But we do have many references throughout the Bible to Israelite worship of a feminine deity named Asherah, a Canaanite goddess represented by a living tree.
Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees, gardens, and orchards. Unlike many other Roman goddesses and gods, she does not have a Greek counterpart, though she is commonly associated with Demeter.
An Asherah pole is a sacred tree or pole that stood near Canaanite religious locations to honor the goddess Asherah.
Ancient tribes believed the Tree of Life symbolized Earth Mother and later Sky god. Growing out of Mother Earth, it produced the fruits of knowledge and life. In Christianity, the Tree Of Life is said to stand in the center of the Garden of Eden uniting heaven and earth, and opening a path to God.
For example, she is found under trees (1 Kings 14:23; 2 Kings 17:10) and is made of wood by human beings (1 Kings 14:15, 2 Kings 16:3–4). Trees described as being an asherah or part of an asherah include grapevines, pomegranates, walnuts, myrtles, and willows.
Asherah, along with Astarte and Anath, was one of the three great goddesses of the Canaanite pantheon. In Canaanite religion her primary role was that of mother goddess. Canaanites associated Asherah with sacred trees, an association also found in the Israelite tradition.
The goddesses Asherah, Anat, and Astarte first appear as distinct and separate deities in the tablets discovered in the ruins of the library of Ugarit (modern Ras Shamra, Syria). Most biblical scholars tend to regard these goddesses as one, especially under the title "Queen of heaven".
A dryad (/ˈdraɪ. æd/; Greek: Δρυάδες, sing.: Δρυάς) is a tree nymph or tree spirit in Greek mythology. Drys (δρῦς) signifies "oak" in Greek. Dryads were originally considered the nymphs of oak trees specifically, but the term has evolved towards tree nymphs in general, or human-tree hybrids in fantasy.
In Ancient mythology the Myrtle tree is sacred, especially to Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and beauty. Myrtle trees were planted in Aphrodite's temple gardens and she is often depicted with a Myrtle crown or wreath.
As one of the ancient goddesses established before the Republic, Flora is believed to have her origins in Greek mythology, where she is known as Chloris (Khloris). Chloris is associated with spring, flowers, and new growth.
"Asherah was not entirely edited out of the Bible by its male editors," he added. "Traces of her remain, and based on those traces, archaeological evidence and references to her in texts from nations bordering Israel and Judah, we can reconstruct her role in the religions of the Southern Levant."
“Asherah's themes are kindness, love, divination and foresight. Her symbols are lions, lilies, a tree or a pole.
The present article responds to Whitt's ingenious proposal that Hosea dramatizes, in the speech recorded in Hos 2, the divorce which ends the marriage between Yahweh, the god of Israel, and the goddess Asherah, of Canaanite fame.
The Rowan Tree holds feminine energy within a wide selection of cultural mythology and symbolism. It is often referred to as the “Lady of the Mountains” due to its beauty and hardiness in high altitude areas in which it stands the test of the elements.
Among the rural populace, Artemis was the favourite goddess. Her character and function varied greatly from place to place, but, apparently, behind all forms lay the goddess of wild nature, who danced, usually accompanied by nymphs, in mountains, forests, and marshes.
In many ancient traditions, from the Greeks to the Saxons, via the Slavs and the Scandinavians, the linden tree is associated with female deities or legendary women. A feminine tree in essence, it is also the symbol of tenderness and love with its heart-shaped leaf.
The olive tree has been considered sacred by Greeks for thousands of years. In Greek mythology, it was the sacred tree of the goddess Athena and Athens.
dryad, also called hamadryad, in Greek mythology, a nymph or nature spirit who lives in trees and takes the form of a beautiful young woman. Dryads were originally the spirits of oak trees (drys: “oak”), but the name was later applied to all tree nymphs.
Daphne, a superb athlete tried to run away, but she was no match for Apollo. He was close behind when she reached her father, the river god Peneus. (Note his symbols: a water urn, an oar, and a tiny waterfall at the left of the painting.) Hearing her cries for help, Peneus quickly transformed Daphne into a laurel tree.
These natives were actually the Tuatha de Danann, Ireland's most ancient supernatural race (we will discuss them in more detail below). The native Tuatha de Danann became known as the Sidhe, the fairy folk who lived underground among the trees and bushes.
Tree nymphs are also known as paper kites, and they have a touch of magic in their rhythmic flight patterns. In a distinctive slow flight, the butterflies intersperse traditional fluttering with gliding - an easy exercise due to their comparatively large wings and small bodies.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the most sacred tree.
It is the southernmost branch of the Bodhi tree in India, under which Buddha attained Enlightenment. The tree was planted in 288 BC, making it the oldest tree intentionally planted by humans. It is revered by Buddhists worldwide.
Queen of Heaven (Latin: Regina Caeli) is a title given to the Virgin Mary, by Christians mainly of the Catholic Church and, to a lesser extent, in Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and Eastern Orthodoxy.
The close connection between the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Angels is one we see throughout her life on Earth: at the Annunciation, the Nativity of her Divine Son, her Assumption into heaven, and finally her Coronation as Queen of Angels and Men.
Much of the discussion about Heavenly Mother consists of references to the logic of the relationship – if God is the father of our spirits, as Mormons believe, then there would need to be a mother.