What Does A Tree Symbolise?
The most common and well known meaning of a tree is the “tree of life.” People like to use this as they believe that tree’s are the thing that connect all forms of creation together & without trees there would simply be no life on earth. Trees have been used in different scenarios to represent other things, such as ‘family trees.‘
“I looked up my family tree and found out i was the sap”
Some people believe that certain trees represent different outlooks and parts of life as seen below:
- Apple tree symbolism – magic, youth, beauty, happiness
- Ash tree symbolism – sacrifice, sensitivity and higher awareness
- Aspen tree symbolism – determination, overcoming fears and doubts
- Beech tree symbolism – tolerance, past knowledge, softens over criticism
- Birch tree symbolism – new beginnings, cleansing of past, vision quests
- Cedar tree symbolism – healing, cleansing, protection
- Cherry tree symbolism – death and rebirth, new awakenings
- Cypress tree symbolism – understanding the role of sacrifice
- Elder tree symbolism – birth and death, fairy realm
- Elm tree symbolism – strength of will, intuition
- Hazel tree symbolism – hidden wisdom, dousing, divination
- Heather tree symbolism – healing from within, immortality, initiation
- Holly tree symbolism – protection, overcoming of anger, spiritual warrior
- Maple tree symbolism – balance, promise, practicality
- Palm tree symbolism – peace and opportunity
- Pine tree symbolism – creativity, life, longevity, immortality
- Willow tree symbolism – magic, healing, inner vision, dreams
This is how ‘The Tree of Life’ is Portrayed.
“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” Rodney Dangerfield
This image uses negative space and surrounding to give the tree more of an impact to the viewer. The use of the light behind the tree giving the shadow coming towards the viewer works really well as it draws the viewer into the photograph straight to the centre of the image where the tree lies. It gives off a sense of strength, uniqueness as the tree is on its own, away from the rest.
Environmental aspect of Trees
Trees help contribute to their environment by providing oxygen, improving the quality of air, conserving water, preserving soil, and is a major factor in supporting wildlife. Throughout the process of photosynthesis, they take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen so that everyone on earth can breathe.
Trees also play a big part in the community. Streets, parks, playgrounds, back gardens/front gardens are filled with trees that help create a peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environment. They also help by bringing wildlife much closer in and around us habitats into urban settings.
“Life on earth is absolutely dependent on green plants. Any damage to these plants that ends or slows the carbon cycle, or plant recycling, will end all life on earth.” Francis Mangels
Archie Miles Tree Photography.
This photograph uses the lines in a very clever way, with the rocks on the mountain and the branches on the tree are going from right to left diagonally while the tree trunk is vertical. These lines create a great lining for the environment surrounding the tree. This slight and simple image gives a sense of quietness, with the tree in the middle of nowhere also creating a sense of strength as it is growing, on its own, amongst rocks.
Seasons gone by.
This image is a good representation of surrealism, the contrast and tones help create a slight painterly rendition to the human eye. It gives a sense of tranquility and quietness. The tree is on its own amongst this great landscape, yet it stands out above everything else bringing your attention straight to it.
Peace Tree
As you can already tell by the name of the photograph, this is a peace tree. Although the caption already gives this away, the image itself would of give you the hint that it has some idea to peace behind it, the fact its on its own in the middle of the grass looking over the sea and the sunset. I great example of a representation of peace & quiet.
Symphony of Light
This photograph is a great example of giving a spiritual feel to an image. The way the light is shining from behind the trees and hitting the fog to create these clear rays of light coming towards the view. Not only does this create a great effect but it also draws the viewer into the image so that they are in amongst it.
Family Tree
Another way a tree has been used as a metaphor, is in the term ‘family tree’. “A family tree, or pedigree chart, is a chart representing family relationships in a conventional tree structure. The more detailed family trees used in medicine and social work are known as venograms.” This is based on the idea that your family is like a set of branches, one family member leads to another and so on.
Family Tree
George Partington 