Renewal brings persistence, persistence to become who you are intended to be at every age. What better example than the oak tree?

They say that the great oak tree is just a little nut that held its ground.  I love the image of the little nut, the acorn, that held its ground against all odds. It fell from the tree and eventually cracked open as a spout that began to shoot out and find its way into the earth.

Oak trees are indeed persistent. It can live 200 years or more and will only begin to produce acorns after 25 – 50 years. Even when an oak tree lives to 100 years of age and slows down, it will continue to produce over 2,000 acorns annually.

The Seven Sisters Oak is the largest certified southern live oak tree, and is located in Louisiana, USA. It is believed to be about 1,500 years old. Its trunk measures 38.9 feet (11.9 meters) in circumference; is 68 feet tall and has a branch spread of 139 feet.

The Celtic meaning for the oak tree is one of wisdom and towering strength. Ancient Celts honored the oak for its endurance and noble presence.

For me, the oak tree also symbolizes age-esteem. It holds strong in all circumstances, spreads its branches as widely as possible to offer shade and shelter with purpose.  And, no matter how rude the winter may have been, it wears a new suit of leaves every spring and new buds of acorns.

Bonnie Fatio