16. Davenport Cypress Grove & Tree Symbolism

There is a lovely Cypress Grove on a cliff in Davenport, California overlooking the ocean.  It's hard not to feel the enchanting power of trees as you walk along the cliff. Throughout the ages trees and forests have been prominent in myth and symbol. Trees reach up into the heavens where in many early civilizations it was thought that the Gods lived. Below the earth was thought to exist the underworld or dark beings and condemned souls. Because trees reach into the sky and then have roots deep into the earth, they have often been seen as a bridge between the spiritual worlds. Some myths talk of the Gods or messengers traveling from world to world by climbing up and down great trees. One of the most famous sacred trees is the Yggdrasill ash tree in Norse mythology. This tree is said to connect all living things even connecting the gods to humans. The next time you look at trees, imagine their branches reaching up to the gods and the roots reaching to the underworld. Your perception of trees, as you paint, will never be the same.

Davenport Cypress Grove and Tree Symbolism