The Tree of Life is an important symbol in nearly every culture. With its branches reaching into the sky, and roots deep in the earth, it dwells in three worlds- a link between heaven, the earth, and the underworld, uniting above and below. It is both a feminine symbol, bearing sustenance, and a masculine, visibly phallic symbol- another union.
The tree is a source of basic sustenance- a bearer of food, a provider of shelter and fuel for cooking and warmth. Without trees, life would be extraordinarily difficult.
Trees are like the lungs of the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. Additionally, they provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. But that’s not all trees do for us!
"Trees are the creators and maintainers of our reality. This is so on a physical, ecological level and is also very true at a subtle, energy level.
Trees maintain climatic stability. The huge areas of forest and woodland act as a heat sink, cooling the air and regulating moisture levels, rainfall and wind speed. The Amazon rainforest "controls" the climate of the entire western hemisphere.
Trees act as locally protecting environments. Woodland is always warmer in winter than the surrounding land and it is cooler in summer. Woodland thus acts as a protective balance against climatic extremes, allowing greater survival of other species within it. Trees give effective shading from strong sunlight, a fact more evident in southerly climes than present-day Britain, though it will become increasingly important should the changes in climate and ozone layer continue. Trees shelter other species from the full force of wind and also, reduce the heaviness of rainfall.
Trees create atmospheric stability by absorbing and storing C02 and 02 that would otherwise alter the proportions of atmospheric gases.
The root systems of trees bind the topsoil together preventing erosion by wind and water. Deep roots create the topsoil by breaking up subsoil and rock layers, absorbing mineral nutrients not available at ground level, and releasing these nutrients during leaf decay and the rotting of fallen branches.
Without this mechanism, the only way soil can be formed and replenished is through water erosion and alluvial deposits, like the former inundation of the Nile delta, leaving all but such river valleys leached of minerals.
Tree roots control the water levels within their environment. Trees absorb tons of water through their root systems and transpire tons of water vapor back into the air. By maintaining the integrity of the topsoil and by holding huge amounts of water within their systems, trees help to ensure a constant recycling of available water.
So, without adequate and plentiful tree cover, soil erodes. Soil fails to receive natural fertilization of minerals. The water table drops as rainfall simply runs off into rivers and flows to the sea. Flood and drought become more frequent and increasingly damaging. Sensitive and specialized species die out because of extremes of weather. Wind speeds greatly increase. Air temperatures increase and humidity levels drop. Atmospheric gases change their relative proportions and pollutants increase. "
Tree Essence, Spirit and Teacher Simon & Sue Lilly, Capall Bann Publishing, Berks, UK 1999
Trees were associated in the shamanic beliefs of the people and the spiritual leaders. Trees were a connection to the world of the spirits and the ancestors, living entities, and doorways into other worlds.
