tree Symbolism

Jung discussed in his essay "Der Baum philosophical 'tree symbolism in historical context. It was to him growing, living, development of biological form and spiritually, growing from bottom to top and vice versa, protection, shade, fruit as food, strength, durability, rootedness, age, personality, death and rebirth.
In Europe we know the world or cosmic tree, the ash Yggdrasil. This symbol is found in the Germanic epic Edda. Yggdrasil roots in the underworld, grew up in Midgard, the world of men and raises his crown in Asgard, the abode of the gods. The tree has three roots. The first is rooted in the triple fountain, the source of all life. At the middle root weaving Norns, the Fates. The third root is fed by the source of wisdom, where the giant Mimir prevails. Wereldes
Yggdrasil is an Old Norse word meaning "horse of Odin.
Why is the es carrier in the world? Perhaps because he is a fast grower, so quickly to the heavens.
There is also another explanation. The ash grows preferably on calcareous soil, where springs gush streams that form. One of the three roots which is fed by a source.


The Tree of Life
In the Judeo-Christian tradition is the image of the tree of life in many places in the Bible to be found. According to Genesis 2:9, he is planted in the center of the Garden of Eden, and this together with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Because Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they were just people. God helps them, even the tree of life to eat, a symbol of inner growth. The tree is rooted in the depths of the unconscious, as the center of power. From there, he grows into the conscious world, unfolds its leaves to the spiritual life. When primitive peoples of Canada, Lapland and Siberia the shaman climbs, mediator between the people and the higher power, a tree, symbol of the life process. painting in paradise St. Michael in Hildesheim
Jung sees the growth of the tree as a symbol of individuation (the process of awareness of their true nature).


The tree as a symbol of renewal, care and protection
In the temperate zones of Western and Central Europe and parts of North America, deciduous trees lose their leaves in seasonal change of spring bloom again. Associated is the aspect of innovation and change, symbolized in the dance around the maypole.
Then there is the curious symbol of the inverted tree: its roots reach to the sky, to earth his crown. We believe that the Aborigines in Australia and also in the Lapps of Scandinavia. When they sacrifice to the God of Vegetation, they placed an inverted tree next to their altar.
The African Bantu see in the baobab, the baobab tree, with its heavy, thick trunk and a relatively small crown of a tree that God has put down on earth.
In the Egyptian pharaohs in the east of the gods enthroned on high sycamore (Egyptian fig tree) that fed them. To the west rose the divine cow Hathor from the foliage of a tree and greeted the deceased who like birds on the branches of the sycamore zaten.Ficus sycomorus
Ficus sycomorus grew in ancient Egypt and was one of the largest trees with a broad crown. From its thick trunk, the coffins of mummies cut because the wood rotted almost. Its edible fruits are in short steal nests distributed throughout the tree. This fig tree was the symbol of the nurturing mother. The image of the tree goddess who provides the deceased with food, provides security for the perpetual care in the realm of the dead.


The tree as a symbol of fertility, enlightenment and awakening
In Mesoponamië reached the roots of the heavenly kiskanuboom deep into the earth. In its branches dwelt the God of fertility.
In the lowlands of the Indus grows a fig species with glossy, ever-moving leaves, Ficus religiosus (bodhi tree or boboom). It can grow to 30 meters high. Its leaves are shiny and have long steal. They have the form of a fine Gothic pointed arch. This kind of throws figs in the spring leaves. Soon young leaves appear dark green later. This tree is the symbol of enlightenment, awakening latent energies and concentration. Buddha finds its spiritual transformation voltrokken.Boeddha meditating under the Bodhi Tree
Buddhists regard the Buddha as the personification of Bodhi. The scene of Buddha's enlightenment is often illustrated by images of Buddha. Sitting under the bodhi tree on one side, he was attacked by demons, on the other hand, drain reports. Ficus religiosa - Bodhi Tree
Religiosus ficus is a fast growing tree which unlike many other fig trees, no aerial roots develop. He strangled nor its host, but split the trunk of its host tree during growth open.
The most famous saint is boboom in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, once the capital of the kingdom of Ceylon. It is claimed that this fig tree from a branch of the original boboom under which Buddha became enlightened. This branch was in 288 BC. presented to King Tissa. The other bobomen in the temple gardens of Sri Lanka were descendants of this sacred by Hindus boboom also venerated. In Hindu doctrine, the god Vishnu in a boboom born.
For the Chinese, Kienmon the tree from the beginning of the world. From the hollow trunk of an almond tree appears Tao, universal principle and cosmic order.