The Tree of Life is a symbolic motif found across countless cultures and religions, representing interconnectedness, growth, and the cyclical nature of existence. It is often depicted as a tree with roots grounded in the earth and branches reaching toward the heavens—a visual expression of the balance between the earthly and the spiritual realms.

Its roots and branches also evoke a family’s ancestry, symbolizing the way humans are linked to one another and to the natural world.

In Mexico, the Tree of Life is believed to date back to around 300 AD, with more figurative versions—rooted in Mexican folk art—emerging around 692 AD. Early depictions were crafted from clay and adorned with birds, animals, flowers, and fruits, and often illustrated scenes such as the Garden of Eden or the Nativity.

A Tree of Life with birds is especially common, as many ancient gods were said to appear in the form of birds—hummingbirds, cockerels, doves, parrots, and quetzals, among them. Birds symbolize creation and abundance: the living breath that animates the branches of the tree.

In Mayan mythology, the Ceiba tree is known as the Tree of Life. It was believed to hold up the sky with its branches, its great canopy forming a gateway to the heavens.

According to a beautiful myth, seven heavens sit above the earth, each stacked one atop another, with an opening at the center of every layer. A single Ceiba tree grows from the heart of the earth, passing through each heaven until it reaches the highest— the seventh heaven—where the Great God resides and where the spirits of the dead find eternal rest.