On my recent trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, my childhood friend Sue and I visited the old-growth redwood trees at Muir Woods National Monument.
Redwoods have a lot to teach us
Muir Woods is home to the coastal redwood, not only the tallest of the redwood species, but, in the words of the National Park Service, “the tallest of all living things.” Coastal redwoods can grow to well over 300 feet tall and can have a lifespan of 2,000 years or more. What makes coastal redwoods even more precious is that they only grow within a few hundred coastal miles in California.
Here’s the crazy thing. Despite their massive height, coastal redwoods have surprisingly shallow root systems – only 6-12 feet deep, with no taproot.
So how are they able to live so long and grow so tall without toppling? How have they survived earthquakes, landslides, floods, strong winds, and other trees falling against them?
Connection, that’s how.
Coastal redwoods’ root systems, though shallow, actually spread outwards as far as 60-80 feet wide. The secret sauce is that they intertwine with the roots of other redwoods for added stability.
Another redwood survival skill is that if they find themselves knocked off-kilter by shifting earth or another tree falling into them, they are able to accelerate growth on their downhill sides to buttress themselves.
Connecting with others + accelerating personal growth = a recipe for resiliency that we could all follow.
The skill set of redwoods extends even further. High tannin levels combined with the fact that they don’t produce resin or pitch makes them naturally resistant to insects, fungi, and fire. That’s a well-nurtured immune system right there. Not spewing resin and pitch seems sort of like not spewing little bits of negative energy that could ignite with a passing spark.
Former economist Martha sees this as a highly efficient system. Allocate your energy to positive uses like growing your root system and boosting your immune system with healthy habits, rather than wasting it on sticky and flammable negativity.
I visited Muir Woods just after finishing my final Search Inside Yourself teacher training session, so I was still buzzing from the experience of connecting, learning, sharing, and growing together with my SIY cohort mindfulness tribe. I left the training feeling stronger, supported, and buoyed for my future journey.
It was the same energy I felt swirling in Muir Woods. Though I took a lot of photos myself, my favorite is this one that Sue took of me. I felt one with the energy of the redwoods that day. This image seems to capture it. (Neither of us has a clue about how that swirl was created. If you do, please share!)
I’ve thought of the redwoods often this week while news developments have once again felt like the earth shifting under my feet. As I mentioned in last week’s post, taking action is the antidote. My first Get Out the Vote postcard writing party a few days ago was energizing and fun, reminding me once again of the power of community. If you’re local, I’ll be hosting them each week until the mid-terms. Shoot me a note if you’d like further details.
Roots intertwined, we can hold one another up, share our energy, build our resiliency, and grow to our full potential. And we can remind one another that blue sky is always there above the clouds.
To learn more about redwood trees, check out this National Park Service Website
Reminder: my next 30-Day Mindfulness Meditation Challenge begins on Wednesday, October 17. To learn more visit https://damselwings.com/30-day-mindfulness-meditation-challenge/
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