Many trees take on the appearance of death in the winter- losing their leaves, only to sprout new growth with the return of spring. The tree has other characteristics which lend easily to symbolism. In this way, the tree was a reminder of humanity’s dependence on God and their responsibility to steward the life they received. In turn, they were to give life to others and creation. God, the source of life, imparted some of his own life to sustain humans. At the heart of the garden, where it could not be missed, the tree of life served as an object lesson of sorts. However, eternal life was not the tree's only function. God then invites the humans to eat the tree’s fruit and the text later states that eating from the tree will lead to everlasting life. The tree is described as bearing beautiful, delicious fruit and standing prominently at the center of the Garden of Eden. To the Mayas, it is Yaxche, whose branches support the heavens. The Egyptian’s Holy Sycamore stood on the threshold of life and death, connecting the worlds. The Norse cosmic World Ash, Yggdrasil, has its roots in the underworld while its branches support the abode of the Gods. In Jewish and Christian mythology, a tree sits at the center of both the Heavenly and Earthly Edens. According to Sanna, the space that surrounds these realms is the equivalent of Earth's grass whilst the realms that are part of the Tree of Life are the flowers planted in the grass and existence acting as the entirety of the garden. From these roots many other realms and dimensions bloomed from the divine bark similarly to that of a flower. The tree was planted at the center of all creation and the roots of the tree was able to spread out across existence itself in order to properly stabilize it and hold it steady. When a flower from the Tree of Life blooms, it results in the birth and creation of an Aeon, emanations of the Supreme Sovereigns of Creation and the source of independant purpose and meaning to all that is physical and conceptual. Asherah, the consort of God, is the embodiment of the tree itself. The tree is said to represent God's own life and creative powers that is made available to others. It is both a feminine symbol, bearing sustenance, and a masculine, visibly phallic symbol another union. 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. The Tree of Life, also known as the Axiom, is an important symbol in nearly every culture. The Holiest of Holies and the Highest of Heavens. The Tree acts as the very center of where existence was sprung and where ideas become real. It is the birthplace of the universe itself.
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