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“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; [the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.]”
-- Genesis 2:8-9 [emphasis added]
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The image of the Tree of Life has featured in the mythology of almost every single culture, a mystical symbol linking both friends and foes. A variety of trees are represented by different people and nations, including the ash (Scandanavia), the banyan (India), the baobab (Africa), the beech (Siberia), the cedar (Lebanon), the Linden (Germany), the oak (France), the willow (Eastern cultures). The tree depicted on the plate above is the cypress, considered sacred in Turkey and Iran. It was also the tree of Hades, the Greek god of the underworld.
While the Tree of Life is naturally symbolic of life, it provides the link between the three levels of the universe. The roots bury underground into the earth while the branches and leaves reaching for the sun are the mystical link to the heavens from the “earth bound” trunk. The Tree of Life also represents the cycle of life, from the birth of buds and blossoms in spring to the bearing or “birth” of fruit and finally to the fallen leaves, symbolising death until the rebirth, when the cycle starts again the following spring.
The life span of a tree, particularly a cypress, far exceeded those of human beings, so the tree was considered immortal, a symbol of eternity. Indeed many ancient peoples believed trees possessed souls or spirits, and they were worshipped in many cultures. It was forbidden to cut down a tree in blossom, because the flowers represented immortality. Anyone caught illegally felling a cypress tree in ancient Greece paid a substantial fine
The cypress tree’s mythology is extensive; from Japan and China across Europe and over to the Americas from Oregon to Costa Rica. It is thought to have originated from either Persia or Syria. There is apparently a tree near the Iranian village Shiraz believed to be around 5,000 years old, which has led to speculation that this might have been where the Garden of Eden was situated. Greek mythology tells us the cypress tree was specially created by their gods. Both the ancient Egyptians and Greeks used cypress wood for coffins, perhaps because the natural aroma would disguise the smell of the corpse. Could this be the reason many people today associate this tree with death and cemeteries?
In fact, the cypress tree features in several Greek mythological stories, a couple of which feature Apollo. One legend tells of a deer Apollo cared for, and would feed by hand. One day he accidentally shot and killed the deer, and so intense was his grief the gods felt sorry for him and turned him into a cypress tree. Another legend tells of a tall and very handsome young man named Cyparissus, who was one of Apollo’s attendants.
In Islam, Christianity and Judaism the Tree of Life holds an esteemed place in creation because it represents life given by God. It sits in a central position in both Heavenly and Earthly worlds. The origins of the sacred tree are also reflected in the Garden of Eden, and the so-called “forbidden fruit” of a tree that may represent good and evil. A cypress tree was sometimes planted next to the tomb of someone considered holy, so the deceased spirit could live on in the tree. In days gone by people would tie ribbons to sacred trees, attached to prayers asking to be granted the gift of a child, or relief from suffering or a painful ailment. In Judeo-Christian mythology states the Tree of Heaven is the source of the primordial rivers supply the earth with water, similar to the Tooba Tree of the Koran, from whose roots spring milk, honey and wine.
Many mythologies feature the tree as the home of the Gods, and in some legends the tree itself is a God. The ancient Sumerian God Dammuzi was personified as a tree, as is the Hindu Brahman. The Byzantine World Tree represents the omnipotence of the Christian god.
The Scandanavian ash tree, also known as Ygdrassil, is said to have roots in the underworld while supporting the world of the gods with its branches. In fact the Norse god Obin is said to have received the gift of language while hanging upside in a form of self-sacrifice in the ash tree.
Egypt’s sycamore stands on the threshold between life and death, connecting both worlds at the trunk of the tree.
The Mayan culture’s tree is called Yaxche, with branches to support the heavens. This “world tree” also represents the four cardinal directions: north, south, east and west, and was a feature of several Mesoamerican cultures.
Buddha received his enlightenment during his meditations under a sacred fig tree called “the bodhi tree”. Afterwards it is said he stood in front of the tree for one week, gazing at it unblinkingly in gratitude.
The olive tree features in the Bible, the Qur’an and the Book of Mormon. Greek mythology claims the goddess Athena’s gift of the olive tree to the people of Attica won her the patronage of the city of Athens over the god of the sea, Poseidon.
The fruit of the different trees is an important feature of the tree of life. In the Jewish story of creation the fruit of a tree conveys immortality, while the Taoist culture credits a divine peach with providing the gift of eternal life. An essence gathered from the fruit of the haoma plant earned Vivahngvant, the first man to collect this extract, the gift of a son named Jamshid ~ Persian mythology states this essence purifies water. Idun’s apples give the Norse gods their powers, much like the Greek gods’ reliance upon “ambrosia”, although it’s likely ambrosia was derived from honey rather than from a tree.
Naturally the Tree of Life is not easy to discover and even if one is fortunate enough to find it it’s usually guarded. The Tree of Life in the Jewish Bible is guarded by a Seraph (an angel in the shape of a fiery serpent) bearing a flaming sword. The Mayan Tree of Life is protected by a serpent dwelling in the roots, while a divine serpent known as the Naga guards the Hindu tree. The Scandanavian Ygdrassil is protect by a serpent named Nidhog, who also feeds upon its roots. In order to steal the apples of knowledge Greek hero Hercules had to kill a many headed dragon named Ladon.
The Inverted Tree represents spiritual growth and the human nervous system. The Kabbalah Faith depicts this tree with its roots in heaven and its branches growing downward. The “roots” are the cranial nerves, with the branches spreading throughout the body. The Inverted Tree symbolises the Cosmic Tree, rooted in heaven with the branches all of manifest creation. A similar tree is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita: "The banyan tree with its roots above, and its branches below, is imperishable."
To close I quote stanzas 19 and 20 from “Völuspá”, the first poem of the Poetic Edda. This is one of Norse mythology’s most important references, where the Norse god Odin learns of the creation and end of the world through the völva – a seer who features prominently in Nordic mythology.
I know that an ash-tree stands called Yggdrasill,
a high tree, soaked with shining loam;
from there come the dews which fall in the valley,
ever green, it stands over the well of fate.
She knows that Heimdall's hearing is hidden
under the radiant, sacred tree
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matthewhuge
Just wanted to once again thank you for including my little story in your fantasy newsletter. I really enjoyed your information on familiars in the newsletter, very good job on that.
Until We Read Again
Glad you enjoyed the newsletter, and thank you for your support.
PartyBee 
A very useful newsletter on Familiars! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
Elizabeth Rae 
On the Harry Potter fact about the familiars it is actually an owl, cat, or toad not rat. It just so happened Ron had a rat but no one else did.
 Thank you for clarifying this!
larryp
A great newsletter Sarah - very informative and well researched!
I can't believe I made the fantasy newsletter 
Well, your poem was about an unusual familiar, wasn’t it? Thanks, Larry!
MalfoyGirl
Spells are often used too much. Though, in most fantasy stories they are warranted. I love getting this news letter! Thanks for sending it!
I also have a question. Is there a specific diagram or something you can use to map out your own magical system? I'm a bit stuck on mine, not quite sure how to work it.
Lauriemariepea
What is it about familiars that's so intriguing? I admit I’m drawn to the idea, and the research you've done on the subject is impressive--thank you for once again blowing my mind! 
I enjoy the research, and I learned a lot from it. I quite like the idea of a familiar, but I’m not sure which of my dogs is up to the job!
Amarisa
I have a few comments/pieces of information to add to the recent familiars newsletter that I just wanted to make clear.
Familiars aren't just for demonic or shammanistic purposes. Concentrating on just those (except for shammanism) gives them a bad name. Familiars are kept now because either they aid in magic, true, or they are spirit guides. Not just totems, but spirits that are attracted to the magic-doer (witch, magician, whatever) because there is a natural connection (kind of how kindred spirits are attracted to each other). If someone has a pet they were naturally attracted to for no reason or one that constantly shows up when the witch (not connected to the devil, check up on wicca) does magic, then that animal is the familiar. These familiars will aid as spirit guides for spiritual journeys and provide a source of comfort and security. Cats were connected to the underworld in Egyptian folklore, and it is said that should a pet cat sleep on the bed with its owner (when it normally doesn't), it is protecting its owner from bad forces/energy/spirits that are passing through the residence. The history of the familiar with witchcraft is dark, yes, simply because that was the mainstream belief. Simply touching on shammanism, regardless of the place of origin, doesn't quite encompass everything a familiar is. And more often than not, familiars connected to the devil were made-up lies by the church to scare people away from natural magic. I just wanted to make that a little clearer.
Thank you for your input and your opinions. Both Shamanism and Wicca are very detailed and concise topics ~ far more so the Familiar, which was the focus of this newsletter. I did actually give examples of a couple of books where the Familiar is an agent for good. Perhaps my paragraph about the Church’s persecution of women and their pets in the Middle Ages wasn’t detailed enough. This information is very useful, so thank you for writing to me!
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Fantasy: June 18, 2008 Issue [#2456]
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