Ash

Ponderings on Ash

The ash tree is currently suffering from a devastating disease, which is threatening to denude our ash populations, just as Dutch Elm disease did to the Elm. And I began to ponder what this means, on a mystical level. To me, trees are not just trees, they are symbols and have deep meaning. When a tree becomes threatened this suggests to me that a whole level of reality is being threatened. With the Elm, I believe it was the nurturing feminine, and the delicate elven races that were extinguished, or ended (to return at another time).

So I began to look into ash, and have found some interesting information.

"the ash often appears in mythology as the father of mankind. In Greek myth Zeus is said to have fashioned the bronze race of men from ash, while oak trees are the mothers of the present race. In Scandinavian lore the first man Askr was made from ash, while the first woman Embla was made from alder, or some say rowan or elm."

The bronze race of men, brought up several sites, which referred to the bronze age, (not the historical age but the Platonian age), and gave this description...

"With the Race of Bronze arrive the eating of flesh, arms, and war ("the lamentable works of Ares"—as Hesiod puts it). Now Justice leaves the earth forever (Aratus). The most outstanding feature of the Race of Bronze is its warlike character."

Interesting that the 'eating of flesh' is one of the new generation's objections, they wish to be vegan, or at least vegetarian, and are full of passion about this.

So perhaps.. the demise or decline of the Ash tree, signifies the end of the bronze age of war and flesh eating. But the next age is iron, and certainly sounds bad, but does not mention using machines to kill, which seems to me to be a further slide into destruction.

The age of iron has no tree, but is characterised by both war, and a lack of spirituality, so that morals and ethics are entirely lost. I would say that this is very true of our current time.

The way that Plato describes this age is interesting in another way too. He speaks of a time long ago, where the magnetic poles shifted and the world turned the wrong direction for a short period. This caused the destruction of most of the animals, and left only a handful of humans. These humans then went onto begin a new golden age. Which is characterised by total peace between all humans and animals. A hunter/gatherer existence.

Considering the Holly and Oak King tradition, where the Oak King (Jesus) is born in the depths of Winter, at the same time the Holly King is actually in his highest power. Like the Ying Yang symbol, the seed of the light comes in the height of the darkness. This same principle is perhaps possible to apply to the ages described by Plato. The elven/Elm age was the silver age, and only truly died when the Bronze age was in total ascendancy, at the start of the Industrial Revolution, (Dutch Elm disease had two phases). And at that same time the seed of the Iron age was born. So now in this current time, we see the death of the Ash/Bronze age at a time of total ascendency of the Iron age. Which presumably means there is also a seed of the new Golden Age too. Perhaps this seed is the new generation who refuse to eat any meat.

Lastly, another well documented and traditionally important aspect of Ash, is this; When there was a bad harvest of Ash, or any disease in the Ash tree, it was considered an omen of the fall of the highest power, the King, the authority or highest God at the time.

Conflict

Conflict comes in many forms, from the subtle conflicts that we see in nature between competing plants, or animals, to the more overt conflicts of an arguing couple, and when nations or tribes become inolved in conflicts they can reach terrifying proportions.

Must we accept as humans that conflict is a natural part of our struggle on this planet? Or can we possibly work towards a future where conflict is minimised, even eradicated?

Certainly, in my opinion, we can find ways to minimise conflict, these ways are many, some stem from religious practices of all inclusive deity that urges tollerance and peace and love, some stem from more scientific approaches of conflict management, given formulae for talking and working with each other, specific rules of engagement if you like, that can help us to address our needs to others in ways that do not involve blame and augmentation of the tensions between us.

I do not actually believe that in this world we can avoid conflict altogether, it would be nice to think this is possible, but in fact we are not perfect, our humanity gives us flaws that we cannot avoid. But I do strongly believe that 90% of the conflict that we do experience in the world today can be either avoided entirely or it can be neutralised before it becomes threatening or dangerous.

So what causes conflict? Our competition for natural resources, space, food and other material things will inevitably lead us at some point to disagree, or to try and impose our needs above the needs of others, or to find ourselves in situations where another's needs are imposed on us. Our emotional stability will also give rise at some times, to conflict issues. Our differences in beliefs, customs, ideals and so on, can also give rise to conflict.

But the NO1 reason for unresolved and exacerbated conflict is blame.

Blame causes strife, blame causes guilt, blame causes us, and others, to react in ways that are outside of the ideals we would hold for ourselves as good citizens or good people of this world. When we blame another person, or country, or organisation, or faith for anything, we are instigating and enflaming conflict. So how can we avoid blame? Are we to say that we must suffer in silence for atrocities or harm inflicted upon us, or upon our families and friends? Well, if this were the case then of course the world would be a terrible place, so no, we are not to suffer in silence.

Understanding.

Firstly we must calmly and critically look at the situation. And we must set this out in our own minds, or even in writing if easier, quietly, and logically. We must think of a point by point list, of what we feel has been done that is wrong. What is it that has caused this issue to occur? What has happened that we object to? What steps can be taken to avoid this in future, and what steps can be taken to amend the situation?

Secondly we must then look, as if from outside our own situation, and see how we ourselves have been instrumental in this same situation. Have we presented some weakness, or some anger or some pain to others, that may have caused this situation to develop into one where we blame another person? What is it that we may have done to contribute to this situation. How have we traveled along our own path to arrive at this situation of conflict?

Compassion and communion.

We must also look at how both parties in this disagreement may move closer to each other, how we may become friends, how future actions may be of benefit to both parties, working together for a common goal. We must exhibit compassion for the other party, understand why they acted in this way, and in order to be compassionate, we must understand them in a way that is almost like a union, a coming together, or communion. Look deeply for the humanity and reasoning in this person you feel wronged by.

Forgiveness.

Now we may say, that we can never forgive some terrible act that is committed against us, but until we do, we can never move onto a more peaceful future, in fact we must not only forgive the other party who has harmed us, but we must also forgive ourselves and our own part that we have played in bringing about this conflict. We must also forgive ourselves for blaming another individual. Through compassion and communion we can arrive at forgiveness, and then the past is no longer in control of us. The past no longer holds us in its tortuous grip of revenge and anger, and crisis will melt away.

Dialogue.

Now that we have prepared our minds, understood the reasons behind this situation, both our own involvements and the involvement of the other party, and we have considered with compassion and communion how we might move to understanding, and we have in our hearts and minds forgiven these former actions, both of ourselves and other parties, we are ready to move onto dialogue and resolution.

I can say, for certain, blaming another will never resolve anything at all. The way we must address the situation is to bring our concerns firmly and with strength and confidence to the party who we feel wronged by, to state our own involvement in this situation as honestly as we can, and to give precise and carefully considered words of how this situation of pain or injustice may be resolved. State clearly and calmly what things you wish for the future, what things you hope will not occur again. Not once may we say 'it was your/his/her/their fault." Not once may we cast blame, because what does blame do? It causes guilt, and strife, and exacerbates the situation of conflict.

We must engage in dialogue at all times with open heart, but also with strength and confidence. We do have as much right to have our own needs and concerns met, as anyone else does, but in accepting this, which we must, we must also realise that the other party has those same rights. There can be no winner and looser in such a dialogue, only two friends who both win. Address your new friend with respect, and your dialogue will be easy to manage. 

Resolution.

Resolution may result in many things but the greatest we hope for, is that it will provide both parties with a positive and peaceful future of understanding, a fresh start where they may both work together. The smallest hope for resolution, is that we have no further conflict and crisis, and at least understood each other and forgiven each other and ourselves. Perhaps there may not be a way for us to work together in future, but we now know through this process, that we have respect and understanding for the other party and for ourselves. That we understand we are all human, and that we all have value and that our goals and dreams and objectives can be sought without harming others.

Strangely, although I have presented this process in a more scientific way, than a faithful way, it is actually all one. As are all things.

Peace Love Light Co-operation.

Yemen

Well it is time for me to write about Yemen, something I have not done, despite being fascinated by this wonderful wild country for many years now, always hoping that things might settle there so I could visit it, but they never seem to, and now, well now they are very far from settled.

Many hundreds of people are writing about the political situation, some of them have actual facts, some are wildly reciting propaganda and fairy stories, trying to write on a subject that they have no knowledge of at all, so they will accept any rubbish and think it is true. But I won't write about this, because I feel, despite knowing more facts than many of the so called reporters, I truly do not know much at all. I live in Wales, quiet, rural, green and peaceful. The worst catastrophe we have is when a bus gets blown over in strong winds, and so I truly have no idea what it must be like to live in a desert land, where men are strong, and women are protected, and where guns, swords and battles are a part of life.

What I do want to write about is just how amazing the Yemeni people are, they are passionate, strong, true to what they believe in, caring, full of bravery and yet humility, fervently spiritual and yet not condemning of other people's faith. Yemen is the only Muslim country in the world where all branches of the Muslim faith live peacefully, even pray together, where even Christmas is celebrated in kinship with other faiths. It is a country steeped in tradition, where people know their family lineage for 500 generations. Yemeni people have the sort of humour that makes you laugh genuinely. It is so far removed from where I am right now, in every possible way, that it truly is like another world, but it is a world that totally fascinates me and fills me with love and admiration, despite its harshness.

I think of the vast tracts of dust and mountains, the flowing terraces of tended green, the elegantly decorated tall houses, perched daringly on top of the mountains, the bustling streets of colour, full of men with curved swords, guns on their backs, women covered walking together, or with their children, so beautiful so exotic and yet so totally natural, so earthy and true, so real. I have to admit that I am quite in love with this beautiful land, even though I have never truly seen it.

I want this land to always be, to always remain, to be ruled by these wonderful people who have kept it so perfectly for so long. Sana'a is one of the longest continuously populated cities on the earth, for over 2,500 years, and what is more, many of the buildings in the city are still just as they were, the day they were first built, glorious in their ancient construction. Built of the very clay that they stand on, decorated and maintained for so long. Almost impossible to imagine how such a building would feel to stand in, to feel that expanse of history all around, connected to the earth and to time so absolutely. I imagine it would feel very solid, and magical.

But Yemen is such a contrast, despite being so ancient, and traditional, it is a land of brave fighters. Of course, it would be, one must have to fight just to survive sometimes in such a place against invasions and the hardships of the desert. And yet too it is a land of learned people, who's tradition as philosophers and poets stretches back so far, to before Christ and further. A Yemeni can be speaking of death to their enemies in one sentence, then quote some beautiful passage of the Quran in another, passionate romantic love, poetry just conjured from a great Yemeni writer in the 2nd century, or political or scientific discourse of the most modern nature. But always full of genuine life and conviction.

So what to make of it all? What is my conclusion on Yemen? I don't think I have one, as every time I think I have understood this wonderful country, I realise how little I do understand. All that I can say, is that I want it always to be free and strong, and for it to always be allowed to continue and grow as it always has, so that at least there is one place on earth where people are truly all that they can be, and proud to be who they are.

The Water Rises


Well what a week in the UK, in fact what a month, or two. Hambledon in Hampshire has actually been in a flood crisis situation for 40 days, so it has been much longer than just this week. So why has it only just suddenly become a crisis situation in the eyes of the government?

Do we assume that it was not a crisis until it hit the areas surrounding London? Or is it simply that the scale of the flooding has become impossible to ignore now? I suppose it is probably a little of both, and the news is full of flood advice, pictures of the army and even the Royal Family helping out to try and stem the rising waters and protect everyone's valuable property.

This really is quite a huge event in the history of our small Island. For sure it has flooded many times before, and in fact, as can be seen from some of the names of places that are under water, such as "Lakeside Terrace" or more telling "Marsh Lane" these areas were known to flood on a regular basis in the past. So why now, is it an issue of national emergency, when in the past it has just been vaguely noted in passing place names?

Well there are many reasons of course, and all of these are being looked into and discussed at the moment. Firstly, there have been many planning applications over the last few years, to build on known flood-plains. And for some strange reason, the various councils have not had the presence of mind to say no to these developments. Secondly, we have become much more settled in our lives over the last 50+ years. At one point in time people would think nothing of just "upping sticks" and moving on, when the environment became difficult to live in, or work was easier to find elsewhere, but now, we are all much more firmly ensconced in our personal, treasure filled castles, and extremely reluctant to leave them.

The unavoidable issue of climate change has become widely accepted now. There may still be arguments over whether this has been caused by our massive overuse of the world's resources, wildly burning and burning to keep our homes toasty and bright, and our clothes sparkling clean, and our feet out of the water as we drive in our new car. Or whether it is simply an issue of the fluctuations that naturally occur on our planet over time. No matter which argument we prefer or believe, the fact is the same, that this type of extreme weather, is here to stay.

Of course everyone agrees that we need to take note and plan for more of this type of situation in the future. Usually we have more rains in the autumn, so it will not be long before the flood waters will rise again. And as the issue has gradually been worsening over the last ten years, we can assume that it might continue to do so. 

But what can be done? Is it really sane to take the King Canute approach and throw more and more money at this situation, building the walls higher and higher in the hope that we can hold back the tide?

Surely it would be more sensible to look at some form of re-location for the people who's homes have been destroyed by these floods. Perhaps the relief money would be better spent giving them a grant to do this? For it is certainly going to cost more and more as the years go by, to protect, then clean up the type of devastation that we have seen happening this week. These areas should not have been built on in the first place, so surely it makes sense to leave them, now that they are becoming uninhabitable?

I am quite sure that anyone who is living in this terrible situation, will be fiercely defending their homes, and probably have friends, jobs, families and so on who they would not wish to leave. But sometimes hard facts have to be faced. And to stay on the beach when the tide is coming in, is only a good idea if you have a boat. Trying to do it in a sandcastle, is a bad idea. Trust me, I tried it many times as a child.