Tree of life: symbol, origins (Genesis, Kabbalah, Yggdrasil) and uses
The tree of life connects earth and heaven in many cultures: Genesis, Kabbalah, Yggdrasil, Mesoamerica. Its meaning, documented origins, uses in jewellery and common mistakes.
Key points
| Form | A tree whose roots and branches mirror each other, often within a circle |
|---|---|
| Central idea | A link between the underworld, the earth and the heavens; life and renewal |
| Major sources | Genesis (Bible), Kabbalah, Norse Edda, Maya, Mesopotamia |
| Norse name | Yggdrasil, the cosmic ash tree |
| In Kabbalah | Ten sefirot linked by twenty-two paths |
| Modern use | Pendant, wall decoration, stone tree |
| Detailed page | The full subject is covered in “The tree of life” |
One symbol, many trees
The “tree of life” is not a single symbol but a family of images: a tree that gives or sustains life, or that links the worlds. Most often it is drawn with a round crown of branches and a network of roots that answers the foliage, like a mirror. The image appeals because it conveys, at a glance, continuity, growth and return.
The resemblances stem partly from a simple cause: everywhere, people have seen in the tree a being that lives a long time, dies and is reborn each year. But the trees of life of each culture have their own history, which is best not mixed together. For a longer comparative study, see our full page on the tree of life.
The tree of life in Genesis
In the Book of Genesis (2:9), God causes two trees to grow in the garden of Eden, in its midst: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. After the transgression, access to the tree of life is guarded so that humans do not eat its fruit and live forever (Genesis 3:22-24). At the end of the Bible, Revelation (22:2) shows the tree of life once more in the heavenly Jerusalem, whose leaves serve for the healing of the nations.
It is useful not to confuse the two trees: the tree of knowledge (whose fruit is forbidden) is a different tree, and the text does not speak of an apple.
The tree of life in Kabbalah
The Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah calls Etz Chaim, “tree of life”, a scheme of ten principles, the sefirot (Keter, Chokhmah, Binah, Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod, Malkhut), linked by twenty-two paths that correspond to the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. According to these texts, it describes the way the divine manifests itself.
In the 19th century, Western occultists (notably the Golden Dawn order) linked these twenty-two paths with the twenty-two major arcana of the tarot. This link is not in the ancient Kabbalistic texts: it is a modern construction, very influential in esotericism. See the major arcana.
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Asia, the Americas
| Culture | Tree | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mesopotamia | Stylised trees on Assyrian reliefs | Often called the “sacred tree”; the exact meaning is debated |
| Egypt | Sycamore, persea | Trees linked to goddesses and to the world of the dead |
| India and Asia | Sacred fig (bodhi), banyan | Under the bodhi tree, according to tradition, the Buddha awakened |
| Maya | Ceiba, world tree | An axis linking the underworld, the earth and the sky (for example at Palenque) |
| Bahrain | A lone mesquite tree in the desert | Nicknamed the “tree of life”, about four centuries old |
Yggdrasil, the Norse world tree
In medieval Scandinavian texts (the Poetic Edda and Snorri’s Prose Edda, 13th century), Yggdrasil is a giant ash tree that supports the world. Its roots plunge towards several springs, including those of destiny and wisdom, and animals move along it. It is often called the “tree of life”, but the sources describe it rather as a cosmic tree that links the worlds and comes under attack.
The “Celtic” design of a tree of life in a circle, often sold as such, is mainly a modern motif: the ancient Celts revered trees and sacred groves, but the circular composition with roots and branches is a product of the Celtic revival of the 19th and 20th centuries. On knots, see the Celtic knot.
The tree of life in jewellery or decor
The tree of life pendant is one of the most sold motifs. It is often seen as an emblem of growth, rootedness and renewal, or as a gift for a birth, a departure or a birthday. Versions in silver or copper wire wrapped around small tumbled stones are common; large stone trees serve as decoration.
As with any symbol, no property has been demonstrated: it is an image to which each person gives meaning. See our pendants, our stone trees and the page stone trees.
Common mistakes
- Saying the tree of life is “the same symbol everywhere”: the trees of Genesis, Kabbalah and Yggdrasil are different.
- Attributing the circular motif to the “Druids”: there is no ancient source for this.
- Thinking the tarot and Kabbalah are the same: the connection dates from the 19th century.
- Confusing the tree of life with a family tree: the latter denotes a family’s descent.
- Believing that a pendant “activates” anything: it is a symbolic piece of jewellery.
Frequently asked questions
What does the tree of life symbolise?
In most traditions, life that renews itself and the link between the world below, the earth and the sky. The exact meaning depends on the culture.
Is the tree of life Celtic?
The Celts revered trees, but the circular motif sold today as the “Celtic tree of life” is mainly modern.
What is the difference from the tree of knowledge?
In Genesis, these are two distinct trees: the tree of life gives life, while the tree of knowledge is forbidden.
What is the sefirot tree?
A Kabbalistic diagram of ten sefirot and twenty-two paths, which describes how the divine manifests itself according to this tradition.
Can you give a tree of life as a gift?
Yes, it is a much appreciated gift for a birth or a new start, provided it is presented as a symbol, without promises.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Symbol dictionary.