I've been thinking about this all day, since I first read and then replied to this thread and after reading the subsequent posts I wanted to add another thought.

I moved from England to Spain and love the mountains here but I really miss the old trees and the woodland areas of England. The mountains look beautiful but they don't resonate with me like trees so I certainly think there is some sort of connection with plant life. Maybe for some people they resonate more with other aspects of nature, such as the mountains? I also love listening to the sea but inland water areas make me uneasy.

I know that may seem to be going off in a different direction but I thought it might make a difference if some of us feel more 'at home' with different aspects of nature. eg. some of us hear/feel plant life and maybe others get something from water, mountains, etc? It might explain why some of us sincerely believe we can talk to plant life and other people think we're completely off our rocker!

[edit on 14-3-2009 by Maya00a]

I am a Pagan by religion, Druid to be exact, and have spent many hours meditating by trees and in the countryside. I always am aware that trees and plants have a voice and a spirit and I always ask for permission before entering a forest then thank the forest and its spirits for allowing me to share their place when I leave.
What you hear when you are surrounded by life (that is what the forests are 100% life and more of it than you will find in any city) are the voices of the natural world. Next time you are alone, surrounded by trees and animals and nature in general take time to stop for a few minutes, blank your mind and feel the life force surrounding you. You may not hear it but you will feel it I guarantee.
Remember nature is your god, god is in everything, the rocks, the soil, the air, the plants, in you and in me. God is not some man in the sky it is in everything and due to that we all have the potential to hear and feel it when the conditions are right.
For any Christtians that are about to attack me for that statement I suggest you read your history. Not the christianity of Paul but the Christianity of the original Christians, look at what they believed .
Anyway back to the point, what you are hearing is the voices of nature, the voices of the trees, plants, animals and even those that like to remain unseen. Those of you that have felt something in the forest or in the wilderness, what you are feeling is the life force that holds the world together. God if you will ! or some people prefer to split it into seperate deitys to make it easier to understand, so therefore in that case you are feeling and communicating with the gods

i have yet to hear voices in the forest, but check out the celtic horoscope. it is based on trees and i have found it to be surprisingly accurate.

i think ancient knowledge is a powerful thing.

[edit on 15-3-2009 by JebediahSpringfield]

just on the topic of voices im sure some people say it could just be "your mind playing tricks on you." basic fear etc..

though this is sort of off topic ive heard a voice ONCE loud and clear, in a whispering format. i was around 16, really upset for reasons i dont like to talk about then suddenly i just heard a loud voice " why dont you worship the devil?" my room got cold and i was frozen in fear. no, im not a religious person or anything of the sort but god that was the worst thing ever.

I say "All of the Above"..I beleve we are talking about time again.If there are more dimensions (which there are) our perceptions can still be subjective.
We could be hearing thoughts in our head for sure.It could be silent because we aren't listening.Turned off those psychic ears because our brain cannot process it.

It's just like a hard drive without the processing speed, now to make heads or tails of it, it takes for a long TIME.

I have known musicians that have to have a fan on at night because of whispers they constantly hear.

My experiences with Oujia boards and psychedellics produced a similar effect.

Whispers are always there, Waiting.

Think of the religous sentiment of "the still,small voice" or "Gabrial blowing his horn".

You have touched a fundamental human common denominator with this topic. that leads to higher learning.It is the level of fetishes and totems to remember the past.

[edit on 15-3-2009 by Bruiex]

Thanks OP for this interesting post.

No offense to any of the religious here:

Growing up my brothers and I lived near the forest and for 15 years we heard voices coming from the forest and from within our house. My family was very religious at the time and the church leader basically kept telling us these were demons and to be afraid so we freaked out every time we heard these. Visiting relatives and friends also heard voices. Every so often objects within the house would move but, just out of your sight. I am referring to physical objects such as toys, books, or the television knob.

By the time I was in my early 20's everyone in the household would argue with these whatever things about moving things, whispering in the basement. After so long it became non eventful to have strange things happen as the fear of this had subsided years ago.

The forest behind the house had always felt like there were guardians there watching out for me. There is even an old tree there that has my descendants names carved into it dating back to the 1800's-present since my grandfather's family lived nearby. Many days I would venture there and take naps in the tree unafraid of whatever may happen by.

Upon moving back a few years ago one newer event happened. Within a few days of returning and while strolling outside probably 3am to check in on some of our pets I heard a voice coming towards me but, saw nothing. It stopped so I resumed checking the waterers for the pets and right behind my head something said my name loud and said, "Don't be scared."I turned and saw nothing. It was as if the breeze carried a voice right behind me. A few minutes later as I was heading back indoors I heard a voice whispering as if someone was heading into the forest.

Some reason the perimeter between forest and open land always seems foreboding to me. Wondering if anyone else ever felt that?