Axis Mundi
World Tree

Trees as symbols of divinity and sacredness was common amongst the ancients. Rocks as symbols of sacredness came before trees and eventually blended into symbolic formations of trees. The material of stone was shaped by human hand to resemble trees and pillars representing the North and South of the Cosmos. Yes, everything points back to the great ocean of the Universe, as above, so below. Remember this well and as you understand this concept you will see it everywhere in life and it will open doors for you because everything is connected in a flowing stream of electric cosmic energy. We are all part of one no matter how 'they' may try to divide us. From one(the seed)comes two, from two comes three and from three comes many, but we all go back to the ocean of source. (This concept was also deleted from us when later religions conditioned humans to believe we were separate from nature.) Anyway.. If you take the North and South of the polar tree and add East and West you would get the shape of a cross. This cross was a symbol long before certain faiths took it over as their symbol.The North/South poles of the word tree on Earth represent the human body(from spine to pineal and again with arms apart, East to West represent the formation of a cross). Towers,obelisks,etc like the Saxon Irminsul.. point up and down representing the North and South symbolic association with the Cosmos, more specifically the Milky Way and it`s worlds,spheres,layers,veils. Although, mountains have been substituted for this concept as well. In fact many sacred sites are on hills or mountains and if you look at the picture of the World Tree you will see it is placed on a mountain. The number 9 is important in this Cosmic concept, for example, the Yggdrassil has 9 worlds, the Egyptian tree symbol has 9 stamens, and the Qabbalah has 9 branches. All this is enclosed in theWorld Egg, like a snow globe. At the bottom of the tree a Dragon guards the base(Earth energy) and at the top of the tree there is usually a star or a bird(spiritual energy). The number tree itself is 7. This concept of North(sky world) and South(underworld) is where later faiths have turned it into heaven and hell, but the real concept of South/underworld is really different from the hell people have become conditioned to believe in. I will leave you with this bit of info to guide you on your research and if you want , you can also research as to why world saviors have been crucified upon trees and what it really means.

The Tarot - Cosmic Egg Tarot - Axis Mundi - Tree of Life - Yggdrasil (notice the gateway on the bottom left)

Brahmanda Purana l The Tree of Life(Kabbalah)

BOOKS:
USA:Between The Worlds: Witchcraft and the Tree of Life
UK: Between the Worlds: Witchcraft and the Tree of Life

USA: The Witches Qabalah
UK: The Witches Qabala: The Pagan Path and the Tree of Life

USA: Tarot and the Tree of Life
UK: Tarot and the Tree of Life