Witchy Update - Issue #17

Like mythological heroes, trees are larger than life. Their beauty evokes wonder, and so it is no surprise that they have had a central place in folklore, myth, and religion. Their grandeur serves as a symbol of life, hope, and perseverance. It is common to see new branches sprouting from the remains of an old tree, providing a vivid illustration of the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

In early civilizations, the tree symbolized a two-fold identity: the World Tree, which connected the realms of existence, and the Tree of Life, which represented the source of life and abundance. In many instances these were aspects of the same sacred tree.

One of the best known of World Trees is the ash of Norse mythology called Yggdrasil. It was upon this tree that Odin suspended himself and from which he was able to perceive the runes. (More on this later.) While many cultures believed in the existence of three realms (heaven, earth, and the underworld), Norse legend tells of nine realms existing on three levels. These realms were said to be connected by the nine roots of Yggdrasil.

In Finland, the Tree of Life also served as the cosmic sky pole that held the heavens aloft. It was believed to extend from the North/Pole Star through the center of the earth. Some sources define this tree as an oak, others as a pine.

Germanic tribes had a practice of erecting pillars, which were made from whole tree trunks, on hilltops to represent their tree of the universe. Known as Irmensul, some of these pillars were said to have existed into the eighth century.

Similarly, the Tree of Life in ancient Egypt was usually portrayed atop a sacred mound. As the Axis Munde, its branches reached to the stars and its roots extended deep into the netherworld. Osiris, the god of the dead, was sometimes represented as this World Tree. In legend, he was imprisoned in a wooden chest around which a tamarisk tree (Tamarix africana) grew. A great pillar containing Osiris was fashioned from the tree's trunk. He was eventually rescued and resurrected by his wife, Isis.

The Mesopotamian Tree of Life was associated with the supreme god Enlil. This tree was a symbol of cosmic order and was thought to have been either a date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) or a pomegranate (Punica granatum). In India, the sal or salwa tree (Shorea robusta) represented the cosmic World Tree. It was sacred to Shiva who is part of the triad of major Hindu gods. In some legends, four of these great trees supported the world and represented the cardinal directions.

The lote tree (Ziziphus spina-christi) was believed to exist between the realms of people and the Divine. It was both a connection and a boundary. Ancient Arabs sometimes planted lote trees to mark the end of a road. In the story of Muhammad's ascent, a lote tree marked the point beyond which no one but Allah knew what existed. The lote tree was used to represent the manifestation of Allah, as well as to symbolize the spiritual aspect of the human self.

In the spirit landscape of the shaman, it is the symbol of the Axis Munde that provides the means to traverse the realms. Tree roots provide access to the otherworld. Stretching deep into the underworld where many traditions believe departed spirits dwell, roots draw up the wisdom of those who have gone before on the earthly plane. When the gods need to be consulted, it is the branches reaching to the heavens that provide access to their airy realm. Odin is portrayed as a shaman using Yggdrasil to access knowledge.