The tree is sometime referred to as arbor-vitae, Latin for "tree of life".
All parts of the tree can be used for dugout canoes, rope, baskets, house planks, clothing, arrow shafts.
The wood is an excellent source of fuel.
The natural oils in the trees make them resistant to disease and insects.
Many parts of the tree have been use for medicinal purposes.
Metaphor and Integration of the Cedar Tree
The cedar tree often grows in a spiral upward. For me it is a powerful symbol that signifies the holistic intertwining, integration, and ongoing experiential cycle of learning through out my past two years, an onward and upward spiral into the future.
It is also a powerful metaphor expressing my journey with yoga and how it has informed my eco-social work practice model and the NEW ECOLOGY framework. Yoga is a Sanskrit term that translates into ‘to yoke, union’. Through out my academic studies, the mindful practice of yoga has provided a foundation to remain centered. It has also provided me with the visceral experience of integration, supporting my ability to understand the interdependent nature of our world.
The cedar tree often grows in a spiral upward. For me it is a powerful symbol that signifies the holistic intertwining, integration, and ongoing experiential cycle of learning through out my past two years, an onward and upward spiral into the future.
It is also a powerful metaphor expressing my journey with yoga and how it has informed my eco-social work practice model and the NEW ECOLOGY framework. Yoga is a Sanskrit term that translates into ‘to yoke, union’. Through out my academic studies, the mindful practice of yoga has provided a foundation to remain centered. It has also provided me with the visceral experience of integration, supporting my ability to understand the interdependent nature of our world.
Yoga, Earth, and Social Work
The physical practice of movement and breath been a source of rejuvenation and spaciousness. Yoga is not limited to what much of the Western world perceives it to be – a physical movement practice, it is union with life - a way of walking and being in life. The practice invites the practitioner to slow down in order to observe the mind and listen to the body. Much of the literature I have read suggest a similar practice within a broader context - slowing down, listening, observing, taking into account trends etc. This was encouraged within social movements, community change, social action, advocacy, and within managing trauma. A social work example is the concept of ‘creative suspension’. It was a theme threaded throughout the book, ‘Gentle Action: Bringing Creative Change to a Turbulent World’ by David Peat (2008). Creative suspension is described as “a voluntary act on the part of an individual or organization, to suspend, if only for a moment, their normal ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to rush in and ‘help’ or put things right” (p. 87). By pausing for a moment, one may better understand the role various forces and tensions have within a system – this supports the observer to consciously step into a creative and responsive flow within the trends occurring.
The NEW ECOLOGY Project is a tool that can broaden the scope of social work to include the natural environment in it's advocacy work, education, discourse, and language.The concept, healing and recovery from within to support participation and change in community, can be adapted to apply to many diverse contexts:
The physical practice of movement and breath been a source of rejuvenation and spaciousness. Yoga is not limited to what much of the Western world perceives it to be – a physical movement practice, it is union with life - a way of walking and being in life. The practice invites the practitioner to slow down in order to observe the mind and listen to the body. Much of the literature I have read suggest a similar practice within a broader context - slowing down, listening, observing, taking into account trends etc. This was encouraged within social movements, community change, social action, advocacy, and within managing trauma. A social work example is the concept of ‘creative suspension’. It was a theme threaded throughout the book, ‘Gentle Action: Bringing Creative Change to a Turbulent World’ by David Peat (2008). Creative suspension is described as “a voluntary act on the part of an individual or organization, to suspend, if only for a moment, their normal ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to rush in and ‘help’ or put things right” (p. 87). By pausing for a moment, one may better understand the role various forces and tensions have within a system – this supports the observer to consciously step into a creative and responsive flow within the trends occurring.
The NEW ECOLOGY Project is a tool that can broaden the scope of social work to include the natural environment in it's advocacy work, education, discourse, and language.The concept, healing and recovery from within to support participation and change in community, can be adapted to apply to many diverse contexts:
- Local and international setting
- Therapeutic setting
- Counseling
- Community change process
- Organizational change process
- Humanitarian relief settings
- Preventing burn out In advocacy work through developing self care and compassion.
- This framework that includes fostering relationship with the Earth and mind/body practices, can support recovery from vicarious trauma
- Being grounded, clear, and feeling connected to a purpose can help to refine a social worker's message. In addition, this can support workers to offer the best support to clients.
- It is a framework that not only social workers can use, it could provide healing and recovery for clients.
Creative Suspension and Mindful Practice
Creative suspension and mindfulness are core components that supported the evolution of my own ecology and ability to observe my internal and external worlds. They are the cornerstones to integration. Therefore, they are concepts that are integral to the NEW ECOLOGY Project. Throughout the book Gentle Action, Peat (2008) humbly acknowledges that creative suspension is not a new idea, similar to remaining mindful, yet a concept regenerated to fit modern day context. During an age where time is of the essence, this concept acknowledges the need to pause and create space in order to listen deeply and pay attention, something I speak to within my podcast - Language of the Planet. Joan Kuyek (2012) shared with our cohort in an interview, "to be an organizer, you don't need to be outspoken. The best organizers are the listeners. You don't have to be articulate." Creative suspension offers a ‘gentle’ reminder that during times of crisis and organizing, one needs to harness their creativity, engage in dialog, sustain watchfulness, and expose the complex nature of the surroundings, to see the trends happening at that time. Choosing to pause and observe the complexity of a situation in a mindful way closely aligns to the ‘change and transformation: complexity theory’ mind map in the neighboring photograph.
The song I relate to NEW ECOLOGY Project is by Ben Harper – With My Own Two Hands. Music has always been an inspiration and this song demonstrates the possibility within integration of the micro and macro systems.
Creative suspension and mindfulness are core components that supported the evolution of my own ecology and ability to observe my internal and external worlds. They are the cornerstones to integration. Therefore, they are concepts that are integral to the NEW ECOLOGY Project. Throughout the book Gentle Action, Peat (2008) humbly acknowledges that creative suspension is not a new idea, similar to remaining mindful, yet a concept regenerated to fit modern day context. During an age where time is of the essence, this concept acknowledges the need to pause and create space in order to listen deeply and pay attention, something I speak to within my podcast - Language of the Planet. Joan Kuyek (2012) shared with our cohort in an interview, "to be an organizer, you don't need to be outspoken. The best organizers are the listeners. You don't have to be articulate." Creative suspension offers a ‘gentle’ reminder that during times of crisis and organizing, one needs to harness their creativity, engage in dialog, sustain watchfulness, and expose the complex nature of the surroundings, to see the trends happening at that time. Choosing to pause and observe the complexity of a situation in a mindful way closely aligns to the ‘change and transformation: complexity theory’ mind map in the neighboring photograph.
The song I relate to NEW ECOLOGY Project is by Ben Harper – With My Own Two Hands. Music has always been an inspiration and this song demonstrates the possibility within integration of the micro and macro systems.
With My Own Two Hands (Lyrics) - Ben Harper
"With My Own Two Hands"
I can change the world With my own two hands Make a better place With my own two hands Make a kinder place Oh- with my Oh- with my own two hands With my own Oh- with my own two hands With my own With my own two hands I can make peace on earth With my own two hands And I can clean up the earth Oh- with my own two hands And I can reach out to you Oh- with my own two hands With my own With my own two hands Oh- with my own Oh- with my own two hands I'm gonna make it a brighter place (with my own) I'm gonna make it a safer place (with my own) I'm gonna help the human race (with my own) (with my own two hands) Now I can hold you With my own two hands And I can comfort you With my own two hands But you got to use Use your own two hands Use your own Use your own two hands |
Use your own two hands
And with our own With our own two hands With our With our With our own two hands Oh- with my own With my own two hands I'm gonna make it a brighter place (with my own) I'm gonna make it a safer place (with my own) I'm gonna help the human race (with my own) Oh- make it a brighter place (with my own) I can hold you (with my own) And I can comfort you (with my own) But you got You got You got You got You got You got You got to use Oh- use your own Oh- use your own Lord But you got You got You got You got You got to use - use Use your own |