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A few observations about the third reference to the "Tree of Life" in Proverbs 3:

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: ... She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her. - verses 1 and 18

From the Jewish perspective, the Torah (first five books of the Bible) IS the Tree of Life.

And from the Christian perspective, Jesus Christ IS the Word of God (Logos - also the root of the word "logic" by the way.)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. - John 1:1-5

From the Jewish mystic perspective (as I understand it) the Torah was written before the creation and is itself a Name of God.

One might wonder about such a teaching since the Torah as a Name is quite long. But it could also be argued that our individual DNA is a very long "name" for who we, individually and physically "are."

Following that line of thinking, one might view the names given to animals to be of that sort, physical and lively:

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought [them] unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that [was] the name thereof. - Genesis 2:19

All of which brings me back to the original article - what if the language being spoken in the Garden of Eden were not like symbols or representations but rather a lively language? Certainly the words of God are enlivening:

For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

Or to put it another way, when Eve was talking to the snake perhaps it was in a language that cannot be discerned by mere physical sensory perception?

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. - Revelation 2:7

Christians have the gift of "ears to hear:"

And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. - Deut 29:2-4

Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. - John 8:43

But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. - Matt 13:16

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. - I Cor 2:14

We can discern spiritual truths and speak of spiritual things - and perhaps in the next life, we will be given lively words or perhaps even a new language. After all, the Tree of Life is in the midst of Eden (Gen 2:9) and Paradise (Rev 2:7).

God's Name is I AM.

what if the language being spoken in the Garden of Eden were not like symbols or representations but rather a lively language?

Communication takes place on several levels.

In spiritual terms, there are urgings of the spirit, there is discernment as you say, that do not rise to the level of language as such. In your prayer life, certainly there are words spoken and another level of communication and meaning that bypass the spoken word.

In some cases these don't even rise to the level of conscious thought, which is why prayer must be accompanied by meditation, or why it takes time for an answer to percolate to the surface sometimes. Language represents thought and helps to codify it but it rests on a foundation that is not easily accessible to language.

Or so it seems to me.

Finding words for things which have no words is a challenge and a gift.

"...the "Tree of Life" in Proverbs 3:

The tree of life in Proverbs 3 is understanding and wisdom. The fruit of the tree of knowledge did not contain either, only knowledge. In order for man to obtain understanding and wisdom, he had to do that on his own via the gifts contained in the Image he was created in.

Notice the Cherubim stands only at the one edge of the Garden. He isn't standing guard to keep man out; he's guarding the path to the Garden to keep it open — open to the tree of life. Gen 3:24, "So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way to the tree of life." The fruit of the tree of life is understanding and wisdom.

Attaining understanding and wisdom requires choices to be made, as per the OODA loop.(see Boyd: observation, orientaiton, decision, action) God does not do one's thinking for them. Note Peter's exercise of the loop. John 6:68, "Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Those words are understanding and wisdom. They are the fruit of the tree of life which is in Paradise and y'all were invited to eat, since y'all are what you eat. John 6:63, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life." John 6:48, "I am the bread of life."