What Does the Tree of Life Symbolize?

• Universally, the Tree of Life is a symbol of unity, connection, and strength.
• In Christian, Celtic, and Islam stories, the Tree of Life is said to be a bridge between divine powers and the Earth.
• The Tree of Life plays an essential part in mythology by offering wisdom and guidance to those in Nordic and Greek tales.

What is the Tree of Life?

The Tree of Life is an ancient symbol that represents a unifying spiritual or physical connection. The Tree of Life is a powerful, ancient symbol that’s gained multiple meanings over hundreds of thousands of years. Even so, each interpretation stems from one notion: unity. First and foremost, the Tree of Life embodies spiritual and physical connection. Each culture interprets this differently. Some believe the tree symbolizes a god’s love, while others think it represents the strength of family.

Tree of Life Cultural Meanings

In Christianity, the Tree of Life holds the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. The tree sits at the center of the Garden and holds the one and only rule: don’t eat the fruit from the tree. The Christian tale of creation goes that Satan disguised himself as a serpent and lured Eve into eating the Tree of Life’s forbidden fruit. After coaxing Adam to do the same, Earth’s first woman and man had sinned. The Tree of Life is often referred to as the Tree of Good and Evil and represents wisdom in Christianity. In the Bible, Eve explains God’s warning about the tree to the serpent: “but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die’” (Genesis 3:3).

In Celtic culture, the Tree of Life represents the afterlife and familial connections. The Tree of Life is an ancient symbol used throughout Celtic history. It’s believed that this design mirrors the connection between heaven and earth, showcasing a passage for deceased ancestors to cross. Because of this, the Tree of Life is sacred in Celtic culture and can be seen in tapestries, paintings, and statues. Crann Bethadh means “Tree of Life” in Irish. Many Celts believe that trees are reincarnations of past loved ones.

In Egypt, the Tree of Life symbolizes abundance. This ancient culture views the Tree of Life as a bridge to the heavens. While the branches sore up to the sky to the gods, the roots sink down into the earth toward death. According to Egyptian mythology, after the world was created, the god of Earth and goddess of the sky had sons named Osiris and Set. After a sibling rivalry, Set tricked Osiris into getting into a coffin made from a tree. In Egyptian art, the Tree of Life is often represented by a tree with numerous branches, leaves, and fruits.

In African culture, the Tree of Life represents life itself. The African baobab tree is traditionally said to be the Tree of Life. This tree produces fruit all year round—even in the driest conditions. Because of this, the Tree of Life is worshiped as a resilient symbol believed to bring peace and nourishment. African myths go that baobab trees look like their roots are in the air because God changed His mind when planting trees and decided to turn some upside down.

In Buddhism, the Tree of Life is a symbol of enlightenment. It’s believed that Buddha reached his spiritual awakening under a sacred Bodhi tree. Because of this, trees are sacred symbols in Buddhist culture, representing existence and enlightenment. Similarly, the Tree of Life is often used to describe the concept of “tree roots.” The 3 objects of Buddhist devotion make up the “tree roots:” the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha.

In Hinduism, the Tree of Life represents the chakras. Chakras are the body's energy centers, and it’s believed that everyone has 7 chakras stemming from their pelvic floor to the crown of their head. In some Hindu teachings, the Tree of Life is used to describe the locations of the chakras, helping people visualize their connection to the spiritual and physical worlds. In Hindu mythology, the Tree of Life symbolizes Indra, the ruler of the heavens.

In Islam, the Tree of Life is the source of human life. The Qur’an refers to the Tree of Life as the tree in Paradise that grows to nourish believers. Because of this, the Tree of Life is a symbol of blessings in Islamic culture. For example, the Qur’an states, “An in Paradise are two gardens, with their gates open to them. In both are two springs flowing, and in both are two kinds of fruit, and a Tree of Life, whose roots are in one garden and its branches in the other” (55:62-66).

In Jewish mysticism, the Tree of Life shows a connection to the universe. A Tree of Life-like diagram is used in Kabbalah (a specific school of thought in Jewish mysticism) to represent how and why events manifest in someone’s life. Unlike traditional Tree of Life designs, the Kabbalah Tree of Life has 11 nodes or circles of different colors connected by pillars or columns. The nodes represent deities, angels, or celestial bodies, while the columns signify energy. It’s believed that if one were to follow the flow of the Tree, they’ll achieve higher awareness and grow into their divine power. Similarly, in sacred geometry, the Tree of Life mirrors the theorized structure or diagrammatic representation of the universe.

In Nordic mythology, the Tree of Life embodies wisdom. The tree is called the Viking Tree of Life, Yggdrasil Tree, or World Tree and grows out of the Well of Urd. According to legend, this well contains an endless pool of wisdom and is the source of all the universe’s power. With this tale, the Tree of Life not only connects the universe to the Norse, but it also provides knowledge.

In Greek mythology, Zeus is often paired with a tree. While these trees are not technically trees of life, they may help you understand their history. In one tale, Zeus, the god of the sky, marries Gaia, the goddess of Earth, and a giant tree grows from their love. In another story, Gaia plants a magical apple tree in Herea’s garden as a wedding present for Zeus. In these stories, trees represent unity and love. Similarly, trees in Greek mythology are said to be direct links to Tartarus or the underworld as their roots pierce through the earth.

What does the Tree of Life look like?

Traditionally, the Tree of Life is a large tree enclosed in a circle of roots and branches. The design reflects the meaning of the symbol: connect, growth, and rebirth. Depending on which way you look at a Tree of Life design, the roots could be the branches and vice versa—representing evolution and creation. In some cultures and religions, each branch or root represents a family member, with the circle and trunk of the tree uniting the family.