Spirit & Myth
The World Tree
Find the tree that holds the worlds together, with roots in the deep and branches through every sky.
The World Tree is a quiet walk to the centre of things, where roots go down into the deep and branches reach through every sky. You follow the path to the trunk and rest there for a while.
The session spends its time on the wood and the vastness surrounding it.
A quiet place to stand at the base of the World Tree, its roots going far below and its branches high above.
The journey is an expedition from the deep earth up towards the sky, following a single, enormous living thing. Nothing is required of you here but to notice its different realms as you pass through them.
What’s in it
A world tree with deep roots and reaching branches, an expedition through its realms.
Why do it
Following a familiar path like a mythic journey can ground the mind and open to new perspectives.
- Category
- Spirit & Myth
- Depths
- ShortMediumLongUltra
- Lengths
- about 8m15m27m42m
- Ends
- Calm and present
- Stages
- 4
- Written
- For Intropi, originally
The World Tree Route
You begin at the base of the World Tree, following a great root down into the earth, then rise through the trunk to rest in its highest branches.
The journey moves steadily upward, from the cold depths to the warm canopy.
- Barkridged, furrowed like mountains
- Underfootsmooth wood grain, firm footing
- Lightglowing mycelium threads below
- Aircool dampness rising to warmth
- Sounddistant dripping, canopy rustle
The way through
-
Base of the tree
Start here, beneath the trunk
-
Along the root
Follow it down into the earth
-
Deepest chamber
Rest in the silent dark
-
Highest branches
Return to the canopy
-
Trunk again
Close with the pulse of wood
Timeline: Start to Finish
The standard-length build, block by block — the real sequence the app assembles, described rather than spoken.
3 of the 4 stages are named techniques with a published origin, credited under each.
-
InductionStage 16 min
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
A classic head-to-toe relaxation. Tense and release, or simply soften, each muscle group in sequence.
After Edmund Jacobson PMR (1929); Dave Elman Hypnotherapy · what progressive muscle relaxation is
-
DeepenerStage 23 min
Staircase Descent
Visualized stairs descending into a deeper level of trance. Each step takes you down.
After Ledochowski, Deep Trance Training Manual
-
JourneyStage 3about 15 min
The World Tree
A gradual ascent from the roots through the trunk to the highest branches of the World Tree.
-
AwakeningStage 42 min
Calm Alert Awakening
Awake and present, but calm rather than energized. Good for evening or pre-meeting use.
After Yapko, Trancework
Where this place comes from
The World Tree appears in many traditions as a central axis connecting earth and sky. Its roots and branches often symbolise the realms of existence, from the underworld to the heavens.
Guided imagery uses such thresholds to ground the mind in a familiar shape while opening to new perspectives. The tree’s vastness invites exploration without requiring action.
Questions people ask
Will I get stuck?
The route back is built into the journey, with a steady upward path.
What if I fall asleep?
The session ends gently whether you’re awake or not.
Do I have to believe in the tree?
No. The imagery works whether you take it literally or as a metaphor.
Is it real or imagined?
Both. The details are imagined, but the feeling of rootedness is real.
Where it sits
Spirit guides, wise elders, ancient temples, and the worlds held in old stories.
These go further than the calmer journeys. You stay in control the whole time, and you can stop any time by opening your eyes and breathing. New to this? The journeys below are a softer place to start.
Why going here does anything
An old story about a tree is a known shape for the mind to settle on, and a mind occupied with a known shape is not looking for trouble. Following branches up or roots down gives attention a single clear direction.
The journey spends its time on this expedition through the wood so you do not have to steer anything.
Before you press play
- 18+. Age floor set in the catalogue, not by us on the day.
- The way back is built in. The ascent back is gradual, with clear steps from chamber to root to trunk.
Hypnosis is not for everyone. If you have epilepsy, a psychotic illness, or you are under psychiatric care, talk to your clinician before using this — here or anywhere.
More in Spirit & Myth
Listen free
Every session on this page is free to start.
No card, no trial countdown. Build it on the web in your browser, or take it with you.