The sprig of acacia appears prominently on much Masonic art, Masonic regalia and Masonic jewelry.  Traditionally it represents a hope in the afterlife.  But why acacia and not some other plant?  While the exact origins of this symbol are probably lost in antiquity, there are several intriguing observations that one can make about the plant.

First, the acacia is prominent in the mythology of the ancient Middle East.

In ancient Egypt, for example, acacia was associated with the death and resurrection of the Egyptian god Osiris.

According to the myth, Set, the evil brother of Osiris, created a beautiful wooden box and offered it as a gift to whomever best fit inside.  Thus enticed, Osiris climbed into the box and Set quickly nailed him in.  Set then threw the box into a river.  The box later washed ashore at the foot of an acacia tree that in time grew around the box, completely encasing it.  Eventually the tree was harvested and used as a support column for a palace, where Isis, wife of Osiris, discovered it.  She cut open the acacia, released the body of Osiris and, using magic, brought him back to life.

Acacia was also significant to the ancient Israelites.  Many scholars believe that the burning bush that Moses encountered was an acacia plant.  Further, the the Ark of the Covenant was made from acacia wood.  Finally, and most interestingly for Freemasons, the ancient Israelites often used an acacia bush to mark graves.

The fact that acacia was prominent in the ancient Middle East, however, fails to answer the question of why it is significant to Freemasonry; it merely pushes the question back a step.  That is, why was acacia associated with magic and gods in ancient times?

This question brings us to the second intriguing observation about acacia:  Several species of acacia contain a powerful hallucinogenic compound called DMT.  This very same hallucinogen has been used in shamanistic rituals world wide to achieve a trance like state in which communication with the gods was thought possible.  Perhaps this is just a coincidence, but it is thought provoking, nonetheless.

Check out this Masonic shirt sporting Master Mason symbols, including acacia, here.

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