Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Cathartic Burning of the Christmas Tree

Okay... this has absolutely nothing to do with baking or cake decorating, and has everything to do with new beginnings and letting go of the past.  Some friends of ours traditionally burn their Christmas tree every year...  I had never heard of such a tradition but I was intrigued.  We were invited over to their house on New Year's Day for waffles, good company, and tree burning.  I was kind of giddy like a school girl, although I'm not sure exactly why.

They had the burning of their tree down to a science... a very organized methodical process.  After witnessing the disembodiment of the tree, the roaring sound... the overwhelming heat, HUGE flames and the very earthy smell of the burning cedar... I wanted to burn my tree... I wanted to symbolically let go of the past and embrace a new beginning... it's the beginning of a new year and the first I'm starting as a single mother.  I wanted to burn the tree as a symbol of my independence and letting go....

Lopping the branches, sawing the trunk, tossing each branch on the fire... all of it was very cathartic and empowering.  I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of it...

So here it is... a pictorial journal of my tree burning... I don't know if I'll do it every year... but this year it had meaning, it felt necessary, and it feels complete....


The tree... after lopping off the branches...

In all it's naked splendor... stripped to the core...
kind of like how I have felt these last few months...

Sawing with the hand saw.... it was effective... but not as much as power....

The power of the chain saw (feeling very stoked in this moment)

The trunk... broken down and ready to be disposed of...

One shot of a very amazing fire... the roar and heat were incredible.. 

I know, I know... it's just a cut up tree and a fire in a fireplace... but for me, it was so much more. Sometimes you have to take all the pieces apart and put them together again until it feels right...

This felt right... and good... and complete

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I have a feeling 2013 is going to be amazing...


2 comments:

  1. I'm thrilled this was such a meaningful action for you. As you say, some traditions just feel right.

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    1. It felt so right, Hanna... it was really awesome. It feels kind of like an "inside joke"? But I'm not really sure why... I'll take it though....

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