshop of the Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos Rómulo Gallegos of Caracas, Venezuela; and Temblor de Luz (2009), dedicated to the memory of Cuban poet Dulce Maria Loynaz. She also has written four books of short stories: "Cuenta el Caracol" (1995), a recreation of “patakies” from the Afro-Cuban tradition; "Aloni Gabriel and Butterfly" (2004, 2005 & 2009), a children’s book inspired by her eldest grandson; "Adventures of a Blue Butterfly" (2009), a prequel for her younger grandson; and "The Philosophy of My Wandering Cat" (2009), philosophical fables with an inspirational twist. She was born in Cuba.

Book preview

The Spirit of Trees

by

Elena Iglesias

Illustrations by Dalia Cepero Rodríguez

Edited by Miriam Mendieta

Copyright 2018 by Elena Iglesias

Smashwords Edition

* * * *

DEDICATION

For our mother, who was unique in so many ways, who marched to the beat of her own drum, who always believed in fairies and fantastical creatures, who always gave her honest opinion whether it was solicited or not, who always tried to live life authentically, and above all, who always lived in love with love.

We miss her.

Miriam, Ana Maria and Pedro

* * * *

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: The Alder and Destiny

CHAPTER 2: The Almond and Kuan Yin

CHAPTER 3: The Apple and Eternal Present

CHAPTER 4: The Ash and the Snake

CHAPTER 5: The Aspen and the Gypsies

CHAPTER 6: The Beech and the Doors

CHAPTER 7: The Birch and the Zen Master

CHAPTER 8: The Blackthorn and the Wiseman

CHAPTER 9: The Cedar of Lebanon and Surly

CHAPTER 10: The Cherry’s Poem

CHAPTER 11: The Chestnut and the Turtle

CHAPTER 12: The Elder and Magic Mirror

CHAPTER 13: The Elm and Obatala

CHAPTER 14: The Rainbow Eucalyptus and Gold

CHAPTER 15: The Goose Tree and the Books

CHAPTER 16: The Hawthorn and the Fairy

CHAPTER 17: The Hazel and the King of the Gods

CHAPTER 18: The Heather and the Bridge

CHAPTER 19: The Holly and Arachnid Man

CHAPTER 20: The Juniper and the Salmon

CHAPTER 21: The Kapok Tree and the Wasteland

CHAPTER 22: The Laurel and Apollo

CHAPTER 23: The Linden and the Dragon

CHAPTER 24: The Maple and its Poetry

CHAPTER 25: The Myrrh and Happiness

CHAPTER 26: The Oak and the Red Dragon

CHAPTER 27: The Olive and Immortality

CHAPTER 28: The Palm and the Light

CHAPTER 29: The Pear and Lolita

CHAPTER 30: The Pine and the Seasons

CHAPTER 31: The Indian Fig and the Suns

CHAPTER 32: The Royal Poinciana and La Malinche

CHAPTER 33: The Black Poplar and the Rabbit

CHAPTER 34: The Reed and Humility

CHAPTER 35: The Rowan Tree and the Cat

CHAPTER 36: The Spruce and the Thunder God

CHAPTER 37: The Sycamore and the Minotaur

CHAPTER 38: The Vine and The Midas Touch

CHAPTER 39: The Ivy and the Okra

CHAPTER 40: The Walnut and the Destroyer of Clouds

CHAPTER 41: The Willow and the Moon

CHAPTER 42: The Yew and the Witch

EPILOGUE

Back to Top

* * * *

PROLOGUE

My love of nature has always been at the center of my life. Just as Mahatma Gandhi said, What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.

A tree that brings tears to my eyes may simply be something green, though it may be bothersome for others. Some view nature as ridiculous or imperfect, and others simply don’t see it at all. For me, nature is pure imagination.

I dream that the person I love and myself are plants that grew up together, roots intertwined, and that I know the earth and the rain like I know his mouth, because we are made of earth and rain.

The forests are the lungs of our planet, purifying the air and giving strength and vitality to the people.

Being poor and not having trees is being the hungriest person in the world. Being poor and having trees is being rich in ways money will never be able to buy.

The simplest path towards the Universe and truth is across wild forests, but I am not afraid, for the trees seem to know me. They whispered among themselves and invited me to come closer.

As I took in my surroundings, I saw that there were many other trees, wild plant life and herbs that have flourished under the protection of the trees that were there and we planted.

I believe that everyone’s personality is similar to that of a specific tree. This belief was the impetus for me to write this book. It is my attempt to bring about a profound awareness of this fact. Hopefully, this realization will lead to having the same respect and admiration for nature and the trees, which are a gift from God.

Elena Iglesias

Back to Top

* * * *

INTRODUCTION

Trees are sanctuaries.

Whoever knows how to speak to them,

whoever knows how to listen to them,

can learn the truth…

~ Hermann Hesse

Can You Imagine?

For example, what the trees do

not only in lightning storms

or the watery dark of a summer’s night

or under the white nets of winter

but now, and now, and now

whenever we’re not looking.

Surely you can’t imagine

they don’t dance, from the root up,

wishing to travel a little,

not cramped so much as wanting

a better view, or more sun,

or just as avidly more shade ...

surely you can’t imagine

they just stand there, loving every minute of it,

the birds or the emptiness,

the dark rings of the years slowly

and without a sound thickening

and nothing different unless the wind,

and then only in its own mood, comes to visit,

surely you can’t imagine patience

and happiness likes that.

~ Mary Oliver

Back to Top

* * * *

Kodama are tree spirits who inhabit the woods of the Forest Spirit.

There are thousands of kodama in the forest.

They can disappear and reappear at will, it seems.

They are harmless and friendly, although some