old yew speaks 33 blessings
Imagine yourself sitting up against a tree that is over 1,000 years old, speaking to you in words you could understand. What would it say? What would you want to hear from it? Old Yew is a unique series of wise counsel and blessings rising out of 33 Taxus baccata facts. Equally thought-provoking and meditative, each card speaks volumes in very few words.
At last, a meaningful thank you for the wonderful card poems! I wanted to take time to read and re read them. You have put such a huge amount of love ( time, effort, thought, care) into this 'work'. They are an original and powerful concept, carried out with such exquisite diligence; the blessings encapsulate massive universal truths yet, like all great poetry they appear simple (in the truest, sweetest sense) and concise: easy to read yet hard to assimilate quickly.
- Rosamund Young, Author, The Secret Life of Cows
I feel I should have had your 33 yew tree thoughts to guide my career to re-focus my perspective when things went wrong.
- John Sales, former Head of Gardens & Chief Garden Advisor at The National Trust
In May 2019, Helena and sculptor Nik Burns collaborated to create handmade, Welsh kiln-dried solid yew wood stands for the Old Yew set of cards. The stands are available in both sapwood pieces or heartwood pieces, depending on your specific taste.
The Old Yew words have been printed with Giclee, offering the finest finish possible in both A5 and A6 sizes. The cards are available on both smooth or watercolour paper.
I think of you every day as I turn over the next card in the series of Old Yew Speaks and read first the gem of information and then the related blessing. It has become my personal 'thought for the day' and as Yew plays such a dominant part in the garden here, and the churchyard next door, it seems to have an extra resonance.
- Anonymous Gardener
old yew GALLERY
Display the cards where you can easily ponder their meaning - above the kitchen sink, in the bathroom or on a bedside.
Thank you so much for sharing your project Old Yew Tree Speaks 33 Blessings. I was captivated by each card as each one has so much thought and meaning behind every message.
You really do have a way with words and a god given talent, and I don’t know where you get your inspiration from.... but it is truly magical! And you’re so clever to remember that Harry Potter’s magic wand is made from Yew.
I have one word to say, and that’s Yewphoria! I can see so many people benefiting and healing from your pearls of wisdom.... it gave me goose bumps and that warm fuzzy feeling that is so soothing, which is why I had to go back and read them all for a second time.
- Henry Martin, UK