The Place Where Heaven and Earth Meet
Trees have often been used to symbolize the Center of the World or the World Axis. The concept of a ‘World Tree', in which all opposites merge or which nourishes multiple levels of being, is very old. This is not just a metaphor; trees embody this principle in their material being. The roots feed the branches and the branches feed the roots. They are the place where heaven and earth touch, where all times and places converge. It is for this reason that trees are considered to be excellent places of prayer.
Trees tend to be sociable creatures and grow in groves and forests. But it was often the lone tree, or trees that grew in unusual places, or trees, which were experienced in any other way as remarkable, who were chosen as a symbol for the World Tree.
The Buryat people of Mongolia, on the border of Russia and China are famous for living their deeply spiritual shamanic culture right up to modern times. They have living prayer trees (Barisaa); ritual trees, made from a dead branch (Serge); a 'World Mountain' (Ula); or stones (Oboo) which are usually erected as a cairn in high places or on tops of hills. Offerings or prayers are usually done in the form of pieces of woven material (another symbol for connectedness and integrity), such as ribbons or pieces of cloth. People would also usually offer small gifts to the tree and the spirits of the place to honor them. These gifts tended to be something that was seen as a sign of 'sharing' in that society, for example a bit of tobacco, a small libation of vodka, a few coins, etc.
We see a similar prayer practices in Tibet. The Tibetan name for such 'Prayer flags’ is “Lungta” which means literally 'Wind horse'. These Prayer flags are placed outdoors by stringing or attaching them to the edge of a roof, between poles, on temples, between trees, and so on. Anywhere the wind gets the opportunity to move them. The wind is considered an expression of mind, and mental energy which activates them. The tying on of ribbons to a tree or the hanging out of prayer flags is done with a specific intention for healing, luck, or some other purpose.
We find these ancient practices echoed in all sorts of different forms around the World. First Nation people of America had totem poles, which embody many of the principles of the World tree. The Hopi's had prayer sticks. The Celts and Germanic people had trees planted or chosen at the center of their territory. These were the center of their world and were thought to have the power of witness and were emblems of tribal continuity.
How Does Praying Work?
Thus we find that all over the World, people have always used trees, and other special places, objects and rituals to focus their energy, cultivate it and make it grow. This works of course for any energy. Whatever you concentrate on, focus on, multiplies! Take a moment to reflect on examples from your own life and people you know. Think of how concentrating or focusing on knowledge, skills, love, hate, depression, joy, etc. tends to make these 'things' (they are probably better described as 'processes') grow.
Prayer is a way of focusing your energy on a heart level and with our total being, communicate with God, the Universe, the World, the 'Spirits' or any other significant and powerful entity. In its best practice, prayer can be seen as a form of 'holy communion’ with the energies that shape the World. Through partaking and contributing our own energy we influence these energies.
Prayer usually tends to have at least two elements: 'praise' (including thanksgiving) and 'requests'. What do we all secretly crave for? What is it that we don't get nearly enough of? What can be a life-altering experience, when we receive the genuine thing? Genuine and sincere ‘Praise’ is the answer. It makes us blossom and I believe that all energies and beings in the world respond to it when it is the authentic article. The Praise element in a prayer, when it comes from the heart, is therefore an excellent way to address God, Goddess, the World or the Universe.
If the 'request-part' of prayers worked as well as the 'praise-part', the world would be a different place. We'd all be happy, fulfilled, healthy people, our partners would be loving, gorgeous, successful beings, and our kids would have no problems. If all our prayer requests were turned into reality, prayer would be a far more popular and widespread past-time and I wouldn't be writing this. So just merely asking for something in a prayer, may not elicit any more response from the Universe than writing a letter to Father Christmas, addressed to the North Pole. So what's the point in praying for peace?
Broadcasting Peace.....
Well, the point is not so much 'asking for peace', but rather 'giving it', ’broadcasting’ it out into the Universe. The ancient traditions I mentioned above were all aware of this. Prayers were not just offered in any old hap-hazard way. People recognized that we are fallible, not always perfect, creatures. We are not always whole and wholesome. Therefore traditional ways of preparing for prayers all appear to have the aim to invite wholeness into our own being.
This can take many forms and I will mention just a few: Meditation. Ritual bathing or washing. Cleansing our aura with incense or the smoke from a sage or sweet grass bundle. Calling on the four directions to invite wholeness in to our circle. Chanting or Singing. Dancing: circle or spiral dances around the Prayer tree or other representation of the World center, were used all over the world. Lighting a fire or a candle (fire is the energy of transformation). Specific body positions to allow us to generate energy, rather than 'leaking' it, such as closing our eyes, putting our hands together to be a 'complete circuit', etc. Whatever method people used, the purpose was always to raise energy levels in ourselves to a state of wholesomeness (even if we can only maintain this for the duration of the prayer offering).
Another word for it is "entering Sacred Space". So when we wish peace for the world, we 'become' peace and harmony (at least for a while) and through the medium of a prayer flag or a ribbon on a prayer tree, we seed the Universe with Peace. "As you sow, so ye shall reap" says the Old Book, and that's very true, providing of course that we have the common sense to nurture the seedlings and do whatever we can in our life to help put the soil in good health.
Offering prayers for World Peace does more than just broadcast seeds of peace into the World. One of the great benefits is that the practice cultivates peace and harmony in our own hearts too.
Making a Prayer Tree
Circumstances for all of us will be different, depending on where we live and what our environment is like. Explore your surroundings to find a tree, that you feel is just right for being "the place where heaven and earth meet". Energize prayer flags or ribbons by meditating (or any other activity of your choice that promotes peace and harmony in your heart) daily with them. If you want to you can write peaceful words on the flags and ribbons. You can also paint or draw symbols and artwork.
If you choose a tree in a very public place, be sensitive to how other people might perceive this. Most people are not used to prayer flags and could possibly conceive 'rags' hanging in a loved tree as vandalism or litter. So do you’re very best to create something beautiful, which will enhance the sight of the tree, rather than offend.
The alternative is of course to create a ritual or symbolic tree. Maybe you have access to a dead branch or a branch from a place, which needed pruning anyway, such as a hedge. You can also use a stick and fashion your 'tree' in the Tibetan style. This might be particularly appropriate for people who live in apartments in towns, where your "Wind Horse" could live on your balcony.
Prepare yourself for the Prayer offering, keeping in mind what was said above.
Leave some gifts for the spirits and the tree and make a point of thanking them.
Other Ideas
Involve your family or a group of friends in creating a Prayer Tree.
When you go on an outing in the country, consider climbing a hill and offering your prayers there. The 'tree' would be a stick or a branch with your ribbons or prayer flags on it. Search for loose laying stones and make a little cairn of the stones to 'plant' your tree in.
Children and adults alike may like to make a 'Magic Eye' (also known as a 'God's Eye) as an alternative to a Prayer Flag. You can make these by tying 2 little sticks together and creating a diagonal pattern with old bits of different colored wool. Start in the middle by winding the wool round the center. Then wind the wool once round each of the 4 arms and proceed in a circular manner. Finish at the top and leave enough spare wool for a loop to hang your Magic Eye on the tree. You can decorate the Magic Eye further by hanging 3 small feathers from the ends of the 2 side arms and the bottom to give it 'wings'. If you can’t find feathers, a few strands of wool will do. They will look pretty fluttering in the wind.
If there is a tree at your local primary school, the children may enjoy making Prayer flags, ribbons or Magic Eyes for a 'Peace Tree project.