As well as having made a living for over 25 years as an illustrator, Leslie Cabarga is the author of over 30 published books on subjects such as cartoon animation, illustration, graphic design, clip art, and lettering. As an illustrator, he has done numerous covers for Time, Fortune, Newsweek, and Business Week magazines, and is credited with reviving the popularity of Betty Boop through his paintings of Betty on more than 50 greeting cards, several lines of ceramics, and many other products. Cabarga's first book, which he began writing at the age of 16, was "The Fleischer Story; The Max Fleischer animation studio in the golden age of animation," (Second edition available from DaCapo Press ISBN: 0-306-80313-5). In addition to all this, Cabarga began practicing spirit channeling in 1979 and since the 1980s he has given psychic readings to friends and acquaintances. This experience has so changed his perspective that he feels his future books will relate to the same New Age field as "Talks with Trees." Leslie Cabarga lives in Los Angeles with his wife Marga Kasper, and their daughter, Anna. Excerpted from Talks with Trees by Leslie Cabarga. Copyright © 1997. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
PURPLE POTATO: People might still be starving in Europe, as our mothers harangued us, but sometimes you just don't feel like having potatoes, and then it's too late! This organic, purple potato started sprouting so I placed it in water and later interviewed it. "What is it? Why do you wake me? I'm growing, coming forth. Will it be possible? It is like a baby soul that knows it's coming into an unwanted situation. There's not much energy invested. I am the same. You don't want me, and you neglected to eat me when the time was right, so I'm expressing myself, my right to flower. I like the water, but it's rather soggy and inhospitable in here. I appreciate the effort, your keeping me on this life-support system you've created. If it means that we shall have this chance to communicate then it has been a good thing. I'm happy to talk, to tell you about myself, but I was sleeping. You must know, you've brought me back from far away, and deep down under for this talk. You could have spoken to me before I started sprouting too, you know. I was still-my energy was still invested in the body of this potato. I am the small part of this plant's energy split off into this individual form. There is a mass consciousness to which I belong. I've been told of your progress, your book, and am happy to be a part of it. I want you to know more about what goes on here, where I am. I wouldn't call it a home or a place so much as an awareness of life, of energy, of light. I am "housed" with many others like me. We are all separate, yet together. We are not worried about what to do next for we just know. It all comes out right. Just like you, you never die, neither does a potato, you see. There is always a returning of energy when the form is no longer in its original form. That is, even if we're cut up or eaten or shriveled or squashed. No, I feel no remorse or sadness about leaving, because I know that the ecstasy of growing will again be ahead for me and my friends. We all look forward to this joy and that is quite a time, you know. It's like just lying in the sun. The sun reaches us as the light energy rushes down through the ground. There is much pulsing, and vibrations which rock us like a cradle, and then everything seems right, seems like bliss. We bask in this time of enjoyment. Is there a hope for a greater glory? No, hardly. We know of our purpose, there is no striving beyond that. Why should there be, for we know we are fulfilling our God-given mission. But you see, we are very different from you so you cannot think of us as having the feelings or longings you have. I see that you humans are very complex, with energy chains going every which way. Some are blocked or cut off, others extend many places, but you are only aware of a part of yourself as the greater whole [the higher consciousness] hovers nearby. You do not see this? Then me, I am simple, with a simple function: to enjoy growth and then serve myself up to you when the time has come. This I don't mind at all. I am proud to grow strong and really there is such pleasure in it, I cannot tell you. You would say I'm too self-indulgent just enjoying myself so much." Is there a Purple Potato Deva with whom I could also speak? "The deva you ask of is not here. He is in the field. I can call him and he may come. Don't worry, it's no imposition, I'm sure. He is my friend and will come for me and you. But what I was saying is that if there were no life force within me I would not grow at all, so there has to be a spark of the Creator inside. Yet, it is a different kind than yours. Now here he is." [Deva:] "My friend, I'm glad to be invited to this place, this place so foreign from my soil and the toil that we do there, as we look over our many charges, the many crops under our auspices. What would you have of me today? You want to know first hand how I work? I am the receptor, the intermediary between the love of the One light and the little growing ones beneath me. I care for all of them, and no one is more special than another. I help them grow up good and strong so they may do their work. You know, there is seldom a bad potato, unless something, such as you humans, gets in the way. We harbor no resentments, for we respect your earthly path and the lessons you are engaged in. We see the outcome as fine; as assured us by the Creator. Therefore, until the time comes when you become clearer and friendlier toward us, and achieve the respect for the plant kingdom, it is still our job to do what we can to make ourselves ready for you by growing and evolving ourselves. Do you not think this so? Do you think you are the only ones who are learning anything and evolving? Nay! We are all coming up together. At this time I am practicing with new energy fields to accommodate changes in weather patterns, soil growth, and the new breeds of insects coming around. We are also preparing for some earth changes which we are aware of though you may not be because you are not of the earth. There are climate and energy shifts which will alter the current vibrations. These little potatoes are all my babies. They are really sweet little things and I nourish them and admonish them and prompt them to be strong and persevere. You should see how they lie about. It is a bliss bordering on orgasmic ecstasy. If you can imagine that going on for a full season, you may understand why they are all blissed out and only partially conscious. We wish your interest were more attached to the soil and in interaction with us on the level that we are present, in the garden proper. We feel some day this shall happen. Until then, when we may meet again, I bid you goodbye." EXCERPT: BUSHWARK, THE DISGRUNTLED REDWOOD: I think that I shall never see a tree as disgruntled as this one. One of only a few giant redwoods along the walking path in Northern California's Muir Woods not situated behind a fence, this tree had apparently suffered the indignity of thousands of groping tourists' caresses. My adult daughter accompanied me to Muir Woods to ask questions for the following interview. Do you like it here? "Do I like it here? What do you mean? I've been here so long, I forgot when I came. I just keep being here. That's all there is to it. Where do you want me to go?" Tree, are you unhappy? You sound annoyed. "No. I do not know this word "annoyed." But you people you comeso many people! And then you just go away and you don't come again. What do you want of me? It's like church. You go there and say, "Oh how wonderful." But then, what do you do? Then you light matches, and you cut down trees! You sit on us in your chairs, you build with our wood! You really don't care. What proof have I that you care? Oh, it's something to be a tourist attraction and it's something to be protected here, but I do not feel so glad that I am simply one of the safe ones, for I think of so many others who are not safe. Is this the story that you wanted? Did you want me to be all peace and light? I am this too. You got me on a bad day." How does a good day differ from a bad day for a tree? "There are certain times when one is more in the flow than others. I have become distressed and saddened by situations because the fries come and they tell me, 'You should see what happened! They're chopping away more and more.' "But tree, don't you think there's also a lighter side, that more people are becoming enlightened and appreciating and valuing nature? "Yes, I guess you're right. There's that too. There are people like yourselves who appreciate trees, but you also have a certain arrogance. You think you can just walk up and say hello, and I'm expected to answer you. What do you think I'm here for? Your pleasure? For whatever you wish? No, don't go away. I'm just venting." Do you pay attention to human history? Is that important to you? "You mean the story of your lives? What about the story of my life? You wish me to know just about what happened to you? About your wars and your crimes and your times? You ask me as though I should know, as though I should care about these things?" (This is the angriest tree I ever talked to) "There you go, I am trying to tell youhow about asking about my life? What I feel?" Okay, how do you feel? What's your earliest memory? "I do remember some of those people you call Indians coming by. Now these people walked softly. They did not try to mess around with what is. They were almost apologetic as they traipsed through the forest hunting, gathering. They were much happier than you. They did not have such complicated auras. They did not have the flux, the muddiness. Much purer souls, like animals but with more intelligence, for they respected and understood the cooperation with all of nature. I appreciated that. And they mostly seemed to appreciate me. But you know it doesn't mean much to have you people come and say, 'Oh how big!' This is not what I'm interested in." Do you like animals? Like squirrels and stuff? "Oh yes, but you should know there are far, far fewer animals than there used to be. You have scared them away. This is what I'm talking about. That you come here to make everything your way; the way you like it. You build your fences, you
