"My Story"
Carol L. Fraser, B.Ed.,Creative artist/photographer


“People of the world would have no breath, if not for the trees....”
Photo ©by Carol Fraser
“Dancing Tree”


MY STORY
 On July 1st, 2007 I enthusiastically hopped in my, cricket green VW Bug and set out to visit a friend near
 Vernon, B.C..

 This particular visit was unusually special, since my friend was living with an acclaimed, Blackfoot Shaman
 (since passed on) and I was seeking his expert advice about an issue I had. I wanted to sweat with him in his
 lodge and learn more about his power to communicate with Spirit.

 During our visit we discussed my latest exploits and how I’d been curiously photographing Orbs,
 a phenomena new to me. As it turned out the topic was of great interest to my friends as well.

 I shared stories of orbs visiting my farm near Edmonton and how I’d been taking photos of them.

 This inspired my friends exponentially.

 My friend suggested we go into the sweat lodge and see if I could photograph orbs
 that might be hovering within.

 I was very reluctant at first, hesitating to desecrate a very sacred space. I consulted her partner, the Shaman,
 who felt it would be fine as long as I did so with utmost respect.

 With his sanctioned permission, off we went to their back yard to take photos.

 It was the blackest of nights at her country home. Fortunately there were no incandescent lights to shed false
 shadows. As we walked toward the sweat lodge, located in the far corner of her yard. I could see nothing in
 front of me. Playfully, I started snapping pictures of my inky surroundings having absolutely no idea what I
 might capture. Once inside the Sweat Lodge I took several pictures with a flash.

 Once back home I put the pictures onto my PC. In one of the photos, much to my surprise I could see two
 ethereal, yet obvious male faces, appearing over the left shoulder of the Shaman.

 One face was of a young man with a bandana covering his mouth and nose and the other was an older man
 with bushy eye brows and longish hair.

 When I showed the pictures to my friends they didn't recognize them, but I did!

 The young man was my late brother and the older gentleman was my late father.

 Both passed away within 18 months of each other in 1984-1985.

 Despite our efforts, I didn't manage to take any pictures of orbs that night.

 The other pictures I took, outside the lodge, were all pretty much the same except for the one that looked like
 a little dancer. I posted this picture on Face Book and received two very interesting comments, one from my
 sister in law and the other from her son.

 They thought the tree looked like a Ballerina or a Figure Skater. I was flattered that they liked it and thought
 nothing more about it until one day I happened to see my photo, during a google search.

 The person who had pirated it from my facebook album had dubbed the photo “Dancing Tree”.

 In the next few weeks I started to see my photo everywhere on the internet.

 At first I was furious!

 I started contacting the various sites to inform them that I had taken the picture and asking them to give credit
 where credit was due.

 Most were very gracious and honored to include my name as the photographer.

 Some didn't respond at all.

 I remained angry, feeling ripped off, but only for a short while.

 Gradually my friends and family calmed me down.

 They helped me realize that the popularity of this little tree photo proved what they’d been trying to
 tell me all along; that I have the gifted ‘Eye’ of a professional photographer.

 They went on to explain that my photo was inspiring people all over the world. Prior to this I had been
 reluctant (lacked confidence) to believe that I had any sort of gift. After witnessing the effect my little photo
 was having on people, I could no longer deny the fact that I did have something to offer the world.

 I no longer had a choice but to accept that ‘my way of seeing’ the natural world is “normal”; lost in the
 modern world, to most folks. With a lot encouragement I have come to accept that my way of viewing the
 world can and does enhance a sense of well being in others.

 I take little credit for taking the photo of ‘Dancing Tree’ as it was divine providence that literally took
 me by the hand and led me to her on that blackest of July nights. I was offered the opportunity to ‘see’ and
 document the beauty of the tree.

 It was a gift that I now graciously accept, knowing full well how much people of our Mother ‘Earth’ are crying
 out to be reconnected to nature. More specifically I was simply a conduit, meant to capture the true essence
 and share it freely, without any false sense of ownership.

 Finally, I stopped sending demanding e-mails for recognition.

 Instead, I began sending messages requesting folks mention me as the photographer and much to my
 amazement (and great pleasure) scores of artisans, insightful's, poets and many others responded
 with profound gratitude.

 They told me their stories about why they wanted to paint the tree, making mosaics of her, write poems and/or
 use her to embellish their websites.

 Once in a while someone suggests it is a fake photo.....to which I politely respond that "it is not", nor was
 she ever photo shopped.

 The simple little tree was truly that beautiful.

 After much ‘to do’ about the photo I decided to buy a decent camera (Nikon D 90 vs Point and shoot) as a
 Christmas gift to myself. I wanted to go back and take a more convincing picture of her. It made me sad to
 think anyone couldn’t or wouldn’t appreciate her.

 As fate would have it, I wasn’t able to go to the place where the beautiful tree grew, at least not right away.
 Instead I stood by while my home burnt to the ground. A fire, meant to cleanse and renew, took everything I
 owned, save my loved ones.

 All my photos, camera equipment, paintings, drawings and personal belongings where taken from myself and
 my family on February 28, 2010. I was devastated, yet knew in my heart that I had come full circle and that
 out of the fire emerges a Phoenix.

 Thus began my road to recovery and clarity. I was stricken by the fact that of all the material things I lost,
 the things I missed the most had absolutely no monetary value.

 Things like my original picture of the ‘Dancing Tree’.

 Despite the initial and lingering effects of our horrific tragedy, I resolved to replace those things most
 precious to me. One of the first possessions I replaced was my camera so I could go and take another,
 much better picture of her. No longer wanting anyone to doubt the authenticity of the ‘Ballerina Tree’ I
 purchased a camera worthy of my newly discovered gift of sight.

 After much research I decided on a Nikon D90. Then, more than ever I became determined to visit my friend
 again to see if I could take a photo that no one could deny.

 I waited until July 1st, 2010, the anniversary date of when I first laid eyes on that precious tree.

 When I arrived my friend met me with frantic and apologetic eyes.

 She greeted me, not with her usual hug, instead taking me by the hand, leading me directly to the spot where
 the tree had once stood. I was more than a little confused and quite disturbed by her unusual behavior but
 when I looked and realized the tree no longer existed she began to apologize more profusely.

 I saw in her face a sadness and disgrace at what she’d had no choice but to do.

 When her home flooded that Spring, she’d had to remove much of the foliage in her back yard, and this tree
 had been sacrificed too.

 In horror and disbelief it was as if she had told me someone close to me had died.

 The "Ballerina Tree" had become my symbol of survival and had defined the parameters of my personal worth.

 Now my friend was telling me the tree, just like my home was gone!

 At first I became frantic, looking all around not wanting to believe her; in denial.
 I became very quiet and mournful. In fact, I almost cried.

 I looked around and much to my surprise I saw, very near where the Dancer had once grown, another tree
 just like her that even looked a little like her.

 I inspected this tree as a detective would a crime scene.

 In the end I came to the conclusion that this was the ‘Dancing Tree’s’ younger, sister tree. I examined this
 new found tree from every angle, looking for the unique stance, but saw none. After careful contemplation, I
 heard a small voice. It was this younger, less developed tree speaking to me.

 I listened intently.

 She apologized, tearfully, for not being the one I’d come all that way, expecting to see. She also told me how
 very jealous she’d been of her sister tree, wishing that I had paid as much attention to her.

 I thanked her for sharing with me and assured her it was never my intent to dismiss her or any of the other
 plants as unimportant. I assured her she was beautiful too, and gave a solemn promise to monitor her growth
 over the coming years. I told her I was convinced she, like her sister tree had something of equal or greater
 value to offer the world of unseeing eyes.

 We established a strong bond. I thanked her for agreeing to remain a legacy to her older sister.

 No longer distraught, she allowed me to adorn her with the same affection and appreciation I’d so generously
 showered on her older,perfectly developed sister. In return she vowed to grow into the spectacular specimen
 she knew she could become, because I had convinced her I would come back regularly-to talk and take her
 photo too. It was without hesitation, I reverently agreed.

 As I begin to accept and embrace my gift of ‘sight’ and ability to communicate with all things natural, I watch
 the ‘Dancing Tree’ continue to spread her joy around the globe via the internet. Her life was not in vain.
 Her branches continue to reach out, far and wide for the benefit of all mankind.

 I am only grateful that I was chosen to help her spread the love.

 And so it is.


E-Mail: Carol L. Fraser

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