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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

While at university, there was a tree, a huge ancient oak, located on a triangle of land across from a laundromat, and there were many times that I would hug it walking to or from class. I felt good. I don’t know how the tree felt.

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Sam Aureli's avatar

A true tree-hugger! I'm sure the tree accepted your gesture with admiration.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

I can’t recall now whether there were other people who witnessed this. It occurred during Winter 1970-71 and I was sort of oblivious to many things back then.

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Mary Beth Kaplan🪶's avatar

This one has me taking some deep breaths, Sam. Just so moving. I’ve been in such a listening place throughout this fall season. This one made me pause…so good🙏🏼appreciate your words very much

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Thank you so much, Mary Beth! : )

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Deborah Gregory's avatar

Ah, so contemplative! Sometimes the deepest wisdom is simply to listen, letting the trees teach us how to belong. Thanks so much for sharing, Sam. Solstice blessings to you and your family. 🙏💖🕯️

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Thank you, Deborah. Solstice blessings to you as well. : )

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Wendy  Gray's avatar

Love you for this piece and the rustling behind it, Sam.

Blessings and MUCH LOVE! ~Wendy💜

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Thank you, Wendy. May you have a wonderful holiday season! : )

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Natalie Wilkinson's avatar

In my book club this month, the selection is The Hidden Life of Trees What They Feel, How They Communicate by Peter Wohlleben. It might interest you. As always, your poetry leads to a contemplative place.

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Funny you should mention that book. I had just ordered his 3 books about nature last week, and they're arriving today in the mail!

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Monoreena A Majumdar(Mocra)'s avatar

Coming back to read you after a long break is a pleasure Sam !

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Glad to have you back, M! Hope you are doing well, my friend. And I've been enjoying your photography on IG

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Monoreena A Majumdar(Mocra)'s avatar

Thanks Sam, yes feeling well after good few months:)

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Ana Lisa de Jong's avatar

Lovely, like wind in trees 🌳

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Thank you, Ana Lisa! : )

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Caroline Mellor's avatar

💚💚💚

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Thank you! : )

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Ethereal Twilight Poetry's avatar

Very touching! I love the way you play with assonance.

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Sam Aureli's avatar

why thank you! : )

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Patris's avatar

I like that they’re exchanging secrets - or a word, perhaps, about that annoying squirrel that leaps between their lower branches…

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Those squirrels! I remember walking the woods out in Utah, and the squirrels were aggressive, and yelling at me as I walked by. lol

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Patris's avatar

Ours here are notorious snackers at birdfeeders (the MacDonalds of east coast rodents) - pretty sure they’d have collective heart attacks in Utah!

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Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Beautiful! And such a great reminder to listen. I'm hoping to hear "green chimes on the forest's breath."

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Sam Aureli's avatar

May the trees sing to you! : )

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Susan Hickman's avatar

Beautiful, such an insightful recording of the nature all around us

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Thank you, Susan!

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Laura Coleman's avatar

A lovely poem, i have always been enchanted by the song of wind in the trees. I felt inspired to share my poem that also shares this deep listening to nature. Hope you’ll give it a read. 🙏🏼

https://open.substack.com/pub/fairiesandgnomes/p/everything-has-a-voice?r=19igav&utm_medium=ios

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Sam Aureli's avatar

I just read it. Beautiful! and thank you.

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Stefano Carini's avatar

I also wrote a poem yesterday on the same subject :)

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Can't wait to read it! : )

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Stefano Carini's avatar

It’s drifting in the notes. Just thought how nice we had a similar idea at the same time. It’s the the collective unconscious speaking :)

https://substack.com/@skyocean/note/c-187910518?r=4oulbo&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action

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Teyani Whitman's avatar

I love listening to the trees. They share such beautiful tales with each other.

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Sam Aureli's avatar

I often think of Treebeard from the Lord of the Rings, and hope that at night, when we're all asleep, that they awaken and walk around doing what trees would do in such a setting. : )

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Teyani Whitman's avatar

I love this image.

I’ve slowly been reading my way thru “hidden life of trees” and the things science knows about how they actually communicate.

I have a coral bark maple that self sprouted out of a Japanese maple I planted about eight years ago, it’s grown to 12 feet now.. and I just planted a paperbark maple not far away from it in honor of a friend who passed. I invited them to converse and connect as their roots grow, knowing they must be cousins. Hopefully they will be stronger together while remaining unique.

https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/the-hidden-life-of-trees-what-they-feel-how-they-communicate-discoveries-from-a-secret-world-9781771642484?shipto=US&curcode=USD&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping-Used-Top-USA&utm_content=180641046141&utm_term=&creative=768818651404&device=c&placement=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22688101594&gbraid=0AAAAADMQnG_r02fKPPesHlAffXLAqUj28&gclid=Cj0KCQiAo4TKBhDRARIsAGW29bftF09KcE5JRGZWMdBP0AyFDu0nyfUXUok3tlolZJCZCNfgl5Of5E8aAuwJEALw_wcB

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Thank you for sharing the link. I will add these books to the list!

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Vickey Bagg's avatar

Beautiful! Listening to the sounds of the trees is soul medicine 🙏🥰

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Sam Aureli's avatar

Thank you, Vickey! They are true healers. : )

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