As I was searching my photo file for pictures to add to the Future.Engaged website, my website developer (an avid gardener as well as an excellent marketing professional) was fascinated when I shared what I knew about the role of companion plants in the display of bonsai trees. She suggested that I use a Future.Engaged blog post to explore this connection. While researching this relationship, I learned much more about bonsai trees themselves. I share much of this in the remainder of this blog post. I start by presenting a syllogism.
What is a syllogism?
Syllogism is a tool for argument—comparing two things that are not obviously related and, on the surface, do not seem to have much in common. I have used syllogisms in my courses on occasion to heighten the understanding of a concept or idea. In my special education classes, I often asked my students to compare a learning disability and a fingerprint. On the surface these two things have nothing to do with one another, but students were asked to identify characteristics of one that enlightened understanding of the other. The answers resulted in a deeper understanding of learning disabilities.
This blog post will explore the syllogism:
How are bonsai trees and their companion plants like Future.Engaged (the Envisioner and the coach)?
Background
On a visit to the Chicago Botanic Gardens Bonsai Garden several years ago, I became intrigued by the companion plants that sat beside the beautiful miniature trees. In contrast to bonsai, the companion plants were not particularly beautiful. I did not understand the reason for the plants being where they were. When I asked, the answer I received was that they helped the ancient trees not feel lonely. I have since explored bonsai and their companion plants in more detail and see real and strong parallels with my vision of Future.Engaged.
What is the art of Bonsai?
First let us explore the art of bonsai–for it is indeed the art of design–with a living thing. To begin, the art of Bonsai has a very long history, and some trees are said to be more than 700 years old. Similar to the experience of survivors and their families, bonsai tell triumphant tales of endurance, of the persistence of life itself, with and without human intervention.
The tree will outlive its caretakers by hundreds of years. Over the course of its life, the bonsai will have many caretakers. As each caretaker takes over from his predecessor, he develops an understanding of that specific tree and its needs and continues to help it thrive and grow. There is a deep collaboration between the artist/designer and the tree. I anticipate a similar experience between the survivor and Future.Engaged.
Bonsai are miniature trees, shrubs or bushes that have all the characteristics of a mature tree in nature. One of the differences is that in nature it is virtually impossible to view all the aspects of the tree at once. If you are a distance away you may see the entire tree, but not the details of the bark, leaves or roots and so forth. If you are close you can only see smaller aspects of the tree. In Bonsai you can experience the entire tree at once. The artifice, which is at the heart of bonsai, is convincing only when the caretaker’s knowledge of the original is thorough. The bonsai artist studies the full-sized tree to guide the miniature; the bonsai responds to the touch and vision of the artist. The collaboration unfolds over decades, even over a succession of caretakers. Similar to the caretaker’s nurturing bond, there is a connection between a survivor and Future.Engaged.
Bonsai is an art of trust.
Bonsai symbolize growth, success, peace, wealth, harmony, or balance. The growth in bonsai is slow, but steady. Because even miniature trees grow slowly—growth might not be visible, but you are always sure of it. A bonsai plant always reminds you to grow in your life every day, no matter how small the growth may be each day.
A bonsai emphasizes aesthetics without burdening the plant with unwanted ornaments. The focus of bonsai is the plant itself. The key to bonsai is doing the artwork with the plant itself without sacrificing its simplicity. Bonsai reflects balance and harmony. In nature, everything is in perfect harmony. So, when you mimic that in a bonsai, harmony must be consistent. The entire bonsai structure must be in a balanced state to be stable.
A bonsai also represents success and achievement because supporting a bonsai is very time-consuming. There may be many failures before achieving the desired result. A bonsai will remind you of failed efforts and struggle and while giving you the strength and courage to continue in your effort to achieve anything in life.
Bonsai is considered a sign of wealth because of the amount of care and attention it receives. Once you understand the amount of work, time and money invested in one bonsai you will be sure to consider it as a wealthy possession.
THE ROLE OF COMPANION PLANTS
The reason I was given for companion plants to be placed beside Bonsai trees is to prevent the tree from feeling lonely over its long life. The choice of companion plant may vary according to seasons and over its lifetime a bonsai may have a series of companion plants.
Like the tree itself, companion plants come in several varieties. They are grown to complement bonsai trees when being exhibited. They are placed near the bonsai and often reflect the tree’s character, adding a natural element to the display. They should accentuate the bonsai tree on display and create a sense of harmony. A successful companion planting should be beautiful but should not dominate a display.
The companion should never overpower the bonsai. The companion plant should also be appropriate to the bonsai in size. It is important that the planting look nice as a stand-alone planting.
BONSAI, COMPANIONS AND FUTURE.ENGAGED
So… now that we have explored a little about bonsai trees and their companion plants, let us explore elements of the syllogism. Bonsai trees could exist in nature and would look quite different if they could have developed unimpeded by the human hand. Cancer survivors are confronted with the life events of the cancer and the way it was treated and these experiences result in a changed life experience. There are human hands that helped to shape that experience and the resulting life can be beautiful and fulfilling, though it will likely be profoundly affected by the experience.
Bonsai trees have certain elements and styles. There are a wide range of types of bonsai. Some appear to be more formal and others are more challenging and dramatic for the tree and its caretaker to design and manage. The cancer experience is one that has events that are shared by all survivors regardless of the type of cancer or the age at which you experienced it, but it is unique as well. No one else has the exact same set of experiences and because we are all individuals the way in which the experience is manifested by each survivor is different.
Survivorship, like bonsai, is an art as well as a science. Its challenges can be managed, and the results can be startling, dramatic, and satisfying. Future.Engaged will endeavor to develop a deep and clear understanding of the abilities, goals, and dreams of the Envisioner and partner with her to develop a plan to make those dreams a reality.
The symbolism that is part of bonsai is also relevant to the survivor experience. There is growth, balance, and harmony. The growth may not always be visible, but it is there. Bonsai are said to symbolize achievement and success. Though there may be struggles and hardships presented by the cancer experience, there is also triumphs and success that can provide you with the strength to persevere.
Companion plants often accompany the bonsai, especially when the tree is on display. They are placed near the bonsai and often reflect the tree’s character, adding a natural element to the display. The companion plant is supposed to provide company for the bonsai on its life journey and to complement and enhance its appearance, but never to overpower the tree or to draw attention to itself. Like the bonsai itself, companion plants have requirements that are specific to the tree they accompany.
Future.Engaged plays similar roles in relation to a childhood cancer survivor. To be a companion for strength, to support you, to accompany you as you grow into adulthood. To be a “knowledgeable other” to facilitate the refinement of goals, to teach skills like self-advocacy and to coach the application of those skills. To provide advocacy for you as you practice and develop those skills. Lastly, to be the bridge between the Envisioner and institutions with whom you interact.
References.
(n.d.). Retrieved from Brandywine Bonsai Society: https://www.gobbs.org/index.htm
(2020, December 20). Retrieved from Bonsai Direct: https://www.bonsaidirect.co.uk/bonsai-tree-symbolism-tree-of-life-meaning/#:~:text=Bonsai%20meanings%20are%20very%20important,that%20is%20good%20in%20nature.&text=Therefore%2C%20these%20beautiful%20and%20artistic,gifts%20for%20friends%20and%20family.
(2020, December 10). Retrieved from Bonsai Empire: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/origin/what-is-bonsai
Meaning and Symbolism of Common Bonsai Trees. (2020, September 12). Retrieved from Florgeous: https://florgeous.com/bonsai-tree-meaning/
Nakamura, S. (2012). Bonsai: A Patient Art. (T. A. Neff, Ed.) New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press.
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