Pagans, does your tradition include a tree symbol?

Question

If so, what are some of the meanings? Is it a particular kind of tree? How is this incorporated into your theology and rituals?

Answer 1

Yggdrasil, the World Tree, Axis Mundi, etc.

Generally seen as either a Yew or Ash . . . lore's a bit sketchy on the fine points. The "Prose Edda" describes it as the central or holy place of our godhs, with roots that reach in Asgardh, Niflheim, and Jotunheim, each attended by a particular Well (although Bauschatz wrote that there was really only *ONE* Well, Urdh's, and I side with him. Snorri got a lot of things wrong).

In our central cosmological metaphor, all our deeds are laid as layers of water into Urdh's Well, from which the Norns water Yggdrasil, and dew from Yggdrasil's branches, in turn, waters the Nine Worlds . . . in essence, what we do shapes all we know.

Answer 2

Well, there's Bilé, the 'first ancestor' - the name means "sacred tree", and is often viewed as a World Tree, much the same as the Nordic Yggdrasil. There's some speculation it was ash, like the Craeb Uisnig (Tree of Uisnech), but not certain.

Now, there's some UPG going on in this, but I view it as a World Tree, a pillar to connect the realms of Sea, Land, and Sky - which carries a certain connotation of fire and lightning, then. (Which, in turn, gives it something of an oak association for me, but ash it fine for that too...) I use it as a focal point for meditation, as well as a starting point for journeying - again, much like many of the seidhr uses for Yggdrasil.

Answer 3

Yggdrasil, the great world tree, is a very important part of the Asatru/heathen cosmology. Some believe it to be an ash, some to be a yew... others see it as representing and including all trees (i.e. beyond species).

To my knowledge, it is used more often by seithr workers doing trance work... serves as a sort of nexus for journeying to any of the nine worlds.

Answer 4

Trees are generally important in some way or shape to all pagan faiths. Whether in tradition or tools.
The actual symbol of a tree is in my Grandmother clan badge, does that help? :D Hehe

Answer 5

Here's an excerpt from a Wiccan Song.

Merry meet and merry part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the threefold law you should
Three times bad and three times good

Nine woods in the cauldron go,
Burn them fast and burn them slow
Elder be the Lady's tree,
Burn it not or cursed you'll be

Answer 6

I love trees, but I don't have a symbol of one. I go for the real thing.

If you want to see one of my favorite trees you can visit my website.

Answer 7

no, that would be christianity in case u didnt know what a cross was made out of.