What is the connection to the Tree of Life?
The Tree of Life is a concept which can be traced back to the Neolithic (Young Stone Age). From there it developed as part of the philosophy of most ancient cultures, whether it be the ‘high civilizations’, such as Egypt, Persia or Greece, or the more nature-based tribes who dwelt further north. Essentially, the Tree of Life is an image of the whole universe, or at least of planet earth, which embodies the notion that all life is related to each other and that all that lives is holy. Every animal, human or plant is a leaf on this tree. The symbol of Tree of Life is strongly related to the Cosmic Tree which has the stars as its fruits. To serve as an ‘earthly representation’ of the Tree of Life, different cultures chose different tree species, according to which species grew in the region and – since all tree species have different characteristics and qualities – which tree character resonated best with the spiritual ideals emphasized by any given culture. In early Sumer, e.g., it most
