2000 Celebration Tree Project Announcement

[Guest guest]

Last year was the first year for the Celebration Tree Project. This tree is

for everyone suffering from an illness who is being unjustly treated. I am

starting a little earlier this year so that folks have time to get their

ornaments gathered and sent my way if they want to participate. The URL

below was the announcement from last year telling about the Celebration

Tree---the address for the ornaments is on the second page (click on

" continued " ) . Below the stars in this email is the story of our first tree

from last year. I wanted to make sure I got this posted in time for the

folks that want to make ornaments. I will send a reminder sometime in early

November. By the way our 5 little trees have grown much taller this year,

even though we haven't had much rain.

Please join with us again this year and please share this announcement

anywhere you think folks would want to take part. I have a picture of last

year's tree if anyone wants to see it. I just don't know how to put it on a

webpage (what else is new). Learning to do just that is my next project.

Maggie MacRaven

http://members.xoom.com/oneearth/capow/page6.html

****************************

The celebration tree came bursting into life as the moon rose in the Mountain

sky at 7:30PM MST on December 22, 1999.

Joining well over a hundred and fifty decorated trees on a road running

through Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, USA, a tree was decorated by

people from around the world who suffer from, or know someone who suffers

from, the various maladies that are plaguing our world today. My search

began---I wanted to choose a very special tree--- I considered a tree

standing alone---isolated from the rest--devoid of leaves or needles--on the

edge of the forest (a metaphor for our existence), but as I drove the forest

road time and again this thought became more and more unsettling ----- I

realized that we should no longer accept this metaphor. We must reclaim

our place in the sun and we must stand unified in our goals of once again

living healthy, meaningful lives. That dream would require a new metaphor.

Again and again I searched---no tree looked " right. " But this I knew---

it must not be surrounded by fence, it must not be near pollution, it must

not stand alone or be perched precariously on the edge of a rock formation.

The time of the cyber celebration drew nigh---at 5:00 PM I gathered up 100

feet of purple and gold shining garland and headed down the mountain

continuing my search. Just as the sun disappeared in the Western

horizon---the moon inched her way upward from the Eastern horizon like an

elegant glowing yellow orb--I paused in awe. But time was short. As I was

about to drive away five small, interesting trees of varying shapes and

heights, lush with long pine needles, huddling together and lovingly touching

branches caught my eye--- they appeared to be swaying back and forth in tempo

with the breeze beckoning me to join in their joyful dance--- I did! The

trees were shielded by a bank topped by towering, powerful, stately pines

carefully guarding them from the West wind. I had finally found what had

eluded me for weeks--I had found the perfect spot and the perfect metaphor.

Happily, I wove the garland back and forth between the branches---uniting

them in a huge bundle of cheer---then dashed home to dress for this special

celebration--- purple and yellow warm clothes -- a necklace that said

" Pollution is killing the things I love---Please Help!! " oh yes, and a tiara

that was sent by a dear friend. I tied wires to the ornaments which had

been sent to me from around the world and again headed down the mountain at

7:30PM MST to join in the celebration of cheer and hope that was taking place

around the world. The sky was indigo --the moon was now high, directing her

luminous beams on " our " trees, shadows were tripping merrily on the

mountain side, stars were glistening. A fellow forest creature arrived

and together we set about the joyful bedecking--giggling, freezing and

enjoying the bounty of this magnificent forest on such an electrifying

night---some ornaments were specially made to feed the birds in the

forest---some were hand made---some were taken from personal trees---ALL were

wonderful, sent with much love and the stories behind them, and perfect for

our very " perfect " trees. One last ornament remained---a huge purple and

yellow chemical injury awareness ribbon--where shall it rest? A branch

reached out to me offering to wear this very special ribbon. And so it was,

the celebration trees were complete. We stood back and admired what now was

the most beautiful event on the mountain, watching moonbeams bounce gaily

between garland and ornaments.

The joy, hope, love and cheer that this celebration represents WILL be the

catalyst that helps reclaim the health and the lives of all beings on this

planet, as the group of five trees stand proudly together--linking branches,

reclaiming their place in the warmth of the morning sun--and looking forward

to a unified vision of health returning to the Earth.

At 9:00PM MST I packed up the car, straightened my tiara, and drove South

towards home---a star raced across the sky and tears of joy rolled down my

now scarlet cheeks---I felt blessed--it was a perfect celebration on a

perfect night on a perfect mountain with a perfect moon--- and I arrived home

to a perfect message from a Gulf War Vet ---he said the celebration was

" MOONIFICENT " ----

Love from the Mountain---Maggie Maeve Carson MacRaven---looking forward to a

brighter future!