Mythological image in many cultures. The concept of the Tree of Life has been used in religion, philosophy and mythology.
Today, using various sources, we will try to briefly talk about the term.
Tree of Life – Various trees of life are mentioned in folklore, books, myths and fiction, often associated with immortality and fertility.
Mythology
1. In Slavic mythology
In Slavic mythology, the Tree of Life (old Slavic and other Russian animal tree) is a variant of the world tree; in books and folklore, it is a motif reflecting ideas about the biblical tree of life, planted by God in the middle of paradise. The folklore motif, dating back to pre-Christian mythology, reflects the idea of a three-part world tree that models the world (cf. the tree with “three interests” and the “triple tree” of Ukrainian and Russian songs, where a falcon lives in the crown, bees in the trunk, and at the roots - beavers, etc.).
2. In Armenian mythology
In Armenian mythology, the Tree of Life (????? ???) is a religious symbol and was placed on the walls of fortresses and the armor of warriors. The tree's branches were evenly distributed to the right and left of the main trunk; there was one leaf on each branch, and one leaf at the very top of the tree. Servants were depicted on either side of the tree, each with one hand extended towards the tree, as if they were caring for it.
3. In Sumerian-Akkadian mythology
In Sumerian-Akkadian mythology, the Tree of Life is represented by a series of nodes and intersecting lines. Apparently an important religious symbol, often associated with eagle-headed gods and priests or a king. Assyriologists have been unable to agree on the meaning of this symbol. The name "Tree of Life" has been attributed to this symbol by modern scholars; it was not used by Assyrian sources. Essentially, there is no textual evidence relating to this symbol. The Tree of Life was initially mentioned in Simo Parpola’s work The Assyrian Tree of Life: Tracing the Origins of Jewish Monotheism and Greek Philosophy, but later articles were published both criticizing his opinion and developing the topic.
4. In ancient Egyptian mythology
In Egyptian mythology and in the Ennead of Heliopolis, the first couple is Isis and Osiris (in addition to Shu and Tefnut, as well as Geb and Nut). They were believed to have originated from the acacia tree Iusat, which the Egyptians considered the tree of life, calling it “the tree in which life and death are united.” The myth says that Set subsequently killed Osiris, put him in a coffin and threw him into the Nile, and the coffin became one with the roots of the tamarisk tree.
The Egyptian sacred tree, the sycamore, stands on the threshold of life and death, connecting the two worlds.
5. In Chinese mythology
In Chinese mythology, the image of the Tree of Life includes a phoenix and a dragon; the dragon often represents immortality. In Taoist stories, a peach ripens on the tree of life once every three thousand years. The one who eats it receives immortality.
In 1990, an archaeological discovery was made in Sanxingdui, Sichuan (China) - a sacrificial pit. Dating from the 13th century BC, it contains three bronze trees, one of them 4 meters high. At the base there was a dragon and a fruit hanging from the lower branch. And on top was placed a bird-like creature (phoenix) with claws. Another tree of life was also found in Sichuan, dating back to the late Han Dynasty. The ceramic base is guarded by a horned beast with wings. Instead of leaves, this tree has coins and people. At the top there is a bird with coins and the sun.
Symbol meaning
First of all, the meaning of the tree of life lies in the connection and harmony between earth and sky, man and the divine essence. This symbol also means immortality, rebirth after death, fertility.
In Christianity, the tree of life symbolizes the development of the spiritual qualities of each person, his desire to know the Almighty and the connection of each person with the one to whom he turns with prayers. As mentioned above, fruits, leaves and other elements can be depicted on this tree.
Nowadays such images are found in the form of tattoos and embroidery, because it is technically easier to implement this idea in this way. They have additional meaning, usually symbolizing health, salvation of the soul and much more.
The tree of life is a tree in the middle of Eden
As we know, before the Fall, man was not mortal, but he was not completely immortal either. Becoming mortal or immortal depended on his moral choice: to live willfully and autonomously from God or to live with God, in virtue and obedience to Him (Gen. 2:17).
Yielding to the suggestion of the serpent, through whose mouth the devil spoke, man decided to leave subordination to the Creator and become equal to Him (Gen. 3:6). God, giving man the opportunity to freely express his will, allowed him to commit sin, in which he became mortal. This reflected both fair punishment, which God warned about in advance, and God’s mercy. After all, if a person, being a sinner and living at a distance from God, lived forever, this would contribute to his extreme ossification in sin. To prevent this from happening, God deprived him of the opportunity to eat the fruits of the tree of life (Gen. 3:24).
As sad as it may be, since the Fall, it has been death, not least of all, that has served as a limiter on sin and prevented the excessive spread of evil.
Eternal life, according to God’s plan, was to be returned to man only after he had gone through a certain historical path, after the Savior who came to earth would redeem people from sin, teach them the doctrine of faith, and crush the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15 ), will create the Church, endow it with the necessary grace-filled means of salvation and call everyone into His Kingdom.
With the Coming of Christ and the formation of the Church, the opportunity opened up for man to receive eternal blessed life, which will be revealed in full after the general resurrection of the dead.
Nowadays, the prototype of the fruits of the tree of life are the Holy Gifts, the True Body and True Blood of Christ, of which believers partake in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Family is the tree of life
Since ancient times, it has been believed that compiling a family tree is the lot of aristocrats and nobility. Today it is customary to hang a tree of one’s kind in the most visible and honorable place in the house. And it doesn’t matter at all who your great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers were: dukes and duchesses or ordinary workers and peasants. If you decide to compile a family tree, then be prepared for educational adventures and discoveries, perhaps not always pleasant, but exciting.
Tree of life – pictures
The tree symbolizes the unity of sky, earth and water; dynamic life as opposed to the static nature of stone; the “middle tree”, connecting the three worlds, making communication between them possible and giving access to solar forces; center of the world.
Ancient symbols: Tree
The tree, as an ancient symbol, also signifies the feminine principle; food, shelter, protection and support provided by the Great Mother; the power of the inexhaustible and fertility-giving waters that she controls. Trees are often stylized to resemble a female figure.
Immersed by its roots in the bowels of the earth, in contact with the waters in its center, the tree grows in the world of Time, growing rings as an indicator of its age, and its branches reach heaven and eternity, symbolizing differences in terms of manifestations of the material world. The evergreen tree signifies endless life, undying spirit and immortality.
A tree, as an ancient symbol, like a grove, a mountain, a stone and waters, can symbolize the cosmos in the fullness of its connections. The cosmic tree is often depicted growing on the top of a mountain, and sometimes at the top of a column.
The ancient symbols of wood are pillar, pole, jagged pole, branch, etc. They are often depicted accompanied by snake, bird, stars, fruit and various lunar animals. Trees that bear the fruit of life are sacred. These include grapevine, mulberry, peach, date, almond and sesame.
In Christianity, a tree is an image of a person, since it will bear fruits of both good and evil at the same time.
On the other hand, it is a symbol of resurrection, since it brings renewal through the death of Christ on a wooden cross, which was made from the Tree of Knowledge, and thus salvation and life were found on the same tree due to which the Fall and death occurred , and the conqueror was conquered. The Cross is sometimes identified with the Middle Tree, as the vertical axis of relations between Heaven and Earth.
In medieval Christian symbolism, the Tree of the Living and the Dead was known, bearing the fruits of good and evil growing on its different sides. Its trunk was Christ as the ancient symbol of the central cross on Calvary. This tree was the emblem of Saint Zenobia.
- Ancient symbols: Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge
The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge grow in Paradise. The first grows in its center and means restoration, a return to original perfection. This is the cosmic axis, symbolizing unity beyond good and evil.
The second tree is obviously dual, for it bears the fruits of good and evil. In many traditions, this correlates with the first man and his loss of the paradise state, as well as with the waning and waxing phases of the moon, death and rebirth.
The Tree of Life, as an ancient symbol, also symbolizes the beginning and end of a cycle: it has twelve fruits (sometimes ten), which are forms of the sun and which will appear simultaneously at the end of the cycle as manifestations of the One. Immortality can be achieved by eating fruit from the Tree of Life or drinking moisture obtained from this Tree. The Tree of Knowledge is often depicted as a vine (in vino Veritas).
- Ancient Symbols: Branch
The meaning of this symbol is closely intertwined with the symbolism of the Tree of Life, which was often depicted as one branch and was a symbol of the bride and groom. The meaning of the ancient symbols of the Tree: decorating a human home with heather branches on May 1st was part of the spring fertility ritual.
The Golden Branch as an ancient symbol personifies the connection between the lower and higher Worlds, the key to the heavenly world, initiation, and a magic wand. To break a branch means to kill the king. The symbolism of the branch is also related to the symbolism of the stick, pole and oar.
- Ancient Symbols: Roots
A symbol of connection with the earth, with family. “A person with roots” is said about a person who stands firmly on his own two feet. “Look at the root” - pay attention to the most essential, delve into the essence.
“The root of evil” is the source, the core of evil. “Uproot” means taking a life, cutting off access to food, radically solving a problem. In the ornament, roots as an ancient symbol are represented by interlacing in the form of a hexagon, the letter “Zh” (“live” in Old Russian). Pereplut is the god of roots.
- Ancient Symbols: Forest
Represents the feminine principle. A place of initiation, unknown dangers and darkness. Entering a dark or enchanted forest means a transition when the soul encounters something disastrous and unknown; area of death; secrets of nature that man must penetrate to understand their meaning. The forest as an ancient symbol can also signify a lack of spiritual vision and light; humanity lost in darkness, not guided by God.
- Ancient Symbols: The World Tree
The World Tree is a symbol of the universe. According to Slavic mythology, the world tree - the axis mundi - stands on the outskirts of the Universe (near Lukomorye), its top rests on the heavens, and its roots reach the underworld. The gods ascend and descend along this tree, and you can use it to penetrate into other worlds.
“The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” talks about the legendary singer Boyan, who traveled along the tree, turning into a mouse (aka a squirrel, corresponding to the middle, i.e. earthly, world), into an eagle (corresponding to the sky) and into a wolf (the underworld) .
In a traditional home, a mandatory element was a pole (in nomadic cultures) or a pillar (among sedentary peoples), which also symbolized the axis of the universe.
In East Slavic ornaments, the world tree as an ancient symbol was depicted conventionally. The crown is in a curled, not yet blossomed form, shoots in the middle of the trunk, two roots and between them the grain from which the tree grew.
Building a house, planting a tree and raising a son meant living life correctly and being fulfilled.
Ancient Symbols: Trees
- Ancient symbols: Birch
Symbol of fertility and light. Protects against witches, drives away evil spirits, so lazy people and sleepwalkers were fed birch porridge. “It stands there, curled up, with wort and oil on it, it’s light for the eyes and warm for everyone.”
This riddle about the birch tree shows how necessary it was for our ancestors. Take a steam bath, lubricate the wheel, light a torch, and on a spring day collect healing juice that cleanses the blood and restores strength after a long winter.
Birch as an ancient symbol is a sacred tree throughout Northern Europe. In the Druid horoscope, the day of the summer solstice, June 24, is dedicated to her. At the same time, She symbolized the transition from winter to spring, like the first tree putting out buds. The first month of spring in Ukraine is called “Berezen”.
One of the sacred trees of the Eastern Slavs, the birch, was the “Yarilin” tree among the Russians. Yarilin's Day is an ancient pagan holiday of the fruit-bearing forces of nature, celebrated on June 4 (old style). On this day they danced around the birch tree (the famous Russian folk song “There was a birch tree in the field...”), only after this day it was allowed to cut down the birch tree.
Later, this holiday was linked to Orthodox Easter, it began to depend on the day of Easter and was called “semik” - the seventh Thursday after Easter. Therefore, birch is still considered by Orthodox Russians to be the Trinity tree. On Semik and Trinity, birch trees are consecrated in churches.
The rituals associated with this day - round dances of girls, braiding birch branches, decorating birch trees with ribbons, wreaths of herbs and wreaths of dough (“roes”) - represent the birch tree as a symbol of girlish beauty and chastity.
Birch as an ancient symbol is associated with legends about the Berendey kingdom. There is information that some tribes living in Russia and Belarus buried people in birch bark. The birch tree was revered as a receptacle for the souls of the dead. Birch bark replaced paper in Ancient Rus', and to this day it is used in traditional crafts (weaving boxes, tueski).
- Ancient symbols: Willow
Among the Eastern Slavs it is a symbol of spring. Among the ancient Slavs, the willow as an ancient symbol symbolized the primary source of the creation of the world, the Tree of Life, the Chumatsky Way in heaven.
In Russia, the willow, as a symbol of spring, replaced the sacred palm branches (frond leaves) on the holiday commemorating the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem (the feast of the frond is celebrated on the last, sixth Sunday of Lent, before Easter). On this day, willow branches were blessed in churches.
The branches brought home after the service were placed in the red corner, the children were beaten with the branches, saying: “Whip the willow, beat them to tears.” We beat to be healthy,” and livestock. Touching a person with a consecrated willow meant connecting him with the forces of the Cosmos and renewing his health.
- Ancient symbols: Oak
One of the most sacred trees, with many symbolic layers associated with it. Means strength, protection, durability, courage, loyalty, man, human body. The oak tree is often associated with the thunder gods and thunder and is considered an emblem of the gods of Heaven and fertility, so it can also symbolize lightning and fire.
The Indo-European root of the word "oak" is identical to the root of the word "tree".
Oak is an ancient symbol of longevity, wisdom, strength and endurance. The oak is dedicated to Zeus, Thor, Perun and other gods of thunder. The altar of Zeus was surrounded by oak trees, and an oak grove grew around the temple of Perun. In honor of Perun, bonfires made of oak branches were constantly lit.
Oak is an ancient symbol of male power. In addition, the acorn is a symbol of prosperity, fertility and spiritual energy. According to some beliefs, Christ was crucified on an oak cross. The Lord appeared to Abraham under the shade of the Mamvrian oak tree.
Sacred tree among the Celts and Slavs. Sacrifices were made under it. Individual trees and entire sacred groves were worshiped. With the introduction of Christianity, the ruthless extermination of oak trees began throughout Europe, as the main object of pagan cults.
An ancient symbol of hardness, strength, strength, longevity. In the mysteries, God the Father often appeared under the name or in the form of an oak tree. An oak with acorns is an emblem of maturity, full of strength.
An oak without acorns is an ancient symbol of youthful valor.
In Christianity, it is a symbol of Christ as strength, manifested in trouble, firmness in faith and virtue. According to various sources, the cross was made of oak, holly or aspen.
- Ancient symbols: Spruce
Symbolizes courage, integrity and honesty. Symbolized eternal life. The symbolism of spruce was embodied in two non-overlapping meanings:
2) as an ancient symbol of sacrifice and a funeral sign, spruce branches, garlands of spruce paws or spruce brooms are used.
Often spruce branches are specially chopped finely and thrown onto a fresh grave to emphasize the particularity and fragmentary nature of human life.
Christmas tree. The evergreen tree is an ancient symbol of the winter solstice, as well as the New Year and a new beginning. This is the tree of rebirth and immortality, the Paradise Tree of light and gifts, shining at night. Each light on it is a soul and, in addition, the lights represent the sun, moon and stars shining on the branches of the Cosmic Tree.
- Ancient symbols: Apple tree
A symbol of motherhood, fertility, maternal reverence. This meaning of the apple tree was preserved in the folk tales “Geese-Swans” and “Khavroshechka”.
Since ancient times, the apple, or rather the pomegranate, which appeared among the peoples of Europe under this meaning, was considered an ancient symbol of perfection and an emblem of the Divine gift.
In fact, the symbolic meaning of pomegranate and apple has a more ancient origin and is rooted in the surprise that the ancients experienced at the appearance of these fruits.
- Ancient symbols: Apple
The apple as an ancient symbol means fertility, love, joy, knowledge, wisdom, deification and luxury, but at the same time, deceitfulness and death. The apple was the forbidden fruit of the Golden Age.
Being round, it represents wholeness and unity and is contrasted with the pomegranate, which is made up of many seeds. Offering an apple means making a declaration of love. Like the orange blossom (a symbol of fertility), the apple blossom was used as decoration for brides.
The spherical shape and red or golden color well reflected two concepts: perfection (after all, the shape of a ball is the most perfect geometric shape!) and possession (more precisely, the difficulties of possession, because it is more difficult to grasp a ball with your hand than any other body).
In European and Russian symbolism, the apple often replaces the concept of “fruit”. It is a symbol of temptation, seduction, illicit fruit and work.
In Christianity it has a dual meaning. On the one hand, it means evil and is the fruit of the corruption of Adam and Eve. On the other hand, depicted with Christ or the Virgin Mary, it points to the new Adam and salvation. A monkey with an apple in its mouth means the Fall.
Symbolism of the plant kingdom. A class of signs identical in shape to geometric elements, widely used in emblems and heraldry. Published on the web portal
Symbolism of the plant kingdom
The symbol of the plant kingdom is a tree. Its branches, representing diversity, extend from a common trunk, which is a symbol of unity. A green, blooming tree is a symbol of life; dead, withered - a symbol of death. An old, gnarled tree can mean wisdom and strength.
The flower is an emblem of the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. Flowers represent beauty (especially female beauty), innocence, divine blessing, spring, youth, but also the brevity of existence. Everything in a flower can carry a certain symbolism: its shape, the number of petals, color, and smell...
Vine
Ornament – grapevine motif
Grapes are one of the oldest symbols of fertility, abundance and vitality. The vine is one of the symbols of Christ. The importance of wine in many religious rituals is based on the grape's symbolic connection with Divine blessing. The vine was the first plant Noah planted after the flood.
Grape juice resembles human blood. In some mysteries, grapes are a symbol of lust and debauchery, greed and drunkenness. A bunch of grapes is sometimes represented as a phallic symbol. But grapes are also seen as a symbol of the solar spirit.
Cherry
Sakura (19th century Japanese print, Utagawa Kunisada)
In Christian iconography, a cherry is sometimes depicted instead of an apple as a fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; sometimes Christ is depicted with cherries in his hand. In China, the cherry tree is a symbol of good luck, spring (due to early flowering) and virginity; The vulva is called the “spring cherry.” Cherry blossoms (sakura) are a symbol of Japan; it is cultivated as an ornamental tree; its fruits are inedible. The Japanese identify cherry blossoms with the rising Sun. Cherry, in addition, is the emblem of the samurai.
Pomegranate
Exploding Garnet
The opening pomegranate (fruit) symbolizes the Easter Resurrection of Christ, giving Christians confidence in forgiveness, faith in the future life and resurrection. Due to the abundance of seeds, pomegranate is a symbol of fertility. It is also an ancient oriental emblem of the sun god and an emblem of life, a divine symbol called the “forbidden secret.”
The remains of the flower (thorn) on the upper part of the fruit serve as an image of the crown in heraldry. The garnet is always depicted as golden. And there are always twelve pomegranate seeds - a number that has symbolized perfection since ancient times.
Oak and acorn
Acorn
Oak is a symbol of power, endurance, longevity and nobility, as well as glory. In Ancient Rome, a wreath of oak leaves was the highest reward for a victorious commander.
As an emblem of valor and courage, oak (oak leaf, oak branch, oak wreath, oak garland) is used in military insignia in many countries.
An oak with acorns is an emblem of maturity, full of strength. An oak without acorns is an emblem of young valor. The acorn is a symbol of fertility, prosperity, spiritual energy growing from the grain of truth.
Kabbalistic Tree
Kabbalistic Tree (drawing from the book of R. Fludd, 1574–1637)
This is an inverted Cosmic Tree. Its crown touches the ground, and its roots are strengthened in the spiritual world and feed on the spiritual energy of the sky, spreading it to the outside world and down. This is a favorite image in Kabbalism and other mystical and magical teachings. It testifies that human life is the descent of the spirit into the body and back. It is also a symbol of philosophical growth, growing inward.
In the Bhagavad Gita, an inverted tree means the origin of everything from a single root; in Islam, it is a symbol of happiness and good luck.
Cypress
Seven cypress trees and twelve branches - the personification of the universe and its eternal truths (Istanbul, Türkiye)
In the West, cypress is a mystical symbol of death and mourning, the personification of sadness and grief, as it was used in embalming the body and for making coffins. In Asia it is a symbol of longevity and immortality. The Arabs call the cypress tree the Tree of Life. In Greece, cypress has always had a dual reputation: it was a symbol of the gloomy god of the underworld Hades, but at the same time also of more cheerful gods - Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite and Hermes. Therefore, it became a symbol of rebirth and life after death. In China, the smoke of cypress branches is a symbol of light forces, a talisman against misfortune.
Clover
Four leaf clover
The three-leaf form of clover (trefoil) is a symbol of the Christian Trinity. The rare quatrefoil is a symbol of good luck; There is a belief that Eve took one quatrefoil as a memory of her lost paradise. But a five-leaf clover brings bad luck.
In China, clover is the emblem of spring. The Irish use clover leaves as a national emblem, which probably dates back to the Celts' veneration of the plant for its vigorous growth in the spring.
Roots
Seed and roots
A symbol of connection with the earth, with family.
“A man with roots,” they say about a man who stands firmly on his own two feet.
“Look at the root” - pay attention to the most essential, delve into the essence.
“The root of evil” is the source, the core of evil.
“Uproot” means taking a life, cutting off access to food, radically solving a problem.
Laurel
Laurel wreath
The laurel symbolizes immortality, but also triumph, victory and success. It represents peace, purification, protection, divinity, secret knowledge. According to ancient Greek myth, the god of the Sun, dawn and poetry, Apollo, pursued the nymph Daphne, who, running away from him, turned into a laurel bush (in Greek “laurel” is “daphne”). In the arms of Apollo there was a tree, with the branches of which he decorated his head and lyre. That is why in Ancient Greece musicians, poets, and dancers, whose patron was Apollo, were awarded laurel wreaths. The Romans extended this tradition to military victors.
Lily
Fleur-de-lys, coat of arms of the French kings
One of the most multifaceted and even contradictory symbols. The triple lily is a symbol of the Trinity and three virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity. Lily is an attribute of many saints, including Archangel Gabriel. White lilies can sometimes symbolize death. The lily is also associated with fertility and erotic love due to its pistil, which has an arrow-shaped or spear-shaped (phallus-like) shape, and a specific strong aroma. The lily is a sign of prosperity and royal power in Byzantium, and later the emblem of the French kings.
Palm branch
Palm branch
This is the main symbol of victory and triumph (“palm”).
In Ancient Greece, a palm branch was given along with a wreath to the winner of the Olympic Games as a personal wish for health and longevity. In Ancient Rome they were also awarded to victorious soldiers and gladiators. During Palm Sunday celebrations in Jerusalem, priests distribute blessed palm leaves in the shape of a cross. In Russia, they are replaced by willows. The palm branch is a symbol of longevity and one of the emblems of peace, and unlike the dove, it is a secular emblem.
Rose
Ten petal rose
The rose has polar symbolism: it is heavenly perfection and earthly passion, time and eternity, life and death, fertility and virginity. It is also a symbol of the heart, the center of the universe, the cosmic wheel, divine, romantic and sensual love. The rose is completeness, the mystery of life, its focus, the unknown, beauty, grace, happiness, but also voluptuousness, passion, and in combination with wine - sensuality and seduction. A rosebud is a symbol of virginity; withered rose - transience of life, death, sorrow; its thorns are pain, blood and martyrdom.
Heraldic roses
Heraldic roses: 1 – Lancaster; 2 – York; 3 – Tudor; 4 – England (badge); 5 – German rose Rosenow; 6 – Russian stamp
The heraldic medieval rose has five or ten petals, which connects it with the Pythagorean pentad and decanate. A rose with red petals and white stamens is the emblem of England, the most famous breastplate of English kings. After the "Wars of the Roses", named after the badges of the families fighting for the English crown, the scarlet rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York were combined in the form of the "Tudor Rose". The bright crimson rose is the unofficial emblem of Bulgaria. The famous tea rose is the emblem of Beijing. Nine white roses are in the coat of arms of Finland.
Sprouts
Fern sprouts (four-part diagram)
Sprouts (heart-shaped pattern)
The sprout is a symbol of the awakening of life. The simplest type is a grain “hatching from its shell,” a sprout resembling a curled fern leaf. These images are accompanied by a round or heart-shaped stripe. The heart-shaped pattern (point up) is a stable expression of agricultural ornament. A four-part composition with fern sprouts (a sacred plant among many peoples), the leaves of which are directed in all directions, is widely used.
Pumpkin
Painted gourd, vessel and talisman (China, 19th century)
The gourd pumpkin in Chinese culture is a symbol of health, wisdom and even the entire universe.
In America, pumpkin is the main attribute of the traditional holiday of evil spirits - Halloween. For this holiday, faces are carved on pumpkins, candles are inserted inside the pumpkins, and people go from house to house with these “lamps.”
In degraded symbolism, a pumpkin is a head.
Thistle
Thistle
Emblem of Scotland
Thistle means challenge, asceticism, vindictiveness, misanthropy. Donkey food. It also symbolizes sin, sorrow, the curse of God during expulsion from paradise; According to the Book of Genesis, Adam was punished with thistles. In Christian art, the thistle is an emblem of martyrdom.
But there is another side to the thistle's symbolism. Like some other thorny plants, it is considered a talisman and is endowed with the property of healing wounds. This is a plant with strong magical properties.
Apple tree, apple
The sovereign apple is one of the symbols of monarchical power
The apple tree is a symbol of fertility, one of the symbols of Mother Earth. A blooming apple tree means eternal youth, and in China - peace and beauty. The apple is a symbol of bliss, especially sexual, a symbol of restoration of potential, integrity, health and vitality. The apple represents love, marriage, spring, youth, longevity or immortality; in Christianity it is associated with temptation, the fall of man and his salvation. A bitten apple is a symbol of sin, anarchy, but also knowledge and hope. In art, an apple in the mouth of a monkey or snake is a symbol of original sin.
The fact that trees can have a beneficial effect on our body and mood has been known since ancient times. There is even a direction dendrotherapy— treatment using trees of various species. The ancient Egyptians had wooden amulets that were worn around the neck and protected their owners from misfortune. According to Indian yogis, trees seem to absorb prana coming from the Cosmos, and then feed a person with it. Different tree species have different energetic properties: they feed energy, relieve inflammation, promote mutual feelings, and protect. It is not for nothing that at all times people gained strength from oak, spruce gave off “bad” energy, and drew “good” energy from pine. The impact of wood bioenergy can be quite strong. Even a small piece of wood of one type or another has a beneficial effect on the human body and improves its well-being.
The Celtic priests, the Druids, attached particular importance to the mysticism of the tree. It was believed that each person corresponds to a certain type of tree. If such a correspondence is correctly established, it is possible to correct a person’s fate and effectively carry out his healing. Exists Druid horoscope, where trees correspond to calendar periods:
In addition, there is a correspondence between the energy of trees and the planets of the solar system, and accordingly to the signs of the zodiac:
Here are the magical and bioenergetic properties of some trees and shrubs:
Apricot is a tree - a donor with feeding energy. Protects against infidelity and unnecessary stress in love relationships.
Acacia- a donor tree with powerful feeding energy. Acacia is a tree that gives birth to life. It is she who is asked to give birth to a child.
Bamboo
controls outbursts of aggression in a person, influences the meaningfulness of actions, the sequence of actions and events in people’s lives.
Birch-female tree. Symbol of fertility. Helps improve vision, normalizes water balance and has a beneficial effect on the lymphatic system, activates kidney function. Constant communication with her relieves anxiety, fears and nightmares. This tree relieves fatigue, neutralizes the negative effects of everyday stress, and helps restore mental harmony. Birch is considered a sunny, pure tree that brings happiness, light, and joy to any home.
Hawthorn has a powerful protective effect. Relieves anxiety, improves appetite and blood circulation. Hawthorn is considered a symbol of hope and marriage. Hawthorn is especially useful in protective and love magic.
Elder. Our ancestors believed that the elderberry contained great magical power, and of a different nature. It has active protective properties. Elderberry has a calming effect.
Beech-symbol of knowledge. Helps broaden your horizons by learning from others. Will help you be more tolerant of others, allowing them to live their own lives. Increases resistance to stress and the ability to concentrate, and also improves blood circulation.
Cherry is a talisman of magical meetings, contacts, and romantic adventures.
Elm- a tree for active people, but who rely too much on their own strength. Elm teaches its owner to find like-minded people who will be happy to help him in all his endeavors and lead him to victory. Protects against rash actions that may be tempted by envious people and ill-wishers.
Hornbeam has the ability to dispel illusions. This tree is perfect for people who are very exhausted at work or at home. Hornbeam promotes a realistic view of the world around you and your abilities. The hornbeam will help you coordinate your actions and understand the illusory nature of some plans about the future. Gives strength in everyday life, helps to part with ridiculous ideas, prejudices and fantasies. Hornbeam has a beneficial effect on dreamers and romantics who lack the strength and desire to act.
Pear- a talisman of luck, the favor of fortune, providing many pleasant and useful opportunities. It adds charm to the owner, the ability to please even those who do not tolerate him very well.
Oak- a sign of hardness, power, masculine strength. It is an anti-stress agent, which, in addition, activates blood circulation, normalizes blood pressure and shortens the recovery period from illness. Oak stands out among other plants as generators of positive energy. Oak - treats the liver, genitourinary system, helps eliminate congestion in many organs. Relieves toothache. Communication with him is more indicated for men than for women.
Spruce- like the oak, a sacred tree, it is also a symbol of longevity and health. Its effect is indicated for swelling and pain syndromes, nervous disorders and depression.
Jasmine- a talisman against sudden, unexpected bad meetings, incidents and acquaintances. A guide in love affairs, bringing success to the opposite sex.
Willow. This tree has enormous magical powers. This is more of a female tree. Slavic girls used willow as a love spell. This is a symbol of weakness, tenderness, girlish grace, tranquility, the need for constancy and connection. Relieves melancholy and sadness.
Figs- a talisman against wrong decisions and incorrect, unreliable information. Teaches attentiveness, analysis, the ability to compare facts, and draw the right conclusions. It protects against rash statements and forces you to pay attention to the form of your manifestation.
Elm- returns the meaning of life and restores strength. There are moments when the goal of our life loses all its charm, reality seems meaningless, and the dream seems unattainable. Elm will help cope with this problem. It has the ability to restore strength and confidence. Elm will ease the oncoming depression.
Chestnut treats rheumatic diseases and insomnia, relieves nervous tension and, according to ancient wisdom, even drives away fears. Normalizes cardiovascular activity, has the ability to strengthen the body’s overall immunity and nervous system.
Cedar has a beneficial effect on any person and, in particular, on people susceptible to nervous disorders, stress and insomnia, as well as people suffering from disorders of the cardiovascular system and respiratory system. Cedar lives for five hundred and fifty years, accumulating the light energy of the Cosmos and at the right moment gives it to a person.
Cypress- a predominantly male tree, affects the sexual strength of men, sexual activity and not only enhances potency in healthy men, but also heals weak ones. Cypress does not perceive the female body, but through a man it brings harmony and novelty to family relationships.
Maple protects against harshness, relieves stress, helps to find common ground with other people. Gives strength, peace, balance, liberates from boiling passions. Protects the owner from unfair attacks and unnecessary claims from others. In addition, it can very actively correct the owner’s bad character, if, of course, he believes that he has one.
Buckthorn symbolizes humility, purity and innocence. Protects against negative energy. In magic it is used to remove spells and conspiracies.
Hazel (hazel) warns against rash actions and deeds, teaches insight and subtlety of perception. Helps get rid of excess authoritarianism. Promotes rapid recovery of strength.
Linden relieves stress, prevents unnecessary energy expenditure and protects against uninvited intrusions. In addition, it will help with inflammation of the pelvic organs and stomach disorders.
Larch. It is called a calming tree, or more precisely, a tree of enlightenment of the mind. If you are stubbornly haunted by fears, doubts, and causeless anxiety, relief will come from contact with larch, which will help you understand the true nature of human actions, especially those close to you. It fills a person with optimism. Eliminates melancholy and depression. Larch is a good anti-inflammatory tree. Recommended for people with respiratory diseases: such as bronchitis, asthma, etc. Helps with women's diseases.
Olive is a talisman against stress, overexertion, wrong actions, as well as the inability to quickly and clearly make the right decision. Helps you achieve harmony with yourself and satisfaction with your own destiny.
Juniper has strong cleansing potential. But its power is mainly directed not at people, but at the objects around us. It can cleanse an unfavorable aura in an apartment, and has a great effect on “evil” things, even jewelry. For a person, juniper can also be a great help in removing the evil eye or damage, and helps get rid of the effects of a love spell.
Alder. It helps especially well as a talisman for women, making them graceful and charming. It strengthens family ties, unites all family members, and tends to unite people into a clan. This is a tree for women - the guardians of the hearth, the tree of the “big house”. Alder will help you “tie” your husband to your home.
Nut- tree of victory over external circumstances. Helps to quickly restore strength. Provides many loyal companions. Makes a person resilient in the most unexpected situations.
Aspen– a tree that absorbs negative energy. It has the ability to relieve various pains (headache, dental pain, radiculitis, osteochondrosis) and cure various tumors. It will cleanse your aura of harmful influences. Communication with aspen helps with nervous conditions, obsessive thoughts, and causeless fear. But do not be too zealous in using its healing properties. Aspen also has powerful vampiric abilities, sucking energy during long contacts.
Fir eliminates depressed mood, helps to calmly survive the “dark streak” of life, increases endurance and vitality. It has a healing effect on the respiratory system, increases immunity, enhances visual acuity, and increases blood pressure during hypotension.
Rowan protects from the evil eye and damage, evil will. It is believed that rowan sharpens perception and develops the gift of foresight. Effectively cleanses the body of waste and toxins. For people who are easily excitable and nervous, it can be a soft source of energy. Contact with rowan can awaken the sexuality dormant in a woman. For mountain ash, the favorite female age is about 40 years. She gives such women a particularly warm autumn in love, full of strength.
Boxwood- an unusual tree. Strict and strong, wise and impetuous at the same time. Boxwood is used to make protective amulets against evil forces. It protects sleep and protects against energy vampirism.
Plum- This is an excellent talisman against accidents and against attacks on property. Teaches its owner not to get hung up on situations that disturb his vanity and not to be aggressive towards those who wish them well, but for this he chooses an emotional form of influence, forcing him to react with both reason and emotions.
Pine calms, relieves mental stress. It has a beneficial effect on the heart and respiratory organs, normalizes blood composition, and gives vigor. An excellent assistant for those who want to lose weight. Pine can cleanse a person’s aura from outside influences and partially remove damage. In the old days, it was believed that the smell of pine helped to get rid of feelings of guilt.
Rose hip responsible for the emotional side of love. Brings tenderness, spiritual passion, unity of souls into relationships. If you often fail, he will help you.
Apple tree-the tree of female power, female sexuality, awakens the sensual side of nature in a woman. She is more willing to share her powers with young girls. Under the influence of the energy of the apple tree, a girl can imagine the image of an ideal man suitable for her, and in a dream see her betrothed. The influence of the apple tree is very necessary for young, inexperienced and insecure girls. The apple tree is a tree with powerful nourishing energy.
Ash helps to achieve crystal clarity of consciousness and make the right decision in a difficult situation. Ash personifies the connection between what is above and what is below, that is, the connection between the world of gods and the world of people or the spiritual world and the material world. It helps to understand our purpose, sometimes its energy awakens the ability to clairvoyance, allows us to know the future, but it helps only those who are sincere in their desire for knowledge. Ash - will help you find inspiration.
TREE
The highest natural symbol of dynamic growth, seasonal dying and regeneration. Many trees have been considered sacred or magical in various cultures. Respect for the magical power of trees is based on primitive beliefs that gods and spirits live in them. The symbolism of animate trees has been preserved in European folklore in the images of the tree man or the green man. In fairy tales, trees can both protect and fulfill wishes, and cause obstacles and be frightening creatures.
ACACIA
A symbol of immortality, especially in the Jewish and Christian traditions. Acacias were used in the construction of shrines and tabernacles in temples. Red and white acacia flowers symbolize the dual unity of life and death.
BANYAN
Sacred tree of India; perhaps it was the banyan tree that became the initial model for the “inverted” Cosmic Tree of the Hindus and Buddhists. Through the exposed “aerial roots” of the banyan tree, in their opinion, the transcendental spirit of the universe is collected and concentrated. Sometimes temples are built among the numerous “aerial roots”.
BIRCH
A healing, protecting tree in northern Europe and among Asian peoples, the sacred tree of the German gods Thor and Freya, and in the east the main element of shamanic rituals, in which it plays the role of a Cosmic Tree, connecting the earthly and spiritual levels of the universe. The central pole of round Asian tents (yurts) was made from birch, which made it a sacred tree in initiation rituals, a symbol of a person’s spiritual ascent through life, as well as cosmic energy.
In Russia, the birch symbolizes spring and girlhood, and is the emblem of young women; it is planted near houses to call upon good spirits. Birch is the official national tree of Estonia.
HAWTHORN
In Europe, since ancient times, the tree and its flowers have been endowed with magical properties and associated with the name of the god of marriage, Hymen. Flowers were used for wedding wreaths, wood for wedding torches. The association between its spring bloom and virginity has led to the popular belief that it protects chastity.
ELDERBORN (SAMBOOK)
In Northern Europe, especially in Denmark, it was considered a magical tree. They believed that making furniture from its wood was a bad sign.
BRANCH (BRANCH)
The branches bore the symbolism of the tree from which they were cut, which was widely used in spring rites in honor of the gods of fertility. Waving a palm or olive branch was considered a sign of triumph during processions.
Sprigs of white mistletoe are a widespread symbol of rebirth, especially in Celtic regions. The blossoming branch was an allegory of logic in Western medieval iconography.
CHERRY
The emblem of the samurai, possibly related to the structure of this fruit - a hard stone under blood-red skin and flesh. In China, the cherry tree is a symbol of good luck, spring and virginity.
GINKGO
Sacred tree in China; growing near temples, symbolized immortality - thanks to its ancient history and durability. Ginkgo was especially associated with Japan, where it was a symbol of devotion - according to legend, the ginkgo is ready to die for its owner. Since ginkgo was said to help women produce milk, it was also considered a lucky tree for nursing mothers.
WALNUT
Like other nut-bearing trees, it symbolizes fertility and wisdom or prophecy - knowledge hidden within a hard outer shell. Walnuts were a traditional treat at the December solstice and an emblem of fertility at ancient Roman weddings. In China they were associated with courtship.
PEAR
Symbol of love and motherhood. The symbolism probably comes from the shape of the pear, which resembles the hip part of a woman's body or breasts. In ancient times, it was considered an attribute of the ancient Greek goddesses Hera (in Roman mythology, Juno) and Aphrodite (Venus). In China, this fruit is a symbol of longevity because pear trees live and bear fruit for a long time. Since white was considered a mournful color in China, a blooming pear was a funeral attribute.
BUDDHA TREE
The sacred fig tree (Bodhisattva tree), under which Gautama Buddha meditated until he achieved enlightenment; it is a Buddhist symbol of contemplation, learning and spiritual perfection.
JOJOBA TREE
In Taoism, it is a symbol of pure life, and its fruits are fruits that give immortality. This tree is found in the Islamic paradise as a symbol of the farthest reaches of time and space. In popular superstitions, its thorny shoots had protective powers.
WOOD
Protection is a symbol based on the ancient cults of the beneficial spirits of trees and on the universal tradition according to which the tree is the embodiment of maternal care and vitality. The superstitious touching of wood stems from the supposed magical powers contained within it. In the Indian tradition, wood is the primary substance that forms all things - Brahma. In China it is an emblem of spring and the east.
Power, endurance, longevity, nobility. The oak tree is sacred to the gods of thunder in Greece, Scandinavia, Germany and Slavic countries, perhaps because the oak tree was believed to be able to withstand a lightning strike.
In Druid beliefs, the oak symbolized the axis of the world, was a natural temple under which rituals were performed, and was associated with masculine strength and wisdom. Although the oak is considered primarily a masculine attribute, Cybele, Juno, and other mother goddesses were associated with the oak, and the dryads were nymphs of the oak. According to Greek legend, Hecracles had an oak club; According to some beliefs, Christ was crucified on an oak cross. Oak leaves are used as military insignia in many countries.
ACORN
Fertility, prosperity; a symbol of spiritual energy growing from the grain of truth. Part of the Old Norse cult of the oak tree, the acorn was an offering to the storm god Thor. The acorn supposedly has a phallic meaning on some Celtic carvings.
GINSENG
In the East, a symbol of courage. For centuries, ginseng medicines have been used in China as recognized aphrodisiacs. They were said to have a "divine" ability to provide physical and mental balance.
In the East, it is a symbol of the blossoming of sexual love, feminine grace, the bright sadness of separation, the ability to quickly restore mental strength and immortality.
As a lunar and feminine symbol, the willow tree is one of the most celebrated motifs in Chinese painting and decorative arts. She was a Taoist metaphor for patience and compliance. According to Tibetan tradition, willow is the Tree of Life. In Japan, the Ainu believed that the willow was the spine of the first man. Pain-relieving potions made from its bark, and perhaps the serpentine symbolism seen in its flexible branches, may explain its association with health, easy childbirth, and other medicinal and magical benefits in both Asian and Western traditions.
CHESTNUT
Chestnut has a strong energy charge. Chestnut is a sunny tree, it will give you warmth and energy, warm you up and nourish you with strength, burn out pain and malaise, but only if it is “favorable” to you. For Christians, Chestnut is a symbol of chastity; it gives believers strength in the fight against temptation. A chestnut with fruits on it is a symbol of the care and wisdom of providence, which protects all things.
CEDAR
The Tree of Life among the Sumerians, a symbol of power and immortality. The aroma, durability, and impressive height of this conifer have made it a biblical emblem of greatness and longevity, and its tree a symbol of Christ. Cedar was used in the construction of Solomon's Temple, to create Greek and Roman busts of gods and ancestors. Its durability may have been taken into account by Celtic embalmers who used cedar resin in their craft.
CYPRESS
In the West, it is a mystical symbol of death and mourning. In Asia, cypress is an emblem of longevity and immortality, like other long-living evergreen trees. In Phenicia it was considered the Tree of Life. In Greece, the cypress tree had a dual reputation: it was a symbol of the gloomy god of the underworld Hades and the more cheerful gods Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite and Hermes. This inconsistency may explain why it became a symbol of rebirth and life after death in mourning ceremonies.
LAUREL
Victory, peace, purification, protection, divinity, secret knowledge, immortality. Fragrant varieties of laurel were the coronation emblem in Greece and Rome, not only for warriors, but also for poets (which was associated with the god Apollo). He was believed to have purified himself in the laurel groves of the Tempean Valley of Thessaly after killing Python (the monstrous serpent) at Delphi; The soothsayer Pythia chewed laurel leaves before predicting the future.
Laurel was believed to be able to protect against epidemics and lightning; Emperor Tiberius also believed in this, clutching his laurel wreath during a thunderstorm. The nymph Daphne turned into a laurel to escape the harassment of Apollo. Laurel was associated with many gods, including Dionysus (Bacchus), Zeus (Jupiter), Hera (Juno) and Artemis (Diana); he was an emblem of peace and triumph. Laurel is considered a talisman in North Africa, and in China it is perceived as a tree, sitting under which the moon hare prepares the elixir of immortality. Laurel is also a Christian symbol of eternal life.
For Carl Jung, it is a symbol of the unconscious and its dangers, but in some traditions, especially Buddhist, it is an image of refuge.
In European folklore and fairy tales, the forest is a place of secrets, dangers, trials or initiations. Getting lost in the forest or finding your way through it are, respectively, metaphors for the lack of experience or the achievement of knowledge about the adult world or about oneself. For sedentary communities, the forest is an unexplored, uncontrolled habitat of minor gods and spirits, some of them terrible, like the Slavic forest spirit goblin.
Forest dampness, earthiness, and womb-like darkness were associated in the ancient world with the idea of growth and the feminine principle. For the Druids, the forest was the female partner of the sun. Understanding the forest and its plants and animals was a sign of the shamanic gift, especially in Central America. According to Asian tradition, the forest is an analogy to the wild desert of Middle Eastern hermits, a refuge from the world where one can immerse themselves in contemplation and spiritual improvement.
LINDEN
The tree of friendship and cooperation, symbolizing a return to the golden age of antiquity, but also related to the symbolism of village life, more often in Germany, where the linden tree is especially common in the countryside (as in some areas of France). As a honey tree, linden is associated with softness and healing properties.
SHEET
Chinese emblem of happiness. Leaves often symbolize the multiplicity of human lives and their brevity. Fallen autumn leaves - an ancient metaphor for the mortality of all living things - in the cinema of the 20th century. have become clichés for depicting the passing of time.
LARCH
The tree, which has the hardest and most durable wood (many buildings in Venice stand on larch trunks), is a symbol of immortality. Larch is considered the Tree of the World among the peoples of Siberia and can be used in mourning ceremonies as a symbol of rebirth.
MAYPOLE
The spring emblem of fertility and the return of the sun, which has deep traditions in ancient rituals dedicated to agriculture and resurrection, as well as the World Tree connecting heaven and earth. In England, the phallic symbolism of the Maypole and the licentious behavior of the people around it during May Day offended the Puritans.
Grueling dances were performed by the Plains Indians of North America, who used the pole as a symbol of the connection between the earth and the supernatural forces above. These dances conjured the sun, sometimes at the same time pieces of flesh were torn out from the warriors’ bodies, thus making a sacrifice to the daylight.
MANDRAKE
A Mediterranean narcotic plant of the nightshade family with a tuberous root resembling a human figure; he was credited with magical powers. In ancient Greek mythology, the mandrake was used to get rid of a love spell; as a libido enhancer in Egypt; as a fertility aid in Israel; as an aphrodisiac herbal drug in Rome. Superstitions associated with the mandrake led in medieval times to the idea that when the plant was dug up, it screamed so shrilly that one could die of terror.
ALMOND
Purity, hidden truth, the virgin birth - a mystical association that has both pagan and biblical roots.
The symbolism of almonds in Judaism is associated with the biblical story of Aaron - a dispute over who should become high priest was resolved by God's intervention: Aaron's staff miraculously blossomed and bore almond fruit. Arab mystics identified the sweet kernel of the almond, hidden under the shell, with the mystical essence hidden under the covers of the visible shell.
In China, almonds symbolized the yin principle in the dualistic philosophical system of yin-yang. This early flowering tree has also been associated with rebirth, caution, sophistication and sophistication.
MYRTLE
Sensual love, happy marriage, longevity and harmony. Perhaps because of its purple berries, this aromatic evergreen shrub (native to Mediterranean countries and sometimes used for wreaths for victors) was often associated with goddesses of love, especially Aphrodite (Venus in Roman mythology), and with the rites surrounding marriage and the birth of children. In the Mandaean sect it was considered a symbol of life. In China, myrtle is an emblem of success.
OLIVE
A blessed tree in ancient, Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions, widely known as a symbol of peace, as well as victory, joy, abundance, purity, immortality and chastity. Being an extremely important crop in the Mediterranean (early, abundant, long-term fruiting), the olive was considered a sacred tree in Ancient Greece, an attribute of the warlike goddess Athena. The goddess, according to legend, won the rivalry with Poseidon for patronage of the city of Athens, offering this tree to the townspeople. Olive is also associated with Zeus, Apollo, Hera, Cybele.
Brides pinned olive leaves (signifying virginity) to their dresses or carried them in their hands, and crowned the winners of the Olympic Games with olive wreaths. The olive finally became a symbol of peace in Ancient Rome, where its branches were presented to the Roman authorities by ambassadors of conquered peoples as a sign of the end of resistance. In Jewish and Christian symbolic systems, the olive branch carried by a dove to Noah's ark (originally having no other meaning than endurance), under the influence of Roman tradition, came to be interpreted as a sign of peace between God and man. In Western art, the olive branch is an attribute of allegorical images of Peace, Harmony and Wisdom.
In the Islamic tradition, the olive is the Tree of Life, a symbol of the Prophet and Abraham, one of the two forbidden trees in Paradise. In Japan, olive is an emblem of friendship and success, in China - calm and equanimity.
MISTLETE
The Celts' reverence for mistletoe (they thought it was a product of lightning) may have been reflected in Virgil's Aeneid (29-19 BC), where Aeneas held a branch of mistletoe in his hands to safely cross the afterlife. The "golden bough" of life, mistletoe unexpectedly becomes an instrument of death in the Scandinavian and Germanic myths of Balder, the god of light, who was killed by a stray arrow made from mistletoe. This apparent inversion of protective symbolism may signify the passage from life to death by means of a sacred plant. The Celtic tradition was apparently reflected in the Christian Christmas tradition of kissing under a mistletoe branch, foreshadowing a fruitful union.
NUT
A symbol of fertility, water, supernatural powers of divination and wisdom. In Northern Europe and the Celtic world, the walnut rod was a tool of wizards and fairies, fortune tellers and gold hunters. According to ancient tradition, it was the rod of Hermes, the messenger of the gods. The source of its mystical symbolism can be sought both in its deep roots (mystical powers of the underworld) and in its fruits (secret wisdom). Besides its use in witchcraft, the nut was a powerful symbol of fertility and rain; it was believed to bring good luck to lovers and, according to Scandinavian folklore, a cow driven with a walnut rod would produce abundant milk yield.
PALM
Victory, supremacy, fame, longevity, resurrection and immortality. The majestic palm tree with its huge, circular leaves was a symbol of triumph in the ancient Near East; it was equated with the Tree of Life in Egypt and Arabia. As a source of food, one species, the date palm, was also a symbol of femininity and fertility in China and Western Asia. Accordingly, the palm tree was associated not only with the cult of the sun (as in Ancient Greece, where it was considered an attribute of Apollo), but also with the goddesses Astarte and Ishtar.
The use of palm branches in victory ceremonies (and as a reward for the victorious gladiator) was borrowed from Christian tradition and commemorated the victory of Jesus Christ over death; His entry into Jerusalem is celebrated on Palm (in Russia - Palm) Sunday. In Christian fine art, the palm tree (a symbol of longevity or immortality) has become an attribute of many saints and martyrs, as well as allegorical figures of Victory, Glory and, in relation to the Virgin Mary, Chastity. The image of palm trees on mourning or funeral attributes symbolized resurrection.
PEACH
One of the most auspicious Chinese and Japanese symbols. The wood of the peach tree, its flowers and fruits were associated with immortality, longevity, spring, youth, marriage and protective magic. In Chinese myths, the peach Tree of Immortality, cared for by the Queen of Heaven, Xi Wang Mu, produced fruit every three thousand years. Shu Lao, the god of longevity, was usually depicted holding a peach or directly inside the fruit.
Peach wood was used to make wonderful bowls, prophetic figurines and images of patron gods; peach branches are used to decorate buildings during the Chinese New Year. The meaning of the peach as a plant that protects from harm is also found in Japan, in the legend of Izanagi, who defeated the thunder gods who were pursuing him by throwing three peaches at them. In both China and Japan, the peach flower is an emblem of purity and virginity. Peach is one of the three blessed fruits in Eastern Buddhism. In Renaissance art, a peach with a leaf was a symbol of truthfulness - an echo of ancient times, when this combination meant sincere, heartfelt speech.
IVY
Immortality and perseverance in life and aspirations. Because ivy leaves cooled the face, it was believed to prevent intoxication - ivy wreaths were worn by the Greek god Dionysus (Bacchus in Roman mythology) and his drunken retinue. Ivy also embodied the vitality of plants and was an attribute of the resurrecting gods - Osiris in Egypt, Dionysus in Greece and Attis in Phrygia.
The ivy entwined around the rod of Dionysus symbolizes the protective and feminine zeal of the followers of his cult. In late Christian art, ivy was a symbol of devotion as well as eternal life (based on the fact that it continues to grow on dead trees).
CHRISTMAS TREE
Symbolizes rebirth, usually the rebirth of light; solar symbolism dates back to the Roman festival of Saturnalia, where decorations made of evergreens signified the passing of the old year and the birth of a new one. The fir tree, decorated with lights and surrounded by sacrificial offerings in Teutonic Julitid rituals, is a more direct predecessor of the modern Christmas tree. Victorian ceremonies adopted these traditions in the middle of the last century. Balls, stars and crescents on a tree were once symbols of the Cosmos. In the Christian era, lights and candles began to symbolize human souls.
ROWAN
Rowan has long been held in high esteem in Rus'; many songs have been written about it. A rowan branch with ruby berries was perceived as a symbol of Perun’s club, capable of protecting a person from all troubles. Rowan is a symbol and guarantee of happiness and peace in the family, which is why our ancestors tried to plant rowan near the house. Blooming rowan brings freshness and vigor, improves mood. In world culture, rowan symbolizes wisdom and protects against fairies and magic.
In ancient traditions, the image of an ideal world, cosmic order and harmony is a lost and regained paradise. For all the world's major cultures, gardens represent both the visible blessing of God (the Divine Gardener) and the ability of man himself to achieve spiritual harmony, forgiveness and bliss. In the irrigated areas of Egypt and Iran, oasis-like planned gardens with shade-providing trees, flowers, scents, birds and flowing water became symbols of refuge, beauty, fertility, purity and the spring freshness of youth - a foretaste of the joys of immortality. The cruciform layout of the classical Persian garden, divided by four streams flowing from a central spring or fountain, is based on the mythical image of paradise ("paradise" is an etymological synonym for "garden").
In China, vast gardens with lakes, cliffs and mountains created during the Han Dynasty imitated the mythical Mysterious Islands where emperors hoped to find themselves as immortals. Kyoto, a perfect example of Japanese gardening art, is rich in spiritual symbolism. Some Indian gardens were shaped like a mandala. Aztec gardens, an image of the natural world in microcosm, included wild animals in addition to plants.
Roman feasts held in mortuary gardens symbolized the unifying food of Elysium. In psychology, a garden is a symbol of consciousness, as opposed to the desert of the unconscious, as well as the enclosing feminine principle.
PLUM
In China, where frost-resistant oriental plums bloom early, they are an important symbol of both longevity and virginity or happiness in marriage. Since the plum begins to bloom at the end of winter, it was considered - along with pine and bamboo - one of the Three Friends of Winter. Legend says that the great sage Lao Tzu was born under a plum tree. This tree was also the emblem of the samurai in Japan.
PLANT JUICE
The vital energy that permeates all living things is a symbolic means of rebirth, spirituality and immortality. Plant sap was universally associated with the inexhaustible supply and flow of seed, with the annual death and rebirth of the plant world, with the desire for divine light. The Dionysian cult of the grape in Ancient Greece and the Vedic cult of the elixir of immortality - soma - are the most significant expressions of these goals.
PINE, PINE CONE
In the Eastern tradition, it is the most important of all evergreen coniferous trees, symbolizing immortality or longevity. Like cedar, it was associated with resistance to decay and was therefore planted around graves. According to legend, mushrooms grew from its resin, which the Taoist Immortals ate. The species known in the West as Scotch pine is a favorite motif in Japanese and Chinese painting. The image of a lonely pine tree symbolizes longevity, while in a pair it symbolizes devotion in marriage. She is often depicted with other symbols of long life or rebirth - plum, bamboo, mushrooms, stork and white deer. The pine tree, an emblem of courage, determination and good fortune, is the tree of the Shinto New Year.
In the Scandinavian tradition, pine, like spruce, is a positive symbol dedicated to Odin (Wodan), as well as the center of Christmas rituals, which was then adopted throughout the Western world. The symbolism of the pine tree in Western Europe is associated with a rich harvest, high offspring of livestock, for example, in the Roman spring rites in honor of Cybele and Attis (whose symbol was the pine tree), which probably preceded the spring festival in honor of the Maypole. Pine was also considered the tree of Zeus (Jupiter in Roman mythology). The emblem of the god Dionysus (Bacchus) is the thyrsus - a rod with a pine cone tip. The cone itself was considered a phallic symbol of male fertility.
TAMARISK
A resinous desert tree of sacred significance. It was revered in Mesopotamia, Palestine and in Ancient Egypt (where it was associated with the resurrection of the god Osiris). In China, tamarisk was associated with immortality, in Japan - with rain.
The tree of immortality, which is often found in English cemeteries. Its wood is associated with strength, elasticity and magical properties. Bows and wands of the Druids were made from it. Folk beliefs claim that touching the yew tree brings good luck, but due to its poisonous leaves and seeds, it was considered bad luck to bring it into the house.
POPLAR
A symbol of duality in China, due to the fact that the leaves of the white poplar are dark on the upper (sunny) side and light on the lower (lunar) side. The ancient Greeks tried to explain this phenomenon in the myth of Hercules by saying that the hero put on a wreath of poplar branches before descending into the underworld. The smoke darkened the top side of the leaves and then lightened the bottom.
CANE
In the Japanese myth of the creation of the world by the god Izanagi, the reed is an emblem of purification, perhaps due to its connection with water.
In Celtic mythology, the reed is also a symbol of purification; superstitions attributed to it the ability to protect against witches. In Central America, it symbolized a rich harvest and fertility, and in Greece it was an emblem of music and the god Pan, who made the first reed pipe - hence one of the names of this instrument - “Pan’s flute.” The reed cross is a symbol of John the Baptist, who, as Christ said, was not like a reed shaken by the wind. The reed is also a symbol of the Passion of Christ: the crucified Christ was given a sponge soaked in vinegar, which was placed on the end of a reed stalk, to drink.
FIG TREE
Abundance, food, procreation. A sacred tree in many regions (Egypt, India, Southeast Asia and parts of Oceania). The significance of the fig tree in the ancient world was largely determined by its importance as a food product. The shape of the fig leaf (which covers the male genitals in many works of art) and the milky sap (a type of rubber) extracted from most types of fig trees added a sexual connotation to its symbolism. The Bible says that Adam and Eve were the first to use fig leaves to cover their nakedness after they ate the forbidden fruit and “realized that they were naked” (Genesis 3:7). In Ancient Greece, the fig was a phallic symbol and attribute of the fertility gods Priapus and Dionysus.
Christ placed a curse of barrenness on the fig tree, on which he found no fruit, after which it withered (Gospel of Matthew, 21:19) - for this reason, in Christian art, a withered fig tree symbolizes heresy. The fig often symbolized fertility, especially in Egypt, where its variety, the sycomora, was considered the Tree of Life. In Chad, it was believed that anyone who breaks a fig runs the risk of becoming infertile. The fig was also a symbol of fertility in India, where it was associated with the creative power of Vishnu and Shiva. For this reason, it is revered in the Buddhist tradition as an important symbol of moral enlightenment and immortality. According to Islamic tradition, the fig, like the olive, is a tree of paradise with forbidden fruits.
The popular fico (thumb between the index and middle finger) gesture was a medieval sign against the "evil eye" and was both obscene.
DATE FRUIT
In Africa and Western Asia it is an important food product. The date palm symbolizes fertility, especially male fertility, and the generosity of the gods. For this reason, the date has become a biblical symbol of those chosen ones who will receive blessings in Heaven. Columns in the form of date palms, characteristic of ancient Egyptian architecture, symbolized the Tree of Life.
ASH
The Scandinavian peoples have a Cosmic Tree, connecting the underworld, earth and heaven and symbolizing fertility, the unity of opposites, invincibility and continuity of life. In Greek mythology, ash represents strength and was associated with Zeus. In the folklore of the Baltic peoples, this tree was an emblem of simpletons, perhaps because its leaves appear quite late and fall off quickly.
