The Womb Tree

Portal to other worlds and lifetimes

The other day, I went for a walk in the woods and was thrilled to find that my lovely neighbors, who’d been cross-country skiing the day before, had forged a path. There’s so much snow in the woods now (I’m not complaining!) that snowshoeing has become problematic—stepping off a well-trodden path can result in snow up to my knees. Walking without snowshoes would be even more difficult. Every winter, I remind myself that I need to buy cross-country skis.

And so, I gleefully saw that their trail led into a part of the woods where I rarely venture. It was more wide-open than the dense woods surrounding it. As if on cue to what I was about to discover, I saw a smattering of baby White Pine trees reminiscent of something you’d find in a Dr. Suess book. I think I’ll call them White Pinelets. :)

I carefully stepped around the ones on the path and then gasped when I looked up. There she was:

I stopped dead in my tracks. In awe of the beauty of her decay. I imagine she would be deemed dead by most accounts, but the life coming off of her was palpable. Magical.

The branches you see are from a tree standing next to her. She is bare of branches or other signs of an active life.

I didn’t, for even a moment, sense that she was dead—quite the opposite. Even as I type this, I have goosebumps thinking of her.

And then I saw it - the Womb—a Portal. And I heard the words whispered to me:

“I’m The Womb Tree.”

I looked inside her, wondering if a woodland creature would peer back at me.

By now, I’d turned my phone on, and a photo shoot ensued. I couldn’t stop. Everywhere I looked at her, I saw beauty.

My favorite artist, Cy Twombly, crossed my mind, and I thought, “Cy would have loved this tree.” So many images on The Womb Tree reminded me of his drawings and paintings.

Like the cave and tomb paintings at the Detroit Institute of Arts, which I loved so much as a child.

And the faces in The Womb Tree. Oh, my goodness. Faces EVERYWHERE. Were they Tree Spirits who inhabited the Tree only after she had decayed? Or had they been there all along?

Even a Dragon - perched on the very top of her.

Do you see them?

I took my gloves off and asked The Womb Tree if I could lay my hands on her. “Yes,” I heard her whisper.

My right hand felt an energy exchange happening…like subtle waves of electricity.

As I laid my head against the smooth white part of her, my mind drifted back to my own womb and all the trauma that she has endured in this lifetime and past lifetimes, as well.

After decades of wanting to do past-life regression to explore my many phobias, I finally did a three-hour session last year. Mind blown. So many answers that maybe one day I’ll share with you. For now, I keep those stories close to my heart.

Coincidentally — it might have been the same day that I met The Womb Tree —my friend Christy shared a video interview with a woman named Sarah Breskman Cosme, a master of the Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique.

It was one of those interviews that resonated with every cell in my body. Depending on your beliefs, this may or may not be for you.

I immediately bought Sarah’s latest book, “A Hypnotist’s Journey to Avalon,” listened to it, and then began listening again. The paperback is also on its way.

I have always been drawn to the mystical stories about Avalon and Lemuria. I have soul friends who feel like we’ve lived lifetimes there together. This is no fantasy — it seems as real to us as this lifetime.

Do you believe in Magic?

I wrote a post last year titled:

It was a coming out of sorts for me.

Fully embracing just how much I believe in Magic.

Living a Magical life.

I think I’ve mentioned my addiction to the TV show, “Merlin.” At this point, it’s embarrassing how many times I’ve watched it. I cannot explain it other than to say

It’s Magical.

I have no doubt that whoever dreamed that show into being has Magic.

In Sarah’s book A Hypnotist’s Journey to Avalon, there is a chapter titled “ Merlin and the Magic of Symbols.” Yes, Sarah speaks to Merlin during a past-life regression with a client.

Here’s what he said:

The world is on the cusp of remembering.

Magic is, at its core, the understanding of natural harmony. It is the art of manipulating the fabric of creation itself, based on the principles that govern the world you are in.

To wield magic is to understand how to work with these principles. To bend them in alignment with your will without disrupting the balance.

Magic is not a force outside of Nature. It IS Nature. Harnessed through the mind, art, and spirit.

I believe that we are indeed on the cusp of remembering. That we are magical, creative beings. We ARE Nature.

As I was writing this post, I looked out the window momentarily, and when I returned to my laptop, I could swear that a Dragonfly flew in front of my computer! It happened so fast, and there was no evidence of a Dragonfly anywhere. Hmmm…

With each passing year, as many fellow elders dread getting older, my life of deep solitude in the arms of Mother Earth seems to feel more childlike and full of Joy. I have my trials like everyone on this earthly plane, but believing in other worlds and realms outside this one — knowing that our souls are eternal — changes everything. Fear begins to fall away, and this little life takes on a different meaning.

When I returned to The Womb Tree yesterday, I realized her Portal would be the perfect vessel for my shamanic journeys. I usually journey to the Lower World through my tree friend, Jack, in Ireland. But I’m certain he won’t mind if I travel down through The Womb Tree.

And, if I decide to travel to the Upper World, which I rarely do, she will be a vessel for that journey, as well.

When I went back to visit her, I asked The Womb Tree if she had a loose piece of bark that I could take home to keep on my Nature altar. My hand, resting on her, felt a piece fall into my hand. I guess that was a Yes.

I will keep this piece of her with me when I meditate or journey.

Yesterday, I found a photo that I’d taken where the outer bark was clearly visible, and I used my plant ID app called PictureThis to see if it could identify the type of tree she is. I had low expectations.

It did! According to the app, The Womb Tree is a Bur Oak, symbolizing strength, courage, and protection. It could be a wrong ID, but I’m going to believe that it is correct unless someone reading this post tells me otherwise.

The Druids revered the Oak Tree, and if this newfound friend of mine truly is a Bur Oak, well, that’s just another layer of Magic, in my humble opinion.

At the bottom of the description on PictureThis, it says, “This tree is very healthy!”

Not dead at all. :)

May there be Magic in your life and in all of your lives to come.

Much Love,
Barbara

Fresh batches of Elderberry Syrup are still being made to order, and my new batch of Forest Oil is bottled and ready for sale. It’s called Forest Oil because it smells like the forest! 🌲🌲🌲

Thank you for your heartfelt comments, your subscriptions (free or paid), or just for stopping by and reading or listening to The Quaking Poplar 🌳!

If subscriptions aren’t your thing, but you’d like to support TQP, here’s a link. Many thanks!