Sunday was one of my favourite days so far. I had no idea how many people would come to my tree planting party.

But it’s already working – I’m looking out at the field in the rain, can see the trees at the back and know that today and as they grow, I’ll always remember Sunday and the people who helped me plant the trees (and plant myself, ‘blow in’ that I am) in my new home country.

Literally putting down roots.

I’ve never lived anywhere I had a blood link to until I moved here nearly 6 months ago. That new friends and neighbours (and a friend who lives in Ireland who went to school with me in Essex 30+ years ago) helped me to do this means a huge amount to me.

I’d asked everyone to bring an intention for themselves and for the planet so we could ‘plant’ them with small crystals (if they wanted to) and, as the trees grow, the intentions do, too.

For 15 plus years, I’ve been working with tree imagery for meditations and in yoga classes and with clients and it never occurred to me I’d be in a position to actually plant trees.

I wanted to make the most of this power of intention (even though most of my guest have planted many of their own trees).

A week before, I realised I could plant intentions by proxy for people who couldn’t make it. This was a gorgeous way for me to feel I was including friends, loved ones and clients from the UK and further afield in Ireland.

One friend even sent beautiful paper to write them on (there wasn’t enough for ALL the intentions so I used colourful paper for the rest but it was great to have something physically from Essex to go in the ground here, too).

I was up until 3am on the Saturday night, writing everyone’s intentions, all in ready to go in before the trees were put in on them (along with small crystals chosen to help anchor each intention).

One was so beautiful, it’s inspired my new sankalpa (I’d had the same one for 19 months while planning and moving but that one has become my reality) for my yoga nidras (you can access a summer one HERE).

I’d thought I’d have everything (including holes dug) sorted but am still not fully unpacked and in the morning, while a blur, I didn’t have time to do this.

This means that the intentions that came in after the Saturday night deadline I’d given were added right next to rather than under the roots with little crystals to ground them too.

A delightful guest who arrived a little early and offered to help dug the holes for me. And it’s a good thing I hadn’t done it – I’ve never had my own garden before. I was thinking about where they’d look pretty but he sensibly considered power lines and drainage.

Several people talked about the need for stakes. This STILL makes me think of Buffy the Vampire Slayer before I remind myself they’re supports for trees and it’s something else for me to figure out and sort before it gets too wintry.

I want these stunning trees to grow strong and healthy.

I don’t know what I’d expected of myself but didn’t meet my expectations so am very grateful to the friends who made tea and served the food for other guests.

Thank you so much to everyone who came and who sent me intentions to plant by proxy.

And the day I’d been both looking forward to and a bit anxious about (what if no one came? What if too many people came? How would we manage the actual logistics?) was better than I’d imagined and topped off by a short (so cold. But glorious) sea swim at the foot of the Reek (aka Croagh Patrick).

Big love,