The White Pear Tree in Nature

A stately evergreen tree, the White Pear can grow with a long straight trunk to over twenty meters in height under forest conditions; rocky and exposed sites result in small, gnarled and compact specimens. Easily adapted, it is found from the Cape Province in southern Africa to Ethiopia in the north.

The White Pear bears a profusion of sweetly scented white flowers and their vanilla scent perfumes the warm summer months.

The flowers are followed by the fruit - an asymmetrical black drupe with a red, fleshy appendage. The bark is a pale gray on young trees and it is often covered by white and orange lichens at Platbos. The branches and trunks turn a darker gray as the tree ages.

The timber of the White Pear has been prized since the first days of colonization for its strong, elastic qualities. It was much sought after by wagon builders and as a result most of the country´s finest trees were logged out. It is a valued wood for furniture making and it has also been used for flooring, veneering, paneling, rifle stocks and engraving for printing.

Traditionally the root bark is used to treat intestinal parasites and the leaves are used as a remedy for ear infections. The White Pear is also revered for it protective powers and it is said to ward off evil spirits. The Department of Biology at the University of Kwazulu Natal has identified compounds found in its leaves as a potential molluscicide for the snails involved in the lifecycle of bilharzia.

The White Pear is a protected tree in South Africa. They make beautiful specimen, shade trees and they also prune well so can be grown as dense, screening hedges. The roots are non-invasive and they are fast growing trees.

The Milkwood Tree in Nature

Milkwoods are hardy, slow-growing trees with deep-green, leathery leaves and rough grayish-brown bark. Rarely are they found with a straight trunk. Instead their gnarled, sprawling branches create sheltering thickets that are home to a variety of wild life. By creating dense, low-crowing stands, Milkwoods are one of the few trees able to withstand the salt-laden winds that batter South Africa´s southern coastline. Although also occurring inland, Milkwoods are found mainly along the coast from the Cape Peninsula to northern Zululand. In days gone by, the site of a farmyard was often determined by the presence of a Milkwood. Their thick, umbrella-shaped crowns created a perfect ‘roof’ for the meat chests that pre-dated refrigerators. Amazingly, all the Milkwood trees at Platbos are genetically the same tree. Here they do not propagate themselves by seed dispersal - instead, when a Milkwood grows old and falls over, a "new" tree sprouts from the fallen trunk. It is as though one enormous, ancient tree is slowly walking through the forest!

The delicate, pale-golden flowers of the Milkwood are borne in clusters along the ends of the branches and they have an unusual sour-smell. The flowers are followed by juicy, dark magenta-coloured fruit that are enjoyed by birds and baboons. Once peeled of their outer skin, they have a grape-like taste. The milky latex, which gives the tree its common name, makes the leaves and the bark unpalatable to grazing animals. A superficial scratch to the bark reveals a bright red under surface - the colour of fresh blood. The wood is very hard, heavy and strong. In the past, it was used for ship building, bridges, mills and ploughs. It is very durable even when wet and it shrinks little with drying.

Traditionally the Milkwood has a number of medicinal uses: the roots have been used to aid the healing of fractured bones and an infusion of the bark is said to dispel nightmares.

The White Stinkwood

Tree of Light

The White Stinkwood tree has a very high vibration. This is an essence that may assist with aligning with your higher self, and for connecting with your soul purpose and inner knowing. The White Stinkwood essence may offer auric protection and may be useful for those wanting to develop their channeling abilities. White Stinkwood is an essence to use for when you are working with manifesting intentions into reality. White Stinkwood may assist with smoothly negotiating life changes and rites of passage.

The image of the White Stinkwood's energy is of the star tetrahedron - the three dimensional star of David - also known as the Merkabu: union of the light body with the physical body. White Stinkwood teaches that YOU are the pot of gold to be found at the end of the rainbow: all you require is found within. Shine your light!

This essence enlightens the crown chakrum.

The Cherry Wood

Tree of Serenity

The energy of the Cherry Wood tree is soothing and calming. This is an essence that may balance feelings of shock, fear, fright or trauma. Cherry Wood may unlock the sense of being "frozen" in the trauma and so create a safe and contained space for self-healing. Cherry Wood is a wonderfully comforting essence and may assist one with gently reintegrating back into life after the trauma has passed.

Use of Cherry Wood in Energetic Space Clearing: brings the different parts into harmony; provides a framework for containment; generates a feeling of safety; encourages connection with the Higher Self.

The Pock Ironwood

Tree of Intuition

The Pock Ironwood essence may enhance receptivity and intuition, and may bring focus, clarity and perspective. This essence may assist us with seeing the "bigger picture" and with gaining a new perspective of the status quo. The Pock Ironwood may aid in connecting with your inner wisdom and with opening the crown chakra so that the third eye is illuminated with cosmic consciousness.

This essence enlightens the third eye chakrum.

Use of Pock Ironwood in Energetic Space Clearing: use it to bring in a regenerative energy to the space; enhances the fire element. Protect the space from psychic attacks. For the containment of black spots; use to seal energetic/etheric holes/tears.

The Saffronwood

Tree of Tears

The Saffronwood essence may be helpful for tender-hearted souls who are easily bruised by life, and for those who feel their emotions very deeply. The energy of this tree offers comfort for hurt, loss, grief or tearfulness. Saffronwood may assist with voicing one's troubles or fears and may be beneficial for young children who suffer from home-sickness or who struggle to adjust to school. This essence may balance over-protective parents who are irrationally fearful for the safety of their children.

Use of Saffronwood in Energetic Space Clearing: brings joyfulness and an optimistic energy into the house. Use to infuse the home with positivity and to regenerate old patterns; use to enliven areas of stagnation.

The Wild Olive

Tree of Faith

The Wild Olive essence may be useful in times of need, despair or exhaustion - when fortitude, strength and protection are required. Wild Olive´s energy offers faith and perseverance for the darkest hour before the dawn. The image is of a rainbow of the clearest hues arching across an endless sea and sky of blue.

Wild Olive essence may encourage vocal self-expression and it holds a strength that may be experienced as deeply comforting and reassuring.

This essence enlightens the throat chakrum.

Use of Wild Olive in Energetic Space Clearing: brings a sparkle to the atmosphere; use to oxygenate a space, to bring more vitality into it; to infuse goals with positive energy; to assist occupants to function effortlessly and in harmony with the space.

The Sea Guarrie

Tree of Inspiration

The Sea Guarrie tree holds a bubbly, sparkling energy - like liquid sunshine it offers a sense of renewal. Sea Guarrie brings back colour, excitement and enthusiasm - this is a wonderfully uplifting tree that energizes the creative spirit. It brings in new energy to inspire and lighten your journey and this essence may help to balance depression, apathy and indifference.

Use of Sea Guarrie in Energetic Space Clearing: illuminates dark corners; expands energy; use to enlarge the energy bubble; to bring clarity and light; use it as an anchor for energetic structures and to help occupants to connect to their homes on a deeper level.

The Spike Thorn

Tree of Loving Kindness
The spike thorn has a powerful energy that speaks of "Christ Consciousness" - a term described by Edgar Cayce* as "the awareness within each soul, imprinted in pattern on the mind and waiting to be awakened by the will, of the soul's oneness with God."
Spike thorn softens the heart and teaches the value of surrender. It encourages expression of the true self - so that one´s words become like song birds set free. The spike thorn may balance feelings of limitation, bitterness and spiteful anger with compassion, devotion and a sense of being at one with the flow of life.

*Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) has been called the "sleeping prophet", the "father of holistic medicine", and the most documented psychic of the 20th century.
This essence enlightens the heart chakrum.
Use of Spike Thorn in Energetic Space Clearing: assists in goal setting; helps to anchor and direct the flow of energy; use it to empower thought forms, to direct energy to a conclusion. Use it in a protective spray.

The Hard Pear

Tree of Forgiveness
The hard pear reminds us that all that we experience is part of our spiritual evolution. Hard pear can bring a higher understanding of why things have unfolded the way that they have, and she can help us to see the positive in even a painful event.

The hard pear's energy is like a golden spiral - endlessly expanding upwards - like our spiritual growth. When we are able to see events from a spiritual platform of understanding, then it is possible to forgive others (or ourselves) of any wrong-doing.

Unshed tears can then be processed and released so that self-healing can take place. The hard pear may be helpful for letting go of grudges and bitterness, and may benefit those suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Use of Hard Pear in Energetic Space Clearing: brings in joy; allows people to see how things are interconnected; provides clarity of purpose; anchors a central energy; brings an openness between people.

The Wild Peach

Tree of Courage
The wild peach tree has a potent energy to assist with putting you in touch with your personal power. This essence may foster courage, confidence and self-worth and may bring focus and clarity - like a clear bright light, it shines the way forward.

This is an essence to balance indecision and procrastination. Wild peach may assist with accessing the spiritual courage to speak your truth in the face of intimidation or oppression.

This essence enlightens the solar plexus chakrum.

Use of Wild Peach in Energetic Space Clearing: allows energy to spiral upwards and outwards. Use to infuse the overall energy with a sense of expansion and optimism; to lighten energy that is dense and slow.

The Bladder Nut

Tree of Self knowledge
The bladder nut teaches us that being our authentic self is all that is required. By removing the need to be other than who we truly are, our life force is liberated. Paradoxically, in our humility we access our true, authentic power. By bringing our awareness to those parts of ourselves that we find shameful or unlovable, bladder nut may assist us in gaining a greater understanding of unconscious patterns of behaviour that we then have the ability to transform.

The bladder nut can assist us with centering and may enhance the sense of feeling at home in your own skin. Bladder nut essence may be helpful for mood swings, poor body-image, negative peer pressure and the challenges of puberty. Bladder nut teaches us that everything is as it should be.

Use of Bladder Nut in Energetic Space Clearing: lightening of the atmosphere; clearing physical, emotional, electric and energetic smog. Helps to lift feelings of depression.

The Rock Alder

Tree of Bliss
The Rock Alder essence may enhance sensuality, bringing in a fresh, youthful energy. It may be helpful for maintaining boundaries and balance in relationships. It may be especially helpful for those who idealize their partners or whom have co-dependency issues.
The Rock Alder essence may bring balance to the inner male and female energies so that the need to feel "completed" by another is no longer necessary.
Rock Alder essence may aid with expressing our inner-most feelings and so assist with fostering increased trust and harmony within intimate relationships.

This essence enlightens the sacral chakrum.

Use of Rock Alder in Energetic Space Clearing: its effect is like a quiet, moonlit pool - use it to bring quiet regeneration of the spirit into the home; use to tone down frenetic energy and to provide a still centre.

The Milkwood

Tree of Wholeness

The energy of the Milkwood tree brings a deep sense of connection and belonging. This is a nurturing and supportive tree and this essence may balance feelings of insecurity and lack of grounding. Milkwood essence may be helpful for nightmares and fears of the unknown.

This essence may be useful for adjusting to changes in the family structure brought about through loss or divorce. The energy of the Milkwood tree can assist us with feeling at home in the world - it connects you with your personal power, and may remind us on a cellular level that we are all one family - each of us loved and needed and cared for.

This essence enlightens the root chakrum.

Use of Milkwood in Energetic Space Clearing: to introduce or to re-establish a sense of sanctity and to anchor the spiritual aspect. Steadies and firms up energy; embodies energy of the wood element; provides a "container" to anchor energy; clears away dross; connects different kingdoms.

Journey to the Heart

Humanity is on the verge of a momentous shift in consciousness: from the Love of Power to the Power of Love. This is the path of Heart Consciousness that embodies compassion, tolerance and unconditional love.

The forest teaches us how to tune into the guidance of our hearts – an invaluable guide for chartering our soul’s unique journey home to Source.

Like branches spiraling up the Tree of Life, the thirteen African Tree Essences offer a framework of supportive energy to illuminate our journey. Thirteen, far from being a “bad luck” number, represents transformation and rebirth. This number holds a vibration that transports us to the next level of perceptual awareness.

The thirteen tree types of Platbos Forest share their light and wisdom with much joy for they are eager to see humanity graduate to the next rung on the evolutionary ladder: the era of Heart Consciousness.

The Call Of The Forest

Since ancient times, the tree has been a symbol of creation, power, wisdom and of life itself. The main-stream culture of today however views the Earth as a soul-less commodity. Consequently, many old-growth forests are under threat, endangering the future of our entire planet.

Old-growth forests sound an urgent call for us to remember a fundamental truth: Spirit permeates all Life. All that exists is part of a greater Oneness. Indeed, the material and spiritual realms are inseparable – the one being a reflection of the other. The African Tree Essences are a result of this call from the trees. The tree essences hold a key for reactivating this truth: All is One.

Touch Wood: Tapping into Forest Wisdom

Old-growth forests are sacred places. Of all the Earth’s power points, native forests radiate the highest levels of positive energy. It was into the heart of such forests that the Ancients journeyed in order to gain spiritual guidance and healing.

Forests hold the balance between Earth and Sky. They maintain the physical and spiritual equilibrium of the Earth. Trees anchor the light for our planet, thanks to the green chlorophyll molecule that transforms sunlight into the energy that fuels all organic life. Without this molecule, we would not exist.

Fittingly, the colour green is known as the bridge that connects Heaven and Earth. Green holds the midpoint in the colour spectrum, uniting the light and the dark, synthesizing spirit and matter. The colour green resonates with the human heart: it balances, calms and opens the heart chakrum and fosters increased sensitivity and empathy for others. Forests are literally channels of radiant light and they gift to the world an illuminating yet grounding energy.

Platbos: Africa’s Southernmost Forest

Platbos is a mystery forest. Growing upon an ancient sand dune with neither a river nor spring to sustain it, the forest survives the hot, dry summer months by drawing moisture from the morning mists that bathe its thirsty canopy. On a still day, the distant roar of the ocean can be heard as it echoes off the sand dunes of Walker Bay and resounds down the Baviaanspoort Hill to Platbos. This coastline evoked the desert wastes of the Sahara in the minds of the early explorers. For botanists, the presence of Platbos Forest in this landscape, where only the drought-resistant and fire-tolerant fynbos of the Cape Floral Kingdom flourishes, remains unfathomable.

To enter the forest is to enter a world of enchantment. Draped in wispy oldman’s beard, the wizened and baobab-like trees of Platbos grow in a most unusual way: here the divergent trees grow together, not apart. Harmoniously sharing the same space, the trees of the forest intertwine and embrace each other.

Platbos holds within its age-old roots a sacred truth whose time has come: we, children of the Earth, are of one family – each of us a golden thread and together we weave an exquisite tapestry that is the Golden Whole.

The African Tree Essences from Platbos Forest

The African Tree Essences are made from the flowers of the thirteen major tree species of Platbos, a magical forest at the foot of Africa.
This part of the world has special meaning for all humanity. Many thousands of years ago an iceage laid waste much of the Earth and brought our newly evolved species Homo sapiens to the brink of extinction. Incredibly, a handful managed to survive this catastrophe. Current archeological findings – from rock art dating back some 70 000 years, to stone artifacts estimated to be over 120 000 years old – suggest that the southern coast of Africa is the ancient homeland of all humans alive today. Platbos, an old-growth forest with existing trees of over 1000 years of age, grows within this archeological treasure-chest that holds the clues to our cultural and spiritual origins.

Be sure to visit our Blog again soon to learn more about African Tree Essences