The Sacred Tree; or, the tree in religion and myth

"The Sacred Tree; or, the Tree in Religion and Myth" by J. H. Philpot is a historical exploration of how people have revered trees as sacred across different cultures. The book looks at tree worship as one of the oldest and most common types of spiritual practice, explaining how many societies believed trees held spirits or were linked to gods. It uses stories, traditions, and religious beliefs to show how important trees were in different times and places. The book starts by explaining that trees were often seen as divine and looks at how this belief was reflected in ancient and modern customs, outlining the spread and beginnings of tree worship, the connections between gods and trees, and beliefs about spirits living in trees, building a case for why trees were so significant to human spirituality.