Spirit of the Trees
Science, Symbiosis and Inspiration
by Fred Hageneder

This is a most remarkable book. It is with delight that I recommend it to you.
Too often books on trees or wood that I have enjoyed have been one sided. Either beautiful, but lacking in real substance; or fascinating in their technical detail, but without any artistry. This book explores both the beauty and the science, viewed through the eye of man's relationship with trees.

"The Spirit of Trees" is a book in two halves. Each blended seamlessly into the other by their deep descriptions of everything arboreal.

In the first half Hageneder describes trees and forests as the foundation of life on earth. Trees underlie man's mastery of fire, the development of architecture, and of transport. Forests and their exploitation and decline underlie the rise and fall of nations and economies.

Nations are built not only by war and property, but by cultural identity. Trees have been deeply involved with this also (until the last, disastrous century). Hageneder traces the role of trees in sustaining human social life from prehistoric times through myth and the roots of early cultures to modern times.

Every point that Hageneder makes is backed up with a scientific reference or quote, which is good, for this author has explored the front edges of developing natural science to bring us some amazing details. You may hear the odd creaking as your mind is opened, but that is part of the richness of this book. For example the scientific mysteries and unanswered questions of water are, apparently exactly what make life on earth possible. Water is deeply affected by trees and forests. In its molecular structure and its springing as brooks, in its rising as sap and mist, in its falling as rain and in the health of its rivers, water depends on trees for a healthy cycle.

I also learned remarkable facts about the electromagnetic life of trees, how it fluxes over daily and annual rhythms, and how it regulates the magnetic field of the earth. This is backed up with world scale maps showing magnetic variations over forests and deforested areas.

On a smaller scale, the chapter Botanical Basics describes the inner structure of the tree, wood, bark sap leaves, how they differ between species, how they respond to injury and stress, and how they die to become the timber we so love to work with.

This is just half of the book. The second half describes the native trees of Europe and the Northern Hemisphere. Here rich paintings, beautiful photos and excellent drawings complement the text. The selection draws on ancient cultural traditions and adds-in trees important to modern times, arriving at 24 trees representative of European culture. Each is given a chapter of its own.

Drawing on many years of studying the trees in their historical, cultural, and ecological standing, these chapters are subdivided into the following sections. Under Physical Appearance we get closely observed descriptions. Under Healing there is wide list of medicines, both mainstream, herbal, homeopathic, and floral that the tree is used for, even including descriptions of their making. Under Tradition, ancient lore, folk tales and fairy tales that give the tree importance are mentioned or described. One poem is dated at 1500BC. In Inspiration, the last section of each chapter, that part of the tree that poets and artists connect with is characterized with remarkable beauty and sensitivity. The author himself is an artist having painted some of the paintings and composed and performed music for cultural celebrations of trees.

This rich combination of science, lore, poetry and art is for me the fullest compendium of the nature of trees that I have come across. I am thus writing to recommend it to you.

Tobias Kaye
Visit his website

Spirit of the Trees, Science, Symbiosis and Inspiration
by Fred Hageneder

Published by Floris Books, Edinburgh. ISBN 0-8615-326-7 255pp £16.99
Illustrated with color paintings, color photos, sketches, charts and diagrams.
Available Scottish Book Source. 137 Dundee St. EDINBURGH EH11 1BG Tel 0131 229 6800. E-mail scotbook@globalnet.co.uk P+P £2.50

Also available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.

Liked this article? Send a note to our editor.