What would you like to learn about the Ash Tree? (Preparing the Writing(with)Ash session, 16 April)

It’s time for another writing session with plants. This time, we welcome another progeny of Eglė—the Ash Tree. Although Baltic mythology doesn’t specifically highlight ash trees, these trees are steeped in rich mythology, folklore, and scientific facts. I have been fascinated by ash trees for a long time and, unsurprisingly, I wrote a short story featuring one: “An Ash Tree in Os”—a feminist science fiction tale about grief and loss that was published. It was inevitable that the Ash Tree would be invited. Preparing a session with an Ash Tree is straightforward, but I want to remain open to what other human participants might wish to explore. Therefore, I invite you to share: What would you like to learn about the ash tree?

Please read more about the practice/method on the project page: Writing (with) plants – Project. Those who are interested in our hydrofeminist retelling of the Egle-myth, can visit Flowing with Eglė – Project. We created also two new Instagram pages, dedicated to the practice: https://www.instagram.com/writingwithplants/ and to the project: https://www.instagram.com/flowing_with_egle/

Theme of writing(with)Ash: sacrifice and wounds

• How do we experience sacrifice and begin to reclaim it?
• When is sacrifice a story of loss or initiation into radical healing

Please join us as we invite Ash in close and ask – what needs to be sacrificed before a rebirth? The online 2-hour long zoom session is for free, but we ask people to register beforehand via this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8MIZfeMETZWHp5hOAELgdA#/registration

Why this theme? Why this time? Why this tree?

As we approach the sacred time of Easter, a period deeply associated with themes of sacrifice and resurrection, it is apt that we explore these motifs through the lens of both ancient myth and the cycles of nature. Our session is inspired by the profound narratives of sacrifice found in diverse traditions—most notably, the story of Odin, who sacrificed himself on an Ash tree to gain wisdom, and the narrative of Jesus Christ, whose crucifixion and subsequent resurrection offer foundational insights into sacrifice and renewal. These stories are not just about loss and pain; they invite us to consider the transformative power of sacrifice and its potential to lead to greater understanding and renewal.

The choice of the Ash tree as our focal point is particularly significant. In many cultures, the Ash tree is seen as a symbol of healing and transformation. It bridges the world of ancient myth and the natural cycle of rebirth, making it the perfect emblem for our pre-Easter gathering.

What would you like to learn and teach about ash tree?

During the writing(with)plants sessions, there is a sharing circle where participants can share a memory, a myth, recipe, a scientific fact about the tree. Sometimes the participants pass the talking stick. In the preparation of and during the circle, we want to take care that participants learn what they would like to learn, and even boost the vegetal intelligence of our guest tree and collective wisdom of the circle more. Please let us in the comments what you like to learn and teach about ash tree.