by Will Parfitt
Will Parfitt describes how our relationship with trees goes back
to the origins of humankind, and how trees are a potent symbol for
the creative growth process both on a personal and collective
level.
The Tree of Life features as a potent symbol in the myths of
many different cultures. The relationship between humans and trees
stretches back to the earliest history of humankind. Trees have
been our protectors, our homes, our foodstuff, they have sustained
us, they give us pleasure and occasionally pain. Trees are
important to us in our modern world for many reasons, not least
because of the oxygen they give and the carbon dioxide they remove
from the air we breathe. Trees have always been and still are of
prime importance to all life forms.
Trees figure in our myths, legends and cultures sometimes
individually, sometimes in groups as copses, and sometimes as whole
woods or forests. Trees often represent basic values such as life
itself, growth, health, fertility, wisdom and strength. On the
darker side, their shadowy nature sometimes leads them in myth to
entrap and even destroy humans. There are also idiosyncratic trees
that have particular power such as large ancient oak or yew trees
with whom we may have an individual as well as a collective
relationship. Trees carry weight in the human psyche, they are
powerful and sometimes fearful, particularly when we treat them
badly. It is of prime importance in our modern world that we
acknowledge and treat trees for what they are, living sentient
beings of another order.
In many traditions, a special 'world tree' stands in some
central place in the universe and is associated with the origin of
all life. The Tree of Life in the Judaeo-Christian Bible is such a
tree and is perhaps one of the earliest appearances of the modern
Kabbalistic Tree of Life. As in many tree myths, this Tree connects
everyday life with both spirit and the visible world (what is
'above') and shadow and the underworld (the roots, what is 'below'
or hidden.) As with a real tree, the trunk is then a potent symbol
of what links together the different worlds. Such is also true of,
for instance, Ygdrassil, the world tree of North European mythology
which is divided into realms of gods, giants, humans and the dead.
This is also the case with the Kabbalistic Tree of Life with its
division into four worlds representing different aspects of the
make-up of not only human life but all life forms.
In the Hebrew myth, the first humans, despite a warning against
doing so, eat of the fruit of the Tree. Whilst apparently a
negative act - they are thrown out of the garden of Eden - it also
leads them, in the words of their Creator, to 'become like us' that
is sentient beings with their own free will. In some Christian
traditions, Jesus is described as the Tree of Life and in the Book
of Revelations it says this Tree of Life will grow again at the
time of the New Jerusalem. Central to Rosicrucian mythology is the
belief that when the cross of human suffering is planted in the
ground it takes root like a Tree and starts to blossom with
beautiful flowers.
The Kabbalistic tradition offers the same world view, that
through coming to earth, with its attendant difficulties and
suffering, we are offered the opportunity for redemption. Unlike
some traditions, however, Kabbalists believe this redemption may be
achieved through the pleasures of earth as much as through the
difficulties. Indeed, Kabbalistic mythology suggests that actually
coming to earth is the goal in itself and the most difficult thing
to attain. To truly 'be here now' is of course the aim of most
Eastern spiritual systems, too.
When we look at a basic tree, we see it has many branches and
leaves originating from a single trunk, strongly suggesting the
development of diversity from unity. This is the origin and
template for the evolutionary tree of which we are all part, and
for individual family trees. The way a tree comes out from the
ground as a single shoot and grows with great diversity and
complexity is a potent symbol for the creative growth process both
on a personal and collective level. If our life task is to really
be here now, to fully 'come to earth', it is interesting to note
that the word 'matter' (the very stuff of life) is etymologically
linked with the trunk of a tree. The word matter is also linked
with the Latin word 'mother'. The Kabbalistic Tree of Life is
sometimes drawn as a female symbol (d) symbolically showing the
link between the Tree and the source of energy from whence we all
emerge.
Article by Will Parfitt
Will Parfitt trained in Psychosynthesis and has more than thirty
years experience of working with personal and spiritual
development. He is a registered psychotherapist with the UKCP and
leads training courses in England and Europe. He has a private
practice in Glastonbury, where he lives, offering psychotherapy,
mentoring, coaching and professional supervision. Will is author of
several books including 'Kabbalah for
Life' and 'Psychosynthesis:
The Elements and Beyond'.
For coaching, supervision, spiritual companionship, mentoring or
psychotherapy with Will Parfitt contact: will@willparfitt.com
The Will
Parfitt Website for Psychosynthesis and Kabbalah
Personal and spiritual development with Kabbalah and its
application through Psychosynthesis. Plus distance education, group
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