[Pilt ei vasta võistuse teemale:  ajaloolised, teadaolevalt enne 20. sajandit kasutusele võetud looduslikud pühapaigad. Korraldaja. --- This picture does not match the requirements of the contest: historical, natural sacred sites, known to be used before 20th century. Team of Sacred Groves Photography contest 2016.]      

This oak tree watches over fields where monks have worked the land for over 50 years. On the property of the Trappist Abbey of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I found this tree on a blustery, rainy day in January of 2015 when I visited the monastery to see if they would be willing to participate in my PhD research. There is a small shrine located nearby where one of the monks goes to be alone. The monks see their 1,300 acre property as a sanctuary from the world and care deeply for its care and management.