After the Cosmic Egg hatched and have birth to the universe, a vast tree began to grow. While the Cosmic Egg initiated creation, the World Tree organized the universe’s structure. 

While you may be familiar with Yggdrasil, the World Tree from Norse Mythology, the Tree of Life in Slavic Mythology was said to be a colossal, sacred oak tree with that not only spanned the cosmos, but also served as a metaphor for understanding one’s place in time, and our connection to past and future generations.

Trees were holy to the Slavs. Oak trees in particular were seen as holy representatives of the World Tree. The oak tree was where people celebrated, prayed, and worshipped. If they wanted to talk to their ancestors, they would lean against an oak tree and speak to it.

Roots in the Underworld, the Land of Nawia

The roots of the tree also represented the past. All the ancestors and past generations — their triumphs and struggles — lay rooted in the soil, bringing nourishment and stability to the present.

According to some interpretations, the Slavic land of the dead was a place called Nav, or Nawia. Nawia was a paradise—a vast grassy field surrounded by water, and with a wetland near the center where Veles, god of the underworld, had his throne among the roots of the world tree.

Veles was the god and guardian of earth, water, forests, livestock, wealth, magic, music, and the underworld. Unlike the Greek god of the underworld, Hades, Veles was seen as a fundamentally kind and just god who was revered for his care of everything under the sky.

In folk art, a coiled snake or dragon is often painted among the roots of the World Tree. While this may be reminiscent of the Midgard serpent, in Slavic mythology, this serpent-dragon was one of the forms that the Slavic god Veles would take.

To reach Nawia, the souls of the dead might wander the Earth as bird for up to forty days. After this, they would cross through an underwater portal and over a bridge, guarded Veles’s dragon, Zmej, whose job it was to keep demons and bad spirits out of the paradise that was Nawia

The Slavs believed that at certain times of year, the souls of their ancestors could transform into birds and fly to the land of the living to visit their descendants.

Yawia, The Trunk: The World Stage of Present Time

The trunk of the World Tree stands firmly on the earthly plane, bridging the gap between the heavens and the underworld. It symbolizes strength, growth, and the everyday world we inhabit. The trunk is where the physical and spiritual meet, reminding us that we live in a world that is both material and spiritual.

The present plane of existence was called Yav, or Yawia. In the present period of time, the Slavs believed the world was filled with all manor of creatures. There were humans and animals, but also supernatural beings, such as spirits and demons—the later of which were believed to be humans who had either lived unnatural lives or died unnatural deaths. The present time was the stage where the action took place. All eyes were on the present, both the ancestors of the past, and the souls yet to be born.

The trunk, or stem, of the tree also represents the axis point between past and future. We are the actors on the world stage today. Our existence is the culmination of the hopes and dreams of past generations, and we are also the funnel through which time flows, so that our actions will also affect future generations.

In Slavic and Baltic folk art, you will often see a woman in traditional dress standing near the trunk of the World Tree. This is Mokosh, the Mother Earth goddess. She is the guardian of life, of fertility, of the harvest, of childbirth, of weaving, of fate, and of sexuality. She nourishes, nurtures. She creates and sustains. It is said that both Veles, god of the underworld, and Perun, god of the sky, were her consorts. From her union with these two gods, she gave birth to the twin gods of the seasons. Jarilo is the god of spring and agriculture; Marzanna is the goddess of winter and witchcraft.

Prawia: Branches Reaching the Heavens, Toward the Future

Soaring high into the sky, the branches of the World Tree touch the heavens, home to gods, celestial beings, and the spirits of future generations. These branches represent our highest aspirations, dreams, and the divine. A new soul could spring from one of the branches of the World Tree, like a blossom.

As we look up past the leaves of our ancestral oak tree to the Milky Way above—which were believed to be one of the far away branches of the cosmic World Tree—they remind us of our connection to the greater universe and the cycle of life that will continue beyond our earthly existence.

In Slavic art, you will often see an eagle perched among the branches of the World Tree. The eagle is the symbol of Perun, who was the god of the sky, lightning, thunder, war, justice, and everything having to do with the sky. If Veles was the god of everything down below, Perun was the god of everything up above.

The World Tree in Daily Life

The World Tree remains a powerful symbol today, inspiring environmental awareness and a sense of global connectedness. It reminds us that we are part of a larger ecosystem, and that the drama of life is bigger than just our one, small part.

The World Tree’s symbolism extends beyond mythology into the daily lives and rituals of Slavic and Baltic peoples. It’s symbolism is frequently seen in folk art, carved into furniture, painted on the sides of buildings, and embroidered into traditional clothes.

The Tree of Life is a living symbol that serves as a reminder of our connection to the earth, the divine, and each other.

If you are interested in hearing more about the Slavic gods Mokosh, Veles, and Perun, and their children, check out the rest of my “Slavic Spirits” series. Also, consider signing up for my Reader’s Club newsletter. You’ll receive monthly updates of my works in progress, book reviews, and a free short story.

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UPDATE — This blog post includes text and images generated with the assistance of OpenAI’s models. I provided detailed prompts, curated the outputs, and made edits, but the majority of the content was created with AI assistance. This disclosure aligns with my commitment to transparency under the EU AI Act. Disclosure added on November 18, 2024 to align with transparency requirements under the EU AI Act.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Portions of this content were generated using OpenAI’s models, with significant curation, editing, and creative input by E. S. O. Martin. AI-generated portions may not be subject to copyright under current laws.