Anonymous asked this question on 2/23/2000:

We're told to ask permission from a tree or plant before, say, taking a branch from it for a tool or a spell. I understand that, but...how do you know if you've been *given* permission? Or if permission is denied?

LadyCatW gave this response on 2/25/2000:

First off, I would advise you to spend some time meditating in Nature. Take a walk through a local park, sit in your back yard (if you live in the North, like I do - this might have to wait a while - but not too long, as once the growth spurt of Spring really gets going you don't want to do this.)

What you are looking for is an area that calls to you - that feels welcoming and inviting to you. Your best response with any plant or tree will be in an area that has welcomed you.

Once you have found that area, spend some time walking around and being open to any "pulling" you might feel. You might not have to cut anything from a live plant - the spirits of the trees and plants might have dead wood that they would like to give to you instead - especially for something like a wand or a staff. Some of my students have gone out in this manner intending to cut from a tree, but found a wand perfect for them laying on the ground.

If nothing pulls to you, then first, note what time of the year it is. From now until about mid-March (in the North) or until early March (in the South) you can probably still harvest a tool from a tree without endangering it. However, if you have not found one by mid-March, I would advise not trying again until late September or October.

While you might still get a positive answer from the tree or the plant - even during the summer - but you can cause a danger to the tree by infection, or infestation.

As for how you know you have received permission, it depends on how much meditation, grounding and centering you have done. In my experience and in dealings with my students, those who have not done as much meditation have tended to receive minimal response, and have had to assume permission. Those who have regularly meditated (especially out in Nature), as well as regularly grounded and centered (by regularly, I would say at a minimum 2x per week, for a minimum of 10-20 minutes each) tend to have differing responses from a hot/cold feeling in the hands to a feeling of love and acceptance emanating from the tree.

When harvesting herbs, on the other hand, you really should wait for the growing period of the plant to be completed before you ask for permission to harvest.

I hope this helped.

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