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Woods Of Mundane Culture

(Last Update July 11, 2020)

By Ambrose O. Ekhosuehi

WOODS of mundane culture are specific trees that are worshipped all over the world. Specific wooden objects are made from such trees, believed to have sacred powers in their own right, yet many more trees have had powers attributed to them, through complex web of mythology science and technology and belief of the human beings to their natural environment.

Sasswood-Iyin, is known for its protective nature against evils and witch-craft forces.

Ash-wood is thought to cure rickets or raptures. It is renowned for its protective and curative properties. Ash tree sterns Norse mythology in the legendary.

Elder (Alder)-itue, has medicinal properties. It is said that Judas Iscariot, the person who betrayed Jesus Christ, hanged himself on the tree branches, and witches transformed into it. The wood bleeds when touch with sharp object.

Oak tree was Norse wood of thunder and sacred to the god of thur. symbolizing strength and protection to those sheltering under its bough. The cedar was revered for its strength and remarkable fragrance of its wood. The Acacia wood was used to build holy objects.

The Bo-tree is sacred because Gautama sat meditating beneath it, until he found Nirvana. The Banyan tree is revered because Brahma was transformed into it.

Rowan tree is a charm against witchcrafts. Rowan crosses made without using knife are tied to protect human beings from evil influences.

Willow is one of the best divining woods, along with hazel and birch. It is a symbol of mourning and forsaken love. Willow is full of magical properties. It brings luck in child birth and is thought to cure the elderly and the sick.

Hawthorn is ambivalent in lore. To bring its blossom into a house foretells death in the family while sitting under the tree can cause fair enchantment.

Yew tree may symbolized both life and death. The wood was once sacred to the Queen of the underworld, and the trees are found in almost every English graveyard. Their ever-green leaves represent triumph to everlasting life.

Cypress is the wood of redemption and everlasting life, symbolized by the crucifix and renew its promise of immortality.

Neuboldia in traditional lore is the eldest of all and bears spiritual forces belonging to the wood itself. Its protective is firmness and a symbol representing eternal life.

Uloko tree is for strength and durability as silk cotton tree (okha) speaks for truth as well as Dennetia tripetala (Ako) is sacred to thunder god.

Woods have represented a range of beliefs and have acquired mythology of their own to exercise powers for human beings benefits. Specific cosmic trees link earth with heaven, human beings with their ancestors and are homes for the spirits.

Sacred trees map the features of land marks, sacred sites and dream- lines. These maps have been transferred from one generation to another through songs that chant pathways, and reveal hidden sources.

Woods protected in sacred groves may be used for special religious and cultural events. The uses of special trees may be forbidden because of the magical properties the wood may possess.

Wood for construction is limited to certain species. In certain aspects, the use of wood of particular specie, is required in the making of religious artifacts.

Wooden masks are used in religious rituals, symbolizing gods, spirits, and animals. Statues, musical instruments, and toys are made from specific woods.

Woods have played a central role from time immemorial and sacred groves housing aesthetic resources have appeared and temples were simply hidden in the depth growing prominently on some significant places.

Sacred characters of woods sometimes derive from symbolic relationship which the tree bear to a spiritual forces or beings belonging directly to the tree itself.

Spirits who bestow rain and fertility are believed to dwell in the woods. In the mythology, the tree has become so identified with the spirit that the two are almost inseparable.

Woods in mundane culture have been the most valuable materials since the very earliest times. It was with wood that man built first shelter, provided him bridge to cross a stream, and since then the potential uses of wood have so increased from protective acts, medicine, shelter, cultural artifacts, religion, history and have revealed to man many hiding powers both in arts, science and technology.

Mundane woods in science and technology have led to the discovery of Newsprint and rayon. 
Wood pulp is the basic materials of several manufacturers of paper, wrapping materials and rayon industry.

The sulphite process was the first chemical processes to be invented. An early experimenter was B.C. Tilghman and by the year 1870’s a number of people were working independently on variation of the sulphite techniques.

The sulphate method gives pulp as kraft pulp meaning strength. The sulphate method gives pulp great strength.

Special prepared pulp is also the basis of the great rayon or artificial silk; however, before its invention silk clothing was the prerogative of the wealthy and the bulk of mankind was dressed in cotton or wool.

Modern society relies a great deal on the output of the great rayon stockings, shirts, clothes, suits, wraps, dress fabrics, and linings etc.

Throughout the long history of mankind woods of mundane culture have revealed their sacred character not only in religion, medicine but also from a symbolic relationship to man in industry.

Conservation of such woods, have evolved into the conservation of nature as an aesthetic resources of world heritage which human beings have sought to protect themselves and for their own purposes are as much mystical; as mechanical in woods of mundane culture.

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