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LAWSON CYPRESS (Chamaecyparus lawsoniana)
Key: The Path.
Lawson cypress has a very small natural range along 150 miles of north-west Pacific coastal America between North California and Oregon. It forms groups within the Redwood Forest. The buttressed trunk with thick reddish-brown fibrous bark reaches up to 200 feet or more. When in the open branches grow right from ground level. Lawson cypress was introduced into Britain in 1854 when seeds were sent to Lawsons nursery in Edinburgh. Some of the earliest trees are now over 100 feet. Although its form remains stable in the wild, once introduced into Europe it produced over 70 cultivars. It comes from a mild climate yet it is very hardy, though subject to wind burn. The tree flowers in spring: at the end of the branches male and female reddish bud-shaped flowers are seen. These rapidly ripen to form small cones. When seed falls it lies dormant for about five years, begins slow growth for another two, then can grow up to 10 inches a year. The wood is white, soft and even-grain ed with a ginger like scent.
Lawson cypress activate s those areas that are needed to identify correct action or the most appropriate direction in which to move. It brings energy into the base, sacral, solar plexus and brow chakras. In the base chakra it stimulates the required activity and discipline. The sacral chakra brings in the willingness to fulfil desires and to be flexible and creative in achieving them. The solar plexus is more closely linked to the energies of the higher self so that the individuals true needs can be communicated through intuition, dream and other symbolic forms. The essence also helps to clear out non-realistic, deluded or fantasised futures. The brow chakra maintains the overview and is enabled to clearly define in terms of thought, the “feelings” activated in the lower chakra s. All the subtle channels associated with these chakra s are also cleared and activated.
In this way Lawson cypress helps to bring the recognition of required actions; initiates change if that is appropriate; allows internal communication at the physical body-intelligence level; allows greater internal clarity to determine ones real needs, rather than those based wholly on intellect or fads.
Signature: This tree maintains itself discreetly in its own space but when given the opportunity of circumstance will show great flexibility and adaptation of form, colour, size in its cultivars. It grows to a great height and yet bears branches up the trunk from its lowest levels – evenness, balance, determination.
Comment: Because of its architectural form and fast growth Lawson cypress has become a very popular landscaping tree in gardens. Unfortunately many forget it is essentially a forest tree and become antagonistic to it when it begins to dominate the inadequate space it has been given.
This is a potent, powerful spirit. Learn to link with it and listen to it. Disdain and dismissiveness is wholly inappropriate – particularly where it relies on mankind to place it in the environment. We sullu our own souls by these ignorant, casual value judgements.