The Heart-Shaped Stump and the Tree-That-Pierces-to-the-Core

Less testing of our credulity is the Heart-Shaped Stump. We say that since, as an artifact, it is constant in its form and not subject to the vicissitudes (we think that would make a delicious soup) of time and light and breezes. As a heart shape it is perhaps less perfectly defined than your ideal crisp and symmetrical heart, but it nonetheless qualifies, as we hope the above photograph demonstrates.

This stump serves as the ideal perch overlooking the Great Chasm, at the bottom of which McCormick Creek flows. Right in the middle of the Great Chasm is the Tree-That-Pierces-To-The-Core, a tree so tall and noble you cannot see its top, nor, because the Great Chasm is so deep, can you see its base, as is aptly demonstrated in the picture below.



We interpret this limitation as an affirmation of the Universal Truth, “As above, so below,” which we take to mean that All Things Are Necessarily Exactly As They Must Be (which is often a struggle for us to accept).

In this acceptance, however, we are given great encouragement from the source of the aforementioned Universal Truth, the great Emerald Tablet, which adds, Thus thou hast the glory of the whole world. We think that if complete acceptance of “As above, so below” vouchsafes us the “glory of the whole world,” we have made a very good bargain, indeed.

The Emerald Tablet, you ask? We can well understand your puzzlement, and we are happy to provide more in the way of information, in the form of the picture below.



For your further edification, let us add that the Emerald Tablet was set down over twenty centuries ago, and is said to contain all the secrets of the Universe. This, we feel, is no small achievement. It is purported to have been written by Hermes Trismegistus, whose name is clearly a challenge to the tongue but is quite worth the effort; just try it: Tris-muh-gist-us.

One of us likes to say it so much she would quite like to change her name. (As it happens, however, the pronunciation above has not been verified and is very likely to be incorrect. At present, however, she appears to have the upper hand.)

Here, by the way, is an illustration of Trismegistus Himself.


We like it because he has such a pleasant expression on his face, and appears to have one set of arms bearing what we imagine is The Emerald Tablet and some other proclamation, as well as a second set of arms with hands cupping his chin in what we are imagining is thoughtful pleasure at the inquiries of his guests.

And here is another illustration of him, which we can’t resist adding because it amuses us greatly. Here he appears to be reading a children’s book (or at least we think it must be, because of the pictures on the cover) to an assortment of jostling individuals, as well as to some birds who seem to be listening quite a bit more attentively than the humans. Well, sitting down and reading a book out loud in the forest sounds like a very good idea for us to do, now that we think about it, in the Northwest Woods.



Now, where were we? Ah, yes, here we are, standing on the Heart-Shaped Stump, and paying homage to the Tree-That-Pierces-To-the-Core, which also often reminds us of those hearts with swords running through them (we think they are a medieval allusion to Courage, a Useful Virtue at any juncture), but what we actually feel each time we stand on the Heart-Shaped Stump and gaze at the Tree-That-Pierces-To-the-Core is, simply, awe, and the deepest gratitude. All is accepted, all, as above, so below. Each time we are thus vastly consoled, and we bow and say thank you before we leave.