Shamanic Vision: Living Life through the Eyes of the Heart Issue #3 March 1st, 2017 | Page 22

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Shamanism and the Tree of Life

By: Paul Hinsberger

The Tree of Life is a universal symbol found in many spiritual and mythological traditions around the world and as such, it crosses all cultures of the Ancients.

The Tree of Life is seen as a powerful symbol of growth, as the tree continues to grow throughout its lifetime.

The Tree of Life tells ancient stories of your shared roots which link you to the past and your connection to your Ancestors, showing your connected struggles and aspirations; your desires to reach for the Light.

Like an enormous family tree the symbol of the Tree shows the roots and branches - where we have diverged and where we have joined. It shows where we come from and who comes from us.

The Wise Ones understood the symbolism of Trees; the sprouting seed, that grows into a trunk and branches off, attached yet seeking its own way; then, these branches sending out shoots and little twigs which, over time, became branches themselves.

The Wise Ones reflected what these trees may accomplish; the power of their roots that fed and anchored the tree, connecting them to the Earth Mother while leaves came and went, following the inevitable Cycle of Life.