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Welcome to the home of the Magic Tree on the Internet.
The Magic Tree is a crab apple tree lit by Will Treelighter in Columbia, Missouri. In the fall since 1995 Will sets to work wrapping every branch with mini lights. Each year the resulting spectacle is more elaborate and generates greater interest from the surrounding communities. It is located in south Columbia off Old Plank Rd. The easiest way to find it is to take Forum Blvd. (off Stadium Blvd. by Dairy Queen and Schnucks) and go south all the way to the end of Forum. Turn left on Old Plank Rd. and then turn left again at your next opportunity and you're there. If it is on you can't miss it.
The purpose of the Magic Tree is three fold. First and foremost it is a "senseless act of beauty". This idea, that there can be a senseless act of beauty is actually a misnomer for beauty all by itself has the supreme purpose of conveying the human/divine ideas of hope, goodness, peace and even love. Beauty has a way, when we recognize it, of putting us at ease while at the same time exciting us, paradoxical yes, but true. I think this particular paradox is better known as the state of joy. This is a healing state of mind that can have a powerful affect on heart, mind and soul not to mention the body. Acts of beauty, then, are always quite sensible.
The second purpose of the Magic Tree follows quite naturally from the first and that is to elicit from the viewer a sense of their own natural goodness. What you perceive outside of yourself you have also within you. We spend far too much time seeing what is wrong with each other and the world. What we see outside of us we reinforce within us. It is of course important to acknowledge those things in the world that are not working and find creative solutions but in order to be creative we also must acknowledge those things that do work. Doing so reinforces within us the ability and power to be a solution to problems in the world, in our relationships and within ourselves instead of a part of the problem. Beauty is a powerful ally along with good natured humor in confronting the woes of the world and empowering our sense of Self, our sense of worthiness and response-ableness. So the second purpose of the Magic Tree is to reflect back to you what you essentially already are, a healing being of hope, goodness, peace, love and joy.
The third purpose of the Magic Tree also follows naturally from the first two and that is to bring your attention to the great Being of hope, goodness, healing, peace and love that comes to us by right of our own readiness and development in these aspects of divine manifestation through the human system. Maitreya is said to be the expected one of all the various religions and also for those who hold to no religion. Maitreya is someone like us but who has gone on before us in His personal evolution to the point where He embodies these divine aspects like no other to date on this planet. He comes to inspire the changes needed in the world to restore balance to the human to human relationships and the relationship of the human system to the other systems of the planet. We however are the ones who must do the work because doing so further develops our own abilities to represent the divine in the world and Maitreya would not take this opportunity from us. I have no proof of Maitreya's existence but only a deep sense of hope that it is true. The prospect of His presence encourages me. How else, without the guidance of this Great Encourager and elder sibling of the human family, can we together work out the solutions to this time of turmoil that we find ourselves in?
The Magic Tree then is a beacon of healing and soothing beauty. It is a call to goodness, drawing out our own innate desire to be the positive changes we want to see in the world. And it is a notice of grace and encouragement to come from that magnificent manifestation of what we together are ready to receive, the Great Encourager, The World Teacher, Maitreya.
When the student is ready the teacher will appear. Who shall teach the student, humanity, but one who has been, in many forms and guises, one of us and with us from the beginning?
For more information please see the Maitreya page.
At this site you can:
Find past years fliers provided at the Magic Tree on the Archive Page.
View photos taken by Will Treelighter on the Gallery Page.
Read what others have said about the Magic Tree or this site on the Testimonials Page.
Look into the inner machinations of Will Treelighter's mind on the page of the same name.
Consider the Trumpeter aspect of the Magic Tree on the Maitreya Page.
Write a note to Will Treelighter on the Contact Page.
Furthermore you can make a donation to help fund the lighting of the Magic Tree. Collecting donations is not the purpose of the Magic Tree, however if you feel so moved, your donation is greatly appreciated and goes a long way to continue the inspiration that the Magic Tree holds for many.
To celebrate the principle of sharing 10% of all donations will be given to the Columbia Chapter of The Alternatives to Violence Project. A group that Will has been involved with for many years. Its main work is to do three day workshops in the Boonville and Jefferson City prisons, about 30 per year. The workshops are designed to build community among inmates and point out the value of good will toward one another, authorities, outsiders and even enemies through experiential activities, discussions, and role playing the use of Transforming Power. For more information go to www.avpusa.org.
Additionally another 10% goes to Ryan's Well Foundation. The group, started by the enthusiasm of a 6 year old, has so far built 266 wells in 12 countries bringing clean water to over 435,000 people! For more information go to www.ryanswell.org.
A third 10% will go to the Magic Tree's neighborhood park, Norvell Park (across the street from the Magic Tree) to help make up for wear and tear on the private park grounds.
And a forth 10% goes to Oxfam America. www.oxfamamerica.org
The other 60% of your donation goes towards purchase of lights and electricity, fliers and the building and maintenance of this web site. Thank you for your support.
Please note that when you click on make a donation you will be taken to a pay pal account for Brighter Days! Corp. This company currently funds the Magic Tree with help from your generous donations. Until such a time that the Magic Tree establishes a not for profit corporation in its own name donations made on the Internet must be accepted through the auspices of Brighter Days! Corp. and are diligently tracked separately from Brighter Days! Corp.'s for profit business. Please be aware that your donation is not tax deductible at this time because of Brighter Days! Corp.'s for profit status.
© 2007 Will Treelighter