Korus came once more to sit down under the trees shade and listened intently to what the birch tree spirit had to say. Exactly she thought, how simple it was. Now it would be the perfect gift, which she brought to the table on Easter Sunday. Korus legs could hardly run quick enough home, to begin putting the finishing touches to her idea.
As she reached her house she bounded up
the stairs two at a time, going straight to her desk and pulling out various
sheets of coloured paper, from which to cut out her paper leaves. Then gathering her pencils, she
sharpened them ready for tomorrow. She worked intently on her project until she
was satisfied all was ready. Putting all the items needed together in a wicket
basket, Korus laid it ready at her bedroom door. Her words would have a way of
becoming something of meaning now; that she was sure of.
The Easter Sunday table was splendidly
decorated with the homemade coloured eggs they had made, lush spring bouquets
from the garden and the special gifts all had brought to exchange later in the
day - little jars of violet jelly from Aunt Mary, bags of Turkish Delight from
the Brown family, a basket of coloured ribbons for all the girls hair and a
basket of mixed marbles for the boys from Nana, custard tarts from Mr
Ploughman, a hand written poem about the story of Easter from her sister to be
read out later and chocolate Easter bunnies from Mum and Dad. Only Korus´s item
was missing. “Korus what have you brought sweetheart to our festive table
today? I do not see what has kept you so busy in the forest and up in your room
all day yesterday?” asked Nana.
“I have it here,” said Korus pulling out
with gusto from underneath the table, a birch branch and laying it over her
plate, knocking at the same time several items left right and centre as it
spread itself out. Her sister sniggered thinking, “oh here we go, she has
brought the forest with her.” “And I have the leaves here and a basket of
pencils,” stated Korus with a wide grin from ear to ear. “Mmmm, so what is this
exactly Korus?” asked her father. “It is my Easter Branch Dad.” “We see that
silly,” said Korus sister, “your own personal piece of a tree” and flopped back
into the chair in fits of laughter. “Susan enough now. Korus please explain it
to us. We are following you, just not understanding”.
Korus then explained what she hoped
would be a new way of grasping the essence of Easter. The time when life is
given for eternity and all should be experiencing joy, hope, compassion and
most of all love for all of human kind. “This is how my gift works. I have here
a birch branch. The spirit of the birch in the woods told me that when the huge
glaciers of the last ice age receded the birch trees were the first to
re-colonise the rocky, ice-scoured landscape. That is why in botanical terms
the birch is referred to as a pioneer species. The birch spirit said she asks
from her ancestors that we in a philosophical form (unknowing or not) plant
roots in new soils at this time of celebration. A bit like taking on a new way
of doing something. So I was allowed to take from her a branch because it is a
symbol of renewal or rebirth in creating from life a new life.”
All were listening intently to Korus.
Nana thought it is not only my brain that holds limitless information but this
little poppet does to.
“Now I have here different coloured
paper leaf shapes in a basket and a basket of coloured pencils. I want each of
you to take one, from each basket. You are to write the word that most
describes how you see, live, feel or experience Easter on one side. Is it a time
of joy, then that is your word; is it suffering, then you have your adjective.
Now what could this word mean to someone whom has never heard or read it
before? How do you describe that Easter is for you compassion? Lay your paper
leaf in the middle of the table and allow someone else here to write how they
would answer that if you cannot. I will do the first one. My word is distrust.
So many people distrust one another’s beliefs. For me it means I am unable to
see over the edge of my plate to my sisters because I am worried she has more
roast lamb than I do. So distrust means, not believing another cares for me
enough to see that I too have enough. That is what I would write on the back of
my leaf. This is actually a powerful metaphor for how we then live our lives.
Once we have all written our words and placed their meanings on the back of the
paper leaves we then are going to tie them onto the birch tree branch.
This is then a special moment as we then
hang it from the ceiling above the table, for each leaf to flutter in the
breeze of our breathing and as in the Celtic legend the branch will sing:
"Shine, take hold, express your creative expanse, light the way so that
others may follow.” For a birch trees essence, is to create a way to bring
together our dreams and prepare new patterns of living. These paper leaf words
and their meanings grow upon the branch, gaining strength. We are but one
branch with a group of words and definitions, yet if another family does the
same at Easter we become two groups longing for harmony as one species upon
this earth. A branch, joined together with thousands of others becomes a tree
that spreads roots and reaches high into the heavens creating a massive, robust
tree of life. A tree that nourishes shelters and provides creativity to all of
humanity. That is my Easter gift to you.” Korus waited to see what her family
and friends would say.
Not a word was spoken. Only tears of joy
flowed. Loved filled the space of silence. Was there a need to do anything but
reach for a coloured pencil and begin writing your word thought Nana?
What word and description, would you
choose this Easter?
The End
Your Koruswhispers