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Tree of Life: Be Inspired by the Spiritual ‘Evergreen’

By Maggie 14 October 2021
Reading works meditatively, relax 7 minuten with this article.
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The Tree of Life is an ancient symbol of eternity. Here you can read about which cultures these magical symbols appear in and why these eternal trees are so inspiring!

large tree with roots tree of life

Various versions of the spiritual Tree of Life appear in different cultures and religions. Often strong plants such as pines, yews, or other conifers are given this honorable role because they are evergreens. Other trees have also inspired myths and symbolism too. How about trees that continue to grow even in bone-dry areas? Such unusual trees also capture the imagination! We have collected some of our favorite Tree of Life traditions for you. Read on, relax, enjoy, and be inspired!

What is the Tree of Life?

In Bahrain, in the middle of a remote and arid desert, stands a 400-year-old tree. It is a big puzzle where this plant gets its nutrition from, which is why many people consider it to be the one and only true Tree of Life. But did you know that Tree of Life myths go back much further and are found in cultures all over the globe? Time for a short world tour through the most popular Tree of Life meanings!

witches cauldron tree of life

Norse Mythology – Tree of Life

In medieval myths from the Edda, a large evergreen tree is described, the Yggdrasil. According to the stories, this gigantic tree connects nine worlds. The Norse Tree of Life not only bridges these worlds, but it holds them together. Because of this connection, it is a powerful expression of knowledge and life force. Just ask the protagonist of the Edda, Odin. The hero hung upside down in the Yggdrasil for nine days in a state between life and death, until the runes revealed their magical wisdom to him. This Norwegian arboreal symbol is probably a yew species, because the yew gives off a hallucinatory gas on hot days. Obviously, this gas could be very helpful in stimulating spiritual visions!

Tree of Life in the Bible

According to the Bible, the Tree of Life stood in Paradise, next to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Tree of Life bore fruit of eternal life; the other produced fruit that gave knowledge, including knowledge of sin. After Adam and Eve secretly feasted on an apple from the tree of Knowledge, God exiled them to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life as well. God did this because, as holy scripture explains, he did not want them to live eternally in a state of disobedience.

apple tree tree of knowledge

Jewish Tree of Life

In the Jewish Kabbalah, the Tree of Life is not a literal physical tree, but a kind of spiritual scheme that explains existence. It contains ten different points or ‘Sefirot’ that together form a tree structure. According to Kabbalah, those ten qualities together make up the entire cosmos. They also act as channels that reveal the divine creative essence to humanity. They are manifestations of the ‘Ein Sof,’ which is the infinite and endless state of the universe before God decided to self-manifest. Because it is an expression of this original cosmic energy, this Tree of Life is extremely profound.

Tree of Life in North and South America

In some North American native traditions, the Tree of Life story explains that the first plant to grow in the world was the sacred tree. But it’s not that simple. There are other tribes for which the Tree of Life represents the connection of all living things. Some others  believe it is a representation of families and traditions, rooted in history, growing, and branching out. For yet other tribes it is a symbol of healing or protection. Don’t make the mistake of thinking there is only one simple “Native American” tree of life, because every tribal tradition is unique!

The Maya and Aztecs (Mesoamericans) also had a concept of a Tree of Life or World Tree. The Mesoamerican Árbol de la Vida represents the four cardinal directions which represent their fourfold understanding of nature. These robust tree shapes also represented the connection of the underworld and sky realms to the earth. Archaeological sites in South America even reveal that some Mesoamerican groups planted trees at the four cardinal directions of their spiritual sites. In Mexico this tradition is still alive, and artisans still produce colorful clay sculptures of this Árbol de la Vida today!

dream catcher with tree of life

Tree of Life Symbolism in Asia

Hinudusim

According to Hindu traditions, there are several important symbolic trees. For example, Lord Brahma the creator dwells in the roots of the Peepal tree because they represent the source of life. The banyan tree on the other hand, represents Shiva’s Cosmic dance. It grows in a unique way, first branching out normally, but after reaching maturity,  its branches begin to grow back towards the earth. They re-root and create additional stems, which represents the cosmic cycle of creation. The tree is of course also a well-known symbol for the first chakra.

Buddhism

The meaning of the Tree of Fife in Buddhism is wisdom, protection, strength, abundance, beauty, and redemption. And of course, Buddha himself achieved enlightenment after meditation under a Bodhi Tree.

Buddha roots

Taoism

Chinese Taoism has two Trees of Life, and one is quite magical. It is a peach tree which produces the Fruit of Immortality once every three thousand years. The other is an evergreen tree that symbolizes resilience and adaptability, because of their ability to survive and endure.

Japan

The Japanese Tree of Life symbolizes immutability, hope, love, timelessness, and longevity. After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this idea took on new significance.  A number of trees miraculously survived the destruction, even when near by buildings were destroyed. Survivor trees are designated as Hibakujumoku, ‘the nuke trees.’

Celtic Tree of Life Meaning

Nature was central to ancient Celtic culture and they considered it sacred. Their horoscope was even based on trees! This arboreal zodiac consisted of 39 periods, each with a corresponding tree. According to Celtic belief,  the specific Tree of Life under which you were born would have a strong influence on your personality and destiny.

Celtic tree of life tapestry

Trees in Greek Mythology

In Greek antiquity the tree was the symbol of fertility, but also of fire, and the divine spark. The power of the gods resided in the Tree of Life. Various trees were dedicated to gods and goddesses, such as the oak to Zeus, the laurel to Apollo, the cypress to Hades, etc. Many trees were sacred to the Greeks and  played roles in Greek mythology. It is the Olive Tree  however, associated with goddess Athena, that is truly the Greek Tree of Life representing peace, wisdom, triumph, and prosperity.

Tree of Life Symbol as a Gift

Because these symbolic trees represent development and connection, they are great gifts at important events such as weddings and housewarmings. You can buy special Tree of Life Jewelry for this. It is meant to bring growth and happiness, comparable to giving Gemstone Trees or other Lucky Charms. If you look closely, you will often find a cast iron Tree of Life in the framework above the door in old Dutch houses, the “Levensboom”. It was meant to watch over the residents. You can also give a Tree of Life to someone who is going through a difficult time. The Tree of life can represent infinity, connection to the afterlife, and mourning, which can be of great comfort at times.

Check Out All of Our Tree of Life Jewelry

Orgonite pyramide - Tree of Life - (40 mm)

Universal Meaning

These evergreens are symbolic primal plants that possess all the wisdom in the world. Storms and seasonal changes? They’ve seen it all. In the summer they flower and in the winter they keep nourishment safe in their underground roots. They know everything about fertility and renewal! With their roots deep in the earth and branches high in the sky, Trees of Life also reaches all realms. Birds sit on their branches and worms swarm under their feet. The Tree of Life is a sign of eternity and natural harmony. It’s beautiful symbolism, but as we have seen, the world is full of meaningful and mysterious interpretations of the Tree of Life. So now that you know some of its secrets, what does the tree of life represent to you?

Last modification on 14 March, 2022 1:02 pm

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