Shamans' Journey: Traversing The World Tree

Shamans are believed to travel between the three worlds of their cosmology—the Upper World, the Middle World, and the Lower World—by climbing the World Tree, also known as the Axis Mundi. The roots of the World Tree touch the Lower World, its trunk is the Middle World, and its branches hold up the Upper World. The World Tree is a universal concept and symbol, found in myths around the world, and is a mechanism shamans use to travel between the worlds. Shamans journey in visionary consciousness between these worlds, descending the roots of the World Tree to the land of the dead to retrieve the souls of the living, or ascending its branches to the heavens to commune with celestial spirits to gain healing remedies or prophecies.

The World Tree is a bridge between the Upper, Middle and Lower worlds

The World Tree is a universal symbol and concept, found in shamanic cultures across the world. It is a giant tree that connects the physical and spiritual realms, with its branches reaching the Upper World, its trunk the Middle World, and its roots the Lower World.

The Upper World is the realm of the gods, goddesses, and higher knowledge. It is ethereal, with a bright light, and varied landscapes. The Middle World is our everyday reality, where our physical bodies and normal waking consciousness reside. The Lower World is the realm of the dead, animal, plant, and nature spirits, and spirit guides.

Shamans travel between these three worlds by climbing the World Tree. The tree is the central axis, or Axis Mundi, about which the shamanic universe extends. The World Tree is a bridge between the worlds, allowing the shaman to pass from one world to another. The shaman journeys with their drum, made from the wood of the World Tree, and the beat of the drum carries the shaman through the different worlds.

The World Tree is a symbol of connection and transformation. It represents the central interconnectedness of the earth, humans, and the spirit world. The tree's roots in the Lower World, its trunk in the Middle World, and its branches in the Upper World, reflect the shaman's ability to be rooted in the earth while having their head in the cosmos, moving between the worlds with stability.

The World Tree is also associated with the Tree of Life or the Tree of Knowledge found in various religions. It is a symbol of Mother Earth, a source of knowledge and wisdom, and a means to obtain enlightenment and immortality.

Shamans travel to the Upper World for enlightenment and divine guidance

Shamans journey to the Upper World to meet with teachers and ancestors who guide them through their training and work. They also seek cosmic wisdom, divine inspiration, and insight to restore balance within themselves, their clients, and nature. The Upper World is a place of creativity and the future, where one can divine the future and experience flight.

To reach the Upper World, shamans climb the World Tree, a universal symbol that connects the physical and spiritual realms. The roots of the World Tree touch the Lower World, its trunk is the Middle World, and its branches hold up the Upper World. Shamans may also use shamanic drums, made from the wood of the World Tree, to aid in their journey.

The World Tree is an integral part of shamanic cosmology, serving as a bridge between the Upper, Middle, and Lower Worlds. It is often depicted in shamanic rituals and power objects, reflecting its importance to the shamans and their spiritual journeys. Shamans travel between these worlds by climbing the World Tree, either physically or in a visionary state, to connect with spirits and gain knowledge and healing remedies.

Shamans travel to the Middle World to communicate with spirits

Shamans are intermediaries between the human world and the spirit world. They travel between worlds to heal, divine, and aid human beings. The shamanic cosmos is divided into three zones: the Upper World, the Middle World, and the Lower World. The Middle World is the realm of human life, corresponding to our ordinary world.

Shamans travel to the Middle World to communicate with the spirits of everyday things, such as the moon, plants, animals, and living human beings. It is a way of communicating with the spirits that live in all things present in our physical reality. The Middle World is where the shaman will most likely begin their journey.

Shamans travel to the Middle World to find lost and stolen soul pieces, lost or stolen objects, or to do long-distance healing work. They may also come to the Middle World to commune with nature. Traveling to the Middle World may look and feel like our normal waking world, and it is where people travel during astral projection and remote viewing.

The Middle World is neither good nor evil, and it can be a tricky world for the shaman to navigate. Spirits in the Middle World should not be taken seriously. The Middle World represents the conscious mind and ego.

Shamans travel to the Middle World by climbing the World Tree, which is the bridge that connects the three worlds. The roots of the World Tree touch the Lower World, its trunk is the Middle World, and its branches hold up the Upper World.

Shamans travel to the Lower World to find lost soul pieces and to seek guidance from animal spirits

Shamans are known to travel between worlds, and in the dimensions they travel, there is no time, space, or distance. They are able to slip out of their ordinary reality and enter an altered state of consciousness, where they are aware of both the physical world and the spirit world simultaneously.

The shamanic cosmos is divided into three zones: the Upper World, the Middle World, and the Lower World, all of which are linked by the World Tree, a common image in shamanic experiences. The World Tree is the bridge that connects these three worlds and is the axis mundi about which the shamanic universe extends. The roots of the World Tree touch the Lower World, its trunk is the Middle World, and its branches hold up the Upper World.

The Lower World is the realm of animal, plant, and nature spirits, as well as spirit guides and the Land of the Dead. It is often seen as a place of evil spirits and darkness, due to cultural conditioning of "Hell." While the Lower World can contain some negative entities, it is not a place of evil. The landscape in most places in the Lower World tends to be earthy, filled with mountains, deserts, dense jungles, and forests—the realm of Mother Nature. This is where guardian animals or helping spirits are found.

Shamans travel to the Lower World to seek the help and guidance of animal spirits, to recover lost power, or to find and return a wandering spirit. They may also journey to the Lower World to find lost soul pieces. Soul loss is a common phenomenon, occurring whenever an individual experiences trauma, causing a part of their vital essence to separate from them to survive the experience by escaping the full impact of the pain. Shamans can enter an altered state of consciousness to travel to realities outside of normal perception (non-ordinary reality) to retrieve the lost soul pieces.

Animal spirits are considered spiritual entities or guides that take the form of animals. They are believed to offer guidance, wisdom, protection, and healing. In shamanism, animal spirits are intermediaries between the spiritual and physical worlds, acting as messengers of the divine, communicating important messages to humans through signs, dreams, and visions. Shamanic rituals such as drumming, ceremony, and journeying are utilized to connect with animal spirits and invite their guidance and wisdom.

The World Tree is a symbol of Mother Earth or an earth goddess

The World Tree is a common symbol found in many cultures and religions. It is often associated with the natural world and is seen as a sacred place where heaven and earth meet. The World Tree is typically depicted as a colossal tree that connects the heavens, the terrestrial world, and the underworld through its roots. It is also known as the Tree of Life, representing the axis mundi or centre of the world.

In Siberian shamanism and Tengrism, a religion of the Mongols and Turkic peoples, the World Tree represents Mother Earth, who gives shamans their drums and helps them travel between worlds. In Samoyed mythology, the World Tree connects different realities: the underworld, this world, and the upper world. The World Tree is also associated with the drum, a shaman's spirit horse, which is made from the wood of the World Tree.

The World Tree is often depicted as having an eagle at the top and a snake at the roots. The eagle is seen as a messenger of God or a creator deity, while the snake represents guardianship, wisdom, temptation, and rebirth. The World Tree is also associated with immortality, either through its fruit or a nearby spring.

In various traditions, the World Tree is linked to the creation of the universe and is believed to hold the secrets of life and death. It is revered as a sacred source of knowledge and wisdom, offering guidance and healing to those who seek it. Shamans travel between the Upper, Middle, and Lower Worlds through the World Tree, connecting with spirits, guides, and totems.

The specific symbolism and significance of the World Tree vary across cultures, but common themes include growth, renewal, connection, and unity. It serves as a symbolic link between the earthly realm and the spiritual realm, as well as between different levels of existence.

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