I think about the ancient glade quite frequently and the symbolic significance of it, and right now is one of those moments so here's a little thought dump
I find it so so interesting that the part of the game that Mobius ran out of budget for turned out to be the part that resonated with me so strongly and evoked so so many emotions the first time i experienced it and all the times that came after in my replays.
The fact that it manifests as an infinite redwood not only as a nod to the Hatchling's memories of home, of Timber Hearth, but also as a quite literal nod to the dark forest theory of the universe. And I find that so so fucking cool.
I also find it really goddamn sweet that The Ancient Glade is pulled from Gabbro's quantum poem, meaning that the Hatchling went into the Eye thinking of their time buddy.
And the way that the game really drives home the message of embracing change through gathering all the travellers around the campfire for one last song, presenting it more as a celebration of what was instead of mourning it, just phenomenal really.
Each little puzzle you do to collect the instruments and all the little motifs to each traveller are so so dear to me in the way they're executed because it means that they all had a big enough impact on the hatchling to the point they've become prominent enough memories to manifest there. And it also means that Esker was finally remembered <3 and i truly truly love that they are the first to appear of all the travellers
I really do love that the game allows people to pull their own interpretations of the ending and that there's no right or wrong answer to it
I really could go on forever about the symbolism of this game so if anyone else has thoughts or would like to share their own interpretations i would love to hear them ::D