Maria's Tree
This is dedicated to my dear friend I met in South Africa, Gabi.
The tree is a very special tree and is known to the local Shaman for it's powers. Maria Khosa is a Shangaan shaman and highly respected in the area and holds ceremonies under this tree.
On 10th November 1991, a group of white South Africans (including Linda Tucker) became stranded at night in the open bush in Timbavati and became surrounded in the dark by a pride of angry lions looking for a kill. After several hours of the lions circling them and the growing fear that engulfed them, they had given up their fate to never seeing daylight again as the lions became more and more intense.
Eventually when they were close to death, out of the dark emerged a figure walking slowly towards them with a baby on her back and a child at her side. It was Maria and she walked straight through the pride of lions to the stranded people. She was in a trance and she calmed the lions which allowed one of the party to run back for help. A few years later, Linda had met with Maria and Maria (through an interpreter) had said that she had heard them calling and so talked to the lion's ancestors and they spoke to the lions to let her through safely.
Well there is much more to the story but this is a very condensed version!
There is much peace to be had around this area and you can sit under trees like this for hours with total relaxation. A feeling to treasure for me that you cannot photograph.
Maria's Tree
This is dedicated to my dear friend I met in South Africa, Gabi.
The tree is a very special tree and is known to the local Shaman for it's powers. Maria Khosa is a Shangaan shaman and highly respected in the area and holds ceremonies under this tree.
On 10th November 1991, a group of white South Africans (including Linda Tucker) became stranded at night in the open bush in Timbavati and became surrounded in the dark by a pride of angry lions looking for a kill. After several hours of the lions circling them and the growing fear that engulfed them, they had given up their fate to never seeing daylight again as the lions became more and more intense.
Eventually when they were close to death, out of the dark emerged a figure walking slowly towards them with a baby on her back and a child at her side. It was Maria and she walked straight through the pride of lions to the stranded people. She was in a trance and she calmed the lions which allowed one of the party to run back for help. A few years later, Linda had met with Maria and Maria (through an interpreter) had said that she had heard them calling and so talked to the lion's ancestors and they spoke to the lions to let her through safely.
Well there is much more to the story but this is a very condensed version!
There is much peace to be had around this area and you can sit under trees like this for hours with total relaxation. A feeling to treasure for me that you cannot photograph.