So today I stumbled on a quote in an Urban Fiction book about the Tree of Life. It was quoting Revelations (Last book in the New Testament). That tweaked my interest since I am continually studying the Norse Pantheon and, of course, The Tree of Life features prominently in it.
I researched it a bit more. Most of the current organized religions have a Tree of Life. Outside Norse myth, the Tree of Life appears prominently in Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Chinese, Celtic, and numerous shamanic traditions. Across all of them, it serves as a cosmic connector, a symbol of immortality, or a representation of divine order and the structure of the universe. (AI search result)
I think The Tree of Life is a logical metaphor in any language so I doubt this duplication can be proof of much but it is the biggest duplicate data point I’ve found (outside the Great Flood being in most religions )
That is super interesting @dan3! I also had no idea that that many cultures/religions share the tree of life symbolism or beliefs.
A tree of life is my longest running tattoo idea without pulling the trigger. I did watched the Llewellyn presenter, Morningstar, talking about tattoo magic.
With that being said, this was my first LlewellynCon and I learned little pieces of a LOT of topics! I now have a cart full of books! I did already ordered 7! Hahaha! I wanted 30+ so I call that self-control!
I am also lightly reading more about Norse Paganism. That Divine Justice Rune spell from @TS5 was so in depth and powerful feeling! Now I have to learn more!! It is a little intimidating though. The content is nearly immeasurable! So much to read!! Still, I’m excited to learn more.
Please don’t feel this, the Norse practice is very old and pre-christian, yes but you can study it several ways.
You can look at it like a chaos practitioner and read the Eddas, read the myth, take them as myth and enjoy the stories.
You can reconstruct it into the heathen way and see the gods as literal or archetype and work with them as shadow work and self empowerment, or gods that you worship like you would Jesus.
You can do what I’m doing which is specific training which is neither study nor archetype but old pre-christian meduimship work within the Northern spirit sphere, this uses the Eddas as a grimoire aswell as a mythical text. We are taught to look behind the poems, behind the motives of the gods and how it impacts world orders and the human evolution. We use the runes to open bridges between you and spirit, it’s Seidr and it’s incredibly unsettling and requires specific deconstruction of the mind and guided training.
Or you can stick on a Marvel and just think wow how do these gods still manage to fascinate a scientific audience.
or put on The Vikings and watch history (taken from the Sagas) play out, a little exaggerated, but great viewing non-the-less.
Your way of working your craft is yours, and you can go deep or not, but it’s a fascinating pathway whichever route you wish to take, so dive in, explore and remember it’s supposed to be enjoyable.
You are always so helpful and you can tell you really love your craft and learning more about it! Thank you for all that you post here! I will continue to dig around and learn what I can. I will keep an open mind and see where it leads me! I do wish that I have never seen those Marvel movies. The visual of Odin, Loki, and Thor in my head is distracting! Hahaha!
I will reach out soon for specific guidance, I am sure. I don’t know enough to ask any good questions yet…but I will!
I love the marvel films, and as for Loki, it’s free press. I’m here to help lovely, ask anything, the Norse gods will meet you where you are, they’re super chilled like that.
I hope you don’t mind that I upgraded this conversation to its own discussion space, it’s a very interesting topic! It’s always exciting for me to hear about things that are shared across religions, cultures, or locations. Makes the world feel a bit smaller and more cozy.
I once took the locations on the map of Unicorn’s Harvest and equated them to the Sephiroth Tree of Life. Then I noticed they corresponded to parts of the body, too. It is a fascinating rabbit hole to climb into. Have fun!
Very interesting read, @dan3 ! I agree, the Tree of Life is everywhere, and some version or other shows up in virtually every religion, and certainly in yoga (as evidenced by the Chakras that @georgia found up there. I love it, regardless of where I see it - so many artists have done their own representations with skill and flourish!
It’s really another of those shared archetypes that are relatable to us all, regardless of our paths, which makes it invaluable.
For me personally, it’s the bond between humans and Earth, as well as humans and the Universe - the interconnection between all of us on the planet. The roots dig deep below, the trunk stands firmly before us on the ground while the branches reach upwards to the sky.
A ton of metaphors surround it: strength, wisdom, spiritual growth, connection - it’s all good.
@dan3 it is interesting how each different culture and individual associate with The Tree of Life. I think it is because a Tree is Universal and that roots go deep holding in place beliefs and metaphors being connected to the Earth and spiritually, strength and growth, , wisdom as some have stood through centuries and many people think “I wonder what that tree has seen”
Beautiful post Dan and your photos are magical I have screenshot them.
and as for Loki, it’s free press. I’m here to help lovely, ask anything, the Norse gods will meet you where you are, they’re super chilled like that. 
