The Bleeding Tree: A Pathway Through Grief Guided by Forests, Folk Tales and the Ritual Year

Hollie Starling's father has died by suicide, and she is thrust into a state of grief. She seeks another way through the dark by embracing her lifelong interest in folklore and the healing power of nature, the changing seasons, and the rituals of ancient communities. The Bleeding Tree is an unflinching year-zero guidebook to grief that shows us that by looking back to past traditions of bereavement, we can all find our own way forward.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the horizon, the air grew still and quiet. The last rays of light filtered through the trees, creating a hazy silhouette of the world around me. It was the brink of the new season, a time of transition and change.

The murky hours, the clove between sunset and sunrise, were upon me. The sky was a deep shade of purple, and the clouds seemed to be gathering in the distance, signaling the arrival of a storm.

In the distance, I noticed a tall tree with deep roots that seemed to be bleeding. The blood oozed from the trunk, staining the ground beneath it. It had been bleeding for a long time, and I couldn't help but wonder what had caused it to suffer so.

As I approached the tree, I noticed a small group of people gathered around it. They were all dressed in black, their faces solemn and sad. I couldn't see their faces clearly, but I could feel the weight of their grief in the air.

I approached the group and asked if I could join them. They nodded, and I sat down on a nearby rock, feeling the coolness of the stone against my skin.

For a while, we sat in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. The tree continued to bleed, its blood flowing like a river. I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and loss, as if the tree was a symbol of the pain and suffering that we all experience in life.

But then, something strange began to happen. The tree began to emit a soft, glowing light, and the blood began to slow its flow. It was as if the tree was healing itself, drawing strength from the surrounding environment.

The group of people around me began to smile and laugh, their faces lighting up with joy. They reached out to each other, their hands touching in a way that seemed to convey a sense of connection and understanding.

As I watched them, I felt a sense of hope and healing wash over me. I realized that the tree was not just a symbol of pain and loss, but also of resilience and renewal. It was a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility of growth and healing.

The group of people continued to sit around the tree, sharing stories and memories of their loved ones who had passed away. They spoke of the pain and sadness that they had experienced, but also of the love and joy that they had found in the wake of their loss.

As the night grew darker, the tree continued to glow, its light casting a warm and comforting glow over the surrounding area. I felt a sense of peace and contentment, as if I had found a place of healing and belonging.

As I stood up to leave, the group of people gathered around me, thanking me for joining them. They told me that the tree had a special power, that it could heal and bring people together.

I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude for the experience. I knew that the tree would always hold a special place in my heart, a symbol of hope and healing.

As I walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of optimism for the future. I knew that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility of light and hope. And I knew that the tree would continue to bleed, but that it would also continue to grow and heal, bringing beauty and joy to the world around it.

As summer falls into autumn, Hollie Starling is hit by the heart-stopping news that her father has died by suicide. Thrust into a state of grief on hard mode, Hollie feels underserved by current attitudes toward grief and so seeks another way through the dark.

Following her first year without her father, Hollie embraces her lifelong interest in folklore and turns to the healing power of nature, the changing seasons, and the rituals of ancient communities.

The Bleeding Tree is an unflinching year-zero guidebook to grief that shows us that by looking back to past traditions of bereavement, we can all find our way forward.

Starling's account of family life is riveting and narrated with grace and honesty, counterpointing the personal with the mythic.

- Irish Times

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 145 x 224 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781846047411