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.
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.
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