I listen to the many words being said about heather and I am struck in awe at the love people had and shared with her.  I couldn't help but see a young woman who was said to have infectious joy and spontaneous show of affection to be anything but beautiful, even though I never met her.

Anyone who became lucky enough to be in her presence has this tangible energy about them. A "Heather essence" that rubbed off on their very spirit and gives evidence they have been witness to something very powerful and wonderful. I listened to them, I watched them, and my heart filled and needed to take this energy of all who were touched by heather and find her tree totem.

It took time to let the tree come forward to be known. I didn't feel comfortable letting others know the quest I had. I was not even sure if the tree would come forward from someone who had already passed to the other realms. The trees didn't forget this quest and came forth, as most spiritual things do, unexpectantly. It was after listening to her Godparents and family talk about her in a chat room, when out of the blue came up this wonderful tree, The Dogwood.  I knew then that the tree had come forward. I quickly set about to learn all I could about this being.

Finding the technical description of the tree was very easy.  But getting to know the tree as a spiritual being took sometime.  I found the Dogwood to be aloof and playful. One that takes to games and riddles such as a child would do when given attention and love. I found the Dogwood to be the tree of the child.  Some people will wonder at the association, and question its placement in an inanimate object.  Some others will point out the Christian reference of the tree and its use in the cross.  Still others may scoff and think "I'm off my tree." All I can do is point out that this is not my story but the story of a very courageous young girl and the tree totem that is her spirit.

The Dogwood knows no selfishness and will share its fruit to all types of wildlife. It only thrives when loved, protected and sheltered. In the wild, the Dogwood can be found in the underbrush, or the  understory of large Oaks, or other trees. Like children who show us the simplicity of life, the Dogwood makes an appearance to slow us down and make us wonder at life once again. We may find the dogwood common in yards and gardens, but nothing surprises better than coming to a splash of beauty after a long hike.  Children quickly forget about the falls they had to endure to learn to run. The Dogwood reflects the Childs experience, blossoming more after branches have been cut.  Like a Childs laughter is infectious so to are the Dogwood blooms. The tree laughs and billows of blossoms will fall

The tree has no boundaries or rules to follow, such as bloom in the spring and hibernate in the winter like other trees. I have found evidence of blooming and fruiting dogwoods throughout all seasons. Like a child, when a decision is made, it does what it wants at the time it wants to. Such decisions can be reflected in the folklore I have found about the Dogwood. It is said to have blessed the Buddha with its petals after he sat under it to rest from the heat of the sun. In a famous Christian poem, the dogwood became distressed at learning its wood was used in the crucifixion. Because of its regret and pity for the suffering, Jesus had decreed that it should be twisted and gnarled, never growing large enough to be used ever again for making a cross. The choice of the Dogwood tree to be reflected in either story is in my opinion not an accident.

Dogwoods are very empathic and compassionate beings. When you see a Dogwood, you are seeing a glorious testament to life. Everyone who witnesses the true splendor of the Dogwood in bloom comes back with a memory of something special. The blooming Dogwood becomes a cherished memory to be held during the cold winters or the long nights.

The Dogwood is hardy and comes back to life after being burned to the ground. There is much evidence that Heather's spirit is the same way. From her death, life has sprung forth in the very people who were around her. They can only laugh, sing and share,  having touched her root core and springing to life from it.

Heather reflected the entire characteristics I found in the Dogwood.  Her love and the Dogwood's love are the same and the two are intertwined inseparable and the same. The Dogwood is Heather's Tree Totem.