No, not atoms or anything scientific — we’re staying in the realm of myth this week. It’s the Tree of Life!

Many, many different cultures have a concept of the Tree of Life. You can find versions of it in Celtic mythology; in Kabbalah; in the Bhodi Tree in Buddhism; or Yggdrasil in Norse mythology, for example. It’s similar to the idea of a Tree of Knowledge (think Biblical apple tree), but often the Tree of Life or World Tree is thought to literally connect different realms with its trunk or branches.

That said, some folks do say that the Tree of Life is an apple tree — the Celts in particular. In fact, Avalon, mystical land of Arthurian legend, is supposedly named for the old Welsh word afal, or apple. The Greeks, too, tell stories about golden apples and important apple trees. But the Norse contend that the World Tree is an ash, also called the “queen of the forest.”

Whatever the species, stories about the Tree of Life usually emphasize its connectivity. Not only does it connect different worlds — often by growing up through them, say from the land of humankind up into the heavens — it also is used as a symbol for the interconnectedness of life itself. If the Tree suffers, this is a sign that the world is suffering.

I chose the Tree of Life as today’s topic because it seemed like a good omen for a healthy, growing new year. Even though the pandemic is still with us, I hope you’re finding ways to feel connected!

Selected Sources

I used encyclopedic references like The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols for today’s overview. I don’t recommend googling “Tree of Life,” as it will get you pages about the documentary (not actually about a tree, haha) and the symbol’s popularity in jewelry and clothing. Those companies might have done lots of research, of course, but I usually prefer sites that aren’t trying to sell me something! My advice would be to google “Tree of Life” and a particular culture that you’re interested in if you’d like to learn more.