The pillar is the bridge between HEAVENand EARTH, the vertical axis which both unitesand divides these two realms. It is closely connected to the symbolismof the TREE; it also represents stability,and a broken pillar represents death and mortality. In the Hebrew and Christiantraditions, pillars of FIRE and smoke signifythe presence of God, and God punished Lot by changing his wife into a pillarof salt.
