Mindfulness Man

When autumn comes, the trees do not fight to keep their leaves. They do not cling. They let go, releasing each leaf with quiet acceptance, knowing that this is not the end—just another part of the cycle. We, too, must learn to let go. Let go of old versions of ourselves. Let go of past hurts. Let go of what no longer serves us. And like the trees, we must learn to do so gracefully—not as an act of loss, but as an act of trust.   I hope you have enjoyed the course. For much more of my work follow me on Insight Timer by searching for my name, Christopher Manning

Trees care for each other. If a tree is sick, its neighbours share nutrients to help it recover. They are not separate; they survive together." The Hidden Life of Trees: Beneath our feet, trees are whispering to each other. Through their roots, they pass sugars and nutrients, sending help to the sick, the struggling. An old mother tree will nourish her saplings, even after she herself has begun to wither. Trees do not live alone; they thrive in networks, connected through unseen threads of care. We, too, are held in invisible networks of love and support. Even when we feel alone, there are roots beneath us—people, ancestors, the earth itself—nourishing us in ways we may not always see. Let’s meditate

"A tree can be only as strong as the forest that surrounds it."Quote from The Hidden Life of Trees: I grew up in Nottinghamshire England, only a few miles away from the famous Sherwood Forest. I remember playing as a child in and around the major oak, a tree that legend has it was the hideout of Robin Hood. It’s the largest oak in England weighing in at 23 tonnes. The major oak is ancient, a thousand years old. last year I went on solitary retreat, just me, in a cabin, in the woods. At the edge of those woods was also an ancient oak, If I remember correctly, it was 600 years old. I sat and meditated on it and all of the changes that have occurred in its world, whilst it has remained, strong, patient and stable. I thought of my dear grandparents, being born, raised and leaving this world, and how this great expanse of time was absorbed by the tree, with very little change. Trees do not rush. They do not force themselves to grow before their time. A beech tree may take 80 years before it bears its first fruit. Some trees wait centuries before they reach their full height. They trust time, trust the slow unfolding of life, trust that each season brings what is needed. As humans, we struggle with this. We want things to happen now. We want answers, results, transformations overnight. But the trees remind us: growth is slow. And that is not a flaw—it is nature’s way. So now, let’s meditate

Here I am offering a three day audio course I created for Insight Timer, in which we meditate on lessons learned from the trees. You will find the audio introduction in this post. The days of the course will follow. Welcome to Roots Of Life, a journey into the quiet, ancient wisdom of trees. Buddhist master Ajahn Chah said “Everything is teaching us”. He frequently pointed his disciples towards nature as a teacher, and for me, a great teacher is the forest. We often think of trees as still, silent things. But beneath the bark, beneath the earth, a great conversation is always unfolding. Trees are speaking—to each other, to the wind, to the soil, to time itself. And if we slow down, if we listen, we can hear them. This course is an invitation to do just that. A little about me: I am a painter, trees being my favourite subject, a writer and meditation guide who has always found solace in the natural world. My work is woven with mindfulness, poetry, and a deep love for the wild. Trees, especially, have been my quiet companions, teaching me the kind of wisdom that isn’t found in books, but in the hush of the forest. For three days, we will sit with the trees as our teachers, learning from their patience, resilience, and quiet generosity. Each day, we will explore a lesson they offer us—through story, reflection, and a meditation designed to root you into their wisdom. Follow me on Insight Timer by searching for my name, Christopher Manning.

Here is a practice on self compassion. You can find much more of my work here on my insight timer profile [https://insig.ht/VCqk6lXC0Rb?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=live_stream_share] Or here on my Substack Newsletter [http://mindfulnessman.substack.com]