Cypresses are a genus of perennial leaf plants belonging to the CupPressaceae family and include trees that reach up to 50 meters high. Let us know more about the symbolism of the cypress, its spiritual meaning and its uses.

Most of the species, originally from Mexico and California, are present today in all regions of the northern hemisphere with warm or temperate-cálido climate. Its main characteristics are unique they are often used for ornamental purposes.

These trees have a generally conical, pyramidal and very branched glass.

The branches are very thin and house numerous leaves reduced to scales, pressed against each other or separated in the apex. In some species, the color of the leaves is very dark green; In others, they have a very particular green-blue color.

The flowers are not very striking, while the fruits appear as woody cones in a rounded way divided into different scales. These scales, when reaching maturity, tend to open gradually, releasing small seeds.

During the two and a half centuries of the establishment of Islam in Sicily, Muslims introduced the cultivation of this tree on the island. Now, a thousand years later, these slender trees, wrapped in Rosas Buganvillas, serve as a backdrop to the impressive Greek and Roma temples. And in the capital, the Botanical Garden of Palermo retains the largest cypresses in Europe, with more than 1,200 years of history.

Symbolism of a cypress

The cypress is the symbol of immortality as an emblem of eternal life after death and, in fact, is usually found near the cemeteries. Because of its absolute verticality and ascending movement, it means the soul moving towards the heavenly kingdom.

It is the tree of Hades, the god of the underworld. As the dark foliage of this tree expresses melancholy and pain, the priests of Hades, crowns were made with him and extended their garments during the sacrifices.

Symbols significantly represses eternal life and continuity of the soul. Inmouth it is often associated with duel and is used in funeral rituals. RESILIENCIAS IMBOLIZES THE FORCE AND THE ABLE TO RESIST ADVERSITY.Table 1: Symbolic meaning of the cypress

Its mythological origin is counted in the Greek legend of Cyparissus. Apollo, the god of the sun, had fallen in love with the beauty of the young Cyparissus, who had a domesticated deer like her partner. One day, while practicing with the arch, he mortally wounded the deer. So great was his despair that came to beg death.

In ancient Greece, it is associated with Apollo and Artemis.

Apollo, moved by the pain of his beloved, made him a tree he called «cypress», and that since then became the symbol of mourning and access to eternity.

What is the spiritual meaning of a cypress?

According to a Persian legend, it was the first tree that grew in paradise. As its leaves were perennial and its wood was considered incorruptible, it became the plant image of immortality.

Not surprisingly, it has notable medicinal qualities: the leaves and fruits contain a very aromatic essential oil with vasoconstrictor and protective action of the capillaries. Ciprés Tinura is indicated to treat phlegitis, varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

This tree is sacred to Hades / Saturnel «Dis Pater», which is the richest of all gods because the number of their subjects, that is, the dead, never stop growing.

The Minoans venerated it as a divine manifestation and the cult spread from Cyprus to Crete. In Egypt, its wood was used to build coffins. In the East, he evoked fertility because of his vaguely phallic appearance.

If, over three months, its branch is slowly cut, it will become a true healing instrument: it will be enough to slide it on the person to cure, pressing on the painful parts and shaking the tip to purify it. Roots and wicker may burn as an incense to amplify spiritual healing. Bring your twig during the funerals comforts and lightens the pain of mourning.

It is a tree that contains protective energy and protects the house from negative energies.

According to an ancient belief, cypress branches placed on the tomb of loved ones would help them on their trip to the other world guaranteeing love and fortune.

Essential oil favors meditation and is used in Samhain rituals. Symbol of longevity and eternity, the people of yesteryear carried with them a piece of their wood to protect themselves from the dangers and ensure a long life.

Seven pampering of cypres skewered in a red cord away the penalty and adversity of one’s life.

Use it to: Protection Provide the longevity, meditate, help the dead, acquire greater awareness, receive help and comfort in transition times, understand what is superfluous, reach the root of the problems.

The stones associated with this tree are the Obsidian snowflake Siciliano, blue agate.

Cyprés in different cultures

The symbolic tree of death, linked to cemeteries, is also the balsamic tree of life because it can return the health to those who go to him breathing their essences. It is thin, narrow, very high and looks like a finger that points to heaven.

In the western world, it was formerly dedicated to Pluto, whose front was crowned with its branch, and that is why they also used to extend their branches at the doors of the houses of the deceased.

Since then, more than twenty centuries ago, adorns the cemeteries of the peoples of Christian culture throughout the Mediterranean basin. And he has even named an island, Cyprus, whose inhabitants venerated her in distant times.

One of the oldest representations of the tree of life is found in the pharaonic Egypt, specifically in the tomb of Inkerkhaoni (XX dynasty). In fresh painting we see the Apopis snake – divinity of the world of the dead – murdered by a feline.

The solar symbol represents optimism, life and hope reigning. This imagery is far from the Latin conceptions of this tree.

Islamic civilization admired this tree, as did the palm tree. In the mosaic decoration of the Imperial Palace of Topkapi, in Istanbul, we see seven haughty cypresses matched with twelve branches.

Anatolia epitaphs, Muslim tombs of Türkiye, are mostly decorated by cypresses, artistically represented, that give them a halo of serenity and immortality. This contrasts again with the necrological sense that in the West, and as the inheritance of the Romans, we give our cemeteries.

And now let’s go to the Far East. The Chinese did not clearly distinguish between Thuya and Cupressus. That is why the comments that follow refer to both species equally.

In ancient China it was assumed that the consumption of their seeds sought longevity, since they were rich in Yang substance. The flame obtained by the combustion of the seeds allowed to detect jade and gold, as well as Yang substances and symbols of immortality.

In Japan, one of the most used woods in the Sitist rites is a variety of cypress, the hinoki. With it, various instruments are manufactured, such as the Shaku (scepter) of the priests. It should be noted that the ritual fire turns on rubbing two pieces of hinoki.

This wood is also the one used for the construction of temples, such as Isé. The notions of incorruptibility and purity are here again.

Dawn’s thoughts about Cypress

Cyprés (CUPPRESACEAE spp) is the common name of the trees and shrubs of the CUPRESSACEAE coniferous family. Cypresses have needle -shaped leaves when they are young and scales -shaped leaves when they are older.

They produce tight and rounded cones. Many of these cones retain the seeds until they are exposed to the fire.

The Cipreses are in Central America, the West of the United States, northwest Africa, southern China and other parts of Asia, the Mediterranean regions of Europe and the Middle East.

The cypress in history and folklore

Cipariso was a young man who had a domesticated deer who loved very much. One day, while hunting, he killed a deer with his javelin and discovered that he had killed his beloved pet. His pain was so great that the gods (specifically Apollo or perhaps Silvano or Céfiro) took pity on him and transformed it into a tree, the cypress ((see Cyparissus on Theoi.com)).

According to Virgilio Geórgicas, the Roman god Silvano has a uprooted cypress.

The cypress is sacred for both Apollo and Artemisa, since they were born among the Cypresses of Ortigia ((Theoi.com Artemis Estate & attributes)).

Asclepio’s cane is from Ciprés and his sanctuary of Titans was planted with cypresses ((Theoi.com cult of Asclepio)).

The cypress is the sacred tree of the underworld and the sacrifices to Hades and Persephone were made under the cypresses ((Theoi.com Hades Estate and retinue and Persephone Goddess)).

Kyparissiai, Lady of the Ciprés, is an epithet of Athene.

Culture Foloclore of the Ciprésantigua Greciase associates with the kingdom of the dead and is used in funeral rites. Egyptose considers a …