17 Comments

I love bones too! I found half a sheep pelvis a few months back in a field and broight it home, was quick to bring it into my apartment afraid I’d run into a neighbor in the elevator..thank you for this lovely post.

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Hi Michelle, thank you ☺️ I’m so glad it resonated!

That’s so cool that you found a sheep’s pelvis! I know what you mean about hiding it from neighbours in a lift. Not everyone shares the fascination. But it’s lovely to know that you do!

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This collection is beautiful and so are your words.

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I’m really happy you enjoyed it. Nice to meet a fellow bone appreciator 😊🩶🦴

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So cool. I came across them all the time as a kid and my parents thought it was weird. I don’t recall keeping anything for long. It’s odd that hanging animal heads from hunting on walls is celebrated but collecting skulls found naturally is not.

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Delicate and precious. How lovely, Jo.

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Thank you, Robin. 😊

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“The essence remaining…” I enjoyed reading this Jo. In May I came across a deer leg being reduced to essence by Red-breasted carrion beetles and Sexton beetles; I haven’t shared the photos that helped me to learn their names. Two months on I came across other bones spread across an area of moss. I decided that was where the roe fawn belonged; I still see them, and clumps of fur, and wonder what happened.

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Thank you Michela, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s amazing how many other creatures benefit from the life of an animal, even in death.

There’s something poetic about bones spread across an area of moss—a beautiful final resting place.

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There's something so earthy and evocative about bones. Beautiful photos.

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Thank you Claire. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who sees them differently 🩶

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This is such beautiful writing. Sometimes I am really reluctant to share with people my love of tarot. I fear I will be judged although I have no evidence for that.

I am trying to share it more though and be more open here.

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Thank you Louise :-)

I know exactly what you mean. Funnily enough I also love tarot but have been very tentative about mentioning it here, even though I have a number of people on my list who probably might be interested too! I like to think that tarot isn't judged in the same way that it once was, but I can understand the reluctance if you already have a large established group of people on your list, particularly if it might affect business.

I keep wondering about the long-term benefits of having a niche. For example I write mostly about nature, but there's so much more that I'd like to bring here, like the music I compose. But would worry people would unsubscribe! I don't know the answer to any of this, but I'm slowly taking the gamble and revealing more. I hope you find the right balance for you. And if you have tarot on your page, I'd be very happy to read it :-)

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I have a separate publication, much smaller, for my tarot work but I keep debating with myself whether to bring it under my main publication, maybe as a section.

It’s tricky isn’t it.

Increasingly I feel as though I want to be my whole self here and not have to compartmentalise things.

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I totally get that and I hope you find a balance that works for you here.

I have found your Page and Ink publication too, it’s lovely. 🤩

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Oct 18Liked by Jo Taylor

During my studies as archaeologist, my favourite campaign was an early Medieval church with hundreds of burials where we spent the days digging human bones. I've learnt so much about the body structure! When I used to tell about this campaign to people, they always grimaced and I even got asked if all these bones smelled badly. Which is funny because they were there since centuries and I remember vividly the smell of earth and how relaxing it was lying on the floor with brushes, my nose just a few centimeters from the bones and this soothing scent of nature. It could have been compared to gardening to me!

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Thanks for sharing this, Alice :-)

Archaeology is a fascinating subject. I can imagine that coming into contact with bones is quite a normal thing in that subject area. I love knowing that you also find them intriguing!

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