Yew
Yew
The Yew Tree
The yew is one of the oldest tree species in Europe and can be dated back to 230 million years ago. The oldest know word for yew ‘Eya’ means to be touched by eternity. Often described as the Grandmother of the ancient woodland, they are associated with immortality death and rebirth. Many are found in church graveyards; some churches were purposely built next to yew trees and ancient yew groves are associated with sacred sites that predate Christianity entirely. Every part of the yew is toxic apart from the flesh of its berry, so this could be another reason why it is connected to the departure of life. Shakespeare wrote about concocting a poisonous brew of yew in Macbeth: ‘Slips of yew, silvered in the Moon’s eclipse’
Only highly trained healers can turn the yew into medicine. The trees are known for their mystical regenerative properties, they’re able to produce new green shoots from what appears to be dead wood. Old branches make contact with the ground taking root and producing new trees. This produces the phenomena of new trunks growing around the original bolt hole.
I welcome in past visions of the Sun
Reflecting
Branches beyond my thoughts
Behind my eyes
Connecting
And everything
is one giant thing
and nothing at the same time
Energy floats away in boats
on a sea that likes to shine
I find many different things
I've been blind but I'm blinking
Your ink is a fine wine
refined over time
