Fig – Nurture

Genus: Ficus – Family: Moraceae

Fig trees represent our earthly nature as co-creators. As a keystone species, the fig awakens our collective memory of belonging to each other. It inspires us to share our creative energy and desires. Figs resemble a woman’s womb, signaling that now is a fertile time in our life.

Fig trees have inspired humanity for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt, ficus sycomorus was associated with the primordial earth mothers Hathor, Nut and Isis as the “Lady of the Sycomore Fig” also known as the Tree of Life.

In the Book of Deuteronomy, figs are one of seven sacred species along with wheat, barley, grapes, pomegranates, olives and dates/honey. Its presence is an indicator of the “Promised Land”.

In India, Buddha achieved enlightenment sitting under a Bodhi tree, ficus religiosa. Fig is the third fruit tree mentioned in the Bible after the Tree of Life and The Tree of Knowledge. In the New Testament, Jesus speaks in parables about budding and barren fig trees. Figs are also described in the Qur’an and the Hadith as fruits from paradise.

Ficus carica (common fig) is the type species of the Ficus genus. There are approximately 850 species of fig trees in the world; each one is considered sacred. Figs were one of the first trees to be cultivated by humans dating back to 9400 BCE. They are native throughout the tropical world.

One of many fascinating aspects of fig trees is their mutually beneficial relationship with wasps. Another is that the inside of a fig is lined with numerous unisexual flowers. Fig trees and fig wasps have co-evolved over 60-80 million years to produce edible and delicious figs and as well as healthy, pollinating wasps. Fig trees would not be able to produce fruit if a fig wasp wasn’t able to pollinate it. Likewise, the fig wasp would not exist if figs weren’t able to house its eggs within the fruit’s womblike cavity. When a fig is destroyed, the fig wasps dedicated to that tree will not survive. If the fig wasps are eradicated the fig tree will no longer bear fruit.

A non-fruit bearing fig can grow into a beautiful shade tree, some species like the strangler fig, ficus aurelea, can live for a thousand years or more. The fig spirit reminds us that we all belong to each other and invites us to work together to restore our community, our earth and ourselves. Figs inspire us to co-create beauty and vibrancy within us and around us.

Message: Fig encourages us to look for new openings in life and to consciously co-create for the greater good. This is a time of increased creative energy and success. It may signal new beginnings in; relationships, career, marriage or even pregnancy. Now is a time to actively engage in restoring our health, our home and our environment. Look for partnerships or groups that bring harmony and inspiration that fuel the creative spirit and feed the mind, body and soul. Artistic pursuits are highly encouraged.

Challenge: The opposite energy of co-creation is isolation, oppression and or a feeling of domination over others. This perspective is destructive, controlling and unstable. Let go of attachments and outcomes that prevent creative flow.

For more in-depth insights visit my blog-posts:

• March – Fig
• Sycomore Fig

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