The Tree of Life is a symbol that has been popular for centuries and represents the afterlife and has a connection between heaven and earth as well. The bond and love that the Celts have to trees is so profound, that to them, trees are their ancestors and keepers of the gate to Celtic Heaven. In Celt Culture, therefore, the Tree of Life is a symbol of reverence.
The history of the Tree of Life symbol is long and rich and covers a variety of cultures and many centuries. Today, the symbol can be seen everywhere and is often incorporated in various jewellery pieces worn by people all over the world.
Does A Real Tree of Life Exist?
Yes, there is a real Tree of Life that stands on a hill in a desolate region of the Arabian Desert. The tree is a Prosopis cinerarium, that is 9.75 meters/32 feet tall, and is more than 400 years old. It is situated 40 kilometres from Manama, and 2 kilometres/1.2 miles from Jebel Dukhan, the highest part of Bahrain.
The tree, a tourist attraction because of its age and the fact that it is the only large tree in that area, is covered in green foliage and visited by around 65,000 tourists every year.
The tree produces a yellow resin that is made into gum, perfumes, and candles, and beans too, that are used to produce wine, jam, and flour.
No one knows how the tree has managed to stay alive for so long, because rainfall is all but non-existent in Bahrain. The roots of the tree go down about 50 metres into the earth, which could be sufficient for the tree to reach underground water. Many people are convinced that the tree has found a way to get moisture from the surrounding sand. Some people believe that the area where the tree stands was the Garden of Eden, and probably has a more spiritual way of finding water.
The tree was nominated to be included on the list of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2009 but did not receive a place on the list.
During a dig in 2010, archaeologists discovered pottery and other interesting artifacts from 500 years ago, in the area where the tree stands. A dendrochronology and soil evaluation in 1990 determined that the tree, an Acacia, was planted way back in 1582!
Steve Martin mentioned the tree in the 1991 movie, L A Story, calling that area one of the most mystical places on the planet.
What Is The Tree of Life Meaning In The Bible?
In the first few pages of the Bible, it is said that God gives humanity a gift that they swiftly sacrificed – eternal life, by eating from the Tree of Life.
Humanity is portrayed as God’s divine image, his royal partner, in the opening pages of the Bible. He orders a hallowed place where earth and heaven are one and makes eternal life possible to humans by way of a tree. Many people through history have visualised the Tree of Life to be a magical tree with the ability to provide eternal life. The Bible, however, paints an entirely different picture.
Sacred trees that provided divine life played a huge part in the religious areas of ancient Babylon and Egypt. However, this tree is situated in the middle of the sacred area, the sanctum of this heaven and earth space.
Just because the tree of life stands in the centre of the sacred place, does not mean that the life it offers is a characteristic of the tree, but rather a godly gift that comes to a person through the tree. The tree of life conveys God’s life and anyone close to the tree it or eats from it, will be close to God and consume His own presence and power.
Genesis 3.22 states all of this, but humanity, because of his stupid quest for divine wisdom, is unfortunately exiled from the tree. Human beings instead, find themselves outside the garden, and in a kingdom of grief and mortality, with a yearning to return.
How Long Has The Symbol Been Around?
The Tree of Life symbol goes way back to ancient times, with the oldest known example dating back to around 7000 BC, being discovered in Turkey, during the Domuztepe archaeological diggings. The symbol is believed to have spread from there in a variety of ways.
A similar example, dating back to about 3000 BC, was found in the Acadians. The symbols showed a pine tree, and since these trees do not die, the symbols are thought to be the first representations of the Tree of Life.
What Does The Symbol Mean?
The tree of life symbol is explained in many ways, with the most common ones being its representation of unity and connection. However, the progression of the design over the years is many-sided. The different layers and meanings of the tree of life are as follows:
• Strength – in nature, trees are without a doubt, the symbol of strength. With their roots deep in the soil, they are columns of strength, frequently withstanding violent storms, and natural disasters. It takes an enormous amount of strength to uproot a tree, which is the very reason why the tree of life is a symbol of stability and strength.
• Connection – a circle represents inclusion and connectivity. The tree’s roots go deep down into the ground, while the copious amounts of leaves reach outward and upward towards the sky. The tree resembles a linchpin that connects the earth and sky and is a symbol of how humankind is connected by the circle of life.
• Originality – a diverse, exciting range of different species is covered by the word “tree,” with each one differing in some way from the other. Even the same species of trees are different in some way or another. Therefore, the tree of life symbol also represents originality.
• Growth – trees grow slowly. Starting as a tiny seed, they become saplings and then reach their full maturity. However, a tree can continue growing over a period of hundreds of years. Human beings also grow continuously, absorbing new knowledge and information all the time.
• Serenity – nature is a haven of peace. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy eating it while sitting on the ground in the shade of a big tree. Trees provide serenity, peace, and shelter, and evoke feelings of calm and relaxation.
• Family – since trees are a symbol of connection, it’s not surprising that family trees are used to connect our ancestry and heritage, with each new life being represented by a new branch. The circle symbolises the continuation of ancestry, the cycle of birth, and life. In addition to this, trees are also a symbol of fertility and continuous bloodline.
• Rebirth – trees shift and change with every new season. For instance, they have an abundance of leaves in spring but become barren and skeletal during autumn. Trees, however, are full of life and grow and change with the opportunities that arise with each season. Just like trees, we humans persevere through the different seasons of our lives. Turning a new leaf, therefore, is to have a rebirth.
Jewellery depicting the tree of life has increased in popularity over the years, and this popularity continues to grow. Wearing tree of life jewellery is not simply a fashion statement but is something that means something different from one person to the next.
Why Do People Wear Tree Of Life Jewellery?
The tree of life has been an extremely symbolic motif to many different cultures for hundreds of years. There is something about it that is calming, inspiring, and grounding. It is a symbol that surpasses cultures and religions all over the world. No religion or culture can claim the tree of life symbol as their own.
The Significance To Wearing Tree of Life Jewellery?
Jewellery trends come and go all the time, and somewhere along the line, you might have seen a bit of nature come into these trends. Enter jewellery depicting the Tree of Life.
Apart from being a beautiful piece of jewellery, there is actually a lot of meaning attached to the tree of life. The symbol has strong ties to philosophy, spirituality, and Christianity, so there is a wide variety of reasons as to why people want to wear tree of life jewellery.
The symbol is often worn as a pendant, but earrings and bracelets are also becoming increasingly popular these days. Even though fashion trends change all the time, tree of life jewellery has been made and worn for centuries and is still as popular today, as it was back then. So, when you buy tree of life jewellery, you can be sure that you have pieces of jewellery in your collection, that will never go out of fashion.
The History Of Tree Of Life Jewellery?
The tree of life is depicted as a big tree, with leaf-covered branches stretching high into the sky, and strong roots reaching deep into the earth, contained inside a circle. It is a symbol with links to spirituality, philosophy, and religion, that can be traced back to just about every ancient culture. The concept of the tree of life has been around for just about as long as humans have walked the earth.
The tree of life symbol has been used in jewellery by many cultures for hundreds of years, everywhere in the world. The jewellery of each culture is worn for various beliefs and meanings. For instance:
• Buddhism – the Bodhi tree has always been revered in Buddhist tradition because Buddha was sitting underneath this tree when he attained enlightenment. The Bodhi tree is a symbol of life, and as such, represents the path to enlightenment.
• Celtic – the tree of life in Celtic culture, is frequently depicted as having branches that reach upwards into the sky, and roots, spreading deep into the earth. This represents the belief of the Druids, that heaven and earth are connected. It was believed by the ancient Celts, that trees were their human ancestors, and also, that trees were the doorways to other worlds.
• Christian – according to the Bible, Adam and Eve were not allowed to eat from the tree of life, which would have let them to live forever. The tree of life is often used as a representation of God’s love. In the Book of Proverbs, the tree of life is also linked to wisdom.
• Ancient Egypt – the people of Ancient Egypt believed the tree of life to be the symbol of abundance and death. Abundance being the tree’s leaf-filled branches reaching into the skies – the centre of the universe, and death being the roots that reach down to the depths of the underworld.
• Turkey – as with the nazar boncugu amulet, the tree of life is a symbol of the culture in central Turkey. Many Turkish carpets and other handmade items have designs that include the tree of life.
• Africa – the baobab tree, also known as the bottle tree, is commonly known in African cultures, as the tree of life. Sometimes referred to as “the upside-down” tree locally, the baobab produces fruit and stores water, even in extremely dry, hot, harsh climates. Because of this, the baobab has helped to save many lives during desperate times, and as such, is respected cared for by those living in the surrounding areas.
Should I Wear A Tree of Life?
As mentioned earlier, there is a lot more to the tree of life than it simply being a spiritual or religious symbol. Anyone can wear tree of life jewellery for their own personal reasons. The tree of life does not represent anything negative at all and is held in high regard by most cultures and religions.
Whether or not you should wear jewellery depicting the tree of life is your choice entirely. You can wear the symbol if you decide that it has some special meaning to you, such as those mentioned above, or you can wear tree of life jewellery simply as a fashion statement as well. Either way, it is a symbol that will make you feel and look good. The choice is yours.
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