Celebration tree pics

[Guest guest]

I am sorry this is so late getting to you all. I am at the mercy of others

to put up pictures on a webpage for me---but I intend to learn SOON. Anyway,

a fellow activist working on GWS issues put the pics on a page for me. His

name is REV DOC. He also added the Irish song " Maggie " to the page---but not

sure if it will play for you. I want to thank him for all of his work and

for helping me with this project. The pictures were taken in near dark

conditions. One is a long shot so that you can see the tall trees in the

background. The other is a close up that shows the 5 trees tied together and

the many ornaments sent from around the world. I intend to carry on this

project each year no matter where I live.

I am currently working on several projects that I will write about soon.

In the meantime, please enjoy these pics--I have added the story that I wrote

that night---it has already been sent to the lists but it gives meaning to

why the tall trees and why I decorated 5 trees instead of one. Our awareness

colors are purple/yellow.

If you would like the URLs for the awareness ribbon page or the original

tree project page, email me privately.

Hope you all enjoy the project as much as I did. Together we will find the

justice we seek.

Love,

Maggie Maeve

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http://libra.netmastersllc.com/doc/pictures/friends/mag2.JPG

http://libra.netmastersllc.com/doc/pictures/friends/mag.JPG

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!