Sacred Trees

Wisdom Teachings
Spiritual Nature

For the seers, the whole of creation is a play of being and becoming, a beautiful cyclical manifestation - from seed to tree and from tree to seed. The tree of life springs from consciousness with an eternal association with existence. During times of dissolution, the tree exists as a seed. From the seed springs forth the new creation. It seems that creation comes out of nothingness, but the seeming nothingness carries all the possibilities of future manifestations.

The seed contains the blueprint of the whole tree, and thus, from each seed another tree can grow. We know about the potential of a seed, but we cannot see the plan that is embedded in it, nor can we comprehend the principle of growth inherent in the seed. Millions of transformations are necessary before a tender plant becomes a tree with branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, and fruits. The invisible principle causing growth is the basis for the entire tree. It stimulates the patterns of power present in the seed and unfolds them within a certain rhythm.

The power causing growth is also within us. We came out as a baby and our bodies grew without our doing. Body development happens because of an inherent intelligence and continues until the age of 35. Growing in form is different from growing in consciousness. Most people's energies grow horizontally, that is, their consciousness develops horizontally into the world. For us to rise in consciousness, horizontal unfolding into objectivity is not enough. Despite our vertical spine, for many people the energies cannot rise vertically. We have to make sure that we also grow vertically like a tree. A tree grows vertically by nature, towards the light. In order for our energies to rise vertically, we have to generate fire within us to awaken the potential of the inner energies.

Many people travel to sacred places in order to stimulate their spiritual fire. Energy has been built up in such places through fiery aspiration. It helps us to reach deep levels of contemplation and experience the divine presence more easily. There are temples and ashrams with huge trees under which people contemplate and meditate. Certain trees, traditionally considered sacred, carry a strong fiery vital energy. They help humans to think of spirituality and right action and are conducive to meditation. These include in particular the tree called Ashvatta or Pipal, “Ficus religiosa”, and the Banyan, “Ficus benghalensis”. Buddha is said to have realized his highest initiation under an Ashvattha or Bodhi tree. The tree is also called Aswatha, which means “the tree that contains the fire of life”. Other sacred trees worth mentioning are the Arjuna trees (Terminalia arjuna), Sami (Prosopis cineraria), Mango and Amla (Gooseberry).

Certain trees are identified with their vibrations. The cedar tree, for example, contains the energies of synthesis. The silk tree, also known as the ceiba tree, contains electrical vibrations. We are charged when we are in its proximity. It grows mainly in the Himalayas and in South America. The red sandalwood tree is also one of these. The Banyan tree gives us the energies of the First Logos.

The Ficus religiosa carries mainly Jupiter vibrations, the energies of the Second Logos. It helps to overcome the negative effects of an afflicted Jupiter in the horoscope. For this purpose, people worship the tree and use its roots and leaves in rituals. Its roots are kept in the house to spread Jupiter vibrations. Some ritualists prepare holy water on Thursdays by soaking its roots in water.

The Audumbara tree (ficus racemosa) is also a very sacred fig tree that carries the energies of Jupiter, the Teacher principle, causing an expansion of consciousness. The vibrations of Sri Dattatreya can best be received through it. Dattatreya promised that he would dwell at the base of every Audumbara tree in subtle form.

KHAM is the sound for Jupiter. SAM is the sound for Saturn. The Banyan tree contains Saturn vibrations, like the Sami tree, which is named after the energy it carries. The leaves and roots of the Sami tree will rearrange man's Saturn-influenced thought currents for rapid development in a short time. The Sami tree has a black trunk, black branches black stem and dark green leaves. Black and dark green relate to Saturn. Worshipping the tree in the morning hours of Saturday or at any other Saturn hour according to the science of Hora, enables beneficial rearrangement of energy in the worshipper. In the East it was customary to carry roots or pieces of sacred tree-wood with one to dissolve bad influences. This becomes understandable when we look at the energies present in such woods.

All over the world there are special places which have very magnetic vibrations and radiate the energy of synthesis. There are places known as sacred and there are places that are not known as sacred but have a strong effect on the mental, vital and physical body. The vegetation that grows on volcanic soil inherently carries within the power of fire. Burning substances of such plants and inhaling their fiery emanations have healing potential. Tall trees in particular bring solar energy in abundance which can be used for uplifting our consciousness. When we have the right alignment, we find the “unseen maps” which guide us to the right tree, the right energy, the right spot or the right people. Every place has its energies that we can enter if we are silent - not only vocally, but also mentally.

One scripture says that when the devas were building the planet Earth, Mother Earth asked them to devise a path towards the light for the beings of Earth. The devas asked why. The Mother said, “In the solar system, Earth is the least enlightened planet. It has very dense energy with more matter and less consciousness. Spirituality is an exception.”

And that's why Earth requested the devas to create places where spiritual aspiration is possible: “Please create trees that are very tall and very tall mountains.” So the devas created temples on the planet in the form of mountain tops, rivers, sacred valleys, and sacred trees that bring down the energy of the devas. They created trees like the the pine trees, the oak trees, the silk trees, the sandalwood trees and the cedars. They are all trees that grow vertically towards the sky and bring down energies to the earth. Dwelling by such trees, or by riverbanks that flow to the north or east, is very helpful. In California there are the Redwoods and the Sequoias, very tall trees through which silent blessings come down upon us. We can perceive the energies as a humming sound throughout inside the spine.

Conifers have a special ability to bring down energies. They grow in all sacred places, even without our cultivation of them. The cedar tree stands as the foremost of spiritual trees because it contains a lot of fire. The Himalaya Cedar is also called Devadharu or Deodar, which means “given by God”. In many parts of the world, adepts were called the “trees of righteousness” and in the Middle East, they were called the “Cedars of Lebanon”. Adepts also carry much fire within them. In the teachings of Master Morya it says that he who sees the Masters unprepared will get burnt.

We should be mindful with touching plants and trees and not cut trees heedlessly. We should be grateful to the tree and also to a flower or fruit when we pick them, and we should do so gently.

Some people touch sacred trees gently with their fingers or with the palms of their hands, or even hug them; this is no different from hugging a Master of Wisdom who is also an embodiment of fire. Touching trees, meditating in their shade - even in a standing, upright posture - eating fruits and leaves that fall from these trees and drinking the water of a nearby river and bathing in it are all ancient practices. Sacred trees give oxygen 24 hours a day. Various parts of these trees are also used as medicine.

When we worship a tree as a god, the tree responds to us as a god. Those who perform such worship receive a response. When we are in touch with the omnipresent God, He is in everything that surrounds us, and we can perceive Him in everything. We see a stone, and we see God; we see a tree, and we see God; we see an animal, and we see God; we see a human being, and we see God, regardless of language, nationality, or habit.

All devas work without expectations. A tree also ceaselessly gives many things to the surrounding life. It transmits its energies which are healthy for us. It gives us fruits, flowers, shade, it offers itself as a home for birds. It offers its leaves, its twigs and branches. The leaves are offered to the animal kingdom. Its wood is used for houses; special woods, roots and leaves are used for fire rituals, because they give life force through their fiery radiation. The tree offers everything; initiates too work in this same way. Thus, we can learn from the tree to simply offer our abilities without expectations or judging. We can consciously cultivate an inner attitude of gratitude and show gratitude anew every day to all that is around us and to all the beings who support us.

Sources used: K.P. Kumar: K.P. Kumar: Saraswathi – The Word; div. seminar notes. Dhanishta, Visakhapatnam, India (www.dhanishta.org)