Long ago, before history was written, a clan of people lived deep in the wilderness of India. Living in harmony, they knew their connectedness with the great web of life. The center of their world was a great forest, which granted them all sustenance. They knew that as they nurtured the forest, so too, it would nurture them.
To celebrate the sacredness of all life, a tree was given to each child on the day of its birth. All ceremonies in a person's life were celebrated at the base of his or her own tree, beginning with the naming of the child and burying its placenta to nurture the tree, and on throughout life, until the body was buried to again give nurture.
The people believed that their spirits entered their trees after death. The entire clan protected the trees of their ancestors. Calling each tree by name, they kept alive the stories of the ancient ones.
Almira was a daughter of the clan. She loved her tree and spent long hours at its base praying, singing and weaving baskets from forest materials. She raised her children to be brave and strong. She instilled in them a love of all things living and taught them about their responsibilities to their clan and the Earth.
Far away lived a king who worshipped riches more than life. He believed he ruled over all he saw, and claimed as his kingdom all lands as far as the eye could see. The king's people were sick at heart. Believing, as their ruler did, that the attainment of material possessions brought happiness, they worked hard to have things, only to find their lives joyless and without meaning.
The king's forests had been cut down to build his palaces and fill his vaults with gold. His people had also taken from the forests for their own comforts and riches. As his forests disappeared the king found he needed to send his foresters further and further away to satisfy his need for more.
He issued a decree throughout his vast kingdom that all tribes should pay tribute with their forests. He had his minions build a great network of roads to give access to the forests. Thick clouds of dust arose throughout the kingdom, obscuring the sun, making crops and people weak. When the rains came, oozing rivers of mud swept through the lands. The king believed that dust and mud were but a small price to pay for the valuable timber.
Some tribes turned back the foresters when they came to take the trees. This greatly angered the king who sent an army to accompany the foresters. Upon seeing the army, the tribes backed away, and allowed their forests to be taken.
Almira's people had heard of the greedy king's destruction of other forests and feared that some day he would come for their own sacred forest. The people gathered to make a plan. It was decided that they would resist the king and protect their forest, knowing that any other choice would disrespect their ancestors and leave no future for the still unborn. They chose Almira, who now was a great-grandmother, to speak for them. The people feared the coming army but they sang their songs and prayed together. They knew that their strength came from unity and their power from the righteousness of their cause. Inspired, the young people went out to slow the progress of the road by digging pits and burning bridges. The king responded by sending another army to protect his road.
Finally the day came when the road reached the forest of Almira's clan, bringing with it both the armies and foresters. The sight of the ancient forest was awesome even to the hardened foresters. There were trees so big around, twenty cutters could not encircle one, and a canopy so thick only shafts of sunlight could penetrate. The forest floor was carpeted with thousands of years of humus, so deep it felt like a sponge. Ferns taller than any man stood vibrant green. Mosses, lichens, and gigantic mushrooms were everywhere. The smells...the sounds of wildlife and birdsong...it was the sacredness of life in all its splendor.
The foresters and their army were greeted by the entire clan who stood before them, row after row, arms linked, faces smiling, all singing together. Almira stepped forward to speak the words of her clan. "Greetings my brothers, I am the voice of my people. I speak for the forest. Please do not cut these trees. Their value is in their living. They are sacred to us. They belong to future generations. They pay tribute to the king with their beauty. Our lives are intertwined with this forest. If you cut these trees, you cut our heart and soul, you spill our life's blood. Therefore you must know the seriousness of our intent. We are willing to suffer, even to die for these trees. We will not raise arms against you. If you strike us we will stand peacefully, awaiting your next blow. But, we will not allow you to take this forest. We will protect it with our lives."
The army, up to this point, had only to show themselves, rattle their swords, and people would back down. They were astounded by the bravery of the clan. They laughed loudly and uncomfortably after Almira's speech to hide their confusion and emotion.
The generals conferred. They decided to send a rider to inform the king and to make an encampment at the edge of the forest, thinking they could outwait the clan.
The people sat down to wait with them. They sang their songs. Children played and laughed and ran among the armies. When meals were served they offered food to the soldiers and foresters. The waiting lasted two weeks. During that time the clan spoke to the soldiers about their love of the forest, sharing the stories of their ancestors.
Finally the king arrived, accompanied by two more armies. His face was red with heat and anger. He raged at his generals for their inability to handle the situation. They explained to him that the decision to kill people for trees was one they could not make, and they awaited his orders.
Almira, accompanied by a small delegation of her people, approached the king with offerings of drink, food and their finest crafts. They knelt before him with bowed heads. Finally Almira spoke, "Your Majesty, this woman pays homage to your greatness as do all my people. We ask that you open your heart, so that you may see that the value of this forest is in its living. We are willing to pay tribute with our labor, our songs, or our fine crafts. But, with all respect, sire, we will not let you take our forest. We are willing to protect it with our life's blood."
The king became more enraged. Almira realized the time for talking was over. She turned her back on the king and embraced the closest tree. Her people broke their ranks, each one holding a tree with their embrace, leaving one hundred of their number to stand and bear witness.
The king, all composure gone, screamed orders to the foresters to begin cutting the forest and to start with Almira's tree. The cutters, who had gained respect for Almira and her clan, put down their axes and said they could not kill people for trees.
The king ordered his soldiers to pick up the axes and begin cutting Almira's tree. The soldiers begged Almira to release her embrace. She replied, "By now you must know the seriousness of my intent. You will have to kill me to cut this tree." She strengthened her embrace, closed her eyes and began to sing.
Two soldiers raised their axes and simultaneously cut off both her feet. Then they stepped back from the flowing blood and begged Almira to release her embrace. She held on tighter and continued her singing. They cut off her hands and still she held on. They took her legs; her body slumped to the base of the tree. Still she held on and still she sang. They beheaded her to stop the singing. As her life spilled on the forest floor, the stumps of her arms still held the tree.
Almira's eldest daughter stepped forward. Standing in her mother's blood, she too embraced the tree. The soldiers cut her down as they did her mother. Her second daughter stepped to her fate, dying with her arms still hugging the tree. Person after person stepped forward giving their lives for the forest. Almira's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all died as bravely as she, singing out their final breath.
The soldiers were sickened by the massacre they were committing. On the morning of the seventh day they could kill no more. They put down their axes and refused the king.
The king's spiritual advisors conferred with him. One spoke for all. "Your Majesty, this forest has been sanctified with the blood of these brave souls. What enlightened beings they must be to die for trees. Your sins are grievous. The killing must stop and you must save this forest."
The king, fearing for his soul, issued a decree. "The forest will be saved for all time under the stewardship of Almira's clan."
The forest still stands today, a testimony to the courage of Almira and her people, a flourishing example of the circle of life.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 1998
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited