Pamela Turczyn writes…

I know Pamela Turczyn through Elisa Novick whose Tree Love workshops captured my attention. I met Elisa in New York state in 2014 and she felt that I should meet Pamela.

We communicated with each other and Pamela invited me, at the prompting of the London Plane tree in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens to come and share the Tree Conversation work in a one day workshop. We have stayed in contact since then, encouraging one another in our work. Pamela is very open, clear-thinking, precise and patient. I have learned so much from our connection and ongoing explorations. 

Pamela has recently written about the Tree Conversations, as part of a series of articles written in response to Richard Powers’ book The Overstory.

Here is the article which cannot be accessed on line at this time. ( January 24 2020) The images that were made with Trees in Seattle are not currently in this pasted version. I will try to remedy that and have them added in .

TREE CONVERSATIONS WITH ELYSE POMERANZ

By Pam Turczyn

Elyse Pomeranz, photographed by Simon Wilks

In response to Richard Powers’ book about trees, humans and their interdependent relationship, The Overstory, this series of articles allows the trees themselves to speak on the subject of our changing environment. An international bevy of tree communicators have been invited to translate and share what they have”heard” from trees.

Trees communicate using a language of subsonic vibration. Empaths who focus their gifts on trees are able to translate those vibrations into forms that hold meaning for humans: words, movement, sound and music, sentiment, inner knowing or visual imagery. Elyse Pomeranz is a Canadian artist and educator who has worked with trees in ten countries over the past seven years, drawing what each tree has shown her. 

She was inspired by Marko Pogacnik’s teachings about a “Tree Civilization” that is connecting with Earth Evolution and is presencing through certain mature or ancient trees.  Not every tree is a host to these evolved celestial beings. Her interest in meeting members of the “Tree Civilization,” and also encouraging trees to participate, led her to create theTree Conversationdrawing process.She has produced well over 600 Tree Conversations drawings while leaning against the trunks of conscious trees.

The daughter of a scientist, Elyse engages in a form of heuristic research, utilizing a consistent protocol of approach and collaboration with trees. As she says, “ My underlying view is that the human Imagination can be developed to become an organ of perception. This is related to the work of Rudolf Steiner who called his work Spiritual Science. He was clear that we can research the ‘non-sense perceptible’ worlds with as much rigour and accuracy as we can the sense perceptible worlds.” 

The images are always a tree’s response to a question, often “What would you like to show me today?” As one tree pointed out to her, trees don’t have hands. Elyse taps into the consciousness of an individual tree and draws what the tree is unable to. In that way, an image held in the consciousness of the tree can be shared with whomever sees the drawing. 

In some instances, trees wished to express the deleterious effect of telephone cell signals. To human eyes, trees may appear nonplussed by Electro-Magnetic Fields, but they are actually far more sensitive than us. Here is what some trees have communicated to Elyse Pomeranz:

In June 2016, I went to sit with the Siberian Elm tree in Trinity Bellwoods Park,Toronto, Canada that had dropped a branch, killinga man. It was my second visit to that tree after this tragedy. I was returning to fulfill a promiseI had madeto offer trees in that park some nourishment and care. While sitting under the tree and listening, I prepared a biodynamic spray that supports the soil. I noticed many people on cell phones and other devices sitting up against trees. Others were walking about playing Pokémon Go using their devices. The tree showed me that, for them, this is like blasting loud, harsh music. It causes discomfort and, ultimately, it changesthe trees’ ability to grow. You could say it is the last straw. 

Signals are everywhere. To us they are invisible and inaudible; for the trees, these are disruptive and damaging. Can we listen to the trees?

Before I left, the trees were asking me to advocate for cellphone-free parks.         

In April 2019, I spent time with a few different trees in Seattle, Washington.  While sitting with a Redwood, I asked the tree, “Can you help me find a way to communicate the suffering of trees as a result of increasing electromagnetic signals?“ The tree’s response was simple. “Whatever you do or say, may it increase your fellow human beings’ experience of connectedness. Connectednesswill make it make it possible to understand what benefits life in general and trees in particular.”

Note to Paul: it would be great if these two images (seen below) could be laid out side-by-side for comparison.

Cedar of Lebanon. Seattle, Washington.  July 2018

Cedar of Lebanon. Seattle, Washington. May, 2019.

I, also, sat with a cedar of Lebanon on a residential street that I had worked with back in July of 2018. In the interim, 5G had been installed in close proximity to the tree. You can see the drawings and the changes that are illustrated. The first drawing expresses exuberant joy and innocence. Compassion and kindness were the overwhelming sensations I experienced as I collaborated with the tree to create that drawing. By contrast, if you look at the drawing from April 2019, there is something insinuating itself into the essence or centre of the tree. However, on the right side of the drawing, there is still a free space of connectedness and joy. I felt the tree making an enormous effort to continue emanating its immense peace and joy under duress. 

Spruce. Seattle, Washington. May, 2019.

Lastly, I worked with a large Spruce tree growing near a park where a substantial transmission tower stood. Through the drawing we did together, this tree was showing the inflammatory disturbance above ground. It seemed to indicate that it was seeking the cooling, calming influence of forces that lie within the earth, under the roots. It seemed as if it was able to find a reflected world below the earth’s surface that is not subject to the overstimulation of the world above ground.

I invite you to consider going amongst the trees, free from your phones or laptops. At least when near the trees, turn everything off, lean your back against a tree and introduce yourself by imagining you can enter the tree or the tree can enter you. It works well to orient your attention towards your heart and imagine that you are offering your thoughts and feelings to the tree from your heart. Be prepared to receive thoughts and feelings in response! Using the “inner-net,” let the conversation based on “inner-standing” begin!

(Scroll down, please!)

With the London Plane tree at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Foto: Elisa Novick

I first met Elyse Pomeranz in person when she came to Brooklyn in 2016, on the invitation (relayed through me) of a London Plane treeat the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Hollowed out by a fungus, this was the favorite tree among children along the Celebrity Path. The tree was dreading his imminent demise and seemed in a state of depression. He requested (begged and beseeched) that Elyse come to discuss his legacy. Consequently, she has taken on the task of compiling a memorial book of stories eulogizing this beloved tree, removed in 2018 at the behest of BBG management. If you have a personal story about the BBG London Plane aka Thebbg Treehouse, please contact Elyse Pomeranz through her website.

She has also written about Elisa Novick’s Tree Love Workshops.