The wisdom of trees in challenging times | Beth Norcross | TEDxWoodinville

In this short but powerful talk, Beth Norcross describes how trees can provide the comfort, delight, and guidance we need for challenging times, if we know how to pay attention and learn from them. She offers a very simple practice for noticing and attending to the trees so that we might receive the wisdom that they offer.
In their 350-million-year history, trees have learned many lessons in surviving and thriving despite considerable challenges. If we pay close attention to these wise elders, they can provide guidance not only for moving through personal grief, but also for meeting the overwhelming challenges that we face today – culturally, politically, environmentally -- and holding hope for the future.
With extensive education and experience in both spirituality and ecology, Beth Norcross founded and directs the Center for Spirituality in Nature, which encourages individuals and communities to develop deep and loving connections with the natural world. Through speaking, writing and leading programs, she offers important guidance for creating sustained, intimate, and reciprocal relationships with nature. Bringing to her work years of experience in the environmental field, Beth has written numerous articles and curricula related to ecology and spirituality, including a six-week video series she co-developed on The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees. Based on that series, she has co-authored a book with Leah Rampy - Discovering The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees – to be published in April 2025 by Broadleaf Books. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx