We have seen it become fashionable and show off in earrings, bracelets, rings or pendants. But what does that wonderful tree really mean? Come with us to know the Tree of Life, its meaning and its legend.
What is the tree of life
The concept of the tree of life is a «mytheme» or constant element in mythologies and religions from around the world. He is a religious and philosophical archetype. We find it with slight variants from ancient Mesopotamia, through Egypt, to Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism or Islam.
Meaning of the tree of life
The tree itself It represents spirituality, the connection between heaven and Earth, between the divine and the human.
In the tree of life the 4 elements are combined -fire, water, air and earth- to give life. He fire It is the sunlight that gives energy to the tree, the water It is the vital essence that keeps you alive, the earth It is the base where it is supported and nourished and the air It is the means through which the tree communicates with the environment.
The tree of life also represents the ability of each person to grow in harmony with the earth and with the elements and obstacles that plague us, as well as the trees. They bend and modify their growth according to how their environment affects them and if they break, their branches grow back, giving rise to new shapes on their body. Ultimately, this tree also means our ability to adapt to everything and overcome whatever comes, growing and learning with it.
The parts of the tree of life and their meaning
Symbolically, its parts have a meaning that is usually common to many beliefs:
Leaves
The leaves represent food because of their proximity to the sun. They absorb and accumulate energy that translates into physical, emotional and spiritual healing.
In addition, they also represent the capacity for rebirth after harsh conditions, as autumn is for trees. Despite losing its leaves, once spring arrives they sprout again. From that regeneration we must obtain the strength to rise after the fall.
Branches
Through the branches of the tree they extend outward, they provide food and are the basis of the tree’s subsistence.
Getting the leaves closer to the sun and feeding the entire tree.
We could say that the branches represent the openness towards the positive in the world, which benefits us in a healthy way.
Estate
The deep roots of the tree of life are the anchor of the trunk that supports everything, the entire plant.
These roots symbolize the connection with the Earth, the acceptance of everything it offers us in exchange for great respect for it.
Fruits
The fruit represents the joy that is given to others.
It is dedication to others, the possibility of sharing positive energy with others. The fruit of our learning and growth.
Legends of the tree of life
The legends linked to the tree of life are usually linked to the immortality or fertility. Below we present some examples of stories from different cultures about this powerful tree that, as you will see, although they are very different, they maintain that idea of connection with other worlds and something beyond life and death. In one of them it is even related to destiny!
1. Persian legend of the tree of life
There are many stories, but one of the most curious and ancient is found in pre-Islamic Persian mythology.
In the persian mythology There was a tree of life, a tree of the world, it was known by the name of Gaokerena. It was him bearer of all the seeds of the world and when They ate its fruits or drank its cured juice. all diseases, increased fertility and even provided immortality and perfect happiness to the dead upon resurrection. Ahriman, the god responsible for all evils of the world, including death, wanted to prevent the Earth from being populated with trees and trees through the seeds of Gaokerena. created a toad that he sent to the tree to invade and destroy it. The God Ahura Mazda, responsible for all that is good, including life, created two magical fishs so that they would guard the tree of life and keep the toad away from it. Since then the two fish stare at the batrachian and prevent it from destroying it.
2. Norse legend of the tree of life
The name given to the tree of life in Norse mythology is Yggdrasil. It is the world tree, which is why it is always conceived as a tree of gigantic dimensions, which connects the 9 worlds of Nordic cosmology.
It is thanks to this tree that in ancient Norse folklore different trees were worshiped, considering them sacred. Perhaps that is why the figure of this great plant has survived to this day in Europe as a protective “magical” element.
Perhaps you would like to know that at the foot of Yggrasil are the norns, who water the tree of life or the world with water from the well of Destiny or well of Urd. They do it to keep this entity green and alive. They decide the fate of people, whose lives are threads in their loom.
3. Chinese legend of the tree of life
In the chinese mythology the representations of tree of Life They also include a dragon that represents immortality and a phoenix. In fact, there is a Taoist legend that mentions a tree, which could well say this magical entity, in whose branches peaches of immortality grow. These arise every 3000 years and those who try them… will be immortal!
As you see in this culture, the tree of life is precisely that, a tree that grants the opportunity to exist eternally.
Did you know the meaning of the tree of life? Do you have any decorations with it? If you were interested in this article and would like to know what the symbols mean, you may want to read the post:
–14 symbols used in Alchemy and their meaning