Alder Bole

The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life is both symbol and reality at several levels. It is a symbol of our Tradition, in which different groups perform different functions that contribute to the health of our whole, just as the leaves, branches, roots, and trunk of a tree are all part of the same being, but perform different tasks for it. It is a symbol of the universe, with the lands of the dead at the roots, the land of the living in the middle, and the lands of spirit among all the branches at the tope. It is a living reality in every chantry, for each possesses a World Tree that stands at the heart of their rites. And it is a living reality in the universe, for those who travel through the Umbra can find the Alder Bole, the axis of the world, from which hangs The Hanged Man, who gains wisdom through his suffering and self-sacrifice. [Book of Worlds, Midrealm, pages 125-9]