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Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)
The hemlocks are a small group of trees similar to spruce, native to North America. They were given this confusing name because the foliage was thought to resemble the rodent-like smell of Conium maculatum, the common umbelliferous hemlock that grows in European hedgerows. Whereas this herb is extremely toxic, the hemlock spruces are quite medicinal. The western hemlock is a narrow, conical tree to 200ft (60m). It grows quickly and is tolerant of shade. In young trees the leading shoot arches over, whilst the lower shoots tend to spread wide in graceful droops. The leaves are round-ended needles irregularly growing around the stems with smaller needles on the top surface. Male flowers are dark red buds in early spring, fertilising the green female buds, which become small, open, egg-shaped cones. Unlike the pines, the hemlocks do not have bud swellings from which the leaves and new twigs develop.
The Essence:
Keywords: “Open grace”; cleansing, clearing, quietening, focusing; serenity; new beginnings; acceptance; expulsion of old ‘demons’; confusion and aggravation reduced; clean sheet.
One of the primary effects of Western Hemlock is its ability to bring quietness and clarity to the mind. Where there is the confusion of too many options, the potential of too many possible outcomes, western hemlock will reduce the noise so that what is really there can be clearly seen and be distinguished from the phantasms of speculation. Equally, when there seems to be an absence of options, where nothing seems to be achievable, the essence can sharpen the insight to discover new possibilities. The energy is cleansing, clearing, quietening and focusing.
The crown chakra is brought into this process with an influx of serenity. Reducing unnecessary activity gives the flow of essential ideas a free passage into consciousness, where they can be turned to practical solutions. This clear state of calm awareness also benefits the whole of the energies of the body, helping to identify and remove energy intrusions that do not belong. Confusion and fear are good environments for negative entities to take advantage of. Reducing the levels of confusion and fear remove the camouflage from harmful energies and make it less easy for them to become established.
An aspect of the Heart chakra concerned with vengeance and forgiveness is activated with this tree energy. These feelings have to do with holding onto pain and letting go of pain. The pretence of forgiveness where none really exists, or giving in to the will of others for the sake of reducing conflict, is replaced with a real relaxation of acceptance – neither ignoring the hurt nor seeking vengeance for wrongs. The cleansing energy of western hemlock allows new beginnings to be simply that: starting with a clean sheet.
Aggravation and anxiety of the mind is calmed and peace increases. It becomes easier to understand the opposite viewpoint to the view that one holds true, and so the roots of selfish conflict can be more easily avoided. Acceptance and relaxation into an honest, open state quietens the mind and enables deeper spiritual insight to enter into more meditative states.
The emotions are calmed because the mind is prevented from building up its own fantasy scenarios. Instead, an even flow of balanced equilibrium enters the mind and heart. Like smoke that can obscure all reality where it becomes stuck in an airless, windless place, so western hemlock is like a fresh breeze that rapidly clears the misconceptions and false ideas around a problem to reveal what is actually there to be dealt with.
Signature:
The irregular placement and size of the needles on the twigs, reminiscent of too much going on in the mind and emotions.