Tree Quiz
Ginkgo
Shedding golden leaves all at once and resting through the winter, you have a soft give, like your wood, that lets you take others in.
The ginkgo is a deciduous tree with fan-shaped leaves. In fall its leaves turn yellow together, then drop in one short burst. Most of its relatives vanished long ago and only this one species remains, which is why it's called a “living fossil.”
Ginkgo is said to resist fire, and it has been planted at temples, shrines and along city streets, growing large in the same spot for centuries. It's also said to root deeply. Just as it drops its leaves to rest, you draw a clear line between on and off, and get your preparations in order before your next move.
Ginkgo wood is soft and easy to carve, so it has been used for cutting boards and boards for the game of Go, and its nuts are eaten as ginnan. You can absorb someone pushing against you and change your shape to fit them. But after a run of days spent hearing people out, you may find even the days you meant to rest have filled up with plans.
Strengths
- You divide working time from resting time, and when you rest, you really rest
- You can prepare for what's coming with room to spare
- Even when an opinion comes at you head-on, you can take it in first and then think it over
Where you may stumble
- Taking on request after request, the days you meant to rest disappear
- Until your preparations are in place, you hesitate to get moving
- Fitting in with others, you swallow what you wanted to say
Sounds familiar, Ginkgo?
- The day before a long weekend, you've already gathered everything you want to watch and eat
- When someone comes to you for advice, you meet at a time and place that suits them
- You save up the movies you want to see and watch 3 in a row the night before a day off
Where you shine
Getting ready for a big event, or the role of calmly hearing people out. This is where you can pour out, all at once, the energy you stored up while resting.
Tips for “Ginkgo”
- Mark your rest days on the calendar before you take on anyone's requests
- Set aside a day to start just one thing, even if your preparations aren't complete
- After going along with someone, add one line: “Here's what I'd like to do”
Matches
See every match in the Tree Quiz compatibility chart →
Japanese Cedar — The Japanese Cedar also roots deeply and, like its soft wood, adapts to what's asked. With the Cedar keeping things going at the same pace all year, the Ginkgo, coming back from a rest, can easily pick up where things left off.
Zelkova — The Zelkova also rests in winter and roots deeply to prepare. The Zelkova, which holds its own shape, clearly points the way forward, so the Ginkgo, good at adapting, can follow along with peace of mind.
Bamboo — Bamboo keeps the same pace all year, spreads sideways on the spot and springs back to its own shape when bent. With the Ginkgo, which prepares, rests and adapts to others, both the timing of when to move and the way of giving ground tend to drift apart.
Close neighbors
These differ from this one on just 1 of the 3 axes. If one of your axes was near the middle, you may have their side too.
Which one are you? 18 everyday situations, about 3 minutes.
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