WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL FOREST DAY, 21ST OF MARCH AND WORLD WATER DAY, 22ND OF MARCH.
THIS NARRATION WAS AWORDED IN THE FIRST ENVIROMENT MICRO STORY CONTEST PRESENTED BY VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA TOWN HALL IN 2023
THE TREE AND ITS SYMBOLISM
We will deepen and analyze the symbolism and importance of the tree
and the forest for human beings. The countless forest fires,
indiscriminate logging, waste of paper, the replacement of green
spaces in cities for cement surfaces, etc. are negative factors that
we try to balance in some way with the work carried out by each
citizen of planet Earth, the recycling, environmental policies, when
they exist, public awareness and of course educational work in
schools, encouraging and teaching students how to recycle properly,
to separate wastings and reduce the use and consumption of
non-necessary goods. Dealing with nature makes us all more natural,
more humble, younger and more human.
For a person to realize and respect nature, it is necessary to
approach it, feel it and understand its complex structure and with
the help of this story, also its symbology. Nature is alive,
communicative, it makes us want to live, it is a great teacher of
life. It is capable of self-regulation and continually offers us
messages without having to speak. It has always been said that great
works are forged in silence and built slowly.
The tree does speak to us from its roots, where the mystery of the
deep and infinite rests, from its leaves, which give us shade and
oxygen, its branches; with its flowers and its fruits as gifts, and
from its treetop; where the wind whispers and where the birds feel
comfortable from their heights.
We continue with the symbolism of trees and we approach to their
size, in general it is an image of strength, shelter and longevity,
it represents the incarnation of life because it is the axis of
union of the four elements of nature:
The water that flows through their veins and it is a source of
life.
The air that it itself breathes, purifies and offers us for human
survival.
The land in which it is immersed, in which it lives and in which it
establishes itself and grows.
The fire that contains its raw material, wood, and that provides us
with energy in the form of heat.
At the same time, we analyze the relationship between human values
and the principles of tree growth:
Trees are an example of
service, they give everything they have, their fruits, their
leaves, their wood, shelter, etc. A bushy tree, it gives shade,
although not fruit.
Trees, like humans in their
first years of life, need to be guided and tutored. From a young
age the little tree straightens itself.
Trees, like humans, have
roots that need to be strong and well rooted. Don't expect plump
fruit from a sickly tree.
Trees speak to us over the
years, their longevity, their patience, they grow slowly. A tree is
cut down in one hour and is not grown for twenty years.
Within the personal
development of each person we also find symbols related to trees.
Each person has and demonstrates a series of abilities, capacities
and skills that they have acquired since their first years of life;
this process is identical to the development of a tree, so we
compare the roots of a tree with the roots of each individual, their
genetics, their family environment, their neighborhood, their
friends, their values and principles, their studies, the
society in which they grow, etc these elements create and develop
those capacities that we talked about and that will be the basis of
your personal development, of your personal "Me", the
trunk of the tree.
Once the person has grown and
developed as an individual, like the tree, it is time for the person
to bear fruit which will be better if the person has a proper
learning process as well, from educational institutions we believe
and value the training and educational work of education in values,
civic and social education, sexual education, environmental
education, plastic and artistic education, etc., with all this we
are ready to collect fruits: empathy, respect , solidarity, peace,
love, wisdom, work, family, home and well-being.
This whole intertwined
process, like the roots of a forest, is THE TREE OF LIFE