In the beginning, there was a vast plain.
Two seedlings had rooted on opposite sides of the plain. Both were very well grounded, but they were alone.

The seedlings conversed across the winds and found that they had a lot of things in common. They shared the same dreams and visions. In a short time, they bonded. They laughed, cried and told stories to one another, sharing their every thought. They were so similar, and yet individuals, and alone.

Each seedling felt she was missing something. Instinctively, they knew they were greater together than they could ever be apart. They wanted to grow strong and healthy together.

After a short time, one seedling said "come over and see me." The other seedling didn't know how to get there. She had such an urge to be with the other seedling, where she would never be alone. From deep inside, this seedling mustered the strength to pull up her roots, and get taken by the wind.. One day, that small little seedling allowed herself to be picked up, and got carried away by a big white dove.

This seedling spent endless hours traveling in the dove's mouth. Finally, the dove dropped the seedling next to the other one. There was such joy and recognition. But, would the earth there accept the transplanting of this second seedling?

The rains came, the sun shone, and the spirit moved the seedlings. That new seedling began to feel at home and her roots started to grow. Strong, vigorous roots explored this new land and took hold. Both embraced each other's new growth. The seedlings' roots intertwined in ways that no storm could uproot. Their branches held tight around each other. They were two seedlings, two individuals, but together, combined, they were something much more.

The seedlings started to become saplings. They grew and grew. The roots locked into the dirt. Each one helped the other through lack of rain or lack of sun. Each tended and cultivated the other, making sure their growth was always equal, and that one was never bigger or weaker than the other.

As these saplings grew, they noticed what was going on in their environment. Neither one of them liked what they saw. Though they were very happy, the other trees and plants could not get along, they tried to stunt each others growth or kill off anyone around them. The seedlings realized that the land was no longer a community of trees, plants and animals living together, but a battlefield. Everyone wanted to be closest to the Oak Tree, their leader in this land. These others were damaging the Oak Tree itself by their actions, but did not realize it.

Months went by and still the fighting was going on. One day they heard that the Oak Tree was damaged and rumors seemed to fly about like that of the birds migrating north. One rumor after another, and each tree, plant and animal would believe what they heard and added to the Oak's pain.

The saplings watched and listened. One day, they finally had enough. The saplings started to shake their branches wildly and furiously. Little seedlings dropped around them onto the land. They gathered their baby seedlings close by, nurtured them, loved them, and made sure they were well cared for and watered to help them grow into strong trees.

These two saplings grew stronger and became young healthy trees. With their knowledge, they protected and helped the saplings grow in a healthy environment. And grow they did.

The two trees and the seedlings began sharing with each other, each helping one another and working toward the same goals and ideas. They wanted to honor the Oak Tree, and make the Oak healthy again.

The two trees and their seedlings started building their own forest. Amazingly, help from the other trees, plants and animals around them came, from far and near, from the most surprising sources.

With love and sharing comes acceptance. They knew the Oak Tree would not live forever, but they could always honor the Tree and cherish the memories.
The wheel would turn, and another Oak Tree would come into power.

Their goal became to honor that Tree in every way possible and to teach respect and spirituality for those who would follow them. Though the Oak Tree could never be replaced, there would be another, and another and another. This life circle would never, though, diminish their respect and admiration for the first Oak Tree that had welcomed those two little seedlings to the land so long ago.

That special Oak Tree has given its knowledge and entertained those in the forest for hours. Its branches are always reaching up to the sky and the leaves dance with the sunlight beaming through and the moonlight shining down.

May this Oak Tree always be as strong and healthy - in this life and the next. And, whether fallen by age or storm, the original seedlings now a forest will always remember their roots.

In commemoration of the birth of the Darkside Coven, May 17, 1999 and PhenomForest, Oct. 31, 1999.

Written and copyright March 17, 2000
Written by: Dietre with Lorddess

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