I was just doing a session with my teacher of the Norse mysteries, and we thought we were going to be talking about stories, the runes, or the labyrinth and the mythology work we’ve been doing. But instead, what came forth was a really important conversation about the Guardians of the land. And so I just had to grab my camera and share with you about the Guardians of the land, because you have guardians of your land, too. Even if you’re living in a high-rise apartment in a city. The land is always beneath us and always with us.

He was talking about the tradition of having a “word tree”—a tree that is like the main tree you go to, to honor your ancestors and the memory of the land. A place where you go to meditate, a place where you go to connect. At first, I was thinking, “Oh, I have to find a word tree, and I have to create this retreat to do it.” Then I realized, I have this tree. Here she is, by the way, this big cedar behind me. In fact, my mother’s ashes are buried at the base of this cedar, so it’s quite literally an ancestor tree. And I realized that no matter where I’ve lived, I’ve always had a special tree. Even when traveling, I find a tree—maybe at a local park—and I’m like, “What’s up? You’re my tree.”

I want to normalize the fact that we all have a special tree, especially if you’re intuitive and land-connected. If you’re not and you don’t have a special tree, this is your invitation to create that relationship. It doesn’t have to be anything particularly religious or specific—it’s just a personal connection with the intelligence of a tree. As he was telling me about the Norse mysteries and the traditions that have been alive for thousands of years in Nordic countries like Iceland and Sweden, I realized that having a relationship with a tree is just natural.

Some ideas that come to us from different traditions: here on this tree, we’ve hung little prayer ties. We make prayers, little bundles, and hang them from the tree as an offering. It’s really raining right now, and while the tree shelters me, I’m also getting wet. He was also sharing that you can make a little hut, like a fairy house, with rocks or pieces of bark, to honor the spirit of your land. Even if you live in an apartment, you can create something simple, like a shrub on your balcony. It doesn’t have to be a grand, 200-foot cedar tree. It can be anything with intention, a living thing to anchor your relationship with the spirit of the place, your guardian spirit.

I remember when I was Catholic, I thought there was only one right way to pray, and those who prayed in other ways were missing out. Now, I see that’s not true. Why would we limit the Divine in that way? Why would we think that prayers should only come in a certain form or language?

My intention, in all my spiritual teachings, is to normalize and naturalize that which just works. And honestly, being in direct relationship with a guardian tree, even in the rain, is a blessing we’ve enjoyed for thousands of years. I invite you to keep enjoying it.

Who’s your word tree? Who’s your ancestor tree? What’s the shrub you can go to and share your stories or prayers with? Maybe even share a glass of wine with? You’re welcome to your own natural spirituality.