According to European myths and legends, the oak tree is related to the masculine principle, and the lime tree to its feminine counterpart. The Greek legend of Philemon and Baucis, for example, tells of how Philemon was turned into an oak tree after his death, and Baucis was turned into a lime tree, symbolising their eternal love.
All French schoolchildren learn of how good King Louis dispensed justice and medicine beneath an oak tree. This tree, the complement of the feminine dance lime tree, was known as the “Oak of the Constellations” . Unlike the dance lime tree, which was planted in the centre of the village, the oak tree was planted in a more out of the way place, outside the village, and was place where wise men met.
The three tiers of the dance lime tree represent the three circles of the sun’s course at the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year), the equinoxes (when the day and the night are of equal length) and the summer equinox (the longest day of the year). An X can be traced between the northeast and the southwest, the southeast and the northwest. This X-shaped cross is known as the Cross of Taranis, or St Andrew’s Cross. If another cross (+) is superimposed along the perpendicular east/west and north/south axes, a circle dividing the year into eight equal parts is obtained. These divisions determined the times when the eight yearly nature festivals of Europe would take place.
Our project’s goal is to promote the planting of dance lime trees® in villages and urban communities throughout Europe.


Oak of the Constellations

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Drawings and graphics : Pierre Albuisson
Web Design : www.myartdesign.fr