The Arbutus Tree as a Symbol of Healing

 

The Arbutus Tree sits on the craggy coast of the Pacific Northwest.  Its twisted, windswept branches reach inland while its roots dig desperately into the rocky soil beneath, giving the impression of an old woman bent against the wind.  Year after year, it is battered by the wild storms swept in from the sea.  Red, parchment bark is shed from the trunk which has been pushed into odd angles by nature’s forces.  The elements are merciless and this has made the tree beautiful.  The very shape of each tree tells the story of its unique fortunes and misfortunes, and by wearing it so openly for all the world to see, we are reminded of what it means to heal - not to return to a time before the pain, but rather to come through it and be transformed into a thing of beauty.