The Tree of Life or “Lingume vitae” has a long history and is mentioned in many religions and cultures. The tree goes by various names in ancient and modern cultures. While the definition isn’t the same for each, it has common characteristics, mostly symbolic of life, creation, and beginnings.
The Tree of Life is essential with a variety of traditional symbolism and depth across numerous religions. The Tree of Life is also evident and vital in tribes and cultures. One of the most profound meanings of this tree is the connection to everything.
The Tree of Life represents many things and holds a sacred and important value in most religions, which is discussed below. In modern-day culture, the wood of life represents us, and everything is connected.
Symbolic Meanings Of The Tree of Life Featured in Religion And Culture
Christianity
The Bible speaks of the Tree of Life being present in the Garden of Eden. Along with the Tree of Life, there was also the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil.”
The Tree of Life was presumably there with the ability to give man everlasting life or life eternal. That are just speculation because nobody can say what exactly the Tree of Life’s purpose was in the Garden of Eden.
Judaism
In the Kabbalah, the Tree of Life is represented with a diagram that talks about various mystical and non-human nature aspects. It is formed by 22 lines connecting 12 nodes including “wisdom”, “primordial energies”, and “understanding” to name a few. It also covered aspects of the human mind, God and life or existence.
Islam
In Islam, the Tree of Life is called “the tree of ownership and mortality which decay not”. The Quran says Allah forbade Adam and Eve not to eat from this tree.
Hinduism
The Tree of Life in Hindu religion and culture is the eternal Banyan tree, “Akshaya Vata”. It is said that when all creation was destroyed by water, only the Banyan tree remained intact and undamaged by the destruction.
According to texts, it’s believed that Buddha meditates eternally in the very spot of the Tree of Life. The tree is also symbolic of us being part of the tree; this part of us is pure if we walk a spiritual life.
Ancient Egypt
In Ancient Egypt, the Egyptians believed that the Tree of Life represented various stages of life and how it moved from one hierarchy to the next.
Ancient Assyria
In ancient Assyria, the ancient Tree of Life is also depicted in old carvings. Often it is shown that people are taking care of the tree represented as the Tree of Life. It could have sacred meaning to the Assyrians since some people were also kings or deities depicted in those carvings.
Some theories suggest that the Tree of Life to the Assyrians was symbolic of life or creation itself, and therefore it had the name “life” added. Assyria and its neighboring regions are said to have some of the most advanced literature and religious concepts, which were later passed down to other generations with time.
Ancient Mayan
The Mayans were another ancient civilization that implemented many things that we continue to practice and use today. Their technical skills and ability to conceptualize ideas were beyond the times. The Tree of Life in the Mayan time was more of a “world tree”. Each branch of the tree stretched to many parts of the world. The branches are representative of many aspects of life.
The core or center part of the tree represents life or existence, next heaven, then earth, and then the underworld. The Mayan heaven is known as the “Tomaoanchan” believed to be a mysterious and majestic place filled with wonder. It is said that the wood of the Tree of Life is possibly derived from this mystical place.
FAQs
In what religion has the Tree of Life?
There are talks about the Tree of Life in many religions, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. It is also mentioned in the Bible and thus part of Christianity too.
What cultures use the Tree of Life?
The Tree of Life is used in many cultures, especially ancient ones. Some findings suggest that ancient Egyptians, Ancient Iran, Urartu and Ancient Mesopotamia used the Tree of Life.
What does it mean when you see the Tree of Life?
The Tree of Life may not be a physical tree visible on earth, still, you could see it in a vision, dream, premonition, or an object. Seeing the Tree of Life symbolizes life, growth, uniqueness, and beauty.
