TITLE: The God Tree
AUTHOR: Janis Fry, with Allen Meredith
PUBLISHER: Capal Bann
ISBN: 978-1861633453
PODCAST EPISODE: None
REVIEWER: Hilary Wilson
It all started with a seemingly innocuous question: why does the UK have so many sacred trees? The ancient yews that dot the landscape, particularly in Wales, have been sites of healing and worship for centuries. The deeper that author Janis Fry looked into the question, the more she uncovered about both the yew as it occurs in nature, as well as the rich folkloric history that surrounds it.
The God Tree (Capall Ban, 2012) is the culmination of many years of research by Janis Fry and Allen Meredith. What began as a look at the phenomenon of the “golden bough” – and the realization that it occurs in yews not as a “witch’s broom,” a parasitic growth by another tree, but rather as spontaneous generation – turned into an analysis of Arthurian myth and Christian folklore.
Fry takes the reader on a journey into the deep past. She explores Greco-Egyptian history and Christian folklore within Wales and the UK. She comes to conclusions that are sure to prove controversial, but have a fascinating depth to them that should generate constructive conversation. Regardless of whether or not her conclusions ultimately prove true, they should hopefully result in better protections for many of these truly ancient trees that make up the UK landscape.
The God Tree is just one of many books that Fry and Meredith have released about the mysterious yew. With the advent of the golden bough being spotted upon a 4,000 year old yew in Wales, they believe the new millennium should be one of healing and better understanding between us all. One hopes, after reading this book, that the wisdom of the yew might help the human race do more to preserve these beautiful trees and ensure the climate continues to allow them to grow and thrive well into the future, so that we may continue to learn from them.
AUTHOR: Janis Fry, with Allen Meredith
PUBLISHER: Capal Bann
ISBN: 978-1861633453
PODCAST EPISODE: None
REVIEWER: Hilary Wilson
It all started with a seemingly innocuous question: why does the UK have so many sacred trees? The ancient yews that dot the landscape, particularly in Wales, have been sites of healing and worship for centuries. The deeper that author Janis Fry looked into the question, the more she uncovered about both the yew as it occurs in nature, as well as the rich folkloric history that surrounds it.
The God Tree (Capall Ban, 2012) is the culmination of many years of research by Janis Fry and Allen Meredith. What began as a look at the phenomenon of the “golden bough” – and the realization that it occurs in yews not as a “witch’s broom,” a parasitic growth by another tree, but rather as spontaneous generation – turned into an analysis of Arthurian myth and Christian folklore.
Fry takes the reader on a journey into the deep past. She explores Greco-Egyptian history and Christian folklore within Wales and the UK. She comes to conclusions that are sure to prove controversial, but have a fascinating depth to them that should generate constructive conversation. Regardless of whether or not her conclusions ultimately prove true, they should hopefully result in better protections for many of these truly ancient trees that make up the UK landscape.
The God Tree is just one of many books that Fry and Meredith have released about the mysterious yew. With the advent of the golden bough being spotted upon a 4,000 year old yew in Wales, they believe the new millennium should be one of healing and better understanding between us all. One hopes, after reading this book, that the wisdom of the yew might help the human race do more to preserve these beautiful trees and ensure the climate continues to allow them to grow and thrive well into the future, so that we may continue to learn from them.