“It is their belief that when a family member dies, their spirit resides in the natural environment to watch over their kin, relay messages to and from God, and grant blessings, wishes, and requests.”
In Africa the practice of Tree worship is based on the belief that Ancestor spirits live in the Trees and forests as well as any other natural formations that are considered peaceful.
Sacred Trees are highly manicured and sculpted so that they can provide a sheltered place for gatherings. In many villages they were the center of social activity—from community dances to court sessions, as well as metaphors for the strength of community bonds. And as the mythology goes, Sacred Trees represent a cosmic connection between Earth and the Heavens. The Trees helped people measure the passing of time through seasonal changes and became the centerpiece of local folklore.
In many cultures around the world, Trees are used in creation stories and myths to explain human, and spiritual, origins. Such trees frequently represent the axis of the universe that connects different realms of the cosmos. Its branches hold up the heavens, its trunk stands in the earthly realm, and its roots descend into the underworld.
The supernatural characters and powers of sacred trees…
In many religions, sacred places as well as Orishas were thought to possess supernatural characters and the power to carry out miracles or as having magical powers. The same attitude is found throughout history as an outcome of tree Worship-Adoration-Veneration.
Sacred Trees were sometimes described as possessing huge or unusual dimensions or miraculous physical characters. Frequently, sacred Trees were regarded as having omnipotent magic powers to punish, cure, or to carry out miracles and to confer unusual abilities.
In many cultures around the globe sacred Trees are strictly protected, and injuring the Tree in any way is regarded as sacrilege. This deep faith has been established in the course of generations by tradition and stories of actual punishment meted out by the Gods-Souls-Orishas to which the Trees are dedicated. Injuring the Tree, especially cutting it down may leave the resident spirit homeless and it would soon take its revenge.
In some communities fear of revenge by the spirits in response to any harm to the sacred Tree is so great that special ceremonies, which may include sacrifices, prayers, ceremonies, are held to pacify the angry spirit before a Tree is cut.
Not surprisingly, any kind of harm done to the sacred Tree-Grove-Forest is feared to cause a furious punitive response by a supernatural being. This fear is so deeply imprinted in human conscience of various Tribes*Communities that the people are afraid even to pick a leaf or to collect dead wood from below the Tree, which may carry an immediate sentence of death.
Throughout history, and in many cultures, sacred Trees were regarded as omens and oracles, as well as soothsayers that may speak in human voices. Punishment of whoever violates the Tree All over the world sacred Trees are protected by a system of taboos and ceremonies which were developed to prevent any damage. These Trees are regarded as the abode of supernatural beings, gods, souls and any harm to such abodes are to be heavily punished. Cutting down sacred Trees is regarded as a particularly serious offence against the supernatural element because such an act leaves the spirit homeless. There is thus a need to repatriate these supernatural beings by means of special ceremonies.
***The manner in which clothes are tied to a sacred Tree to transfer personal troubles or using objects that “absorb” the supernatural powers of the Tree are typical examples of contact magic. Things which have once been in contact with each other at a distance after the physical contact has been severed. Practically all these manners are methods of “conveying the divine effluence” from the Tree to the devoted people. In this way the supernatural being, which is connected with the sacred Tree, has the power to grant petitions.
Sacred Trees are believed to have magic curative powers in Africa, even species of some plants or parts of it that are not known as having medicinal properties, such as the leaves of a Sacred Oak (Iroko) are regarded as omnipotent forms of medication when administered externally as a decoction. Clearly, the leaves acquire the healing powers when granted by Orishas; just as actual medicinal plants gathered in the vicinity of the sacred Tree are more potent. Most of the uses of sacred Trees for divine blessings or cure seem based on magical contact.
IROKO = African Teak : Iroko is a large hardwood Tree from the west coast of tropical Africa the Tree is known to the Yoruba as Iroko or Loko and is believed to have supernatural properties. It is one of the woods sometimes referred to as African teak, although it is unrelated to the teak family. The Tree is feared in some cultures where it originates and hence is shunned or revered with offerings. Yoruba people believe that the Tree is inhabited by a spirit, and anybody who sees the Iroko-man face to face becomes insane and speedily dies. The spirit of the Iroko can be heard in houses which use Iroko wood, as the spirit of the Iroko is trapped in the wood. It is often protected when the surrounding bush is cleared, ritual sacrifices take place underneath it and gifts are given to it. Fertility and birth are associated with it and its timber is used to make ceremonial drums and coffins.
Benefits Of The Iroko Tree: With the tremendous increase in human population and the need for activities such as construction, cultivation, rearing of animals, and environmental development, there has been a tremendous rise on the loss of natural habitats, ecosystems, wild animals, vegetation etc. One important tree that has suffered this sort of habitat loss is the Iroko Tree. Despite its reduction in number, researchers have revealed that there are several incredible benefits of Iroko Tree that makes it stand out from other Trees in the ecosystem.
The Tree features in many myths and tales. It consistently reflects a few important symbolic images. The Tree stands between heaven and earth and is associated with creation as well as the underworld. The Tree is a maternal symbol: a protector and provider who gives fruit, other foods and medicines, provides a reservoir for water, protects against the elements and evil spirits. The Tree often symbolizes human fecundity. It may also be a phallic and paternal symbol, symbolically linking people with their ancestors while being a symbol of political unity.
Finally, the deciduous characteristic of the tree gives it an ambiguous image which reflects the tree’s power to give life and rebirth as well as to bring about death. In many African myths and stories, the tree is portrayed as an Ancestral symbol of wisdom, authority and custom, providing a bond between the dead and the living.
A Tree That Does Not Know How To dance, Would Be Taught By The Wind.
It Is Dark And The Trees In The Farm Are Silent. One Who Taps Palm Wine Must Pay Attention To His Climbing Rope.
Reference Sources: Blessing Okpala = Wikipedia = Google Search/Photo
Sharon Elliott Aboru aboya, Baba. This is true of the gaelic cultures in Ireland and Scotland. An alphabet based on trees was also developed, and in Scotland especially there is a divination tool made with that alphabet and twigs from those trees. It is called Ogham.
***Forests provide a range of products for traditional ceremonies from food and beverages to costumes and musical instruments. Forest foods also feature in many cultural ceremonies: marriages, funerals, initiations, installation of chiefs, and birth celebrations, to name a few. Palm wine and cola nuts are important symbolic foods throughout W/Africa.
***Ayoade Akinduro = Eniyan…( eni-ti -a-yan) “The “one” that was declared or chosen”… “The “alpha” that was “known”
A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
Thank you, Baba for the wisdom and beautiful pictures of trees. Indeed they are sensitive, sentient beings that deserve our love and respect. Hug a tree!
Pie Benny = In years gone by..when I was younger an student at Queens College.I walked out of class tired and spiritually drained.I was waiting for the bus to come.I stepped back on the lawn and sat under a very large tree right at the base on the roots. Finally the bus came. I got up and to my surprise I felt refresh..I had the presents of mind to stop and looked back at the tree.And said thank you to the tree..No one had ever told me to talk to a tree..Later on in my life I learned that my spirit understood..My higher self..Trees are very special..they are spirit
***Charlotte Hill O’Neal = One can SEE those tree Spirits! I live near huge banyan trees and baobab trees and I could commune with them all day if possible. I love those spirit trees. I also love Spirit Stones! There are huge stone outcrops in the Serengeti here in Tanzania and I can actually hear their hummmmm! Life is magnificent! Asante sana Mzee Yagbe Awolowo Onilu for sharing your vast knowledge. Your site is one of my favorites and I go to it often!
Thank you for this beautiful posts. I <3 the trees, who are sacred to so many indigenous cultures. Mine are scattered all over the Bay Area… I use their sap to bring those energies/spirits home with me. There is nothing like being in a sweat lodge with smoking redwood sap!
Thank you for this valuable information. Can you tell me anything about dead trees? Can dead trees still hold spirits or is it okay to cut it down, to prevent it from falling on someone or falling on a house?
One can hardly say everything about trees and our nature. God is the wisest of all and in His wisdom has provided us with the best for our sustenance. God speaks to us every time through nature as he has always done to our forebears. Let us listen to God as he advises and admonishes in the things we see and those we cannot see. I have been studying trees especially those used by the Igbo people of South East Nigeria in the preparation of the famous “ikoro” – the voice of God and man in its entirety. I must confess that there is more to trees than the ordinary eye can behold.
I really appreciate such a great light, I feel immense joy in my heart and I’m connecting more to nature and myself knowing the trees are scared temples for HIGHER FORCES AND ANGELIC BEINGS OF LIGHT, I LOVE THIS DIVINE MESSAGE, PEACE AND BLISSING
Can you tell me what are some of the trees you are studying used and connected to Igbo people? Please Email – griotstoryteller@yahoo.com.
Thank you for your time and energy in this matter. Divinely yours Chinyere x