In Indo-European antiquity, much of the religious and cultural imaginary of all these peoples saw in the symbol of the tree and its fruit the arcane of knowledge, starting from the Sycamore Tree 1 in Egypt associated with the Goddess Isis, wife and mother of the pharaoh always ready to offer the hidden knowledge of things, giving the pharaoh the sap of knowledge to drink, even the Acacia Tree revered throughout the Mediterranean world for being a symbol central resistance, even with the Absence of rain the Acacia grows.

The fundamental nature of the tree as a symbol for many communities reflects the historical reality that human beings have always interacted with and depended upon trees for their survival. Trees provided one of the earliest forms of shelter, along with caves, and the bounty of trees, nuts, fruits, and berries, gave sustenance to gatherer-hunter populations. This study has concentrated on the tree as sacred and significant for a particular group of societies, living in the ancient and medieval eras in the geographical confines of Europe, and sharing a common Indo-European inheritance, but sacred trees are found throughout the world, in vastly different cultures and historical periods. Sacred trees feature in the religious frameworks of the Ghanaian Akan, Arctic Altaic shamanic communities, and in China and Japan. The power of the sacred tree as a symbol is derived from the fact that trees function as homologues of both human beings and of the cosmos. This study concentrates the tree as axis mundi (hub or centre of the world) and the tree as imago mundi (picture of the world). The Greeks and Romans in the ancient world, and the Irish, Anglo-Saxons, continental Germans and Scandinavians in the medieval world, all understood the power of the tree, and its derivative the pillar, as markers of the centre. Sacred trees and pillars dotted their landscapes, and the territory around them derived its meaning from their presence. Unfamiliar or even hostile lands could be tamed and made meaningful by the erection of a monument that replicated the sacred centre. Such monuments also linked with boundaries, and by extension with law and order, custom and tradition. The sacred tree and pillar as centre symbolized the stability of the cosmos and of society. When the Pagan peoples of Europe adopted Christianity, the sacred trees and pillars, visible signs of the presence of the gods in the landscape, were popular targets for axe-wielding saints and missionaries who desired to force the conversion of the landscape as well as the people. Yet Christianity had its own tree monument, the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, and which came to signify resurrected life and the conquest of eternal death for the devout. As European Pagans were converted to Christianity, their tree and pillar monuments were changed into Christian forms; the great standing crosses of Anglo-Saxon northern England played many of the same roles as Pagan sacred trees and pillars. Irish and Anglo-Saxons Christians often combined the image of the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden with Christ on the cross, to produce a Christian version of the tree as imago mundi.

PrologueIn Indo-European antiquity, much of the religious and cultural imaginary of all these peoples saw in the symbol of the tree and its fruit the arcane of knowledge, starting from the Sycamore Tree in Egypt associated with the Goddess Isis, wife and mother of the pharaoh always ready to offer the hidden knowledge of things, giving the pharaoh the sap of knowledge to drink, even the Acacia Tree revered throughout the Mediterranean world for being a symbol central resistance, even with theAbsence of rain the Acacia grows. The Ark of the Covenant or Ark of the Covenant chest that served to house the tables of the law was built in Acacia wood.The Tree also evokes the image of the savior, Jesus the Christ, who was crucified in lumber in the shape of the letter T as described in the Epistle of Bernabes, written at the beginning of the 2nd century, it describes the cross (σταυρὸς) as similar to the letter T: "it had to have grace in the figure of T". And he says that Moses made "a figure of the cross and of the one who was to suffer on it" (τύπον σταυροῦ καὶ τοῦ μέλλοντος πάσχειν) by extending his arms to save the people from defeat (cf. Exodus 17: 8-13). In the Work of Justin the Martyr (AD 100-165) the cross is described (τὸν σταυρόν) as composed of a wood in vertical position embedded by another horizontal, while another stands out in the middle, in which the crucified sit, the Christ and his cross become an emblem of the paschal rabbit to which the Messiah He had to submit: to be roasted, he was arranged in the shape of the cross. This was erected in the fields with crossed timbers as symbols of victory over the enemy, allegory of the victory of the Greco-Latin world associated with victory in war, but in this case, that of the Christ, represents the spiritual victory of man.Trees occupy a prominent place both in the Bible and in the Koran, both ancient religions share trees in their respective sacred books such as date palm, olive and tamarisk. Acacia also used its wood in North Africa for being a sacred tree for its permanence. There are in the religious literature of the Indo-European world Infernal trees such as the zaqqmo Tree of Hell Tree belonging to the Islamic world (As-Saffat, 37:65, Ad-Dukhn, 44:49, Al-Waqi'a, 56:51): "Is it not better received than the zaqqm tree? We have made this tree a scourge for the unjust. It grows in the depths of Hell, bearing fruits like the heads of demons: with it they will feed and fill their bellies, along with gulps of boiling water. Then they will return to Hell. Also the Tree of Yours possibly a dark wood conifer mentioned only in Revelation 18:12 .The Apple tree that for much of the Greco-Latin world represented the achievement of immortality was introduced to Europe by the Romans and Greeks from the Middle East, its main symbolism is that of the mystical fruit remembering that God prohibited man from eating the forbidden fruit of the apple tree in the Eden's garden. Greek hero Heracles, como parte de sus Doce Trabajos, estaba obligado a viajar al Jardín de las Hespérides y recoger las manzanas de gold from the tree of life at its center.

Mythic Dawn is a journal of European mythology and folklore. This publication features a range of writing genres. The majority of the content is non-fiction discussion and analysis of myth and folklore. Also featured are personal essays and section for original poetry. This issue is packed with a wonderful cross section of European mythos, from legends, to mythology, to how folk belief turns up in historical accounts. This journal will take you on a fascinating journey into the legends, lore, beliefs, and customs of our European ancestors!

Essential to life on earth since the beginning of time, trees hold a special place in our collective consciousness: rooted in the earth, reaching skyward, nourished by the elements, and enlivened by the sap running through their veins, they provide a metaphor for what it means to be human. Moyra Caldecott has gathered here a collection of myths celebrating the rich symbolism of trees, all bringing to life a time when the natural world was deeply respected and trees and forests were thought to be inhabited by spirits and divine beings. Bound by the organized structure of modern life, the human spirit yearns for the wildness and freedom of primal nature represented by forests in their natural state. Caldecott's book has captured and given voice to this spirit.

The most renowned Druid priest in North America, Isaac Bonewits has spent the last four decades devoted to Druidic study. Now he imparts his wisdom through this elegant and thoughtful tour of ancient and modern Druidism. With impeccable scholarship, Bonewits explores the Druids' archeology and mythology, and helps to demystify their rituals and prayers.

An in-depth look at the history, herbal uses, and spiritual aspects of the sacred trees in the ancient Celtic Ogham Tree Alphabet • Details the 20 trees of the ogham alphabet and their therapeutic and magical virtues • Examines the Forest Druid practices associated with each tree as well as the traditional uses in Native American medicine • Describes the Celtic Fire Festivals and how each tree is featured in these holy days • By the author of A Druid’s Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year The Druids used the ancient Ogham Tree Alphabet to work magic and honor the dead, surrounding each letter with medicinal and spiritual lore. Poets and bards created a secret sign language to describe the letters, each of which is named for a tree or a plant. For centuries this language was transmitted only orally in order to protect its secrets. Combining her extensive herbal knowledge and keen poetic insight, Ellen Evert Hopman delves deeply into the historic allusions and associations of each of the 20 letters of the Ogham Tree Alphabet. She also examines Native American healing methods for possible clues to the way ancient Europeans may have used these trees as healing agents. Druidic spiritual practices, herbal healing remedies, and plant lore are included for each tree in the alphabet as well as how each is used in traditional rituals such as the Celtic Fire Festivals and other celebrations. Hopman also includes a pronunciation guide for the oghams and information on the divinatory meanings associated with each tree.