The Tree of Life is an ancient mystical symbol appearing in various cultures from the Mayans to the Celts, Buddhism to Nordic mythology.

While these cultural legends centred around the sacred Tree of Life may differ in their detail, their stories symbolise similar overarching concepts linked to religion, philosophy and spirituality.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the universal meanings behind the Tree of Life symbol, and how these may guide you in your own life’s journey. 

Everything in life is connected

The Tree of Life symbol is commonly depicted as a large tree with roots that spread inward to the ground, and branches that spread outward to the sky. This represents the interconnected nature of all things in the universe; an eternal bonding of the physical realm we are rooted in, and the spiritual realm we are reaching for. The Tree of Life serves as a reminder of our universal connection to the Mother Earth, and our dependence on her to grow and flourish.

Family and ancestry

We often use the term ‘family tree’ in relation to our ancestry. Through its intricate layout of branches, the Tree of Life symbol represents a connection to family, these shared roots linking us to our past and future generations. The life of a tree can be seen to symbolise the growth of family - a tree sprouts from a seed and as it grows and branches out, it gives new fruit and life to the next generation.

A symbol of re-birth

As the seasons move into autumn and winter, many trees will enter a hibernation phase and lose their leaves. Come springtime however, trees will slowly re-emerge, sprouting tiny buds at first before blossoming to life. Much like the life cycle of trees, our lives can experience seasons of darkness and light, death and re-birth. The Tree of Life symbol therefore represents re-birth, positive energy and new beginnings.

A symbol of personal growth, strength and beauty

The Tree of Life symbol represents our personal development, uniqueness and individual beauty. Just as the branches of a tree strengthen and grow upwards to the sky, we too grow stronger, striving for greater knowledge, wisdom and new experiences as we move through life. All trees begin life in the same way, yet as they grow older, they weather nature’s forces and develop in their own unique and beautiful ways.

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