Tree of Life

"In the book of Genesis Adam and Eve were banished from Eden and forbidden to eat from the tree of life, which would give them immortality. As used in the text (of the Prism of Lyra), the tree of life represents knowledge of the divine relationship between human beings and the Creator, thus revealing that our spirituality is not dependent upon those who genetically engineered us." (PoL)

The tree of life is one of the two trees mentioned in Genesis 2-3. The other one was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eating the fruit of the tree of life was supposed to give eternal life.

The Tree of Life also is the main symbol of the Cabala, consisting of ten sefirot and twenty-two paths connecting the ten sefirot. Penny Cohen describes the Tree of Life as "a ladder or map of existence. It shows the functions, structure and dynamics of the universe. It also shows the evolution of human consciousness." (Penny Cohen, Personal Kabbalah, p. 8).

There are two main variations of the Tree of Life: the Lurianic and the Cordovero. In the Lurianic version there are paths between Chokmah and Gevurah, and between Binah and Chesed, whereas the Cordovero does not have these, but has paths between Netzach and Malkhut and between Hod and Malkhut instead.

Just as there are 22 pathways in the Tree of Life, there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and each pathway is assigned a letter. Unfortunately virtually every other author has his own version of these correspondences.

Common meanings as a symbol:

The Tree of Life is one of humanity's most ancient and universal symbols, appearing across countless cultures with interconnected meanings:

Interconnectedness of all existence - The Tree of Life represents how all living things are connected through invisible bonds. Its branches, trunk, and roots form a unified whole, symbolizing the web of life and our fundamental interdependence with all beings.

Immortality and eternal life - Unlike the Tree of Knowledge, the Tree of Life represents transcendence of death, regeneration, and the continuity of existence. In many traditions, it grants eternal life or represents the immortal soul.

Cosmic order and structure - In Kabbalah, the Tree of Life diagrams the structure of reality itself through ten interconnected spheres (sefirot), representing divine emanation and the path to spiritual understanding. It's a map of both cosmos and consciousness.

Nourishment and abundance - The tree symbolizes sustenance, healing, and the gifts that support life. In Revelation, the Tree of Life bears twelve kinds of fruit and leaves "for the healing of nations," representing inexhaustible divine provision.

Growth and personal development - The tree represents individual spiritual evolution, with roots as foundation, trunk as the journey, and branches as reaching toward potential. It symbolizes the process of becoming fully realized.

Balance and harmony - The Tree of Life often represents equilibrium between opposing forces—heaven and earth, spirit and matter, giving and receiving. Its symmetrical form suggests cosmic balance.

Ancestry and continuity - It symbolizes the unbroken chain of life passing from generation to generation, connecting past, present, and future in one living continuum.

Sacred center - In many mythologies, the Tree of Life stands at the center of paradise or the world, representing the axis around which all else revolves—the sacred heart of existence.

Unlike the Tree of Knowledge which brought awareness and separation, the Tree of Life represents unity, wholeness, and eternal connection.