In Madagascar, spirituality shapes people’s relationship with their environment and their ancestors.  Possession rituals, spirit worship and the veneration of nature mean that there is daily interaction between the visible and invisible worlds.  Despite external influences and the rapid changes from the modern world, traditional beliefs are still very much alive, forming a powerful connection between the past and the present.  Although this ancestral heritage is sometimes fragile, it remains at the heart of Malagasy identity, reflected in the island's practices, prayers and sacred places.