La Paz, Bolivia
AP
–
Ten years ago, lightning hit during a thunderstorm of Rooon, and ancient pine trees in the Bolivian capital, La Paz, are thriving.
Known as the “miracle tree,” this giant conifer attracts followers from all over the country to La Paz’s largest public cemetery, founded two centuries ago on a pre-Columbus burial plan. Pilgrims flow through alleys to cram coins, flowers, sweets, and secret wishes into gaps in bark.
On a cold, painful afternoon of last week’s election season, pilgrims headed to the Miracle Tree through a winding alley in a cemetery filled with over 200,000 graves belonging to decorated soldiers and high-ranking officials.
Bolivia now appears to be covered by other concerns about the Miracle Tree followers, as the first Indigenous President Evo Morales and his successor, election drama and economic collapse, mark the end of almost two decades of leftist rule.
“People are seeking love, work, health, children and even seeking to get their lost pets back,” explained Javier Cordero, who leads funeral prayers at the cemetery. “When a man brings a lot of faith, the tree will fulfill their wishes.”
Some of the followers were young and recently discovered the story of the Tiktok Tree.
Others were regulars and were long convinced of the sacred power of trees, like Ricardo Cuspe, a 79-year-old prayer leader who was refuge under the limbs of a tree shelter when lightning hit a stormy afternoon a decade ago. He claims that lightning also gave him spiritual strength.
Far from grinding wood, the lightning bolts left scars on the trunk, blew the air freshener resin into it. La Paz Cemetery’s towering trees look healthier than ever.
A study investigating how certain trees benefit from lightning strikes published in New Botanists earlier this year provides a scientific basis for an astonishing transformation of the tree. But long before such study of forest ecology, the Aymara Shaman, an indigenous people of Bolivia, believed that he had given the power of divine power to survivors, whether people or trees.
Such rituals are flooded with this Andean nation. There, ancient Hispanic beliefs support the Catholicism brought to life by Spanish settlers.
Good luck and energy cleansing experts, Yatiris fills the city of El Alto in La Paz and its neighbouring city of Aymara and sells services to those in need of blessings.
The transition from winter to spring in the region’s agricultural calendar is particularly busy for Yatiris in Bolivia, the only indigenous majority country in Latin America.
Throughout the month, Bolivians make offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth), often employ shamans to perform rituals in their homes and offices, or make pilgrimages to feed the hungry earth and mountain gods in sacred places and cemeteries like La Paz.
“I know people who have been healed from illness, they are the most respectful people,” said Cordero. The miraculous tree trunks were touched with copper wire to demonstrate its special energy recharging. Soon the wire began to spin accordingly.
“Lightning transmits important energy in the universe,” he said.
The belief in the power of wood has returned many of its worshippers.
Tania Earth, 60, approaches the miraculous tree with her arms filled with appetizing chocolate and flowers.
“He likes sweets,” she said. “He fulfilled the kindness I asked him, but I have not stopped visiting.”
