Watch as Ofelia descends into this ancient tree.

Trees have long been regarded as portals to other worlds. The lore of trees reveals warnings to avoid lingering or falling asleep beneath certain trees. This fear of falling into another world, like Alice falling into a rabbit hole, or being stolen away by time may simply be cautionary tales for children to avoid animal dens, or maybe not.

One story in Judaism tells of a sage named Honi who falls asleep while another man plants a sapling, only to find himself waking to another man (the grandchild of the first) harvesting from the tree.

Rip Van Winkle falls prey to otherworldly men and their drink in the Catskill Mountains of New York State in a forest of birch, sassafras, witch hazel, and wild grapevines only to discover he's fallen asleep for 20 years. He slept through the Revolutionary War and is nearly turned out from his own town for being a spy, tory, or refugee when he cries out...

“Alas! gentlemen,” cried Rip, somewhat dismayed, “I am a poor, quiet man, a native of the place, and a loyal subject of the King, God bless him!”

It was determined, however, to take the opinion of old Peter Vanderdonk, who was seen slowly advancing up the road. He was a descendant of the historian of that name, who wrote one of the earliest accounts of the province. Peter was the most ancient inhabitant of the village, and well versed in all the wonderful events and traditions of the neighborhood. He recollected Rip at once, and corroborated his story in the most satisfactory manner. He assured the company that it was a fact, handed down from his ancestor the historian, that the Kaatskill mountains had always been haunted by strange beings.

Read the original short story here.

This tree reminded me of the hag stones of Europe. A hag stone is a piece of rock that has a hole in it. The holes are often made by clams or a smaller rock grinding against a larger rock. The lore reveals that hag stones are used to peer through to glimpse other realms or to see truths about the world. They were often worn or kept as good luck charms. These stones can be found anywhere where there is water and stones, like a rocky beach along a lake or river. Trees often create them when growing around objects or each other. Watch for them in the woods, then look through to see your truth.