An Peruvian pine introduces the General Cemetery of La Paz, Bolivia. Today, it has evolved into one of the most thriving pilgrimage sites, attracting thousands of devotees from across the country. This remarkable tree, which was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm a decade ago, continues to thrive, defying the odds and earning the reverence of local residents who consider it sacred.
The General Cemetery of La Paz is the final resting place of more than 200,000 graves, most belonging to illustrious military and civil personages. Huddled on the Academy’s grounds, this 220-year old tree struck by lightning serves as a symbol of spiritual and natural beauty. 📸 Lightning strikes are seen by indigenous Aymara shamans as conferring divine powers to survivors. While we’d like to think this is true for people, it’s certainly true for trees. This misconception has only fueled the tree’s burgeoning mystique among locals and visitors alike.
His story, as told by 79-year-old Ricardo Quispe, a prayer leader there, is nothing short of miraculous. He took shelter under the tree’s branches that day during the lightning strike. Since that fateful decision to cut it down, the tree has thrived and is more healthy now than ever, as recent video footage shows. According to research recently published in New Phytologist, many tree species find themselves better off after lightning strikes. This bewitching discovery only deepens the mystery enshrouding these trees.
Devotees travel to the cemetery to place offerings at the tree, such as flowers and chocolates along with their promised prayers. Many arrive requesting blessings for their love life, career, wellness, offspring, and even the return of lost furbabies. The tree’s singular energy is something funeral prayer director Javier Cordero wants to pass along to the community—so he started offering prayers under it. Now he shows us its importance by touching the trunk with a copper wire while showing us that Teslas electro tabla energy charge.
“People ask for love, work, health, children, even to bring back their lost pet,” – Javier Cordero
The holly must be incredibly popular, as it’s become the most popular tree in August. March is the end of winter and beginning of spring in Bolivia’s agricultural cycle. Throughout these few days, thousands of others went on treks, or pilgrimages, to the cemetery. They are lured by their dogmatic faith in the tree, convinced it will grant them their deepest desires.
Writer Maria Cordero imagines that the tree’s wish-granting power depends on the doubters’ faith — and she’s right. The deeper their conviction, the more powerful the tree is. He notes that “if the person comes with a lot of faith, the tree will fulfill their wishes.” This notion fuels a growing sense of community among visitors who share their hopes and experiences at this sacred site.
This magnificent tree has grown into the center of a cultural and environmental fight. Through the layering of indigenous beliefs, environmental history, and individual experience it has become, as described by Thalia Gonzalez, a spiritual and hopeful thing for many Bolivians. Visitors still come to worship in this sacred tree – sprinkling it with their offerings and prayers. Yet it’s a powerful reminder of nature’s enduring strength and its ability to profoundly and positively shape our lives.
