Tree of Life is full of stories and meanings!

The tree of life is an important symbol present in various cultures and religions. Through the knowledge expressed around this representation, it is possible to understand the cycle of life as a whole, and thus make discoveries for individual life to become more harmonious. In addition, it is a symbol linked to overcoming obstacles.

By perceiving the natural path of existence through this tree, an individual tends to seek strength to continue steadily in search of material and spiritual growth. The tree of life is also related to happiness, wisdom and balance. To learn more about this symbol, check out the most important information about the tree of life below!

Meaning of the Tree of Life

The tree of life has several meanings. Through them it is possible to have understanding and instruction. Check below how this symbol relates to the cycle of life, vitality, strength, resilience, and more!

Life cycle

One of the meanings of the tree of life are the cycles. It is important to remember that the human being is part of nature. During the late Middle Ages in Europe, anthropocentrism emerged, an idea that places the human being as being endowed with intelligence, and therefore able to determine the actions of life on Earth.

However, this perspective is somewhat separatist and ended up placing the human being above other beings. Thus, it is common to have the notion of man and nature separately. On the other hand, we know that it is not quite like that, everything is connected. Thus, it is possible to visualize the similarity between the cycles of nature and the human being.

Just like the trees that grow from a seed and develop over time, bearing fruit, a human being also goes through these processes, it is the natural cycle of life. When a person can develop and bear fruit, he can finally generate new seeds. And this contributes to a more harmonious life among all beings.

Symbol of vitality

The tree of life is also related to vitality. It is a symbol that represents the cycles of life, and shows that to make this journey it is necessary to have energy. It is normal to go through complicated processes in various issues, all people go through this. But it is necessary to always seek balance and growth.

This symbol carries the following message: for a being to be able to develop, he needs to have vitality. It is important to always remember the real importance of the journey on Earth, to be able to play the role of a transforming agent, seeking to bear fruit, and serving other individuals.

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Another meaning that the tree of life carries is the relationship with strength. Individuals should strive for their awakening, always seeking spiritual and material growth. And all this requires strength, daily complications can take a person off the axis, so it is essential to have firmness to continue following in search of personal development.

It is crucial to know how to balance attention to the material and spiritual life. It is no use directing energy to only one of these issues. The material side is connected to serving, that is, acting not only for one's own benefit. And for this to flow correctly, the individual and internal issues must be worked on.

Resilience

The symbol of the tree of life is connected to resilience, which is the ability to deal with one's own issues and overcome them. When a being understands the natural cycle of life, represented by this tree, he is able to have the strength to deal with difficulties. Even often facing unfair impasses, precisely due to selfishness and human disconnection.

If the natural cycle of life is to develop, like a tree, the obstacles on the way will bring growth. Understanding this logic, the person finds reasons to continue steadfast in pursuit of their goals. It is normal to arise frustrations in the middle of the path, consequently the desire to give up, thus leaving dreams in second place.

For this reason, it is crucial not to let yourself be overwhelmed by limiting beliefs. These ideas cause the individual to get off track to seek what he really wants to live, not considering himself capable. The ability to be resilient comes in precisely here, making the search for development possible, even in the midst of problems.

Fertility

The tree of life translates the journey of the individual, by demonstrating the path that must be traveled in search of growth, being also associated with fecundity. In biology, fecundity is described as the ability to reproduce, pointing to the reproduction of new individuals, but in the human journey the meaning is broader.

In this sense, the term "fruitfulness" is not only translated as a new individual that the human being can generate. Thus, he is also able to generate ideas, projects, plans, and many other things. Therefore, in this case the fruitfulness of the tree of life is linked to creativity, outburst thoughts, production, and putting projects into practice. Always thinking of doing something beneficial for otherspeople.

Connection between earth, heaven and the underworld

The tree of life also has a connection to heaven, earth and the underworld. The leaves, which grow upwards, represent heaven, and the search for enlightenment, while the roots grow downwards, expressing a connection to the underworld. All of this provides a connection corresponding to the creation of the world.

Meaning of dreaming of the Tree of Life

To dream of the tree of life is a reminder not to forget your connection to the entire universe. When a person is not feeling well they may forget the important bonds they have created with other people, suffering needlessly. So it is necessary to realize the good company you have around and cherish them.

Origin and history of the Tree of Life

The tree of life has been present throughout history in the culture of different peoples, shaping their religious beliefs. See below for more information about the emergence of this tree and its representation in Celtic life, ancient Egypt, Buddhism, among other perspectives.

Emergence of the Tree of Life

The origin of the tree of life is unknown, there are records of the symbol since the Assyrian people. For these people the symbol was linked to the goddess Ishtar, goddess of fertility, and most prestigious deity among them.

In addition, the tree of life was also present in the culture of other peoples, such as the Phoenicians, Persians, Greeks, Mayans, Aztecs, Celts, Indians, and many others.

Celtic Tree of Life

The relationship of the tree in Celtic life is quite complex, and requires a lot of study to understand everything they thought about this symbol. This is because each tree had a distinct meaning for the Celts, they also made this association with astrology, linking trees to a specific sign.

For them, a tree was the representation of the bounty of feminine energy. Furthermore, they believed that trees had souls. Because of the great spiritual importance of trees, rituals and other events were held in woods. However, not all trees and woods were considered sacred.

The Celts even created alphabetic characters to represent the trees that were considered sacred. They always appreciated and revered Mother Nature. Thus, this connection was able to provide more harmony for these people. The meaning of trees for them was linked to both renewal and rebirth.

Tree of Life in Kabbalah

Kabbalah is an esoteric study of the mystical subjects of Judaism. The tree of life in this perspective is divided into ten parts, being these related to the universe (the whole) or the conscience (the individual). To understand the universe it is necessary to analyze it from top to bottom, while to understand how the individual journey should be, it is analyzed from bottom to top.

Therefore it contains the explanation of everything, both the spiritual question of the connection with the divine and the connection with the questions of all individual beings. This tree describes the way for the human being to reach a higher state of consciousness.

To understand how this tree works, it is important to know that it is divided into four parts. In two parts, God is believed to act directly, which are the world of creation and the world of emanation. In the world of formation, God does not act directly, and finally, the world of action is linked to the material realm.

Besides everything, this representation has three columns, the one on the left is connected to the feminine energy, while the one on the right is connected to the masculine energy. It still has the center column, which symbolizes the balance between these two energies.

Severity is the feminine side, the one that contains the child (repressive force). Mercy is the masculine, it is the force of explosion, being the opposite of the feminine. These two energies are always complementary.

Tree of Life in the Bible

In the Bible the tree of life accompanied the tree that contained the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. Therefore, in this garden there were two trees. The tree of life represented eternal security, and was located in the center of the garden. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God's orders, and ate the fruit of the tree of good and evil (the tree of forbidden fruit), they were barred from remaining in the garden.

This means that Adam and Eve had God's permission to eat the fruit of the tree of life, but they allowed themselves to be led into sin. They lacked obedience and fellowship with God. Some people interpret this story literally, while others take it symbolically. In this way, it represents the human quest for power, not life.

Tree of Life in Nordic culture

In Norse culture the tree of life is called yggdrasil. It is considered the eternal tree of life that is located in the center of the universe. It occupies this position because it connects the nine cosmic worlds.

It has roots that connect with the dark world, the trunk that connects with the material world, and the highest part called Asgard, where the gods live. In addition, the fruits of yggdrasil contain explanations about humanity, so they remain guarded.

Tree of Life in Ancient Egypt

In Ancient Egypt the tree of life was connected with nine gods, as well as symbolizing the divine plan and the map of destiny. Whoever ate its fruit could enjoy eternal life and consciousness with the divine plan. This was not offered to mortals, except in some rituals.

The scribe of the underworld (Thoth) wrote the names of the pharaohs on the leaf of the tree, so that his life and name could be eternalized. Another information is that in the attempt to kill the god of rebirth (Osiris), his coffin received the foundation of this tree in the Nile River.

Tree of Life in Buddhism

In Buddhism the tree of life is known as Bodhi, it is a fig tree where Buddha achieved enlightenment. He remained in meditation for seven weeks until he was able to reach a high state of consciousness.

The symbol of Bodhi represents the part of the human being that remains pure. To connect with this side it is necessary to maintain constant practices of connection with spirituality. In this way, it is possible to achieve happiness, longevity and luck.

Tree of Life in Chinese culture

For the Taoist religion, present in Chinese culture, the tree symbolizes the cycle of life. When the human being wants to accomplish something, he has an intention, which is the seed, when he begins to walk this path, he generates an action, creating habits, then the tree is growing. The way of living of this being is modified over time, bearing fruit, which is the karma, symbolizing cause and effect.

There is no mystery of life for Taoists, the path follows this trajectory, being able to achieve a more peaceful and harmonious life. Remembering that the cycle can be virtuous, when actions are positive, and vicious, when actions are negative. Besides everything, there is the story that the peach from the tree of life is able to provide immortality, but this occurs every 3000 years.

Tree of Life and the Persians

Among the Persians the tree of life was called Haoma and it was capable of promoting immortality. They believed that the seeds of this tree were dispersed by a mythical creature.

Therefore, the tree contained the seed of the world. The tree of life in this context has a connection with the rebirth of the natural spirit, providing self-knowledge and consciousness to all beings.

Tree of Life in Islam

For Islam the tree of life also symbolizes immortality, and is exposed in the Koran as the tree of Eden. But it is very common to find this symbol being disseminated by Islamic culture through decorative pieces, architecture and other artistic manifestations.

The tree of life in Islam appears similar to the bible. Adam and Eve were forbidden by Allah to eat the fruit of sin. By disobeying they lost the condition of immortality granted by the tree. They consider paradise to be the place where humans plant their seeds and hell is where fire spreads as a result of wrong actions in the world.

Tree of Life Representations

Over time, the tree of life has also been adapted to pop culture, either because it's a very beautiful symbol, or because it describes the connection between heaven and earth. Learn more about the representation of this symbol in tattoos, pendants, among others.

Tree of Life Tattoo

When one chooses to have the tree of life forever on their skin, through a tattoo, the person carries a symbol of spiritual and earthly growth. This tree has the meaning of overcoming problems, strength, connection with spirituality and the search for enlightenment.

The tattoo options are many, varying thin strokes, thick, mixture of symbols, and more. Here creativity can be explored to find an art that promotes identification.

Tree of Life Pendant

It is common to see demand for tree of life pendants, this is because of the beauty of the piece, but also for its meaning.

Whoever carries this pendant carries the symbol of strength and growth. Thus, the person can always remember that it is necessary to be persistent in goals. Without perseverance it is not possible to reap the fruits represented by the tree of life, so the pendant acts as a very positive reminder.

Tree of Life Pictures

The tree of life pictures, besides being beautiful decorative items, also act as a reminder. By having an object with this symbol, a person tends to remember the connection between the material and spiritual life, as well as their life trajectory. Thus, it becomes easier to seek balance, and to have persistence.

The Tree of Life is the symbol of existence!

The tree of life is the symbol of existence, after all, it describes all the steps of the life cycle on Earth. It also symbolizes the connection between the material and spiritual, and in some contexts is linked to the balance between male and female energies. Moreover, it is a symbol present in several religions, but with very similar definitions.

In all cases it represents immortality and the trajectory of earthly life. Thus, this symbol is useful to understand the spiritual issue, thus achieving greater understanding. As well as, to have more determination in material life, providing more abundance and harmony.