Etz Chaim, Hebrew for "tree of life," is a common term used in Judaism. The expression, found in the Book of Proverbs, is figuratively applied to the Torah itself. Etz Chaim is also a common name for yeshivas and synagogues as well as for works of Rabbinic literature.
Yggdrasil is an important feature of Norse mythology. It is the Norse tree of life, encompassing all nine worlds that are part of the ancient Norse view of the cosmos. It is an ash tree in which all of the worlds, including the world of humans and the world of the gods, nestle among the branches and roots.
A dryad (/ˈdraɪ. æd/; Greek: Δρυάδες, sing.: Δρυάς) is a tree nymph or tree spirit in Greek mythology. Drys (δρῦς) signifies "oak" in Greek. Dryads were originally considered the nymphs of oak trees specifically, but the term has evolved towards tree nymphs in general, or human-tree hybrids in fantasy.
tree of life, a widespread archetype common to many religions, mythologies, and folktales. The tree of life is a common idea in cultures throughout the world. It represents, at times, the source of life, a force that connects all lives, or the cycle of life and death itself.
According to Buddhist tradition, the Bodhi tree is where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. It is situated near Bodh Gaya in India. In accordance with the Tibetan tradition, when Gautama Buddha went to the lake of Mansarovar with his five hundred disciples, he took with him all the energy of Prayaga raj.
The tree of life represents the afterlife, and connection between the earth and heaven. The bond and affection to trees is so deep that Celts believed the actual trees were their ancestors, gatekeepers to the Celtic Otherworld. As such, the tree of life in Celtic Culture is sacred.
The Jesus Tree
Jesus said that God's heavenly presence was arriving on Earth through him and his mission. And he often likened this to a huge tree, growing and spreading in surprising ways (Matthew 13:31-32). Jesus even claimed to be a tree of life, a vine that offers God's life to the world (John 15).
The ancient Irish term for the Tree of Life was Crann Bethadh, which literally translates as 'The Feeding Tree'. If the Celts ever had to clear land in order to build new settlements, they would plant an Oak tree in the centre of the clearing in order to honour the Tree of Life and ensure prosperity.
Elm trees represent life and eternal wisdom. No wonder so many college campuses plant elms along their entrances.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the tree at Calvary, and the tree of life in eternity: these three trees sum up the entire history of the world.
Germanic paganism and Norse mythology
The tree of life appears in Norse religion as Yggdrasil, the world tree, a massive tree (sometimes considered a yew or ash tree) with extensive lore surrounding it.
Hazel. Hazel has a reputation as a magical tree. A hazel rod is supposed to protect against evil spirits, as well as being used as a wand and for water-divining.
Known by a number of names including stinking sumac, Chinese sumac, varnish tree and stink tree, the plant releases a strong, offensive smell, particularly from its flowers. The tree of heaven was brought from China to the United States in the late 1700s as a horticultural specimen and shade tree.
Ginkgo: The Tree of Immortality.
In Ancient Egypt, the Tree of Life was a representation of the series of events that brought everything into existence. There are various spheres within the Tree of Life, which portray the process of creation.
Yggdrasill, Old Norse Mimameidr, in Norse mythology, the world tree, a giant ash supporting the universe.
The serpent is a symbol that has been associated with the tree of life in many cultures. It is often seen as a symbol of renewal and rebirth, as well as wisdom and knowledge. The ankh is an ancient Egyptian symbol that represents life and fertility.
Birch. Because of their year-round beauty, birch trees symbolize hope and new beginnings.
The ankh symbol—sometimes referred to as the key of life or the key of the nile—is representative of eternal life in Ancient Egypt. Created by Africans long ago, the ankh is said to be the first--or original--cross.
Gaelic craobh (pronounced kroov) means 'tree', and derives from Old Irish cráeb, cróeb.
The symbol of the Tree of Life has thus been preserved for many centuries in Ireland. It is said to represent balance and harmony in all worlds, connecting heaven, earth and the underworld. The branches reach out representing the search of learning and knowledge in life.
According to Celtic mythology a tree, in particular a hazel tree, was the first creation on Earth. The first Irish hazel tree, which grew upon the Well of Wisdom, was said to have held all the knowledge of the universe within its branches.
The new tree of life (and the rivers flowing from the throne of God) certainly mirrors the original tree in the garden of Eden, providing hope of sustained life with Yahweh. In this way, the tree both recalls the garden story and also provides an expectation of future hope.
Evergreens often symbolize immortality and eternal life because they retain their leaves throughout the winter. To the Iroquois people, the white pine is a symbol of the Great Peace that united their separate nations into an enduring League.