Cedar of the Five Stars

Once upon a time in a far away land, stood a small tree. Now this tree had quite the mind of its own, full of ideas that only a tree could think. As he sat in his place, one season fading into the next, he wondered what his life would be like. He knew for many years that he would stand here, enjoying the beautiful sunshine, the cool and refreshing rain and be home to many animals, but he felt there had to be more. His soul cried for a new way of thinking.

What this tree didn't know about itself, was it's destiny in life. This tree, a beautiful cedar, was choosen by the Earth Mother to do special things.

And so it began as the tree observed another summer falling into place over the refreshing spring, that his part of the woods had many visitors. While people were not uncommon in the woods, it was odd for them to spend so much time around him. He more often than not wished they would pay attention to him as they played around or rested under the other trees in the forest. But this season had seen him being graced with more attention.

One day as the hot summer sun burned overhead, he heard the whisperings of two people. Looking down, he saw that they had taken shelter beneath him, discussing something of great improtance.

Now, for those of you who do not know, trees know everything, or learn of everything that happens in their world. The Cedar listened closely to the people talking, and discovered that their discussion was of a woman in the nearby village.

"How foolish she is, to have lay with him without marrying him," one said.

"I know," the other replied. "But one might understand it if they married afterward."

"Yes, but he has run off, so now she is to live with her mistake," the first person continued.

"Perhaps she should run away into the night and find somewhere new to live?" suggested the first.

"Perhaps she should become someone's housewench, for she has little use to anyone now."

"Now, now, what a horrid thing to say." And as the two kept on discussing, the tree felt sorry for the woman of which they were speaking. Soon enough the two walked away, deep in conversation after their rest beneath the Cedar.

It was a few nights later when the Cedar, resting and bathing in the moonlight, heard hurried footsteps and the sound of crying. Looking about, the tree could see no one.

"Dear moon," the tree called upon the breeze. "Shine your light into the forest that the traveller may see their path."

"So it shall be," the moon replied upon the soft wind, and the forest became brighter with moonlight and the tree could see who was there. A woman of greatbeauty was runningtowards the great Cedar, and when she reached it, she seemed to be completely out of breath. leaning against the tree, she took her rest.

"Oh, they say such cruel things," she said aloud between deep gulps of air. "Where shall I flee to? I shan't be a housewench, but I shall not stay here to suffer forever. Why has God led me down this path?"

The Cedar knew at once that this was the woman of which the two other people were discussing the other day. He admired her beauty and grace. Rustling his branches lightly, he let out a sweet perfume that calmed her and put her to rest. He then covered her with branches like a small roof so that bad weather would not disturb her, nor would he let the animals that strayed near her come too close. The following morning, the woman arrose to find that she had slept the full night.

"Why, great tree, you have but rested me, for which I know not how to thank you," she said. Taking a small knife, she carved a star into it. It did not hurt the Cedar, for he was used to animals crawling around him, and he appreciated the gesture. The woman went upon her way and found herself a new place to live in a distant land.

As Autumn began and the leaves of the trees began to change color, the Cedar observed a man walking through the forest. He was dressed very grandly but seemed to be on his own. The Cedar summised that this man of position had become lost during a hunt or journey, and was trying to find his way back home.

"Where shall I go?" the man asked of nobody in particular. "For there is no path to the village and I cannot wander around here much longer without water." The Cedzr, through his vast knowledge, knew of a stream closeby, but it was out of earshot for the man. Rusttling his leaves slightly, one of the animals that resided in him came out of its home.

"Go down to the man and get his attention. Lead him to the stream that he may drink."

"It shall be done," the animal, a squirrel, replied. It scrambled down the tree, over the man and pinched a compass from his belt. the man chased after him, thinking the animal a theift. But as he chased it, he was led to the stream, where the chipmunk left the compass and scurried into a tree. When the man had drunk his fill, he returned to the Cedar to try and find his barrings. Rusttling its leaves again, the Cedar caught the attention of a blackbird in its nest.

"Fly down to the man and get his attention, then lead him in the right direction to the village. For you, master of the sky, would know which direction to go." The Cedar looked at the blackbird, who gave a whistle in responce and then flew down to the man. Snatching his hat off his head, the blackbird flew in the direction of the village, still in sight of the man.

"This must be a tree of knowledge, for it has provided me with guides," the man said. Taking his knife, he carved a star into the Cedar next to the one it had previously, and then hurried off after the Blackbird, who led him to the path to the village.

Winter came, full of dark clouds that brought rain. As the days grew colder and darker, the Cedar knew not to expect peopleto come wandering in the woods. But one night, as clouds obscured the moon from sight, the tree heard the patter of feet coming through the woods. Although vague, it percieved two children wandering around, apparently lost. The children, tired and full of worry, settled under the great Cedar.

"We cannot run any further," one of them said.

"We shall be eaten for sure," replied the other.

"All we can do is climb this tree and hope for the best," the first said. The Cedar subtly moved its branches, making it easier for the children to get footholds until they were safe in it's tall branches. Just then, a pack of wolves came sniffing around. The Cedar let off its powerful scent, and the wolves could find no trace of the children they were in persuit of. Giving up, the wolves turned and went back into the woods.

"We are safe," the first child whispered.

"How did it happen?" the other inquired.

"This must be a tree of God, for he protects good children" the first answered. The Cedar released its scent again to lull the children to sleep, making sure they didn't fall from their pearch. The following morning, the children climbed down and marked the tree with two more stars, one for each of them.

Spring time came late, and while the Cedar and its neighbouring trees sprouted new lflowers, leaves and bark, the Cedar tree wondered what would become of him. It was true that he was much larger than he had ever been, and that sooner or later, someone would come to cut him down.

One evening, the tree was watching the sun set in the distance, when he heard two people, a man and a woman arguing in the distance, but still growing closer. The woman was clearly frightened, and she ran into the woods deeper still, until she came to the Cedar, quite out of breath. Soon the man caught up with her.

"Please, no!" she said.

"I shall teach you wench, not to disobey me," the man said. The Cedar saw the man take a knife and was getting reay to cut her, despite her best efforts to get away.

"Arise ants, crawl from my bark and stop this man whom would hurt this woman," the Cedar called. the ants, hearing the call of their home, arose at once and ran down the tree and headed for theman. Climbing up him and getting under his clothes, the man became quite irritated, and could not shake the ants off. As the ants bit into his legs and arms, he ran off, yelling in pain.

"Oh gracious," the woman said. "This tree must be a protector, for it was in its bark the ants resided," she exclaimed. Picking up the mans dropped knife, she carved into it the fifth star.

As spring continued, many people came to the tree to see the five stars carved into it. Some children said it was angels in the bark, while lovers who rested under the tree said it was heaven's light upon them. The Cedar, while happy with these pleseant thoughts, was still distressed. As summer rolled around again, the Cedar was met by men who planned to chop him down and use him for building. The Cedar was very upset to never stand inthe forest again and feel the beautiful warm sun upon its bark, nor the refreshing rain through it's leaves. The animals that resided in the tree soon left, wishing the tree every bit of luck and many thanks for housing them. Soon, the Cedar felt more alone. On the day the cutters came, the tree was almost ready to cry should it have been able to. But as the cutters started to swing their axes, an angelic vision of a woman in a green dress came forward, stepping across the tree-tops to the Cedar. The cutters could not see nor hear her, but her beauty had the trees attention.

"Fear not Cedar of the Five Stars. I am the messenger of Mother Earth, and have come to retrieve your soul. your brave and kind acts towards those in need have seen the spirit of your trunk spared to come with me." She explained. "Just sleep, for it will soon be time to go." The Cedar felt peace fill him as the cutters, not deep into his trunk, called out as the Cedar fell. As his trunk was fully detached and cut down, the spirit of the tree stood and looked at the woman in green who was waiting for him.

"Thank you," Cedar said.

"Take my hand Cedar of the Five Stars, and we shall go together." the woman replied with a kind smile. Taking her soft hand, Cedar was led into the woods, where his soul still resides to this day, helping young trees grow and protecting the grown trees. Very few tree souls are spared this way, but the Cedar guided the souls of fallen trees into the ground to grow again. And that jsut goes to show, that at the end of our lives, no matter who we are, we will be rewarded for our good deeds.