Listening to the Trees – A Somatic Ritual for Presence
Aug 10, 2025
This past weekend, I joined a vigil for the oaks at the Ray and Judy Tretheway Oak Preserve in Natomas. These centuries-old trees, deeply rooted and widely reaching, are now threatened by the Mediterranean oak borer beetle.
We came together through movement, writing, drawing, and ritual to honor their life and presence. To stand among them was to feel their history—roots deep in the earth, branches open to the sky, holding the memory of storms, moonlight, sunshine, and countless seasons.
As a 5Rhythms® teacher, somatic teacher, and practitioner of the Life/Art Process, I know that deep listening is a practice — and here, the trees became my teachers.
They spoke without words:
“We have stood for centuries—in wind, in heat, in storm.
Strong we stand. We hold the wisdom of your ancestors, the paths they walked, the spirit they carried.
We are sick now, but not yet gone.
Remember our strength. Remember our stories.”
A Ritual You Can Do at Home
If you’d like to join in this listening, here’s a simple practice:
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Find a tree, plant, animal — or even a photo of someone you love.
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Close your eyes.
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Let your breath slow. Feel it travel to your feet, your hips, your spine.
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Wait for the message.
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Let it move you — dance it, draw it, write it. It doesn’t have to be pretty, just alive.
This is movement as medicine. A way to reconnect with presence, with your own body as temple.
From Tree to Temple – Our Next Journey
Right now, Aurras Waves is on a short seasonal pause. We return on September 18 with My Body, My Temple — a 6-week 5Rhythms® journey in San Francisco.
Just as the oaks hold the wisdom of centuries, our bodies hold the wisdom of a lifetime. This series is your space to root, rise, and restore — to tend to what matters before it’s too late.
📅 Sept 18 – Oct 23 | Thursdays, 7:00 PM | San Francisco
💲 Early Bird Pricing ends soon – reserve your spot now.
