Each day, walking along the cemented terrain, turning my head from left to right, I observe the trees. Every individual Rowan has its different traits, looks, activities, and so much more. Then I would label and categorize them into different sections, which are mostly ordinary trees to me. Some Rowans are quite interesting, by how fast their razor like leaves fall, their stature, and even berries, but they still look like a plain common tree. However, this Rowan, the Wounded Wood, standing near the bus stop has a deep connection to me. It is like a bond between nature and human, with characteristics of a fighting spirit. Weak and fragile it maybe, the tree will keep on standing.
Then there's this new Rowan tree, which is called the Hidden Blood tree, that I met awhile back. It is a marvelous tree, who's fully mature, with a thick and strong base, that is impossible to break. Unfortunately in my eyes, I could see a monster, with rotten, crisp, and leafy dark chocolate brown fur, crimson, blood colored spider-like eyes, which are the berries, and a towering figure, like a five meter titan in front of me. Hidden behind the gloomy shadows of the building, it looks menacing, as if it gazes, with glowing cherry eyes, at anyone who enters its inner sanctum. The branches and leaves would shake, with the sounds of the rustle, like it is growling and warning its foes. All I see is just a lie about this tree, because it is from my imagination.
Hello and farewell Sir Hidden Blood.
Reflecting back to all of this, I noticed that what I thought and saw was only a big mistake of my mind. These so called ordinary trees are not just plain giant wooden sticks that protrude out from the ground, but they provided a lot of support for the birds, nature, and surroundings. Shockingly, the Hidden Blood tree is actually a gentle giant that means no harm. It allowed small finches, who are as small as a full grown purple plum, to eat its berries and take shelter, under the leftover leaves. All this time the tree took under a threatening appearance, but in reality it is a tree meant to support the nature around it. It's as if it wants to actually reveal itself out of the shadows, willing to experience more than wrong judgement of others. For the Wounded Wood, there is no mistake, in fact what I view about this tree should be the same for all these thick wooden stems, a hero. This is the truth that reveals in the invisible as the lies erode away.
The mythology behind these Rowans,"...was believed to protect."("Identify...). According to its background story, it is about the goddess of youth, Hebe, who fed other gods with her cup of magical nectar, which is stolen by demons. In order for her to get the cup back, she sent an eagle to retrieve it. This ends in a difficult battle between the eagle and the demons, where the blood and feathers are dropped, growing the beautiful Rowan or Mountain Ash trees. The feathers represent the bristle and razor-like leaves, while the blood represent the crimson colored berries, which is marked with a five pointed star, symbolizing protection in the ancient times("Identify...) . This a positive belief of these trees, which is even better than viewing them as a hideous beast, or something that isn't worth paying attention to. It may as well as change the minds of others about these plants, and also make others look in the inside than the outside, to avoid a misbelief of something. This shows a big mistake of someone character, until it is revealed eventually.
The star, a ancient powerful symbol of protection. (Petr Kratochvil.)
However, it is a good thing to try and convince others about their misbeliefs, but the human mind is quite a struggle to understand. Each mind has its own opinions on not just the Rowans, but on many others things. Their beliefs could be similar or maybe different; it only depends on the bearer of the mind. According to the web article titled, "Why do we judge people by their appearance?", by Zamkah, Reham, from the Saudi Gazette, explains about the views of judgement. Apparently it talks about the Arabs part taking the activities of judging the appearance of others, before they meet them. This later results in a mistake about their someones character, after getting to know this person. It then ends with the fact that we humans would sometimes judges others, before they show their true colors, which leads to a regretful disaster of misconception. Judgement does not only happen by a group of people, but also effectively in court as said in the web article,"Judging by Appearance", by Paul, Annie M.. This article reflects on surmising ones own appearance in court, which,"...can be swayed by more than just a pretty face: clothing and jewelry choices can sometimes mean the difference between doing time and dodging jail."(Paul). If someone like a attorney was to wear the inappropriate clothing, then it will result in negative conceptions of this person. This all demonstrates that people see the lies visibly by looks, while the truth still hidden within.
Overall judging or observing something like the Rowans and people isn't always about looking at their appearance. The looks that kill, which is like killing the trust and further observations, immediately making the mind make accusations so quickly, with just a snap of a figure. The inner and closer looks is what counts the most, which may take patience, but it's all worth it. Judgement shouldn't be based on the appearance, but the inner personality. It is hard to resist making deductions of someone, before meeting them, but should at least learn about their mistakes, after all it is just a misconception.
I know this maybe sudden, but I must at least say a proper farewell to these Rowans, this post, and to this blog. Facing this last moment, to bask in the nature around me, I really appreciate the chance to explore and discover, even if isn't easy to let it all go. Not only that I discovered new knowledge about these trees, but I also grew and learned as well. All in all I should be thankful, and who knows maybe I will do something similar someday. Well for now I shall say goodbye, and look forward to the future that awaits, until we meet again.
Work Cited
"Identify Other Species of Rowan (Mountain Ash) Trees". Garden
Action The premier gardening in information source. N.p. N.d.
Web. 4, December 2014. www.gardenaction.co.uk/trees/rowanmountain-ash-trees.asp
Paul, Annie M. "Judging by Appearance". Psychology Today.
Sussex Directories Inc. 1, November 1997. Web. 8, December
2014.
Kratochvil, Petr. "Rowanberry". Digital Image.
PublicDomainPictures.net. Bobek Ltd. 2007. Web. 12,
December 2014.
Zamkah, Reham Al-Bilad. "Why do we judge people by their
appearance?". Saudi Gazette. N.p. 20, November 2014. Web.
4, December 2014.
