The Central West Light-Network has a relationship of reverence and evolutionary harmony with the trees of the Sacred KingdomsLight-Nucleus, in the Federal District.
The trees and their communities, called forests, are also part of the protection of the Sacred Kingdoms Light-Nucleus (SKLN), in Planaltina, (FD), affiliated with the Fraternity – International HumanitarianFederation (FIHF).
They are present everywhere, making the environment green and filling the eyes of those who participate in the daily life of the sacred space with appreciation.
The variety of trees and the service they provide is multifunctional. They interact through their roots and smooth the entry of water into the layers of Mother Earth, especially in the Cerrado, were some types of vegetation form what is called an inverted forest, because the roots are very deep, and often larger than the top of the plants which we can seen on the horizon. The trees grace us through maintaining a mild climate and a pleasant freshness. They also bring balance to the environment and beings.
Amongst the guardians and the majestic trees of the sacred space there are cedars, buriti palms, silk trees, copaíbas, and so many others, which stand out in their presence in Cerrata. Renato Nazário (collaborator and agronomist) and Mariana dos Anjos (member of the Central Western Light-Network), two members of the Brasilia youth group, emphasized in a statement, that “the cedars, the buriti palms and the copaíbas are so long-lived, they bring forward the wisdom of the mountains, which we don’t have here on the Central Plateau,” they say.
According to them, the species of the Plant Kingdom mentioned are “grand and generous in the wisdom of being; imposing, especially the three tall and wise Cascudo cedars located on the boundary of the land, which support and protect all the spiritual energy manifesting there,” they contend.
They then point out that “the buriti palms and the water palms, symbols of life, with their palm leaves always open to the sky, besides beautifying the landscape near the stream, in their imposing verticalness, support the joy of living.”
For both, the buritis enchant and strengthen our essence; in them, flocks of indigo blue and sun yellow macaws find a home. These beautiful birds give even more life to the beloved guardian trees, for they use the thatches of the buritis as a loudspeaker and refuge.
“The silk or pot-bellied tree is like a pregnant mother, displaying exuberance with its rose-colored flowers, which will generate kapok-bearing fruit, carrying their seeds all over the Cerrado. Their inviting shade provides us with true moments of union with the Divine,” they declare.
The fruit trees of the Sacred Kingdoms Light-Nucleus
There are many. We feel a special affection for all of them and immense gratitude for everyone who planted them, because today we gather the generous quantities of fruit, such as mango, avocado, jackfruit, jaboticaba, Brazilian cherry, genipap, guava, araticum, among many others, which nurture the body and the soul of those beings in communion.
We will present here three of the species of fruits that adorn and enrich the SKLN, this “little bit of Heaven” in the heart of the Center West, where the Mineral, Plant, Animal, Human, Elemental and Devic Kingdoms live in communion and harmony, in the building of a prototype for the new humanity. In this universe of fruits, the araticum, Brazilian cherry, and jaboticaba stand out. We will address their general characteristics and their medicinal uses – remembering that, in their use, the applicable prescription and dosage must be established by specialized professionals.
The great gift of the Cerrado
Araticum (“mole fruit” in Tupi): also known as cerrado araticum, marolo, cerrado pinecone, panã, anone or anona (Spanish); it is a native fruit of the Brazilian Cerrado. The araticum is a large rounded fruit (which can weigh up to 2 Kgs), with a pulp that is pink (sweeter and softer) or yellow (a little acidic and less soft), with a shape like the other fruit of the Annonaceae family, such as the ata, also known as the pinecone or custard apple.
The araticunzeiro (genus Annona) can grow as much as 8 m in height and its main pollinators are beetles. Unfortunately, because of the deforestation occurring in the Cerrado, many araticunzeiros have been cut down, and as the seed takes a long time to germinate (around 300 days) there is the risk that the survival of this species, typical of the Cerrado, will come to depend on human cultivation.
Culinary uses: in cooking, the cerrado araticum is the most used species of the Annonaceae family. Besides consuming it au natural, it is used also in jellies, juices, liqueurs, cakes, ice creams and others.
Medicinal uses (Annonacrassiflora): the cerrado araticum is rich in iron, potassium, calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 and B2. The leaves and seeds of the araticunzeiro are used to control diarrhea, induce menstruation, as well as helping in the treatment of ulcers, colic, skin cancer and rheumatism.
Beauty in abundance
Brazilian cherry (“Vermelho” in Tupi-Guarani): is the fruit of the pitangueira, a tree of Brazilian origin, native to the Atlantic Forest, which can reach a height of 10 m. It bears fruit between Spring and Summer, and attracts many birds. The fruit can be eaten green (it has a “sour” taste) or ripe (it has a sugary flavor). The shrub can be used in making living fences, and combined with other shrubs (for example, with the pitaya or dragon fruit), can become a windbreak. It is a plant that germinates easily. Its propagation is through seeds and/or grafts. Many saplings grow spontaneously around adult Brazilian cherry trees. At this time, the SKLN has more than 20 of these trees.
Culinary uses: the Brazilian cherry, just like other fruit, can be eaten au natural or as a juice, ice creams, jellies, wines, liqueurs and sweets.
Medicinal uses (Eugenia uniflora): the Brazilian cherry has Vitamins A and C, which help in combating free radicals, which cause aging of the skin. They also contain B Vitamins, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids and anthocyanins, thus having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-hypertensive properties. It can be used as an adjunct in treatments for excess uric acid (gout), bowel disorders (having a regulatory effect), anemia, tiredness, flu, prostate problems, arthritis, respiratory problems, and cardiovascular disease. It also has a diuretic action, reducing body swelling.
Mother Earth Masterpiece
Jaboticaba: a fruit of Brazilian origin, it belongs to the Myrtaceae family, and also sprouts easily in other regions close to the tropics. There are specimens in various Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Argentina. In Brazil, it blossoms from North to South, but its highest incidence is in the Southeast Region.
Culinary uses: the jaboticaba can be eaten au natural or in jellies, sauces and various types of sweets. Ideally, it should be eaten fresh; however, it can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days.
A good option for enjoying the jaboticaba is to make juice. For this, the fruit must be heated on the stove with a little water, until it boils – a process that brings about the dark coloring of the jaboticaba. Afterwards, puree the jaboticaba in a blender, with both skin and pit, strain and wait for it to cool before serving. To spice it up, you can mix it with pineapple or lemon.
It is worth mentioning that the skin of the jaboticaba, often discarded, is rich in anthocyanidins – substances that protect the cells – and it can also be enjoyed in delicious recipes, thus avoiding wasting food, so common in our urban centers.
Medicinal uses: the jaboticaba is a fruit rich in calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and Vitamin B3 – which helps in burning fat and the proper functioning of the central nervous system. Meanwhile, eating the fruit must be done cautiously: its skin can have a laxative effect, while the pit, if ingested in excess, can cause constipation.
Would you like to know a little more about the fruit trees of the Sacred Kingdoms Light-Nucleus? Soon, we will publish more articles, which are a part of a series on species of trees that fill this space blessed by God with enchantment.
