Celtic Tree of Life Symbol

While the Celtic tree of life symbol is easily understood, its meaning has long been studied and out of this research has come many theories.  The Celts passed down their legends, beliefs and teaching through word of mouth, in song and in beautifully depicted engravings, pieces of jewelry or body adornments.  

Their well developed narration made the need for writing unnecessary.  This is why the only true knowledge we have of this ancient culture is what has been found and documented through folklore or mythology, archaeological remains and what little has been found in Roman or Greek manuscripts.

Therefore Celtic symbolism remains open to interpretation and it is this that has given rise to the conflicting theories accorded to Celtic tree of life meaning especially.  Yet what is known is ageless and timeless and is able to be incorporated into modern day life as a means to connect our innermost selves to nature and spirituality.  

Celtic tree of life meaning
The Celts attributed different meanings and powers to different trees according to their individual traits and uses.  They also accorded levels of importance to trees based on where they were situated geographically and their physical attributes.  They believed trees to be the ancestors of mankind.  Today we consider trees to be an important Celtic symbol and one that is able to represent these ancient people.

The most important in hierarchy was the mighty Oak tree.  The Oak was believed to be the gateway to the centre of the universe where the doorway to the underworld was situated.   The word Druid is derived in part from the Oak in the form of the root dru-‘oak’ which was the words the Celts used when they spoke of the Oak.  The most important sacred meetings took place in Oak groves.  Only three woods were used to carve their wands, one being the almighty oak.  

The Ash tree was a smaller tree yet one that was regarded with awe.  No Ash tree was allowed to be cut down even if wood was rare.  When teamed with the Oak and the Thorn tree the Ash forms a magical trilogy according the legend.  The Ash tree was accorded powers of ambition and transition.

The Apple tree is a tree that was much celebrated in Celtic legends and folklore.  It stood for immortality and fruitfulness and was one of the trees used to create Druidic wands.  

The Hazel tree provided edible fruit and has long held an important status in Celtic tradition.  In even the earliest burial mounds nuts and leaves from this tree have been found.  The nuts were highly esteemed as they were accorded with wisdom.  

Celtic tree of life meanings include many more trees that have special implications.  One such tree is the Alder.  The Alder was accorded the powers of guardian and foundation.

The Yew was the third tree used for wand making and was attributed powers of endings, change and death.   It also symbolized immortality due to its incredible long life - some Yews have been known to live for almost 1,000 years.

The evolution of Celtic tree of life meanings
The Celtic tree alphabet or the Ogham alphabet has its roots in the Celtic tree of life meanings.  The Ogham consists of 20 letters each one representing a sacred Celtic tree.  The Ogham alphabet was not used to record information, it was instead used by the Druids for the purposes of divination.  

How exactly the Druids practiced their art is unknown.  What little is known consists of wands of Yew on which the letters are written. A series of wands are created, one for each letter.  Each person would select a stick or wand and randomly throw them down.  They symbols are read according to where they fell.

Although we have attributed lettering to the Ogham alphabet such as ‘C’ for instance represented the Hazel Tree while the letter ‘D’ represented the Alder. The original alphabet however consisted of lines in different groupings, many of which intersected each other.

The Celtic tree of life meaning and the Celtic symbol tree of life have been passed down to us only through what can be found today.  What we know is that the Celtic peoples held great stead in nature, spirits and their connection to them.  Through practices and tradition they passed their knowledge down from generation to generation.  However with the advent of their conversion to Christianity their ancient and pagan tree of life meanings and practices all but disappeared.