Tree of Life
The stories of the Tree of Life cross many cultures, in many forms. Even in Taoist tales, we have a special peach tree that bears a fruit that bestows immortal essence.
In Chinese mythology a carving of a Tree of Life depicts the Phoenix and a dragon. The dragon represents one’s essence and the Phoenix the fire of changing but immortal life.
In this drawing I love the image of the leaves becoming butterflies. Butterflies in their transformation are living Phoenix in disguise.
In the fractal pattern of life, we are one with the Tree of Life , the fruit: the seeds of our own change. To eat of oneself: is to partake of the nature -the flesh- of every being. This is the path of growing into our connected nature. Every religion has variations of this tale, be it Christian when one partakes of Christ’s flesh or a Taoist biting into the immortal peach.
We live within transformation every day and in this we are part of the Tree of Life.
Thanks towards Cara in sharing her art.
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This is a most beautiful piece of artwork. I love it!!!
Hello. i just wanna say how much i LOVE this design. it’s one of the most beautiful pieces of art work i’ve ever seen. in fact i loved it so much that i got it tattooed on my forearm.
http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii139/carcrazy_nik/?action=view¤t=47799_1608788701204_1280807503_31682827_8221552_n.jpg
http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii139/carcrazy_nik/?action=view¤t=47799_1608788701204_1280807503_31682827_8221552_n.jpg#!oZZ2QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs263.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii139%2Fcarcrazy_nik%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D47799_1608788581201_1280807503_31682824_5947818_n.jpg
I got these around september of 2010. i’m 19 years old and i will have your art forever on my body visable to the world.
and everywhere i go, i am CONSTANTLY getting complimented on it. Thank you so much. You have forever changed my life.
In 2007 I’ve been thinking to make some tattoo on me like and I’ve visioned a tree with butterflies instead of leaves. I’ve made up even interpretation about symbol of that, but it’s interesting that my vision is recreated by some other artist.
we are connected,
ideas come from the web of our cultures growing …
and in that we all push out to share the creation of our art, our expression of soul to help humanity continues to grow.
I have this art work on my left leg ….. I dont have it where its public to view, can someone help me so I can. Thank you. I tattooed mine in May 2010.
Thanks Crystal.
Many people have gotten Tattoos of Cara’s Tree of Life. Its a very special piece of artwork. Perhaps I will make a section in the forum for people to share their Stories on how this has touched their life in a month or so.
I’ve been eying this image for some time now as a possibility for my first tattoo. It’s one of the prettiest tree of life images I have seen. It’s exciting to know that other people share in this web of interest.
@Sarah: Yes it is a very special piece of art and it does transfer well to a tattoo.Best wishes as you explore life and are reminded of your connection to deeper roots and connections with art to the larger world.
Hey, we had a webcomic called Turbo Defiant Kimecan. Just to let you know that we featured Cara’s Artwork in our latest entry, hope you don’t mind. We put her credit and copyright.
Here you can check out the part were was featured:
http://www.kimecan.com/Comic_Eng/tdk063.html
We just were researching for images to illustrate some of our graphic novel’s mythology and found this beautiful piece of art.
Hey Mudo, It looks nice, I forwarded the link and information to Cara to review and check out
Thanks for the heads up! and much success for your work!
will see you around the site
sincerely
Casey
Since it’s copyrighted didn’t anyone think to get permission before having this Tattoo’d. Id be annoyed that someone would assume it would be okay to find they have my work on their bodies without me knowing.
@Zenz: Many of the people here have asked the artist for her approval to use as a Tattoo. Be careful on the assumptions.
This image is really well done. Can someone explain more about it’s meaning and symbolism?
@Zenz,
i don’t mind at all the image’s use for a tattoo.
it’s beautiful to share and to hear of people making connections to a piece of art i’ve created, and its an honour that you’ve made the image permanently a part of yourselves.
@David,
i would say that the image is about personal transformation.
on another level, its about exploring or playing with one’s perception. the image is almost left for the viewer to create themselves, and bring their own individual quality to what they see.
We are a close knit group who practice yoga together. I was looking for an image for “us” and this is perfect. The Yoga Gypsy Camp has been together through individuals losses and triumphs for eight years. Together we’ve found equilibrium in the highs and lows of life and kept moving forward. There is no intent to publish anything other than our schedules and periodic event notices. In the practice of ahimsa, non harming, may we use this image under these conditions? Namaste, Barbara
Hi Barb, I let the artist know your request. She will get back to you.
[...] first shared this drawing over the internet 3 years ago (http://personaltao.com/gallery/art/tree-of-life/). Since then, it has been shared many times across the internet, a great surprise(!) which I am [...]