LONG AGO, in the time-out-of -time, when we were all connected in one harmony, the Tree Women; trees who lose their leaves and bear fruit, were in union with Raven, the creator-transformer. When Raven died the Women were so distraught they wept and pinched themselves disfiguring their skin, this is how trees came to have their distinctive bark.

Alder who was the youngest was quite hysterical and in her grief she pinched herself until she bled. Today, if you walk along a riverbank you will see her gathered with her sisters near the water’s edge. Her puckered bark oozes a drop of red sap from each center, forever reminding us of her suffering love’s loss.