Medicine & Superstition The Old Operating Theatre & Herb Garrett

The Senile Heart 

'A lifetime burning in every moment'
​TS Eliot

Heart symbolism and myths have a long history. Heart shaped amulets have been found in burial sites across the world, suggesting their use as symbols of life and protection. During the Middle Ages, the heart was not just a symbol of love but was also believed to be the container of emotions, thoughts and even one's soul. People believed the heart held a person's life story and that good deeds and bad deeds were recorded within it. It is where the expression to 'learn by heart' comes from. the belief led to various superstitions and practices surrounding the heart, including heart burial, using hearts in folk magic, and even consuming them in sacred rituals. 
while modern medicine has demystified much of the function, its symbolism remains deeply ingrained in human culture. while our understanding of the function of the heart has advanced, it is interesting to note that today's heart surgeons can insert what id referred to as 'an Amulet Occluder' into the area of the heart where 90% of stroke producing clots form.

​The Book Of Life
The Hand We Are Dealt

Blood is often referred to as a life force due to its crucial role in sustaining life. It transports oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues, enabling them to function properly. This is essential for everything from muscle movement and digestion, to thinking and fighting infection. Blood also carries away waste products, maintaining the body's internal balance. Essentially blood id the conduit for life, delivering what's needed and removing what isn't. 

it also carries hidden messages- 'wild cards', that can be unpredictable passing on inherited diseases, like heart disease, and creating unexpected events. We therefore all live with 'the hand we are dealt'. this work considers our internal world that shapes our health. 

 Pack of 52 + 2 'wild cards', individually printed, arranged in a clock patience format.