On the surface, it would seem very unlikely that brown scaly pinecones would hold any spiritual significance whatsoever. The majority of people around the world see them as mere objects to be used for decorations during festivities.
However, it might surprise you that pinecones are very much intertwined in many ancient cultures, some of which are still relevant today. Read on to discover some hidden mysteries behind this gymnosperm plant and what they could mean concerning your life.
The History Of Pinecones
Believe it or not, pinecone trees are among the very first plant species to be found on the planet. They’re reported to have existed for over 153 million years and are classified as the oldest and most unique variety of gymnosperm plants. Generally, these trees produce what is commonly referred to as Pinecones, which are typically scaly, woodlike objects which host seeds that ensure the continuity and survival of the tree itself.
Be it a male or female Pine cone, their spines spiral into a perfect Fibonacci sequence called the golden ratio and are known to open up under warm weather conditions. During this time, they disperse the seeds within them, which ultimately grow into new trees or aid in developing the pine tree that produced them.
Significance Of Pinecones In Ancient Cultures
For centuries, Pinecones have had a significant role in the spiritual practices of countless cultures and traditions worldwide in the Catholic Vatican. The following are what they used to signify in the different cultures and regions of times past.
1. The Connection Between Pinecones And The Pineal Gland In Ancient Egypt
Osiris, the Egyptian god, is depicted in an enormous bronze sculpture carrying a staff shaped like a snake and at the tip of the staff is a pinecone. Its widely believed that the snake on the staff represents the upsurge of Kundalini energy. In contrast, the pinecone at the staff’s tip is symbolical of the third eye, which is the center of blood flow and is where energy culminates in the body.
2. The Symbolism Of Pinecones To The Aztecs
According to the Aztecs, who were deeply spiritual people, Pinecones symbolically represented spirituality and everlasting life after death. Their goddess of providence and agriculture was usually depicted with the evergreen tree of life and Pinecones, symbolizing immortality.
3. Pinecones In Greek Mythology
The god of fruitfulness and wine, known as Dionysus in Greek mythology, was depicted with a gigantic statue two stories tall, holding a sacred staff with a huge pinecone tip.
The sculpture stood next to a large fountain overflowing with water, believed to be a fertility charm. The Grecians regarded his staff as a symbol of fertility and spiritual illumination, which is why they occasionally used it in their festivities and ritual ceremonies.
During the ceremonies mentioned above, female believers often wielded staffs bearing the same likeness as Dionysus’ staff, and it was believed that they were granted powers beyond human comprehension.
4. Pinecones In Ancient Assyrian Palace Carvings
Assyrians revered pinecones as symbols of human enlightenment and everlasting or eternal life. The majority of their deities were portrayed as winged beings holding pinecones. They believed that pinecones contained spiritual energy necessary for pollinating the evergreen trees, known by most cultures as the tree of life
The Religious Symbolism Of Pinecones in Christianity
Pinecones share a strong historical connection with some of the world’s most renowned belief systems, Christianity, for example. Many Christian symbols and iconography feature pinecones, especially in the Catholic church. One of the Pope’s items, the holy staff, has a pinecone carving.
Aside from this, the Coat of Arms also features three crowns. Most would agree that they share the same structure as a pinecone. Catholics widely regard Pinecones as an emblem of illumination and spiritual consciousness. This is one of the reasons why the lamps and candle holders in most Catholic churches are made in the shape of pinecones.
The Significance Of Pinecones In the Hindu Belief System
Its common knowledge that there are many Hindu deities. However, not many people know about the pine cones depicted alongside the Hindu gods and goddesses.
Shiva, considered the god of destruction according to Hindu belief, is usually drawn holding both knees in a meditative position and with a hairstyle with the exact appearance of a pinecone.
His hair was depicted this way to symbolize spiritual enlightenment. Aside from this, pinecones have always been an integral part of Hinduism and are often used to represent the ‘Pineal Gland, ‘ commonly referred to as the seat of the soul.
The Pineal gland is separate from the blood-brain barrier system. It is regarded as the intuitive center that not only determines wake-sleep patterns but controls the body’s perception and circadian rhythms.
Pine Trees As Symbols Of Protection
Since conifer trees tend to hold on to pinecones for considerably long periods, they’ve become a symbol of protection, much like the bond between mothers and their children.
Because of their naturally rigid composition, the outer cover of pinecones not only shields the seeds within from grain and seed-eating animals but also acts as protective barriers during unfavorable weather conditions, especially harsh winters.
Pine cones were an essential symbol of love in ancient Rome and were also portrayed on the Egyptian staff during medieval times. They also have symbolic meanings in some of the most popular places today, including the Whitehall building, the New York financial district, and the masonic lodges of the Freemason octagons.
Pine Cone As A Symbol of Longevity
According to popular medieval legend, Ancient Assyrian carvings were made in 713 BCE and feature pinecones. One of such carvings includes an Assyrian god depicted as a being with four wings carrying aloft pinecones. This clearly indicates that the Assyrians and other cultures believed that the sacred geometry of pine cones was closely linked to immortality.
Final Words
There are many indications of the spiritual symbolism of Pinecones in recorded human history since they have always been intimately linked to the evolution of human society. They’re one of the many beautiful and wonderous sides of nature and an inspiration to us.
