What does the tree symbol mean? Tree as a symbol: from religion to politics. From pagans to psychologists

Tree Symbolizes full manifestation; synthesis of sky, earth and water; dynamic life as opposed to the static nature of stone; simultaneously axis and imago mundi; the middle tree, connecting the three worlds, making communication between them possible and giving access to solar forces; omphalos and the center of the world. Wood also signifies the feminine; 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. The summer tree is a world in endless renewal and rebirth, the principle of dying in order to live, resurrection, reproduction, the world of life. Both trees symbolize diversity in the one, many branches growing from one root and again returning to the one in the potential of the seed of the fruit. The Cosmic Tree is depicted either with diverging and converging branches, or having two trunks and a single root, which indicates the universality of the manifestations of the material world, going from unity to diversity and back to unity. The unity of Heaven and Earth can also be conveyed through two trees connected by one branch on which a shoot grows, symbolizing the unity of complementary principles (male and female, etc.) or androgyne. Two trees, one of which is a reflection of the other, have the same symbolism. As the world axis, the tree is associated with the mountain and the column, that is, with everything that has axis symbolism. A tree, 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. Tree symbols include a column, a pole, a jagged pole, a branch, etc. They are often depicted accompanied by a snake, a bird, stars, fruits, and various lunar animals. Trees that bear the fruit of life are sacred. These include grapevine, mulberry, peach, date, almond and sesame. 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 also symbolizes the beginning and end of the 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 the fruit from the Tree of Life (the peach of immortality, growing in the middle of the Taoist-Buddhist Western Paradise), or by drinking the moisture obtained from this Tree (Iranian haoma). The Tree of Knowledge is often depicted as a vine (in vino veritas). Trees of paradise, strewn with precious stones instead of flowers or fruits, are mentioned in descriptions of Indian, Sumerian, Chinese and Japanese paradise. A dying god is always killed on a tree. The inverted tree is a widespread symbol of magical action: its upward-pointing roots symbolize the foundations, and its branches symbolize their implementation in the manifestations of the material world. At the same time, the high falls, and the low rises, which personifies the reflection of the earthly and heavenly worlds in each other, the return of knowledge to their foundations. In addition, an inverted tree can mean the Sun sending its rays to the Earth, the downward force of Heaven, inspiration. In initiation ceremonies it symbolizes the retrogression and death of the initiate. On urns containing the ashes of the dead, an upside down tree symbolizes death. The Tree of Sephiroth is often depicted upside down. The Tree of Light, or the Heavenly Tree shining in the night, symbolizes rebirth, and the candles and lamps on this tree represent the soul. This symbolism can be seen with the Buddhist tree at the festival of the dead, the Christian Christmas tree, the pine of Attis and Dionysus, the Teutonic spruce of Woden, in which the lights and luminous balls symbolize the sun, moon and stars on the branches of the Cosmic Tree. Gifts hung on such trees were sacrifices to Dionysus and Attis, Atargitis and Cybele. Woden gave gifts to those who honored his tree. A sacred bird is often depicted on its branches. The Tree of Fresh Dew, or the Singing Tree, is located at the top of the Sacred Mountain and is the axis of the world. The tree entwined with a snake symbolizes, respectively, the axis mundi and the cycles of manifestations of the material world. A snake or dragon guarding a tree means the difficulty of acquiring wisdom. On the other hand, the snake can seduce a man or woman into acquiring immortality or knowledge by obtaining the fruit of this tree for them and for itself too. The tree, stone and altar together symbolize the microcosm, where the stone represents the eternal and unchanging, and the tree - transient and changeable. A tree can personify a deity and be its herald, like the oak of Dodona, the burning bush of Moses, or the sounds in the tops of the mulberries (2nd Epistle to the Samaritans, 5). Trees with ten or twelve birds symbolize the solar cycle, and trees with three birds symbolize the lunar phases. To climb onto the derem means to move from one ontological plane to another, to ascend to the gods in Heaven or to a higher reality, to gain esoteric knowledge by going beyond the world. In shamanism, one can reach other realms and gain magical knowledge by climbing poles, vines, bean stalks or other climbing plants. The crooked tree is considered sacred and can have a positive or negative magical effect on a person. In alchemy, wood signifies the prima materia, the cause and result of the Work. Among the Arabs, the Zodiac is symbolized by a fruit tree with twelve branches, the fruits of which are stars. Among the Australian aborigines, the World Tree supports the vault of heaven, and its branches are strewn with stars. For Buddhists, the fig tree, sacred ficus or bo tree (Ficus religiosa), under which the Buddha gained enlightenment, is the Sacred Center. The tree is a symbol of the Great Awakening, the Tree of Great Wisdom, the essence of Buddha. Its roots are deep in stability, . whose flowers are moral acts, . the fruits of which are virtues (Buddhakarita). In the Celtic epic, different trees are considered sacred: oak, birch, hazel, ash, yew. The Druid oak and mistletoe symbolize the masculine and feminine principles. Jesus appears at the willow tree. Gallic alder and yew are considered sacred trees, and Irish holly, yew and Gaelic rowan have magical powers. Kentigern or Mungo is associated with a tree. The Chinese consider different trees to be the Tree of Life. Sometimes it is peach, mulberry or plum, and in Taiwan and among the Miao tribes it is bamboo. The Tree of Life, like the Tree of Fresh Dew, grows on the top of the sacred Kun-Lun Mountain and is the axis of the world. Under the branches of the Annual Tree, twelve animals are depicted, symbolizing the constellations and Symbolic Animals of the Twelve Earthly Branches. Trees with pairs of intertwining branches symbolize the union of pairs of opposites or pairs of lovers. The ideographic image of the sun with a tree signifies sunset; if the sun rests on a tree - the end of the cycle; the sun falling on the roots of a tree is darkness; tree with ten suns - completion of the cycle. 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 a symbol of the central cross on Calvary. This tree was the emblem of Saint Zenobia. Among the Egyptians, the Sycamore Tree of Life has magical arms full of gifts and pours water from a vessel as a symbol of fertility. Hathor can be depicted as a tree that provides food and survival. The tree-like heather contained the coffin of Osiris. In Greco-Roman mythology, the oak was originally considered the tree of the heavenly god Zeus (Jupiter). The trees of the solar god Apollo were considered to be palm, laurel and olive. Various trees were dedicated to Artemis: in Laconia she was called Caruatis and a walnut tree was dedicated to her; the tree of Artemis Soteira of Boia is the myrtle from which Adonis was born; Elm, oak and cedar are dedicated to Artemis of Ephesus. The vine is dedicated to Dionysus (Bacchus), the olive to Hercules, the plane tree to Helen of Sparta, the laurel to Daphne. Wood and grafting hook are Sylvan's attributes. In Jewish Kabbalah, the Tree of God symbolizes all of creation and the material world. The Dew of Light flows from the Tree of Life, and with its help the dead are resurrected. In the Tree of Sephiroth, the columns of the right and left hands symbolize duality, and the central column balances them and restores unity. It is often depicted upside down. The Tree of Life stretches from top to bottom and is the Sun that illuminates everything (Zohar). This tree has its own rich symbolism. The Jewish Tree of Life grows in the middle of the Holy City. For Indians, the cosmos is a huge tree, the roots of which go to the underworld, the trunk is in the earthly world, and the branches are in the heavens. Brahman was a tree, Brahman is the tree from which Heaven and Earth were created (Taittiriya of Brahman). This is a deity in a manifested state. The Cosmic Tree is sometimes depicted growing from a Cosmic Egg floating in the Ocean of Chaos. The Tree of Life is Aditi, the essence of personality, while Diti (separation) is the dualistic Tree of Knowledge, or Samsara, which Vishnu cuts down with its axe. The Adityas, the twelve signs of the zodiac and the months of the year, are symbolized by a tree with twelve suns, which will appear simultaneously at the end of the cycle as a manifestation of the One. Sometimes two trees are depicted with trunks superimposed on one another: one tree is heavenly, and the other is earthly. This means that they are only a reflection of each other, two sides of the same essence. The triple tree with three suns symbolizes the trimurti. The burning bush becomes the Cosmic Tree in the Vedic fire symbolism of Agni, which is also associated with the tree as a sacrificial pillar. On Mount Meru grows the Parajita tree, which fills the whole world with the aroma of its flowers. The Rig Veda mentions an inverted Asvattha tree. The Iranian Cosmic Tree has seven branches: gold, silver, bronze, copper, tin, steel and iron alloy. They symbolize the seven stages of history and seven planets, each of which rules the world for a thousand years. There is also the symbolism of two trees: the white haoma, the heavenly tree growing on the top of the sacred mountain and axis of the world Alborj, and the yellow tree, which represents the earthly reflection of the haoma. The walnut tree is also considered the Tree of Life. In Zoroastrianism there are also two trees: the Tree of the Solar Eagle, which grew from the primordial ocean, and the Tree of All Seeds - the embryos of all living things. Muslims have the Tree of Blessing, which is neither East nor West, and therefore correlates with the Center and symbolizes spiritual blessing and illumination, the light of Allah, with which he sanctifies the earth. This tree is the olive, providing both food and oil for lamps. The inverted Tree of Happiness has grown with its roots into the highest heavens and spread its branches over the entire earth. From this Heavenly Tree, Tuba or Sidra, growing in the center of paradise, flow four rivers of water, milk, honey and wine. The Lot tree symbolizes the impassable border. The Cosmic Tree grows on top of the Cosmic Mountain and symbolizes the entire universe. For the Japanese, the Tree of Life is the mythological Sakati. Bonsai trees symbolize nature in its simplicity and wisdom. Among the peoples of Mexico, the Cosmic Tree is the agave, a cactus exuding milk, which, together with the falcon, symbolizes the power of the sun or the liberation of the new moon. In Mithraism, the Tree of Life is a pine tree. Among the Scandinavians it is yggdrasil or ash. The Lerad tree grows near the walls of Valhalla, and the goat Heidrum plucks the young shoots from its branches and gives honey to the warriors to drink. In shamanism, the Tree of Life is a birch tree with seven branches. Sometimes it may be stylized as a pole with seven marks symbolizing the seven planets and the seven stages of ascent to the heavens, with its branches representing the vault of stars. In the Sumerian-Semitic tradition, the Tree of Life symbolizes cosmic renewal; it has seven branches - seven planets and seven heavens. The universe revolves around the Babylonian Tree of Life, its branches are made of lapis lazuli, and on them are wonderful fruits. The pine tree is dedicated to the Phrygian Attis. Palm - Tree of Life of Babylon, Phenicia and Chaldea. The vine is dedicated to the Babylonian Siduri and is considered the Assyrian Tree of Life. The Akkadian willow is dedicated to the Akkadian Zeus, and the palm, pomegranate and cypress are sacred trees of the Semites. The Syrian Ashtoreth and Astarte may be symbolized by a non-iconic tree trunk. For Taoists, the Tree of Immortality is a peach. Trees with pairs of intertwining branches or with one common branch symbolize pairs of opposites, yin and yang in a single Tao. Among the Teutons, the Tree of Life was Wodan's spruce, and later the linden. The spruce became the New Year's tree.

Dictionary of symbols. 2000 .

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, Turkey)

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 Tree of Life symbol, also called the Table of Peace in some sources, has been used by many peoples. Our ancestors, the Slavs, Scandinavians and even the Egyptians, have mentions of it.

The image of the Tree of Life was a thick trunk with a branched crown, whose branches with leaves spread so widely that they reached their own roots. The circle in which the tree is located symbolizes the foundation, the basis of all living things.

Despite the individual characteristics of each people and their religion, the general meaning of this sign comes down to the same thing. The meaning of the symbol is to unite the three worlds - the divine, the human and the world of the dead, creating absolute harmony.

Variants of the symbol among different peoples

The Tree of Life amulet is one of the oldest; it was used in many countries.

The tree symbolizes life and harmony.

• Scandinavian legends tell about the tree Yggdrasil, which shared its knowledge and wisdom with the supreme deity Odin, and also revealed to him the secret of runic symbols.
• The ancient Egyptians associated the Tree of Life with the goddess Iusat, considering acacia to be her attribute. They believed that it was she who served as a conductor between the world of the dead and the living.
• Persian ideas about the World Tree focused on its fertility, considering it the source of all life.
• Medieval alchemists were much more interested in the aspect of immortality, which, among other things, was also symbolized by the tree.

The most common is the Celtic image of the Tree of Life, made in a characteristically patterned style using knots. Druids, Celtic priests, considered the oak tree to be the most sacred tree. For them, it was the center of the universe and the door to passage to another world.

World Tree among the ancient Slavs

For the Slavs, the symbol of the Tree of Life was no less important than for representatives of other nations. In terms of importance, it could only be compared with solar signs. But they reflect only one side of the culture of our ancestors, telling about the once existing cult of the sun.

If you are interested in Slavic amulets, you will like ours about them.

In Slavic legends, the World Tree grew on the Alatyr stone, on the island of Buyan.

The Tree of Life can tell us almost everything about the world order of the ancient Slavs. For them, as for the Celts, it became the center of the world, the central axis on which Rule, Reality and Nav intersect. For the Slavs, the Pillar of Life personified the unity of two opposites - light and darkness, the connection with the Family, the endless cycle of rebirth, renewal and prosperity.

In the culture of our ancestors, the symbol is closely associated with. According to legends, the World Tree grew on the Alatyr Stone, which once fell from the sky. The gods sat near that stone, resting from their worries, a stream with Living Water flowed under it, and the Eternal Fire blazed nearby.

The meaning of the amulet

The Tree of Life amulet not only symbolizes harmony, it also means continuous growth and transformation of the old into the new, the transition to a new stage, a round of development.

The owner of the amulet receives the support of both the gods and ancestors.

The owner of such a talisman receives very powerful support. It is worth noting that he will be protected not only by the gods, but also by his ancestors. This is rare for amulets. Mostly they help to receive the support of supreme beings, but only a few are able to help find a connection with the forefathers.

This stems from the fact that one of the interpretations of the symbol, in addition to the trinity of the world, is also considered to be the connection between the past - the roots, and the future - the branches of the tree. Such a connection between generations will allow the owner of the amulet to gain wisdom and feel more confident on the path of life.

Another widespread symbol of wisdom is, or the Eye of Horus.

With the help of the Tree of Life a person will be able to:

• get rid of the desire to lead a life without aspirations;
• become more reasonable and responsible;
• receive protection from various negative influences;
• provide a favorable environment in the home.

Who is this talisman suitable for?

The Tree of Life amulet is perhaps the most universal one you can find. This image is found in many religions. Moreover, not only in the old pagan ones, but also in the relatively young Christianity. It is precisely this widespread distribution that allows the amulet to be used by people of almost any religion, without violating either the laws of conscience or the foundations of the accepted faith.

The amulet is suitable for people of any age and gender.

The Sacred World Tree symbolizes the simultaneous connection with all generations - present, past and future. Therefore, a person of any age, including even the smallest children, can wear such a talisman. In terms of gender, there are also no restrictions, because the Tree of Life contains harmonious energy that is equally well compatible with both the male and female sex.

The symbol can be used as a personal amulet, but will also become an excellent family amulet, improving the atmosphere of the house and protecting its inhabitants.

How to make an amulet with your own hands

Some Slavic scholars are confident that the World Tree amulet, made with one’s own hands, can provide much greater returns than a purchased one. Others argue that when making it yourself, power is lost, and only a person with magical abilities should charge the item.

There is still no general consensus on making amulets yourself.

If you are one of the people who adhere to the first point of view, you can try to make a talisman yourself.

You can make a World Tree pendant from:

• wood;
• metal (preferably silver);
• natural threads;
• wire and beads (can be replaced with beads or small stones);

The Tree of Life as a talisman or amulet most often appears in the form of decoration or embroidery. The last option is more suitable for women, because men very rarely do needlework. But embroidery has its own nuances. The selection of colors and fabric is important, as well as the need to embroider at a certain time and only when you are feeling well.

This is why many people opt for a tattoo much more often. Not only is it easier, but it also looks stylish. The symbol is perfect for a tattoo, unlike many others, it does not impose any restrictions on age, gender or place of application.

If we talk about making a talisman-decoration, then a wooden base requires considerable skills. Therefore, this sign is much more often found in the form of jewelry.

To make it you will need:

• a ring of intertwined wire or metal;
• wire to match the ring;
• beads, beads or semi-precious stones with holes;

You can make an amulet with your own hands from wire and beads.

Use a loose roll of wire to weave the trunk. The roots should be left empty, and stones should be strung on the top - they will symbolize leaves or fruits. When the image of the tree is ready, all that remains is to connect it to the circle, weaving it using the same wire.

Don't forget to make an eyelet near the tree's crown so that you can thread a chain or cord through the hole. This ready-made amulet, like others, requires activation, as well as regular cleansing of accumulated negativity.

You can learn more about creating the Tree of Life amulet with your own hands from the video:

The tree of life is an undeniable symbol of the universe. In any culture, the image has certain canons: a thick straight trunk turning into roots and a crown that have a mirror image and intertwine into a single circle. Circle formed by roots and crown personifies the infinity of life, constant rebirth and development, as well as the connection of all times.

The Tree of Life is the basis of the laws of the universe.

Using an image as a talisman has a positive effect on everyone.

The meaning of the tree of life amulet

The amulet can be made using any technique.

The Slavic tree of life is a symbol of harmonious development and continuous growth. It personifies the endless development and transformation of the old obsolete into something newer, younger.

The meaning in protective magic goes beyond the simple protection of the gods. This personifies the connection with ancestors, gods and the universe. The amulet with ancestral memory is available for use for babies from birth.

It can be used as a family item: a panel with an image, carvings, clay or metal products, embroidery and application to walls or fabric.

The image of the tree of life is considered a powerful amulet.

As a personal talisman, it can be worn in the form of a pendant, ring, bracelet, earrings or other jewelry.

The “tree of life” amulet has colossal energy similar to the energy of the symbol.

Helps to find harmony with the inner world;

promotes the correct intrauterine development of the child when carried by a pregnant woman;

in case of problems with pregnancy, it helps to conceive and give birth to a healthy baby;

harmonizes family relationships;

protects the family from litter, misunderstanding and insults;

attracts good luck;

maintains health;

protects against the evil eye, damage and negative energy.

The Tree of Life amulet is suitable for newborn children.

DIY tree of life

The painting is a talisman that protects the house and all family members from external and internal negativity.

The amulet has great energy if it is made with your own hands or as a gift to loved ones.

The material can be:

• metal (preferably silver);

• natural threads;

  beads or beads;

• wire.

tattoo - amulet

The method of making a home or personal talisman depends on the skill and can be made using any technique.

The easiest way to make an amulet will depend on the artist, you can embroider a picture or on the clothes of relatives, draw with paints on a wooden base, paint windows using the stained glass painting technique, crochet in the form of a toy, knit a pattern for a children's blanket, blanket or jacket, carve on wood .

To create a pendant pendant from wire and beads you will need:

• thin wire for weaving roots and branches,
• beads or beads,
• base ring (you can weave it yourself from wire or buy a ready-made one).

You can use a do-it-yourself amulet made of wire and beads as a pendant or keychain.

Manufacturing progress:

1. cut thin wire into pieces of approximately 15-20 cm in multiples of 3;
2. winding it around the ring to form roots,
3. connect all the wires into a single trunk,
4. from the trunk make branches into branches, which you further divide into smaller ones in random order, leaving the ends loose,
5. you can put beads or beads on the “branches”,
6. weave each branch into a common circle.
7. The finished amulet can be used as a pendant around the neck, above the crib, or in a child’s room.

The tree of life is firmly rooted in different cultures; it symbolizes the structure of the universe. The roots are the Navi world (the underworld), the trunk is the waking world (the real world), and the crown symbolizes the government - the world of the gods. Using the world tree growing on the Alatyr stone, located on the island of Buyan, many heroes of folklore travel through the worlds in search of their truth. After all, a tree is an axis that connects all worlds into one.

Another meaning is the connection of times: the past is the roots, the present – trunk, future – crown.

The image of the world tree is also a symbol of the clan, ancestral memory, where the roots are our parents (and all past generations), the trunk is ourselves, and the branches and leaves represent our descendants (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren).

It is believed that the more powerful the ancestral connection (roots), the stronger the crown (children and grandchildren), it is not for nothing that the history of the genus is studied by compilinggenealogical tree.

M Ir tree in Slavic mythology

The tree of life in Slavic mythology is a model of world structure.

In Slavic mythology, the world tree personifies the universe, Iriy (paradise) is located in the crowns, where the light gods live, the roots are the world of Navi - the patrimony of other gods of darkness.

The trunk is a symbol of earthly life, a habitat for people and various animals and birds.

Often found in rituals where it symbolizes the arrival of the new year, the trunk is a prototype of the road of life, and the tree is also a powerful symbol personifying fertility, procreation, and wisdom.

In ancient times, all temples and temples were built around a powerful tree, the crown of which rose above the roof, symbolizing the firmament.

The Slavic tree of life is the center of the universe connecting all worlds. The semantic load is the infinity of development and rebirth, the connection between light and darkness, people and gods, the living and the dead.

There is a description of the tradition of building a house using the image of the universe. The young tree was planted in the center of the future housing and remained inside until construction was completed. After completion, the structure was dug up and transplanted to another location.

World tree in different cultures

D The tree of life is often found in the myths of different cultures. It always symbolizes the world order and the strong connection of both worlds (present, underground and heavenly) and generations.

Scandinavian culture. Yggdrasil, as a symbol of wisdom and secret knowledge, taught Odin many secrets and gave runic writing.

In Egypt, the sacred acacia is a conductor between the world of the living and the dead.

In Persian culture, it personifies fertility and is considered the source of all living things, as well as life itself.

In the teachings of alchemists, the tree personifies immortality.

For the Celts, the sacred oak symbolizes the center of the entire universe. Provides communication between all worlds.

Image on objects and amulets

Embroidery or knitting pattern for a talisman for the whole family. The tree can be supplemented with other patterns and symbols.

The image of a tree can be found on all household items, clothing, bedding, personal and household talismans.

A knitted blanket with a tree pattern will be an excellent amulet for a newborn baby.

You can use any knitting pattern you like or draw it yourself.

Crochet pattern.

This crocheted tree of life will be a wonderful home decor item.

Pugacheva I.I.

Children's art school No. 2 of applied and decorative arts named after V.D. Polenova, e-mail: [email protected]

In applied art, old forms, motifs, symbols, emblems and individual compositions retain their vitality indefinitely, passing from one cultural era to another without any special external changes. “The study of paganism is not only a deepening into primitiveness, but also a path to understanding the culture of the people” - B.A. Rybakov.

Almost always, the Tree of Life connects three worlds: ours, heaven and hell, or is a link between the upper world, the world of mortals and the lower, underground, that is, the other world. Birds, souls and saints live in the crown of the Tree; at the roots there are chthonic and demonic creatures (snakes, demons, etc.). Also, it can be a symbol of human life, as the process of birth, direct existence, death and rebirth (new birth). 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. The Tree of Life is the source of life, a symbol of rebirth, happiness, and prosperity. The ternary system of cosmogenesis represents a world of three classes of creatures (birds, animals, amphibians), includes temporal concepts (past, present, future), three parts of the body (head, torso, legs), three elements (fire, earth, water).

In mythological and religious systems, the ascending line of life is especially emphasized - from birth to the maximum stage of growth - flowering and fruiting. The most obvious way of life was found in the plant world, more precisely, among trees, especially those whose lifespan significantly exceeded that of human life (oak, sycamore - white maple, grows in Ukraine, willow, larch, cedar, sycamore - ficus of the mulberry family, homeland Egypt, in the Middle East the tree is untouchable, banyan is an Indian ficus from the mulberry family with the largest crown, yew is the longest-living tree, the age of the oldest yew is estimated at nine thousand years).

The image of the Tree of Life is a single harmonious composition, where a trunk, stem, sprout, bud, blossoming flower, fruit can be used, indicating the course of life. Often the Tree of Life is presented as a female (maternal) character, or at least as its abode. In some archaic traditions, the Tree of Life is depicted as the feminine principle, with which the animals associated with the middle part of the tree (trunk) are combined and are carriers of the fertilizing force. The idea of ​​abundance, the highest degree of fertility, correlated with the Tree of Life, explains the frequent image of double (or paired) trees and, accordingly, double fruits.

In Christianity, it is a special tree planted by God in the middle of the Garden of Eden. It bears fruit 12 times a year, which gives a person immortality, eternal youth and heals any disease. The Tree of Life served as a model of a blissful and grace-filled life with the Lord. In Christianity, the tree of life also 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.

The mythological plot of salvation with the help of a tree as the acquisition of life further expands the sphere in which the Tree of Life appears. An example is the extremely widespread fairy-tale motif, where the hero, having defeated the snake, escapes from the underground kingdom of death by climbing to the top of a wonderful tree, from where he is carried away by a bird (eagle); It is characteristic that the hero usually frees the princess, his future wife, and brings living water with him to the earth.

Patterns with the Tree of Life and birds sitting on or near it are found in the applied art of Ancient Rus' in medieval embroidery; they were also common in the peasant art of Russia in the 19th century. They are present in wood carving, wood painting, weaving, and Russian painted lubok. In pagan antiquity, paradise, called “irey” or “vyry”, was located in the sky, where the kingdom of birds is. Therefore, a tree surrounded by birds on the branches, with a motif of horse heads at the base of the tree, which served as amulets, symbols of the hearth and a solar sign at the top, was perceived as an image of the tree of paradise, the eternal symbol of the Tree of Life (Fig. 1). The triangular hill (world mountain) from which the tree grows can also serve as an indication of the Tree of Life (Fig. 2). Sometimes the image of the Tree of Life becomes completely miniature - a leaf with a bird on its top.

Peasant art has always been fueled by folklore poetic images, where the Tree of Life is one of the favorite motifs, a flowering and fruit-bearing tree, as a symbol of the beauty of nature, joy, and optimism.

The Tree of Life motif can be seen in various compositions in folk art. Often the Sirin bird is depicted with a branch, which symbolizes the Tree of Life, and Alkonost with a flower in his hand (Fig. 3).

Rice. 3. Russian popular print. Late 18th – early 19th century

The flourishing tail of a lion is also a Tree. On the ceremonial decoration “Suzdal Mantle” of the late 12th – first quarter of the 13th century, ancient Russian goldsmiths depicted an ornament in the form of a flourishing cross (Fig. 4). And in Russian embroidery, it is sometimes difficult to accurately determine the motif of the female goddess, the woman in labor, or the Tree. But in terms of semantic meaning, all these symbols are close and relate to fertility.

Rice. 4. Suzdal mantle (ceremonial decoration). The end of the XII - the first quarter of the XIII century. Vladimir province

In Russian painted lubok one can find the “Tree of Reason”, on which edifying sayings were enclosed in ornamented circles or were written on the wide curved leaves of a tree-bush, like a tree of wisdom with useful advice and instructions

In the sphere of ritual, the image of the Tree of Life is most often realized in connection with the positive member of the complex: birth - fertility - death (the role of trees in fertility rituals, weddings, etc.). In Slavic mythology, a tree is an object of worship. People came to sacred trees to perform various rituals in order to get rid of diseases, the evil eye, damage, and infertility. Those who came brought sacrifices and gifts, prayed, touched the tree bark, “confessed,” repented of their sins, and asked the tree for forgiveness.

Oak- in the traditional culture of the Slavs, one of the most revered trees, symbolizing strength, strength and masculinity, as well as personifying the object and place of religious rites and sacrifices. Among the Slavs, oak was associated with the upper world. Positive meanings were attributed to it. In Slavic languages ​​and dialects, the word “oak” often means “tree”, for example, the Serbs said that the oak is the king of the tree. The world tree in Slavic mythology is similar to an oak tree, only it does not grow acorns, but the seeds of all plants on earth. Echoes of these ideas about a tree growing on earth but reaching heaven have been preserved in numerous fairy tales.

The Slavs had a revered “female” tree birch. To Bereza, the girls complained about an unlovable groom, an unfaithful lover, a villainous homewrecker. Birch trees were decorated with ribbons, beads, and scarves. White color was considered the color of death among the Slavs, so the birch was an intermediary between the world of the living and the dead. The green foliage symbolized life, that is, the birch tree personified both life and death at once.

Apple tree- not a simple tree for a Russian person. It is no coincidence that it is mentioned in many wedding songs and fairy tales. Popular wisdom reasoned correctly: the Tree of Life should contain fruits that bestow immortality or eternal youth. The fruit that brings immortality in a fairy tale must be beautiful, golden, tasty and sweet. Our people chose the apple as the fruit of immortality. But apples don’t grow on oaks, so the sacred oak, the tree of Perun the Thunderer in fairy tales turned into an apple tree.

In some folk conspiracies, along with oak, birch acts as the World Tree willow, the center of the universe. The willow was the personification of thunderstorms, lightning, and clouds carrying rain. Hence the idea that the willow can protect from storms, lightning, thunder, and thunder and has power over the weather.

Spruce and pine- the oldest trees of Russian forests. Pine is an evergreen tree, a symbol of eternity, longevity and immortality, perseverance and overcoming adverse circumstances. In Rus', spruce was a sacred tree, reflecting two ideological approaches at once: first - good to the house, protection of the house, protection from disease, healing, etc.; the second is the reception of the dead, their commemoration, funeral rituals. The origin of the word “spruce” is spruce, sharp, prickly. For the cultural use and symbolism of spruce, its natural properties as an evergreen, sharp, prickly, fragrant, “female” tree are essential. They are characterized by a pyramidal crown reaching almost to the ground. The Russians compared the symbolism of eternal life with spruce.

Hazel or hazel- a sacred tree, associated with the afterlife in popular beliefs, was used as a talisman against evil spirits.

Aspen- in folk tradition, an “unclean” tree cursed by God. At the same time, aspen was also used as a remedy against evil spirits.

Rowan- a talisman tree used in magic and folk medicine. Rowan played a special role in wedding ceremonies as protection against the evil eye.

Among the Western and Eastern Slavs, the linden tree is closely associated with Christian legends: the tree was considered the tree of the Virgin Mary, and they said that when the Virgin Mary descends from heaven to earth, she rests on the linden tree. Icons and images were hung on the linden tree; there were beliefs that it was on the linden tree that miraculous icons most often appeared. One of the Christian legends says that the linden tree became a refuge for the Virgin Mary when she fled to Egypt with her little son.

The symbolic meaning of the Tree of Life is not as clear as it seems at first glance. Although in the mythology of different cultures the symbol of the Tree of Life has a similar meaning and description. The tree of life is a symbol of fertility, eternal rebirth and renewal. The Tree of Life, one of the variants of the image of the World Tree - the world axis, the center of the world and the embodiment of the universe as a whole. The image of the World Tree has been established for different traditions since the Bronze Age.

Literature

1. Itkina E.I. Russian hand-drawn popular print from the late 18th – early 20th centuries. M., 1992.
2. Koshaev V.B. Composition in Russian folk art. M., 2006.
3. Lavrova S.A. Slavic mythology. M., 2011
4. Rybakov B.A. Paganism of the ancient Slavs. M., 1994.
5. Shaparova N.S. Brief encyclopedia of Slavic mythology. M., 2004.