Motif
Sacred tree preserved amid destruction
sacred_tree_preserved_amid_destruction
A motif of the World Axis and Sacred Center family, within the sub-family Tree Refuges, Recovery, and Preservation. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
finnish karelian
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Kalevala: The Epic Poem of Finland PREFACE / JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD. / THE KALEVALA. / PROEM; lines 1832-2015 confidence: high
Wainamoinen clears the forest, leaves the birch for birds, speaks with a heavenly eagle, and the eagle kindles a wind-fanned fire that burns the other trees while the birch remains.
The birch is deliberately left standing for birds, called sacred in connection with the cuckoo and branches, and remains unharmed when the rest of the trees burn.
read in the book →