In the city of La Paz, Bolivia, a pine tree that miraculously withstood a lightning strike during a storm ten years ago has earned the title of the “miracle tree.” It is considered a symbol of luck and has become a popular destination for visitors who come to make wishes.
Situated in the largest cemetery in La Paz, which was established over two centuries ago on a pre-Columbian burial ground, the tree stands among more than 200,000 tombs, many of which belong to distinguished soldiers and politicians.
Pilgrims from all over the country flock to the site, bringing various offerings such as coins, fresh flowers, candies, and handwritten secret wishes which they tuck into the crevices of the tree bark.
Javier Cordero, who is in charge of conducting funeral prayers at the cemetery, mentioned, “People pray for love, work, health, children, and even to find their lost pets. If they come with a firm belief, the tree will fulfill their wishes.”
Some visitors are young and learned about the “miracle tree” story through social media. Others, like 79-year-old Ricardo Quispe, have been regulars as they firmly believe in the tree’s magical powers.
During a storm ten years ago, Quispe was taking shelter under the tree when lightning struck it. He claims that the lightning strike also granted him psychic abilities.
Instead of destroying the tree, the lightning left a scar on its trunk, from which fragrant resin now seeps. The tree looks healthier than ever.
Earlier this year, a study published in the journal “New Phytologist” explored how certain trees benefit and undergo remarkable transformations from lightning strikes. However, long before such research emerged, indigenous sorcerers in Bolivia believed that lightning could bestow magical powers upon survivors, whether humans or trees.
Known as “yatiris,” these wizards excel in fortune-telling and energy cleansing, providing services to anyone in need of blessings on the streets of La Paz and the neighboring city of El Alto – from women seeking to conceive to farmers hoping for a bountiful harvest.
Cordero remarked, “I know people who have been healed from illnesses, and they are the most devout.” As he spoke, he touched the tree trunk with a copper wire to demonstrate its special energy, which soon began to rotate.
He stated, “Lightning carries the life energy of the universe.”
Many believe in the tree’s mystical powers and revisit it, including 60-year-old Tania Arce, who approaches it with tempting chocolates and fresh flowers. She mentioned that the tree granted her wish, but she continues to visit it regularly.
Similarly struck by lightning, a giant pine tree believed to be 200 years old in California’s Big Bear was not as lucky. When it was precisely hit by lightning in 2021, its trunk split in half, providing a spectacle of nature’s wonders.
Previously reported by Epoch Times, the Jeffrey pine near the Big Bear Airport in California caught fire due to the lightning strike.
After witnessing and filming the burning tree trunk split into two, Professor Michael Bogan from the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment shared the footage on social media.
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