The Secret Language of Symbols: The Tree

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

The tree is one of the great symbols of the inner life.

Rooted in the earth, reaching towards the sky, it holds together two worlds: the grounded and the spiritual, the visible and the hidden, the life above the surface and the life beneath.

Its roots may speak of ancestry, belonging, memory and the places from which we come. Its trunk suggests strength, steadiness and the capacity to remain standing through many seasons. Its branches reach outward, seeking light, connection and growth.

But a tree is not always a symbol of ease. It may also carry the story of what has been cut back, weathered, bent or scarred. Some trees grow around wounds. Some lean towards the light. Some survive in places where little else can take root.

In therapy, the image of a tree may invite us to wonder about our own rootedness. What nourishes us? What supports us? Where have we grown strong? Where have we had to adapt?

This theme of growth through difficulty also sits at the heart of my book, The Seeds of Change: How Therapists Cultivate Personal Growth.

As with all symbols, the meaning is never fixed. The deeper question is not simply, What does the tree mean?

But rather:

What kind of tree am I?

Where are my roots?

What am I reaching towards?

And what in me is quietly beginning to grow?

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