Our two most-carved patterns at METADESK are the Tree of Life and the Flower of Life. Every week Alex gets an email from a customer who has narrowed their decision to these two and cannot pick. This article is our attempt to help you choose — honestly, from the perspective of the people who carve both.
A brief overview
Both patterns come from ancient traditions, both appear across cultures, and both work beautifully on a wooden chaban. But they feel different in practice.
The Flower of Life is a symmetrical, radiating pattern of overlapping circles. It is meditative in a mathematical way — its symmetry rewards focus. The Tree of Life is organic, asymmetric, and directional. It rewards contemplation over meditation. One is a mandala. The other is a story.
The Flower of Life chaban
The Flower of Life covers the board evenly. There is no obvious "front" — the pattern is the same in all directions. This makes it excellent for group ceremonies, where the chaban is shared, and for practitioners who move around their setup.
Our alder Flower of Life chaban is a favorite for exactly this reason. In group settings, every guest sees the same geometry. There is no privileged seat.
The Tree of Life chaban
The Tree of Life has an unmistakable orientation — roots at the bottom, branches at the top. On a chaban, this creates a clear front. The tea pot lives in the branches. The drainage often runs toward the roots. There is a natural narrative to the board.
Our alder Tree of Life chaban is the piece we recommend for solo practitioners who want their chaban to feel like a personal companion. It has a front, a back, a top, a bottom. You come to know it in a particular way.
Side by side
| Feature | Flower of Life | Tree of Life |
|---|---|---|
| Symmetry | Radial, all directions | Directional (top/bottom) |
| Feel | Meditative, mathematical | Contemplative, narrative |
| Best for | Group ceremonies, shared | Solo practice, personal |
| Origin | Ancient near-Eastern, Egyptian | Norse, Kabbalah, global |
| Carving time | ~1.5 days | ~2 days |
| Drainage integration | Symmetric channels | Root-oriented channels |
Which suits which practice
If you sit alone every morning with a small pot and want the board to be a companion, the Tree of Life will grow with you. Its asymmetry gives you a "same side up" ritual — you turn the board a particular way, place the pot in the branches, and settle in.
If you host guests, or if your practice moves between rooms, or if you want a chaban that reads the same from every side, the Flower of Life is the honest recommendation.
How they age
Both patterns darken slightly along the carved lines over years. The Flower of Life ages uniformly — you may not notice the darkening for a long time because the whole board changes together. The Tree of Life ages unevenly — the branches, where the pot lives, darken faster than the roots. Some practitioners love this. It is proof of practice, marked into the wood.
The visual weight question
The Flower of Life is visually busy. It fills the eye. In a small tea corner, this can feel like a lot. The Tree of Life leaves more empty wood between elements. If your practice space is small, the Tree of Life often reads calmer.
In a large studio, the reverse is true — the Flower of Life anchors a big room, and a Tree of Life can feel understated.
Combining traditions
Occasionally a customer wants both. We have carved chabani with a small Flower of Life at the center and a Tree of Life motif at the drainage edge. This is a custom conversation with Roman — he will tell you whether the combination works on the size you want or whether you should choose one.
What we would build for you
Alex has an internal shortlist he shares in emails:
- Solo practitioner, 20 minutes a morning, cross-legged: Tree of Life, alder, 40 x 25 cm.
- Small teaching group at home, monthly: Flower of Life, ash, 60 x 35 cm.
- Teaching studio, weekly classes: Flower of Life, ironwood, 80 x 40 cm.
- A wedding gift or heirloom: either, depending on the couple.
Custom versions
Both patterns can be scaled up or down, made shallower or deeper, and paired with any of our three woods. If you want a specific proportion — say, a Tree of Life that fills the entire board, or a small Flower of Life at one corner — write to metadeskukraine@gmail.com. Lead time is 3-6 weeks.
A final word
There is no wrong answer here. Both patterns have carried human attention for thousands of years. Both look extraordinary in Ukrainian wood. Both will outlast you. Choose the one that meets your eye first when you browse the chaban collection. That is usually the right one.