Oak trees, famed for their endurance and longevity, remind us of our inner strength & integrity as we reconnect with our divine nature.

Oak leaves are some of the last leaves to fall from the trees in autumn, and some species of oak trees do not lose their leaves at all. Ancient people viewed this as a positive quality—the leaves were being tenacious, demonstrating determination and a no-quit attitude. These were the same qualities that they wanted to see in their military. For this reason, oak leaves came to symbolize victory in battle. Roman generals were presented with wreaths made of oak leaves after important battles.

The term derives from the French word “chatoyer”, which means “to iridesce, like a cat’s eye.” If you’ve ever seen the stone tiger’s eye, you get the idea. In woodworking, chatoyance is a similarly striking optical quality in which areas of light and dark grain seemingly shimmer or shift depending on the angle of view.

Bark inclusions are pockets of bark found within the interior of a tree. An ingrown Limb is a limb or branch that has been cut through during the sawing process.

A knot is a portion of a branch or limb that has become incorporated in a piece of lumber.