Wood Specie Symbolism for Cremation Urns

The natural beauty and unique appearance of each wood is often enough to catch our attention. Along with the visual characteristics, many woods carry deep meaning and symbolize things such as strength and protection; beauty, love and nurturing; as well as prosperity, ambition and intelligence.

With rich history connecting these woods to Native Americans, Ancient Greek culture and Biblical ties to the Heart of Jesus, each wood represents more than just color and wood grain. One can find deep meaning that can connect with and represent your loved one on a more personal level.

Alder

Alder is a light tan to reddish brown wood that darkens and reddens a bit with age and can look similar to Cherry. The alder tree has strong symbolism connected to strength, protection, determination and confidence. The tree is a sign of safety and protection and believed to have the ability to protect and hide people in times of danger.

Ash

Ash has a light cream sapwood with a light brown heartwood. Ash is seen as a symbol of life, strength and closeness to heaven. For centuries ash trees have been a symbol of healing and life, promoting good health and peace of mind.

Classic cremation urn handmade with Ash.

Aspen

Aspen is a pale light yellow to nearly white color. It is fine grained, very uniform in texture with a non-distinctive grain pattern. Aspen is also a symbol of protection. Often planted around peoples homes, the soft whistling created by the leaves was said to be communication with another world. "Aspis" is the Greek name for Aspen; meaning "shield," the Greeks believed it to have magical powers and protective qualities. Its leaves were used in the crowns of heroes.

Basswood

Basswood is a creamy white to a very light tan. In the bible, the leaves of the basswood tree symbolize the sacred heart of Jesus because of their heart shape. Basswood is also associated with happiness, love, prosperity, fertility, marriage, and protection. The medicinal properties and abundance of flowers and fruit as seen as nurturing and motherly. Its heart shaped leaves representing Mary Magdalene's unconditional love.

Beech

Beech is a pale cream color, sometimes with a pink or brown hue. A wood of femininity, beech is connected to love, friendship, peace, learning and knowledge. Reminding us to seek truth by using our minds to gain knowledge while listening to our hearts for wisdom.

Classic cremation urn handmade with Black Limba.

Black Limba

Black Limba is a light colored, yellowish to golden brown wood, with nearly black streaks and veins running through it giving it a beautiful variegated appearance. Be sure to click through the examples to see some of the stunning variety available with this wood. Black Limba is a symbol of protection and defence while also relating to charm, tolerance and healing.

Butternut

Butternut is a light to medium tan with a similar grain to Walnut but considerably lighter in color. Butternut is considered to be a symbol of fertility, abundance, prosperity, intelligence, ambition, and discernment. Native Americans also associate it with focus and clarity. It is highly regarded when it comes to success, goals, and decision-making.

Classic cremation urn handmade with Canarywood.

Canarywood

Canarywood can almost be rainbow colored with a range from a pale yellow/orange to a darker reddish brown with streaks of red, purple and black. Another wood with a lot of variation in color and grain so be sure to check out some of the examples shown here.

Canarywood is often associated with charm, spirituality, creativity, clarity, healing, strength along with purity, protection, healing, cleansing, divination and vitality.

Cherry

Cherry is a pinkish brown that darkens to a rich reddish brown as it ages. Cherry trees symbolize good fortune and luck when they bloom, which is for only a short time each year and serves as a reminder that life is short and to live every day to the fullest. The tree also holds a connection to love, adoration, romance, compassion, awakenings, renewal, and rebirth.

Curly Maple

Curly Maple is a creamy white, sometimes with reddish-brown heartwood and a curly grain pattern that provides a unique depth and movement throughout the wood.

The trees symbolize balance, offering, promise, longevity, generosity, abundance, and intelligence. Maple is the tree of offering, giving of one's self so that others may benefit.

Maple is a travelers wood. Those who are always on the move and changing will feel right at home with is type of energy known for enhancing intellectual pursuits and learning.

Classic cremation urn handmade with Curly Maple.

Mahogany

Mahogany ranges from light pink or salmon brown to darker reddish-brown in color. Spiritual growth and guidance are Mahogany's primary properties along with strength, endurance and longevity. While it is an excellent wood for emotional and spiritual healing, it is also thought to enhance our intuitive abilities and the ability to explore our potential.

Padauk

African Padauk has a striking, bright orange color when freshly cut that darkens to a reddish-brown with age. It symbolizes power and strength, drawing from the element of fire, and is used for vitality and control yet with a constantly shifting energy.

Poplar

Poplar is a grayish-white to pale yellow sapwood with green to brown heartwood. Its color darkens and browns with time and light exposure. Poplars represent abundance, independence and resilience and are thought to carry the memory of the dead. They symbolize the old age of man because of their white leaves but also are associated with hope and the promise of revival.

Quarter-Sawn White Oak

Quarter-Sawn White Oak is a light to medium brown with finer texture than flat sawn white oak featuring a dramatic flaking pattern that runs perpendicular to the grain.

Oaks are known for their symbol of courage and power with some calling it the most powerful tree. Other meanings include wisdom and honor, as well as strength of character. The trees are believed to be like spiritual guardians that can provide comfort and solace.

Classic cremation urn handmade with QSWO.

Red Cedar

Red Cedar is a light reddish or violet-brown with pale yellow or white streaks. The Red Cedar is a life giver. It was and is used to provide shelter, create baskets for fishing and food gathering along with medicinal purposes. Called the tree of life because of it's longevity and constant greenery.

Walnut

Walnut offers a rich, dark nut brown color. It teaches us clarity and focus, using out mental gifts wisely, and how to best use our intelligence. Symbolic of confidence and wisdom, and a reminder of gratitude and offers a link between the past and present.

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