This meditation uses tree imagery and wisdom along with a few lines from Psalm 1. It explores the interplay of darkness and light and how both are necessary for our growth and transformation.

The roots push down into the darkness of soil in order to bring nourishment to the branches and leaves above ground…

Psalm 1

You are like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields fruit in due season, your leaves flourish. In all you do you give life.

Now imagine the roots at the base of your feet moving down into the soft earth below reaching down and down for food and drink.

Notice what it’s like to push into the earthy darkness in order to receive nurture and nourishment.

Where do your roots go?

Do they meet anything as they reach downwards?

Receive the nurture that the soil of darkness offers, drink deeply of what you need, let the sustenance move up through your roots to the trunk above ground.

As you drink deeply of the nourishment below ground imagine that sustenance travelling upwards.

Allow it to move into your body, your limbs, all the way through you like life-giving energy.

Imagine yourself as the tree that receives this nourishment through your trunk all the way through branches to leaves.

Notice what it’s like to be above ground in the light. What’s it like for your leaves to receive sunlight and reach towards a blue sky?

Now imagine as you breathe reaching down to your roots into the dark soil on the exhale and then bringing nourishment with you to the trunk, branches and leaves as you inhale.

Notice the movement from dark to light and how the tree is surrendered to and needs both.

What’s it like for you to reach down into the soil whilst also reaching up into the light?

Do you need to reach further down in order to be sustained?

Do you need to reach further up into the light?