Weaving Growth Rings

by Leah McCarley

My inspiration for the Growth Rings project came from a few things. The growth rings of trees, spider webs and ripples in water all were beings that I thought about while working on this project. This was my first attempt at weaving.

As I started out with the weaving, I struggled and felt as though I might not be able to accomplish what I had set out to do. I thought about a young tree and how the tree may struggle as it begins to grow, and then, I thought of the tree as it grew bigger and realized that it made it through the toughest parts of its early growth. I pushed on and was able to see my own growth as I continued to weave.

There were times that the growth of the weaving was more difficult than others and there were areas that were not perfect, but I continued to grow with it. I feel that trees are very much the same as well as spider webs. The spider web and the tree can be fragile or weak at times but also so very strong and sturdy. I think that humans go through periods of this as well.

In the end, I felt that I grew in many ways through this project, and I feel proud that I pushed on with it even when it was tough.

Weaving Growth Rings is the Growth Rings Journal created by Leah McCarley, FTS Certified Forest Therapy Guide, January 2024 cohort.