On the 8th of August I revisited three pine trees in Kaivopuisto Park that I used to visit in 2022 and 2023. I wanted to do something because the day was special; a day when the so called Lion’s Gate Portal is open. In astrological terms that means “the alignment of the sun in Leo, the star Sirius, which is the brightest star as seen from Earth, the constellation Orion’s Belt and the Earth.” Moreover, the August 8 is also International Cat Day, instigated by the International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2002. But why the three pines?
I was inspired by a webinar on tree whispering by Rachel Corby where she suggested that a beginner should visit three trees, sit with each tree about 20 min, and notice how you feel, and whether you feel different with each tree, because most people do. And so did I, inevitably. The pine trees and the places that have created them and that they keep creating are very different even in the same park. I did not want to record my thoughts or write them down but rather to spend the time listening, sensing, open to what might occur. I could not resist bringing my video camera as a witness, though, but chose to place it at a distance in order not to focus on me and to have a full view of the tree.
The first tree I revisited was the Reclining Pine that I talked with once a month in 2022 (see image above). The second tree was the tent-formed Kaivopuisto pine that I practiced with all the year 2022. And the third tree was the tall Pine in the Park that I was ‘pondering’ with approximately twice a month in 2023. Despite the exercise being the main thing, I thought I might create a video triptych with the three pines. Afterwards I realised I could rather edit some versions of the old videos to insert in these new frames, as I did with some Örö pines.
Usually I focus on my breath when I perform, even count my breaths to keep time, but now I noticed I kept repeating a phrase with the first pine, ‘Jag är nu bara här med dig’, which means something like ‘I’m just here with you now’. The experience of standing by the bent tree in the sun was exhausting, and when leaning my back against the second pine I repeated ‘tack för skuggan’, thank you for the shade. By the third pine I sat down on the ground and asked myself, can I just rest here. This turned into the enigmatic phrase ‘har jag kraft att vila?’, do I have the strength to rest? The main experience with all three pines was of an almost exaggerated embodiment, a heightened awareness of all the tensions in different parts of my body. And paradoxically, that was a great gift.
Pondering with Pines - Miettii Mäntyjen kanssa - Funderar med Furor 