Tree of Life
An ancient archetype of human unity.
Words and music by Sarah Pirtle, © 2003, Discovery Center Music, BMI.
Lyrics
Introduction:
Come under the branches, shalom.
The wisdom in the branches, salaam.
The earth sings out for peace.
Paz. Mir. Heciva (pronounced Hey-wah).
1. Come under the branches, the branches that are rooted.
Trust your heart to be,
open like the leaves connected to the sunshine.
Share this family tree.
Chorus:
Tree of Life, Tree of Life. Shalom the Tree of Life.
Tree of Life, tree of life. Salaam, the Tree of Life.
Branches of peace spread over us your song
that our hearts once again,
our hearts once again, will be strong.
2. If I hurt my neighbor, if I scorn my neighbor,
it will come back to me.
If I hold your story like a trembling branch,
new leaves come to be.
3. I want your heart to reach me, I need your heart to reach me.
I want all wars to cease.
We all began together. We all belong together.
Born from the Tree of Peace.
Closing:
Come under the branches, shalom.
The wisdom in the branches, salaam.
The earth sings out for peace.
Paz. Mir. Heciva (pronounced Hey-wah).
Recorded on “Heart of the World,” produced by A Gentle Wind, www.gentlewind.com. Used by permission.
John Kirk adds vocals and plays violin.
About This Song
The Tree of Life is an archetype representing the interconnection of all life. All over the world people have felt it was important to imagine such a tree. In the shelter of this tree, we are all kin. After 911, the Interfaith Council in Franklin County, Massachusetts held a gathering, and I wrote this song for the event.
Five words meaning peace:
Shalom (Hebrew),
Salaam (Arabic),
Paz (Spanish),
Mir (Russian),
and Heciva (Japanese, pronounced Hey-wah).
Discussion: In partners or the whole group give everyone a chance to describe a favorite tree in detail. Where is it? What does it look like? When have you visited it? What does it say to you? The photo is of a tree in the forest of Red Gate Farm, Buckland, MA.
Drawing: Create your own picture of the Tree of Life as you imagine it, including favorite plants, animals, people, basing the drawing of the Tree of Life on the specific tree you care about. Explain that in the shelter of this tree, we are all kin.
Writing: The archetype of the Tree of Life represents a force of hope and essential unity. Create a dialogue in a letter or poem that allows this force, the Tree of Life, to speak to you. Ask a question of this force of wisdom, directing it to the Tree of Life, and sense the response you receive.