Symbolism: Trees, Mountains, and Gardens by Ziamira Tafolla Velasco

Gardens

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Celtic Mythology

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In Celtic Mythology, gardens were seen as a reflection of the spiritual realm. They held great significance as each piece of the garden held its meaning, Trees were the representation of the cross between heaven and earth. These were considered the gateways. The water symbolized purity and healing, which was seen as a conduction for spiritual energy. Stones were seen as guardians and protected the sacred grounds.

Norse Mythology

zitafoll — 2024-08-05 19:56:49 UTC

Idunn

zitafoll — 2024-08-05 20:04:29 UTC

Idunn was the fertility goddess in Norse Mythology. To this, she held the apples of eternal youth as in Norse Mythology, the gods were mortal and only lived for very long times. This is why Idunn played an important role as only in her garden, can she only be the one to produce and harvest these apples. The famous telling of the Edda, a piece of Norse literature, tells of her garden and the apples she produces whilst mentioning schemes of other gods like Loki in which her apples were often stolen and gods had their "immortality" stripped.

Greek Mythology

zitafoll — 2024-08-05 20:08:14 UTC

Garden of Hera/Hesperides

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The Garden of Hesperides belonged to Hera, the queen of gods, in which contained a tree or an orchard of trees that grew golden apples. These apples were said to give immortality to those who ate them. The garden was tended by the Hesperides, minor goddesses, and or nymphs. The garden was also trusted upon Ladon, a multi-headed dragon/serpent, due to Hera's distrust of the nymphs.

Trees

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Mountains

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Aztec Mythology

zitafoll — 2024-08-06 19:15:44 UTC

Coatepec Mountain

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Also known as Serpant Mountain, Coatepec Mountain was one of the most sacred places of Aztec mythology. This was the site of the famous myth and origin of the deity Huitzilopochtli. The myth follows the birth of Huitzilopochtli after his mother, Coatlicue, conceived him after doing penance within a temple. Her other daughter, Coyolxauhqui, as well as her other 400 children disapproved of the pregnancy and banded together to kill Coatlicue at Coatepec. Huitzilopochtli then jumped from his mothers womb fully armed and defeated his siblings whilst decapitating Coyolxauhqui, which he left her body to fall into pieces at the foot of the mountain.

Native American Mythology

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Mount St. Helen

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Before St. Helen had errupted, it was once a maiden names Loowit. In the myth, two sons of the Great Spirit, Sahale, fell in love with her and she could not decide upon who she would choose. The two boys, Wyeast and Klickitat, fought over here, causing destruction over villages and the surrounding forests. Sahale, furious, smitted the three lovers and erected a moutnain peak where they had fallen. To this, the mountain symbolizes life, death, and resurrection

Pop Culture

zitafoll — 2024-08-06 19:41:22 UTC

The Tree of Souls

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Christianity

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The Tree of Souls in the movie Avatar, is considered a sacred site for the Omatikaya Na'vi clan. This is due to finding it as the closest connection to Eywa, their considered god. Eywa is known as the Great Mother or consciousness of Pandora and what balances the ecoystems of the world. Allowing species to live in harmony with their enviorment and the Na'vi. The common ritual shown in the movie is the linking of themselves with the tree for guidance, healing, and to express gratitude for maintining the balance of Pandora.

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

zitafoll — 2024-08-06 20:01:28 UTC

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil referrs to a tree placed in the garden of Eden. The main purpose of the tree is to provide man with a choice of love to serve God willingly or the rebel and reject him, hence the myth of Adam and Eve. The tree showcases that simplicity that eating the fruit would equate to death. Through evident in the story of Adam and Eve, the tree itself is not the problem due its fruit (symbolizing God). However, it is man that is the problem for defiance. The tree itself had no influence to sin as it only provided an oppertuntiy to obey and or reject.

Hinduism

zitafoll — 2024-08-06 20:09:35 UTC

The Tree of Life

zitafoll — 2024-08-06 20:15:38 UTC

The Tree of Life stands as a representation of the connection of all those that are living. The significance of the tree follows the idea of its role in the creation of all. It showcases the embodiment of divine knowlegde and symbolizes spirtitual enlightment. It also symbolizes fertility and abudance as it is often correlated to the goddess Lakshmi who rules over wealth and prosperity. There is also its factor in the idea of rebirth and renewal. The tree of life is thought to shed its leaves and renew itself. This representing the cycle of life, death, and finally rebirth. It adds an importance of embracing change and transformation in Hindu culture.

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Knowledge-Gnostic: becoming god

Acknowledgement of death and life in order to embrace godhood

Olive Tree

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Symbol of peace, the extension of peace

Greek Mythology

zitafoll — 2024-08-07 19:13:17 UTC

Pomagrante Tree:

Symbol for fertility, life, rebirth, mrraige, abudance, enternal life

Often referred when thinking about Persephone as in one retelling...
Hera had used pomegrante seeds to trick Persephone into returning to the underworld during certain parts of the year. This ties Persephone to Hades as a symbol of their marriage.

The Mighty Oak Tree

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Its power associated with Zeus as it was believed to be a connection to Zeus.

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Mountains and its connection to asscession
As well as stairways
Importance of the number 3: Trinity, divinity
Going up a mountain: imagery of civilization vs leaving and asscending from culture/past
Symbolize wherer gods live
Symbolize death and rebirth
Caves = womb/psyche
Idea of freewill- the war beteen heaven and the construction between uniform or freedom.
10 commandments
The calvery/golgotta or place of the skull
Abraham and issac: Going up the mountain to scarifice issac, Abraham's son

Different Structures

zitafoll — 2024-08-09 19:46:20 UTC

Sacrificial area
Ziggarats/Temples: staircase to godhood
Pyramids: Divinity