Tree of Time

"spirit"

- This is the Tree of Time. And the legends say that its roots bind the spirit and physical worlds together.



The Tree of Time is an ancient tree located in the Spirit World, standing in the middle between the two spirit portals that lead to the North and South Pole of the mortal realm. During the Harmonic Convergence in 9,829 BG, Avatar Wan imprisoned Vaatu inside of the tree to prevent darkness from enveloping the world.

History


In ancient times, people meditated beneath the Tree of Time and connect with the great cosmical energy of the universe. In 9,829 BG, after permanently merging with Raava during the Harmonic Convergence, Wan used the four bending arts to subdue Vaatu and to trap him inside the hollow of the Tree of Time.

Ten thousand years later, in 171 AG, Unalaq visited Vaatu at the Tree of Time, and apologized for his failure to bring back Avatar Korra to aid in opening the Northern spirit portal. Vaatu informed Unalaq that he had not necessarily failed him yet, as Korra was alive and currently in the Spirit World.

Korra met Vaatu, who was still imprisoned in the Tree of Time, shortly after entering the Spirit World. Threatening to destroy Jinora's soul, Unalaq and Vaatu forced Korra to open the Northern spirit portal, causing a massive release of energy which weakened the barrier that imprisoned Vaatu.

Just before the third Harmonic Convergence, Korra attempted to reseal the Southern spirit portal to no avail, and witnessed as the influx of spiritual energy resulting from the phenomenon allowed Vaatu to break free from his bonds and escape imprisonment from the Tree of Time.



After her connection with Raava and the past Avatars was severed by the Dark Avatar, Korra was escorted by Tenzin to the Tree of Time. Due to the tree's connection to cosmic energy, it retained all memories, and Korra saw and subsequently remembered memories of her past, which had been suppressed by her amnesia. Using the energy inside the tree, Korra was able to channel the energy within herself and connect with the cosmic energy of the universe, allowing her to summon a massive astral projection of her spirit.

Shortly after, numerous dark spirits charged at the tree in an attempt to retrieve Korra's body, but were held back by Tenzin, Bumi, Kya, Bolin, and Mako. Desna and Eska also arrived to assist in subduing the dark spirits, but were soon driven inside the Tree of Time along with the others. Before the dark spirits could completely enter the hollow of the tree, Korra's astral projection returned, bringing with it a ray of light that caused the dark spirits to disappear.



With Vaatu's influence absent from the Spirit World, the Tree of Time and the surrounding area were basked in light, attracting many peaceful spirits to live in the area. Two years after Korra lost touch with the Avatar Spirit due to mercury poisoning at the hands of the Red Lotus, she came to the Tree of Time to meditate in its hollow. However, her meditation was interrupted by several spirits, who were debating among themselves if she was the Avatar. Upon verifying her identity, they approached Korra inside the tree's hollow, wondering where she had been. After Korra relayed what had befallen her, she admitted that she hoped meditating inside the Tree of Time could help her to reconnect with Raava, as she had seen many visions the last time she was there, though was unable to see anything at that moment. When a spirit offered to help, Korra declined, believing that she needed to figure it out on her own. She left the Tree of Time and the Spirit World and began to wander the physical world alone.

Legend
Legends state that the Tree of Time's roots bind the two worlds together, and is a source of great spiritual energy. In the era of Raava, the ancients used to commune in the hollow of the tree to connect with the great cosmic energy of the universe, before Vaatu was imprisoned in the tree by Avatar Wan.



A book in Wan Shi Tong's Library recalls the legend of Vaatu's imprisonment in the Tree of Time. Elders believe that Vaatu is trapped by a strong spiritual barrier from which he cannot break free, provided that the two spirit portals are sealed by the arrival of Harmonic Convergence. If the portals were opened during this time, the amplified spiritual energy caused by overlap of the two portals will be enough for Vaatu to use in breaking the bonds that restrain him, leaving the mortal realm vulnerable to becoming enveloped in darkness.

Connection
The Tree of Time largely resembles the bristlecone pine, one of the oldest plants in the world.

Trivia

 * The Tree of Time is similar to Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life from Norse mythology. It is believed the latter connects the nine realms of Norse cosmology, while the former connects the human and spirit world.