What have we lost, who do we mourn, what needs repair?
What have we gained, where have connections deepened, who have we cared for or stood with, how are we reimagining a world beyond?
As we enter a season of transition, there is a collective desire to reflect on our losses, mourn, and express gratitude and hope.
Inspired by the beautiful traditions of the sacred trees of Buddhism, Lakota and Cherokee prayer ties, Scottish clootie wells, and the numerous places and cultures from China and Iraq to Brazil and Japan that mark mourning and healing by tying ribbons to a tree, Yellow House is co-creating a space for grief and hope; dark and light; shadow and shine.
Starting December 19, just days before the Winter Solstice, all are welcome to stop by Yellow House where we will have ribbons and the tools to use to add thoughts, words, elegies, prayers, or wishes to the Community Tree. This will be outdoors only and available, drop in style, during daylight hours for the weeks and months to come. Strands of shadow, ribbons of light will mingle in and on the tree that graces the front lawn of Yellow House. Offerings will be both held and released into this ancient symbol of life, strength, reverence, and renewal in an ever-evolving statement about this remarkable year.
Centered in the space, right on the building, is a newly created work of poetry by Yvette Angelique Hyater-Adams titled “The Reckoning Line Between Shadow and Shine”. It is a poem of this moment and created expressly for this space that our communities will build together.
For those unable to make it to our corner of the world to add to and sit beneath the tree, they are welcome to send us an email (hope@yellowhouseart.org) with the words they want to add to this community exhale. We will add it … with care. And, for groups or families who want to participate, we will deliver materials.
