#treespirits

I use the word “society” in the title of this post very loosely, but I couldn’t think of quite the right word for what to call the way trees socially organize because it’s hardly organization at all. Nevertheless, I have observed in many different locations (Southern California, upstate New York, Philadelphia) that there are typically different social types of tree spirits, and when there are many trees their spirits socially relate to each other and to others around them in certain ways depending on the environment and social status of the tree.

Just as other classes of spirits such as court-affiliated fae and land spirits have a tendency to “claim” territories in different ways as being under their watchful eye or political control, trees usually stake such a claim to at least the territory around their roots if not a several foot radius around them (or under their branch coverage). When you have a whole forest or even just a grouping of trees, then that collective “owns” the territory together.

The reason why “society” is perhaps too strong a word and so is “politics” or “hierarchies” when it comes to the social patterns of trees, it’s because although trees are extremely wise and complex spirit beings, they are not socially complex compared to human or spirit societies. Most of a tree’s life consists of interacting with the environment around it including nearby trees, plants, and humans as well as whatever other spirits cross its path such as other nature spirits, fae, and more. Some trees may get lightly involved in politics if dragged into it due to other spirits having wars or conflicts in said trees’ territory. But usually, trees just mind their own business and are more concerned with day-to-day life.

That being said, so far in working with tree spirits from various locations, I’ve noticed several common “types” in terms of social relations and social status. These are all terms/categories I’ve come up with for describing what I observe, but tree spirits I’ve met do not refer to themselves this way at all. There are also exceptions and trees that might fall in between two categories such as between rural/urban, alpha/beta, beta/baby.

Rural Trees - In forests, woods, jungles, or other places with lots and lots of trees but very little urban development, I notice that trees have a lot more energy control over the land and space around them. This also means they have a lot less vested interest in necessarily talking to humans or spirit workers interacting with them, and when you do, there’s a sort of power dynamic you feel that you are on their land. I have never seen a group of rural trees without alpha trees naturally having popped up amongst the others.

Urban Trees - Unlike rural areas, in urban spaces trees are often more isolated, frequently exposed to human contact (or even cut/damaged/pruned/gardened), and sometimes were artificially planted by humans. Although all tree spirits seem to have an inherent power over the immeditate area surrounding them, this is greatly diminished for many urban trees (depending on the individual tree and their circumstances). I find that many urban trees planted in concrete on sidewalks who are isolated from trees around them and exposed to a lot of nasty city chemicals and gases tend to be in a constant state of tenseness and discomfort. The power dynamic that I observe in rural environments in completely reversed in human ones, most urban trees are acutely aware of the power humans have over them and have a much greater stake in how they relate to humans. While some will still completely ignore or snub humans and spirit workers, many urban trees are much more social towards them and relate to human beings very differently than rural trees.

Alpha Trees - Basically all trees have some influence/claim/control over the area under and immediately adjacent to them, but sometimes I have encountered trees so powerful that they rule over a big swath of land around them - and usually over other trees as well if they exist in that area. So far, I’ve only ever encountered what I’d call alpha trees who are much older and physically bigger than most trees. I can usually tell they are an “alpha” from the large energy presence of their spirit, their size and appearance, and in how they speak to me and how other trees in the area speak about them. In an area whether rural or urban, when there are many trees around, the alpha is usually seen as the “head tree” and deferred to for big decisions by other trees or sought after for guidance. There is no formal title or distinction for the alpha trees and they are not elected or appointed because there is no actual political system. It just naturally occurs that the elder, stronger trees tend to take up this informal leadership role.

Beta Trees - Most normal tree spirits are what I’d call “betas,” as they have some claim and influence over the territory around them, but if there is an alpha tree they are secondary to that tree’s overall power over the local area. As trees can be proud and independent spirits, betas won’t always like to admit it but they sometimes have to defer to the will of the alpha tree. 

Baby Trees - These are smaller, younger tree spirits who are rather powerless compared to other trees and are still learning the ways of the world. Some rural baby trees I’ve met barely understand what human beings are because they haven’t seen many yet. They may have been biologically parented by a nearby tree, but this does not necessarily mean the biological tree parent will “raise” a baby tree. Usually, the physically closest older trees to a baby tree will do minimal care-taking as needed from time to time. It’s a very loose, very casual “parental” role as tree spirits can grow up completely independently as well.

- Mod Fire