Red Flowering Dogwood

cornus florida, pre-blossom: the cloak we wear

For a while, our gorgeous cloak of wounds is the beauty seen by the world. In time, our true flowers blossom, and our true light is known.

About the Tree and its Flowers

The dogwood tree is a little misleading.

When I was first drawn to the Dogwood tree and its flowers, feeling the whisper of an essence wanting to come through, I was confronted with this sense of not as it seems. I felt a woody, dense, human aspect to the flowers, different from the usual ethereal element present. Well, as I found out with a little research, the flowers actually hadn’t bloomed yet. What I thought were petals were actually bracts, and the flowers had yet to blossom.

The stage of a tree’s life cycle at which one collects an essence certainly has a bearing on the medicine it offers. The plant is usually offering the frequency of the moment, unless you’re collecting an archetypal essence. This essence’s transmission is to do with the relationship between the beautiful, showy bracts and the rather modest flowers of dogwood’s inflorescence.

The Cloak of Wounds

In this post, I’ll be using the term “cloak” a lot, and I want to define that here. In this context, the cloak is the outer version of us: how we’re seen or what we show, whether by choice or default. It is the outer layer of ego and personality that masks and protects our truest and purest self. It’s not bad or wrong; it’s an important part of our human existence, and it’s beautiful. Your wounds and your healing are your humanity, and a gorgeous cloak to wrap around your true, pure light.

Our cloak is often woven of the threads of our preferences and experiences as well as our wounds and our healing. Whether we are showcasing the wound itself (like a broken heart or sprained ankle), or our healing of it (like the walls we put up to protect tender hearts or the careful way we walk), the origin of that thread is still the wound. Dogwood illustrates for us the important relationship between our cloak and our truest inner light which it protects.

The Transmission

The following transmission came through automatic writing during the bottling process of essence collection.

Sometimes we must show the cloak we wear to the outside world. That does not dim our inner light which they may not see, be ready to see, or understand. The cloak can be a necessary raiment for this world. Do not you be fooled by it, though. You must always know the truth of your light which is always the truth of who you are.

Your cloak may be ornate or simple, alluring or off-putting, but let it be honest — even thought it is not the whole truth of you, let it be truthful nonetheless. The cloak is one aspect of your earth outfit, but it is not the truth of who you are. Be not discouraged if all they see is your cloak. When they become ready, your true self will be visible. You will be seen. Likewise, it did take you some time to be seen by yourself in your true light. The cloak did seem to be you for some illusioned time.

Isn’t it glorious to have people in your life who will see your true light? (God always does.) But also an important and valuable experience to have people see you as your cloak. Your discomfort in being seen as your cloak is what leads you to find your true light that shines from within. There is a sense of incompleteness that comes from being seen as your cloak which drives you inward to find your light.

Dogwood Tree essence helps you to be comfortable with the dual experience of being seen as your cloak and knowing you are your light.

True, the cloak can block the light, and as time goes on, your cloak is likely to get sheerer. But when this essence comes to you, it’s an indication that you are in the duality of living both. It can be the acceptance of the wounded self being visible when you know the light shines within, or the reminder that there is a light shining within when you have forgotten, and identified completely with the cloak.

Essence Description

Dogwood Tree essence helps you to navigate the duality of being both a true pure light and the wearer of the outer cloak you show the world. Your cloak can look many different ways, woven of your personality, wounding, and healing. Your inner light-self is the core of who you truly are; an eternal light that isn’t needy or showy, but modest and steadfast. If you’ve forgotten about your true light-self, Dogwood Tree is here to remind you that you are more than the cloak others see. If you are on the path of embodying your inner truth more fully, Dogwood Tree reminds you that there is purpose and value to the cloak. It protects, guards, and holds the true you always burning within. Dogwood Tree essence can help you to discern between what to share with the world and what to keep just between you and the divine.