TreeLog

Have you ever… hugged a tree?

Sounds weird but tree hugging is actually becoming a buzz as it is said to have various benefits such as decreasing stress levels and releasing oxytocin. Oxytocin is called the love hormone but I like to call it the kindness hormone. Healers advocate that hugging a tree is a method to connect with nature and can have therapeutic and healing benefits. In Japan they called it Shirin-yoku, known as forest bathing. 

I feel that just being in the forest or a place with huge trees has soothing benefits. Hugging a tree is a simple process; close your eyes, extend your arms to wrap around the trunk and press your cheeks on the bark. This might be a little uncomfortable at the beginning if the texture of the tree trunk is rough but it helps to be grounded in the moment…the NOW. Hug the tree and breath, keeping the eyes close and listening to the natural environment around: rustling of leaves, birds chirping and your breath.

Enjoy the moment and feel the weight off your shoulders and thank Mother Earth for this beautiful treasure which provides you with the oxygen you breathe everyday…

Try hugging a tree and let me know in the comments…I did ( pictures below)

I am an “Opacarophile”…I had to use Google to know the meaning when I heard this word for the first time. It simply means I am a sunset lover… I adore sunsets, that magical moment when the sun is going to sleep, giving us a spectacular palette of colours; orange, pink, purple. Sunsets often give me that craving to paint and play with these colours; wild, warm, mesmerising colours. 

One can see breathtaking sunsets from La Gaulette, my birthplace. This is not a biased opinion because I was born and raised here but nature has been kind to surround this picturesque place with amazing views of Le Morne Brabant mountain, Ile aux benitiers and the Black River mountain range. A sunset added to this backdrop is pure magic!

La Gaulette, a small fishing village on the South West coast of Mauritius derives its name from the french word “gaulette”, meaning fishing rod in English. Long ago, fishing was the main economic activity in the village due to its proximity to the ocean.

The simple rustic village I have known as a kid has now transformed into a little independent locality, hosting a police station, a small commercial centre where we have a pharmacy, café, restaurant and shops and a newly built fuel station.

The village is now well known as a stop over for kite surfers due to the famous One Eye surfing spot situated about 10 mins away by car. Travelers can find accommodation with the locals who rent their houses to tourists and kite surfers who want to experience the local culture of living in a village. 

Two weeks ago we celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi festival and we had an amazing view of the sun sinking behind “Ile aux benitiers” with Le Morne Brabant mountain standing proudly, the peaceful sea and picturesque views of the mountains.

We live in a peaceful community in La Gaulette, where I can go to the temple or attend mass for Christmas; a loving place where neighbours know and help each other.

I often look up towards the mountains thinking how amazing it would be to have a sunset view of La Gaulette from up there. Chamarel viewpoint is the best spot to capture amazing photos of La Gaulette and the sunsets. 

Are you an Opacarophile? Come and visit my birthplace , you will surely fall in love with its warmth and serenity…

Happiness🙂

We may look at a tree thinking it is only a piece of wood but did you know that they are actually our superheroes saving our lives everyday?

We, humans tend to forget our interconnectedness with trees. Humans and trees form one entity because of our cyclical and harmonious relationship: we breathe in oxygen generated by trees and exhale carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Trees inhale the carbon dioxide which we have released through their stomata( pores on their leaves) and in turn release oxygen as a byproduct during photosynthesis.

What a unique and beautiful relationship we share with trees. We need each other to be alive!

Trees are crucial for life on planet earth and there has been so much harm done already with deforestation around the globe.

According to UNDP, every year the world loses 10 million hectares of forest. Deforestation and forest degradation amount to nearly 11% of global carbon emission.

In Mauritius, only 1.5% of our native forest remains. We need to take action now.

It is a time of awakening, to become conscious of the harm caused by cutting trees and in turn encourage reforestation/afforestation to  be able to sustain the planet for the future generations.

Let’s plant a tree! We are ONE, from the same source of creation 🌳🧬

Today we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, in honour of the elephant headed god Ganesha. He is worshipped as the remover of obstacles and god of wisdom. Ganesha has many names and the most popular ones are Vigneshwar, Ganapathi, Gajanana and Vinayaka.

My ancestors came from Maharashtra, a state in the West of India. They came to Mauritius as immigrants and have kept the traditions of the Maharashtrian culture alive. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the main festivals celebrated by the Marathi community in Mauritius.

I grew up celebrating this festival every year.  My grandparents used to host the Ganapathi bappa idol (handmade from earth) in their home and it was a moment of pure joy, togetherness and sharing.

I love the simple olden days of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi which were filled with traditions taught by our ancestors. Food, clothing, rituals and music which we would experience only during this festival.

A highlight of Ganesh Chaturthi is the traditional dance known as jhakri. We dance and sing in circles with the music instruments being played live.

What is the significance of Ganesh Chaturthi? It is a festival to celebrate Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. He is the first god that hindus invoke before prayers. 

Under British rule in India, Lokmanya Tilak started the Ganesh Chaturthi festival to bring people together. In Mauritius we share this togetherness with people of all communities. 

Today we went to the seaside for the visarjan ceremony where we left the Ganesh idol to dissolve in the sea while singing the lines “ Ganpathi bappa morya, purchay varshi lawkar ya” meaning Praise to Lord Ganpathi, please come back to us quickly next year… 

It is a symbolic farewell where the idol made of earth goes back to Mother Nature, dissolving our egos and reminding us that nothing in life is permanent.

Ganpathi bappa morya!

I love taking photos of rainbows, even when I am driving! 

Rainbows fill me with childlike wonder. I was always drawn to those vivid colours in the sky, even without knowing the science behind it. As they appear after a drizzle of rain, rainbows are a symbol of hope that better moments can appear out of nowhere.

On Tuesday this week, I was driving to town and we kept seeing rainbows along the way. For me it’s a little wink from the universe to say “keep going”…

During school days we were taught the mnemonic “Richard Of York Gained Battle In Vain” to remember the seven colours ( Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). Scientific explanations about rainbows speak about refraction and dispersion of light. Sunlight can pass through water in the air and cause this spectrum of colours to appear. The rainbow can also appear from any airborne water element, even mist or sprays.

A rainbow is actually circular in shape but what the human eye sees is only half of the phenomenon, forming an arc in the sky. It is even more mysterious as according to research, the eye and brain also do not see or recognise all the colours. There are millions of different colours.

Have you heard people saying that rainbows stop rain from pouring? It can trick the mind to think so as the arc forms a protective layer between the sky and earth but without scientific evidence this will remain a myth…

In Mauritius we do not have rainbows only in the sky but we also have rainbow hued earth. A natural phenomenon caused by volcanic activity and erosion. I have been fortunate to work at this magical place called Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth with red, blue, green colours beneath my feet. Would you like to read more about this beautiful place?

The Banyan tree

I am the Banyan tree; a peculiar and mysterious tree with roots hanging from my branches. Ever heard of that? 

My family originates from the ficus species. I have green strong leaves and hairlike threads overhanging from my branches. These threads become roots and can grow into new trunks when they touch the ground or interlock with branches, making me expand in size if the hanging roots are not maintained.

My life can be dramatic. Sometimes the new  born stalks can cause the old tree trunk to suffocate and die, leaving a hollow space in the middle.

In some cultures, I am venerated as a sacred tree. For instance in India, married women tie a thread around my trunk during the “Vat Savitri” festival. I am also known as the national tree of India.

…..

This is my painting of the Banyan tree done in 2018. The aerial roots were delicately painted to show the interwoven threads. I wanted to depict the connection between the earth and the spiritual realm, with the light coming from the bottom and moving to the crown chakra. 

Years later, little did I know that my new office would be called the Banyan House with a beautiful Banyan Tree gracing the entrance☺️

Mysteriously yours

Keshtree 

I had asked myself this question numerous times “what is my purpose here on earth?”

The answer was not always crystal clear but I knew that I wanted to live with purpose and contribute to something positive in the world. I wanted a meaningful life, something bigger than myself. 

Along life’s journey, our priorities change; what started as a passionate project twenty years ago during my undergraduate days faded over time while working in the corporate world. 

The seeds were planted but were hidden in the dark. In 2019, I decided to quit my corporate job to become an entrepreneur and founded “My Treehouse”. I wanted to work for a cause. I will tell more about this journey in future posts.

I knew for sure that my purpose was to raise awareness about protecting our beautiful natural environment. I wanted to work for Mother Earth as she is the one sustaining us everyday. 

Art and Nature are two topics I am passionate about and I have created this blog as a space to share my love for Mother Earth with the hope that it can inspire and help others to preserve her natural beauty. 

Let’s grow together on this journey.

With love and light

Keshtree

P.S I do really have a “tree” in my name🌳