Holly Trees

Talking Trees with Lillian Jad . Welcome to today's episode of Talking Trees . In this episode , we'll explore the rich symbolic significance of trees across various religions and mythologies , from the Tree of Life , a powerful symbol of immortality and divine connection , to the sacred Bodhi Tree in Buddhism , under which Buddha achieved enlightenment .

Hey everybody , welcome to this deep dive about trees and mythology .

Really interesting topic .

Yeah , especially for all of you out there who are arborists . Absolutely I mean , think about it , you already spend all day , every day , up in the trees .

That's right .

With the trees taking care of them .

Yeah .

So we wanted to do something a little different . Sure , and look at trees through this lens of mythology and spirituality .

Oh , I like that .

So we're going to start off with a real famous tree Okay , the Bodhi tree , of course . This is the tree in India where Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha Right and achieved enlightenment .

A very important species for a lot of people .

It is , and so the tree that's there now at the Mahabodhi temple it's not the original tree , but it's a direct descendant .

Yeah , it's been propagated for centuries .

Can you imagine the importance of keeping that lineage alive for all of these hundreds and hundreds of years ? And then think about it . There's so many places around the world where saplings of this tree have been planted .

Hawaii , sri Lanka .

California , Japan , I mean all over .

Incredible .

And speaking of Sri Lanka , yes , the Sri Mahabodhi that's in Anuradhapura . That one was planted way back in 288 BCE , wow , and it's considered to be the oldest verified specimen of any angiosperm .

That's amazing .

That's incredible .

So much history in one tree .

I mean , imagine everything that tree has seen , I know , over 23 centuries .

That's incredible . It's wild and you know what else is really interesting . The Bodhi tree is just one example of a very common archetype across so many different cultures .

I know what you're going to think the world tree or the cosmic tree ? Right like yggdrasil oh yeah in norse mythology that giant ash tree connecting the nine realms exactly .

It's amazing and we see this idea in so many other places mesopotamia , mesoamerica , lots of others too I mean everywhere .

Right , and they usually depict it yeah , connecting the heavens and the earth and the underworld .

It's like this axis of the entire cosmology Absolutely . And don't you love the pictures of the world tree ?

Oh yeah .

Where you have those figures flanking it .

Sometimes deities , sometimes humans .

Right , it's so cool .

It really shows that ancient belief about the connection between humanity and divine , and the tree is right in the middle right there at the center of it all absolutely now let's talk about a different tree .

Okay , that's a little more complicated sure we're going to the garden of eden okay to the tree of knowledge of good and evil oh yeah , this one's all about choice and consequence right it's very different from the world tree right , because the world tree represents connection .

This one is about Well , people usually interpret the fruit of the tree .

Yeah .

As wisdom or moral discrimination .

Even the power to judge .

So it's not really about just gaining knowledge .

Right .

It's about humans taking on a role . It was probably meant for something else .

Yeah , like the divine .

And that's interesting because , as arborists , you're always making choices about trees . Of course , you have to Deciding which branch to prune or how to guide its growth .

Right .

I wonder if our ancestors saw those same dilemmas .

In the tree of knowledge .

In the tree of knowledge . Yeah , okay , so let's talk about one more tree . All right this one is a little darker . Okay , the Zaqwum .

Oh yeah .

Which , in Islamic tradition , is a cursed tree in hell .

The fruit are supposed to look like devil heads .

I know .

And they cause like internal burning and suffering .

It's a very different image from the Bodhi tree .

Absolutely . This one is about eternal punishment .

Right , but you know , even within the Quran , Like the healing gourd tree that was grown for the prophet Jonah .

Right .

So even within one belief system , trees can be both .

Both good and bad .

Punishment and blessing . It's so interesting yeah it's that duality of trees . I know that make them such powerful symbols .

They really do inspire both awe and fear . You know , it's really fascinating just how these different ways of looking at trees reflect the complexities of being human right .

I mean , we see them as life-giving , but also as these powerful forces that can be scary that's right , inspiring both awe and fear you know , as we're talking about all these different belief systems , yeah , I'm realizing just how important trees were to our ancestors they were central to life . They weren't just something in the background .

Right .

They were completely intertwined with everything .

With culture and spirituality . They needed trees for practical stuff .

Of course .

Food , shelter , medicine , but they also saw them as symbols .

About the universe , exactly Like those images we were talking about .

Yeah .

With the figures flanking the tree . Oh yeah , it's everywhere .

It really is a powerful archetype . It is Doesn't matter if it's Adam and Eve .

Yeah .

Or some deities guarding a sacred grove .

Yeah . It always points to this belief that everything is connected and the tree is that point of contact .

Yes .

The link between humans and the divine , and for a lot of ancient cultures , trees weren't just symbols .

Right .

They were actually thought to be .

Right .

The homes of spirits or gods .

Oh wow , Can you imagine Like ?

if you were just walking through the forest ?

Yeah .

And you came across a tree .

And it was like that was sacred A sacred space .

It'll be amazing .

I know it's hard to imagine that now . I know In our modern world .

But as arborists .

Yeah .

You all have the chance to experience that .

To feel that connection .

I mean when you're working with a tree , you're interacting with something .

That's been alive for centuries . I mean that tree has seen so much , it's been through storms and droughts .

It's given shelter to animals . It really makes you realize that trees are more than just wood or shade . And maybe , if we listen , yeah we can learn something about ourselves .

That's beautiful .

So we've talked about all these different beliefs . Yeah how trees have been intertwined with humanity through our history . I mean we've seen them as symbols of life and death wisdom , temptation and punishment .

And that brings us to another idea okay about trees yeah the idea that they're sources of wisdom and knowledge oh , I like that like the bodhi tree where the buddha found enlightenment or the tree of knowledge with the potential for good and bad right , but how can we actually use that wisdom ?

in our work yeah as arborists . I think it starts with humility oh , okay we don't have all the answers . I mean , trees have been around a lot longer than us .

That's for sure , and they figured out .

How to survive .

Yeah , they're resilient .

So by watching them , studying them .

Their growth .

How they react to stress .

Their relationships .

We can learn how to care for them .

Yeah , it's not just about science . It's like learning to speak their language , understanding what they need .

And you're connecting with this long line of tree caretakers .

I know it's a legacy .

That goes back centuries .

To the druids .

It shows how deep the connection is .

Between humans and trees .

And in a world that's changing so fast .

Yeah .

It's more important than ever .

To remember that connection .

And to learn from the trees . You know , it's amazing to me how these old stories about trees they still mean something to us today .

I know what you mean .

Even though we live in this tech-driven world , there's just something that draws us in .

Yeah , that makes us think .

About bigger things . I mean think about it . For those ancient cultures , these beliefs about trees weren't just stories . They were a way of life .

Their whole existence revolved around trees .

They needed them to survive .

For food and shelter .

Right , but they also look to them .

For guidance . For spiritual inspiration and , in a way , you , as arborists , you're carrying on that tradition .

I like that .

I mean you're protecting these trees .

Yeah .

Not just for their practical uses .

Right , but for what they represent .

That deeper meaning .

It's like we're connecting the past and the present , and sometimes that wisdom comes from unexpected places .

Like what .

Well , there's all this research now about the benefits of being in nature .

Spending time with trees .

It can really help us .

Both physically and mentally .

I mean , it makes sense , of course , we evolved in nature .

We did . It's only recently .

That we've become so disconnected .

Yeah .

So by reconnecting with trees , by understanding their importance to our world we're not just caring for them ?

we're caring for ourselves all connected it is . It's about what it means to be human to be part of something bigger .

So to all you arborists out there , yeah , as you're up in the trees taking care of them remember those stories , the meaning behind it all you're not just working with trees you're connecting with a legacy of reverence and respect . And in a world that can feel so uncertain , that connection is more important than

Until next time .

Keep reaching for the sky .

Thank you for joining us in this exploration of the symbolic significance of trees across different religions and mythologies . From the sacred Bodhi tree in Buddhism to the cursed Zakum in Islam , trees hold deep meanings in various cultures . If you enjoyed this episode and want to support our work , check out our exclusive content at heroheroco slash talkingtrees .