The trees, which are rich in resin, were used as funerary or Christmas trees. The resin tears of the pine are the blood of Attis, according to a Greek myth. A beautiful young man whom Cybele fell in love with and became a priest of his temple with a vow of chastity.
But Sangaride, a seductive nymph, led Attis to break the vow. Cybele drove Attis mad as revenge out of jealousy. He ran to the mountains where he stopped at a pine tree and castrated himself. Attis bled to death but Jupiter took pity on him and turned him into the immortal pine.
Saturn became its protector. Bach uses the pine flowers for those who tend to self-destruct because of their guilt feelings, who feel guilty of breaking a rule or a vote. There are at least seventy species of pine, sober, long-lived plants that are content with poor soils. From the needles and gems, we get herbal teas, essential oils with balsamic, antiseptic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and energizing qualities, which find applications in diseases of the respiratory and articular apparatus.
The pine was an element of the Dionysian thyrsus that symbolized fruitfulness, resurrection, and immortality — it was used in the celebrations of the mysteries of Dionysus at Eleusis, at the feasts dedicated to the Great Mother and Hermes.
In the East, the Taoist Immortals feed on resin and needles. It is said that resin, penetrated into the subsoil after a thousand years produces fu-ling, a mushroom that gives eternal life. In Japan, pinewood is used to build Shinto temples and ritual tools. In wedding ceremonies, it represents the constancy of conjugal love. During their New Year, the Japanese place two pine trees of the same size on each side of their doors to honor the Kami, the many Shinto deities that govern the visible spheres and traditionally live inside the pines.
In China, this tree is depicted at the doors of Immortality and composes the triad of Longevity together with the mushroom and a crane, or with bamboo and plum. Plants are at the base in the scaffold of life systems by supporting food webs, so focusing on the documented status of plants was my immediate thought.
According to academic sources, if plants are lost, the diversity they support may collapse which in turn disrupts the fundamental services that ecosystems provide humanity Virginia Institute of Marine Science So, I deduced that to prevent plant loss, simply grow more plants. Prior to my experience with the white pines, that train of thought would have satisfied me.
But as I become more aware of plants as spiritual symbols, am urged to consider solutions that go beyond the familiar conventional frameworks at my peruse. We do need to do more planting, but it is also important to honour the plants.
I began to think about my experiences with trees. As a Christian, I always valued the symbolism behind Christmas trees, but I did not see them as sacred.
This made me ponder upon my feelings about plants and their potential loss. Loss may evoke feelings of grief and guilt. But for this to happen, what is lost must have value. So what value did I normally attribute to plants, or trees? I remembered the white pine, which challenged me to search beyond the tangible. I was surprised at what I discovered. Underneath the biological knowledge and familiarity I had with trees as specimens, I found an authentic sense of awe and respect, plus the awareness of presence.
On the other hand, during a recent trip to Toronto, I took a minute to identify my feelings while standing in the middle of a parking lot with no trees in sight. I felt deprived and experienced loss, I feared for the loss of plants in our increasingly urbanized world.
It was through the kaleidoscope of these experiences evoking such range of feelings, that I began to see clear connections between culture, sacredness and the motivation to protect plants.
On the one hand, plants are healers and providers that facilitate human survival, so in very pragmatic terms, we need to plant and protect plants. But as shown by the Indigenous peoples of Ghana or the Ancient Greeks, humans can see plants as holders of spirits, an intangible value that motivates their protection.
For the peoples who venerate plants, there is a conversation that takes place in which plants and people affect each other. From this perspective, the sacredness of plants has given them a social presence across history, affecting history. Considering plants more as actors than static objects has allowed me to engage with the multiple roles of plants and consider plant loss beyond the traditional parameters of science that I was familiar with.
This has engaged me in considering new types of questions and deeper motivation to action, such that I can better contribute to alleviating plant and cultural loss. References Dallmayr F. In: Hatzopoulos P. Culture and Religion in International Relations. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. These trees are part of the Pinus genus in the Pinaceae family of trees.
Pine trees are conifers or cone-bearing trees. There are about species of pine trees. Their shape and prevalence in certain climates make them popular for various uses, including decorations during various winter celebrations.
Pines are evergreen trees. This means that they can maintain their foliage and greenery through the dry and winter seasons. This characteristic of endurance also contributes to some of the symbolic meanings of the tree. Many trees, including the pine tree, have a symbolic meaning attached to them.
This may have come through cultural, spiritual, historical, or geographical influences. It gives the tree more significance and is something that can be passed on to the next generation. How do you know if a pine tree is dying? One tell-tale sign of a sick pine tree is bark peeling away. Brown Needles. Pine trees should maintain their distinct green color throughout the year.
Early Needle Drop. Normally, pine trees will shed their needles in the late summer to early fall. What tree symbolizes new beginnings?
Why is my pine tree dying? Environmental Causes of Pine Tree Browning In years of heavy rain or extreme drought, pine trees may brown in response. Browning is often caused by an inability of the pine tree to uptake enough water to keep its needles alive. As roots die, you may notice your pine tree dying from the inside out. What do trees symbolize in the Bible? Trees are in the paradise of God. In Revelation 22, we learn that the tree of life bears fruit crops 12 times a year, and its leaves are for the healing of the nations.
There are many trees with healing powers at our disposal now, which is a sign of God's provision for us. What does a pine cone tattoo mean? Having a pine cone tattoo inked on your skin you'll not only hold a beautiful piece of nature but also an ancient symbol carrying multiple powerful meanings. The pine cone is also a symbol of sexuality and fertility.
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