Branches of Life

Every time I read Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree to my son, I cry when I get to the end.  By that point in the book, the generous tree has given every bit of herself to the boy to make him happy.  Her fruit, leaves, branches and trunk until all that's left of her is a stump.  Regardless "the tree was happy."

The book's parallels of motherhood, the life cycle and generosity abound.  But interesting to ponder is the concept of the tree itself:  What it gives, what it can give and its' relationship with the boy/man.

"Tree Hugger" is generally a derogatory term used for pro-environmentalists opposed to the logging industry and forestation.  But hugging a tree, in the pure sense, is a good thing.  Because if, as Buddhism teaches, all organisms factor equally into life's grand equation, then a tree is an extension of ourselves and visa versa as symbiosis goes. 

Trees or the tree of life have been important symbols in nearly every culture throughout history.  With branches reaching into the sky and roots deep in the earth the tree dwells in three worlds linking heaven, earth, and the underworld and uniting above and below. It is a feminine symbol of sustenance and a masculine phallic symbol of union. 

In Jewish and Christian mythology a tree sits at the center of both the Heavenly and Earthly Edens. The Norse cosmic World Ash, Ygdrassil, has its roots in the underworld while its branches support the abode of the Gods. The Egyptian's Holy Sycamore stood on the threshold of life and death, connecting the worlds and to the Mayas - it is Yaxche, whose branches support the heavens.

The tree has other characteristics which lend easily to symbolism. Many trees take on the appearance of death in the winter - losing their leaves only to sprout new growth with the return of spring. This aspect makes the tree a symbol of resurrection. The modern Christmas tree hearkens back to trees decorated to honor Attis, the crucified God of the Greeks.

A tree also bears seeds or fruits, which contain the essence of the tree and the regenerative, potent symbol of immortality. It is the fruit of a tree that confers immortality in the Jewish creation story.

In Taoist tradition it is a divine peach that gives the gift of immortality. In ancient Persia the fruit of the haoma bears this essence. The apples of Idun give the Norse Gods their powers, much like the Gods of the Greek pantheon and their reliance on Ambrosia.

This aspect of the tree as a giver of gifts and spiritual wisdom is also quite common. It is while meditating under a Bodhi tree that Buddha received his enlightenment; the Norse God Odin received the gift of language while suspended upside down in the World Ash (an interesting parallel is the hanged man of the tarot).

In Judeo-Christian mythology, the Tree of heaven is the source of the primordial rivers that water the earth similar to the Tooba Tree of the Koran from whose roots spring milk, honey, and wine.

The tree and its gifts of immortality are not easy to discover, however.  Immortality is historically difficult to find and almost invariably guarded. The tree of Life in the Jewish bible is guarded by a Seraph (an angel in the form of a fiery serpent) bearing a flaming sword. To steal the apples of knowledge, the Greek hero Hercules had to slay a many-headed dragon Ladon. In Mayan legends, it is a serpent in the roots that must be contended with. Similarly, the Naga, or divine serpent guards the Hindu Tree. The Serpent Nidhog lives under Ygdrassil, and gnaws at the roots.

Another form, the inverted Tree, represents spiritual growth, as well as the human nervous system. This tree, with its roots in heaven, and its branches growing downward, is most commonly found in Kabbalistic imagery. A similar tree is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, "The banyan tree with its roots above, and its branches below, is imperishable."

We also pick up remnants of knowledge from ancient times when different species of trees were important to people in specific ways.  Aside from providing shelter, energy, food and medicines as did other plants in the landscape, each tree species also had certain wisdom and healing qualities associated with it.

The Celtic Druids (specially trained elders) had a secret form of written language called ogham. The earliest known form of this was the Tree Ogham or Celtic Tree Alphabet. Each letter was associated with a tree and had a wealth of symbolic wisdom behind it. Also each month of the Celtic calendar and therefore different seasons and festivals throughout the year were associated with a particular tree.

Today, native tree species are commonly used by herbalists for healing properties - hawthorn, white willow, lime, elder and oak. Other well known trees used include horse chestnut, eucalyptus, walnut, gingko, cedar, witch hazel, olive, juniper, buckthorn, ash, holly, pine, beech, larch, elm, sweet chestnut, hornbeam, crab apple, aspen, birch and more!

So here's the question, what is the value in hugging a tree?  Many people ridicule those who hug trees but it is the belief of some that by getting close to a tree, not only can you commune with the world at large, but also receive healing. They say it is possible to feel the aliveness of a living tree when you hug it - to hear the tree's ‘heart' beat as its sap rises up into the leaves.
 
"Whenever I feel ungrounded or insecure, hugging a tree with true quiet and internalisation, gives me a feeling of strength and comfort. If we believe that everything has a soul, then of course, we can have a giving and receiving relationship with a tree. Hugging a tree is just another way that this wonderful creation can give to humanity," says one regular British tree hugger.

Truth is, I am not a tree hugger but like Shel Silverstein's boy, I want to sit underneath my tree and bask in her shade and giving.  Maybe to fall asleep there and dream of regeneration and remember the life cycle.