The cypress tree has a variety of meanings, but the most prominent is one of sadness and mourning. This meaning can be tied to a number of different stories or superstitions. The first is said to come from the Cypress Tree being used to build funeral boards in ancient Egypt. Another idea is that cypress trees push roots up through coffins giving it association with death.
cypress meaning
Cypress is a common name for various coniferous trees or shrubs of northern temperate regions that belong to the family Cupressaceae. The word cypress is derived from Old French cipres, which was imported from Latin cypressus, the latinisation of the Greek κυπάρισσος (kyparissos).[1][2] Cypress trees are a large classification of conifers, encompassing the trees and shrubs from the cypress family (Cupressaceae) and many others with the word “cypress” in their common name. Many cypress trees have needle-like, evergreen foliage and acorn-like seed cones.
cypress tree folklore
In Greek mythology, Cyparissus or Kyparissos (Ancient Greek: Κυπάρισσος, “cypress”) was a boy beloved by Apollo or in some versions by other deities. In the best-known version of the story, the favorite companion of Cyparissus was a tamed stag, which he accidentally killed with his hunting javelin as it lay sleeping in the woods. The boy’s grief was such that it transformed him into a cypress tree, a classical symbol of mourning. The myth is thus aetiological in explaining the relation of the tree to its cultural significance. The subject is mainly known from Hellenized Latin literature and frescoes from Pompeii.[1] No Greek hero cult devoted to Cyparissus has been identified.
The cypress tree (or Citrus) is sacred in many cultures and has a spiritual meaning that reflects the struggles of man. The cypress is most commonly associated with water, winter, reflection and death. In contrast to the maple tree that sheds its leaves quickly, giving us no time for contemplation, the cypress does the opposite.
According to ancient Greeks, cypress trees would protect people from evil spirits as well as prevent nightmares. People suffering from mental sickness were buried under Cypress and there are many paintings that show how good it was for the health.
The Cypress Tree
The cypress tree is one of the oldest plants in the world. According to Greek mythology, when Daphne was transformed into a tree, she became the cypress. The soft green leaves and the fragrant white flowers of this tree are known for their healing qualities, as well as their ability to soothe emotions and bring about spiritual renewal. The cypress is often used in cemeteries because it has a long life span and can survive in poor soil conditions. It also provides shade from the hot summer sun.
In addition to its practical uses, the cypress has many spiritual meanings that reflect its longevity and ability to thrive in challenging environments. For example, the Egyptians believed that their god Osiris lived within these trees; they constructed coffins out of them because they believed that they would help their loved ones live forever. In Chinese culture, people who were born during winter months would wear red robes made from cypress wood because it was thought they would live long lives if they wore such garments regularly throughout childhood and adolescence (as opposed to wearing white clothing as an infant).
The cypress tree is often associated with death and mourning, but it also has a spiritual meaning that’s not always so somber.
The cypress tree is also known as the “Tree of Life.” This refers to its ability to live in difficult conditions and its long life span. The cypress is also known for its resilience, which can help you build up strength when things get tough.
In addition, the cypress tree is associated with the goddess Artemis, who was worshipped as a protector of nature. The god Dionysus also had connections to the cypress tree and used it in his rituals.
spiritual meaning of cypress tree
Trees have a rich and extensive symbolism all over the world, and the cypress tree has its fair share of the spotlight.
Its symbolism is mostly found in the Islamic world and across Europe, though in this day and age all symbolism has become global.
Cypress trees have – for a very long time – been symbolically linked to our ideas about life, death, and what awaits us afterwards.
Powerful symbolism like that of the cypress tree can provide valuable insight into our lives.
Understanding the ideas behind symbols can help us to unlock ideas in our minds.
So let’s dive into the symbolic meanings and ideas found within the rich cultural history of the cypress tree.
Growth, Ambition
The cypress tree, like all trees, represents the symbolic idea of growth.
Through hard work and perseverance, the humble yet elegant cypress tree can grow to an average height of 80ft.
For some species of cypress, this is a very tall order (excuse the pun!).
Usually, for a tree to grow so high, it must also grow outwards. However, in the act of symbolic ambition, some cypress trees grow very thin and straight upwards.
Cultures that have embraced the cypress tree also embrace the idea of shooting for the stars.
The cypress tree has no business reaching so high into the sky, but through limitless ambition, it achieves what might have otherwise seemed impossible.
Death, Mourning
Across Islamic and European cultures, the cypress tree is one of the most common cemetery trees planted today – and has been for some time.
We see this because of the cypress tree’s symbolic link to death and morning, as many cultures saw the conical shape of the tree as pointing towards the heavens.
It also strikes a stark silhouette against the sky, especially if they are scattered, which only adds to an atmosphere of mourning when they are grown on mass in cemeteries.
One other thing that may have driven this symbolism is how cypress trees react to being damaged.
While other trees can completely recover from even quite severe damage, many wounded cypress trees grow back misshapen or not at all.
Trinity, Linking Worlds
As mentioned, cypress trees often have a conical shape – though they just as often have a pyramid shape.
In both cases, they point towards the sky and are wider towards the base.
Symbolically the pyramid shape represents the ideas of Trinity and of linking the physical world with higher dimensions of consciousness.
Trinities, triplets and triangles have their own rich symbolism related to the natural trinities that occur throughout our lives.
These include:
Birth, Life, Death.
Physical, Spiritual, Emotional.
Lower Chakras, Heart Chakra, Higher Chakras.
The three dimensions we inhabit (3D).
The core idea running through trinities is the linking of separate parts of a whole.
It all links and applies to our lives. We have to ensure that we find a balance between the various aspects of our lives, however many aspects there are.
Of course, the Universe has a funny way of presenting things in threes!