I have a beautiful and huge old Box Elder (Acer negundo) tree in my garden which is around 50 years old, and sadly its at the end of its life. The life span of this type of tree is 50 years. My tree has lost its leaves over the past couple of years and only has a smattering of tiny green leaves left, it can no longer offer any shade like it once did.
I love this tree very much and I am very sad to lose it. The first time I saw this tree, it struck me as special when my family and I came to view the house we intended to buy. Its presence in the back yard was quite something, with beautiful shady branches which kept the ground under the canopy nice and cool on a hot day. Some branches were almost touching the ground back in the day, and everyone admired this tree for its magnificent canopy and height.
My children played under the tree in summer, and we had a table and benches underneath to enjoy the cool shade. I always felt this tree was a beautiful protective tree that had a nice energy about it. I always referred to the tree as a protective guardian. Strong, silent and protective are the words that come to mind when I think of this tree, it has been benevolent and loving like a mother caring for her children.
This coming week the tree has to be cut down and I really dread this loss of this beautiful friend. Having had the pleasure of this tree for 30 years I just don’t want to see it go.
I decided to google the mythological and spiritual meaning of the tree and it comes as no surprise that the native Americans looked upon this tree as a spiritual messenger of transformation and to ward of evil. 2025 is a year of spiritual transformation as well as transformation in other ways.
So with the end of the tree’s life span, a new beginning will take place. I intend to make the ground the tree stood on a spiritual place, and will put plants and shrubs that reflect spiritual growth and protection in this part of the garden. I actually planted a Holly bush next to where the Box Elder stands in the late 90’s so it is East facing and is over 6 foot tall. Holly is important spiritually as it too is protective and wards off evil and bad luck. Holly also represents everlasting life and rebirth. I have another Holly bush planted at the top of the garden too, which acts as spiritual protection too. The wood from a Holly tree was used to make wands for Druids. Did you know it is also planted to act as a lightning conductor? Neither did I, you learn something new everyday.
I love my Celtic culture and wanted to grow shrubs or trees that relate to my Celtic heritage. The interesting thing is I didn’t know that I was psychic when I bought the house or the plants that I planted when we moved in. I didn’t know anything about spiritual protection from trees, that came later. But my intuition must have been guiding me as I bought everything back then. A couple of days ago I was looking up plants and positions for good Feng Shui in the garden including the colours to use and to my surprise I have planted things that tick the right boxes for good Feng Shui. I still need to buy new plants for after this spot has been cleared.