LOG BLOG

Today I came home to the sound of chainsaws. Were my senses more acute, I’m sure the sound of pleading trunks and branches would have accompanied them. No, I am not a tree hugger. But I *am* an avid recycler and life long fan of oxygen.

So when I see the vertical plane of my backyard landscape about to be permanently altered, I’ll admit, my blood starts to simmer. Several infant maples, and 2-3 full growns were massacred all because my neighbour’s shed roof was threatened by a few branches.

Until this morning, I considered myself quite lucky. Despite the strong presence of insects, over-abundance of shade and double-duty of raking come fall, I love my backyard jungle. How many average income, central city home-owners have the window scenery of a cottage in the convenience of an urban location? As of yesterday, at least one.

You know what? Call me a tree hugger. Call me a leaf lover. A trunk hag. A root wench or a branch bitch. Because not only have my trees given my privacy, property value and a cat scratching alternative to livingroom furnishings, they give anyone in range the following:

- Carbon dioxide absorption.
- Wind barriers that reduce the heating costs of nearby homes.
- Shading that reduces cooling costs.
- Mood boosts. (Proven psychological impact that can help in emotional and physical healing.)
- Sound insulation.
- Pretty birds.

In talking with the tree cutters I learned that a little advanced planning and strategic redirection of new growth – when my neighbour first built the shed two years ago – would have prevented all of this. My now naked south side (reminder: we’re still talking property here) looks like a barren, cemetery of wood. A stark scene of arbourcide.

Thankfully, I still have lots of other greenery. At least for now. Said neighbour has already eyed another one she wants down.

Dharma Arts

Let's move the lessons away from religion and travel for a moment and talk about something more literary.

"Intertextuality" is a term used to refer to one text which draws from, or references, another text. Today, I'd like to refer you to www.dharmaarts.ca. It's been a little side-project of mine for the past year and a half and we just launched our "Indian Summer" issue which includes a story called Dabbling with Enlightenment along with a few other tidbits based on my travels.

For those of you who might have found yourselves here precisely because of that article—welcome!

LFUNTS

This past Thursday, the Toronto zoo lost their 38 yr-old elephant Tequila. Cause of death is at this point unknown, but it got me thinking about how disappointed I am for not seeking out more elephants while in India. What I did see plenty of was the god, Ganesh. His animal form likely contributes to his popularity, but here's my rendition of the story that partially explains why he's so visible.

The "trunk-ated" version: Parvati – the model of feminine beauty in Hinduism and proven yogini in her own right – had worked her ass off to earn the attention of Shiva. Shiva – the aloof and devoted ascetic – left soon after their union to attend to his own preoccupations (typical male). Through the forest and to a mountaintop, he retreated into meditation as was his custom. Alone and vulnerable, Parvati was desperate for a son. And so she made one herself out of her own intellect (biggup to early DIY instincts!). When Shiva returned one day to find a strapping young lad guarding the door while gorgeous Parvati bathed, he went rank. And when Shiva – better known as the destroyer god – goes rank, heads roll. Literally.

Parvati, emerging to find her son decapitated at the hands of her beloved, becomes inconsolable. Shiva – aloof, but not insensitive – promises to recreate the son, Ganesh, and make him the first to be worshipped in Hindu homes. He commissions his bull Nandhi to find a suitable head. The result is that of a noble elephant. While it would appear that Shiva lost his temper in slaughtering the son, we should remember that loss of control is not characteristic of such a perfected being. You see, the prototype Ganesh was pure ego, made of Parvati only. Ganesh, as we now know him represents our need to transcend the Self to attain perfection.

Should I venture on such a journey, no pachyderm heads for me. Please retrofit me with something feline ideally.