Tree Love Is Everywhere
One of the most enchanting walks I take at home is meandering along the fire tracks through the bush. The landscape is filled with numerous tall, ancient trees, their majestic signs of age on full display: hollows and nests, scars of fires from long ago. It’s a sight that never fails to inspire awe and reverence.
Friends Forever
At a profound level, they have been our steadfast companions, providing shelter from the elements, including sun, rain, wind, snow, and cold, throughout human history. Among our early ancestors, trees were not just a source of life, but they were life itself. For shamans, they embodied the very essence of a sacred existence, a belief that continues to resonate with us today.
Part of the shamanic worldview, a belief system practised by many Indigenous cultures, is a belief in a cosmic tree: a great “world” tree whose roots penetrate the underworld and branches reach far into the heavens. The trunk symbolises the cosmic pillar, which is the link between different realms of existence. This belief underscores trees’ deep spiritual and cultural significance in these societies.
Sacred Correspondances
Each part of the tree corresponds to one of the realms shamans, spiritual leaders, and healers in many Indigenous cultures connect with: the treetops—heavens and stars; trunk—middle world or everyday world; roots—underworld and mother earth. Because of this, the tree (and shaman) are considered mediators between Heaven and Earth, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance and harmony of the universe.
Shamans use them as a pathway to journey between the earth and the heavenly realms.
Each culture and mythology has a unique but sacred connection to these ancient sacred beauties. Some refer to them as the Cosmic World Tree, the Tree of Life or the Tree of Knowledge.
Trees symbolise strength, connectedness, and grounding. They are also a symbol of the universe and the creation of divine-human unity.
Mother Trees
Of course, it is fascinating that there is now, according to science, the concept of Mother Trees.
A mother tree, a concept now recognised by science, is typically a large, mature one serving as a central hub or keystone within its community. Playing a critical role in the forest ecosystem by supporting neighbouring friends and other organisms through complex interactions facilitated by the underground mycorrhizal fungal network. Their significance in scientific research is also noteworthy, as they are key to understanding the resilience and interconnectedness of forest ecosystems.
It’s truly fascinating to witness how science is now beginning to validate what shamans have known for thousands of years—the profound importance of trees in our connection with and survival as a species. This convergence of ancient wisdom and modern understanding is a testament to trees’ enduring relevance and significance in our lives.
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