Forestry and the Pagan

Hey, it's me, and I'm still around. Hooray!

As if you couldn't tell from the entry-gap, I've been a little busy lately. More classes, more studies, more projects, more 'home' work. It's a heavy load but I like keeping busy.

I knew being here would be a challenge, and I haven't been disappointed. But I can feel myself developing as a human, as a primate. With every skill I learn, I feel myself closer to my ancestors, and to the wild nature of my human-ness. Take, for example, the sharpening of an axe (the 'whetting' of an axe would be more appropriate). Here I am, using my brain and my thumbs, both of which are my natural advantage, to create/improve a tool that I'll be using to manipulate a part of the world in which I live. I'll be using it to fell trees (seems anti-Wiccan in every way, but I'll get to that in a bit), to build trails, and all sorts of other applications. I'm a human; making and using tools is what I do.

As for the felling trees....I've felled approximately 6 trees already. I used a chainsaw to do it. I've heard of the chainsaw being referred to as "an icon that represents everything against Pagan thought". I don't agree, but I don't exactly like chainsaws either. They're loud, they stink, and they're very dangerous. But, it's a tool, and, since any self-respecting Forest Tech should at least know how to operate one, I had to do it. I look at my education as a definite advantage to Gaia and to her physical form. My colleagues and I will be the next stewards of the bounty the Earth sustains us with. We'll pretty much be in charge of how our species attains uses what Gaia gives us. Killing a few trees to learn to do it is a sacrifice that has to be made... it reminds me of the Green Man; the God of Vegetation, that sacrifices himself for the good of everyone else. He's done it again-- except this time he's firewood and experience, rather than beer and corn.

Also, let's not forget the fact that growing trees and harvesting them is a form of agriculture (Don't believe me? USDA Forest Service. 'Nuff said). Last I checked, agriculture is a rather sacred thing to us Pagan-folk. So, I choose to see forestry as a sacred thing too. It's another manifestation of our relationship with the Great Mother and her form of Gaia. Of course, we've got to be smart about how we take what we need from the forests. And, from my experience, forestry isn't just about timber harvesting anymore. It's about caring for the forests; their ecosystems, their cycles. We observe and, largely, we learn. We let Nature do what she'll do, and we take what we need. This isn't always the case, though...there are those out there that rape and pillage, rather than take what they need and give back in the form of restoration and conscious forestry practices. (Unfortunately, seems a few of my classmates are of this mindset- take, take take). Forestry can be and is sacred if practiced respectfully and mindfully.