Poppie, I wasn't even aware of an Irish version of the Tree of Life! I know the Jewish one, and the Buddhist one, and figured it probably showed up in variations in other cultures as well. I was just reading up on Winter Solstice, and the evergreen, being ever-green, was used to symbolize rebirth/not-dying in the return of the sun, so that may be another version. Tieing in the various Tree of Life stories to your own life shows both a continuum and a symbiosis. I love the entire concept although it sounds like a huge task.

How awful that your first year "didn't count!" I'm not sure if I'd be more pissed or just depressed. Maybe some combo of both. I hope something positive gets straightened out.

Love hearing your updates