annegeluna's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- dance if you want to Someone who�d danced far down the beach found a huge sea turtle shell that had washed ashore, and she came back to share her find. I trekked down with a small group to inspect it. We stared at the hulk of shell while water lapped around our bare ankles. �I feel like the shell is a gift to us,� a woman said. �A sign.� Another woman who was a student of ancient mythology told us that the turtle was a feminine symbol of strength and wisdom. �Did you know that in some ancient cultures the turtle shell was considered the base and support of the universe? It was said the whole world axis sat on her back.� Silence fell as we stared at the carapace, ink-gold beneath the moon. One by one the women began to dance again, dipping to brush their hands across the shell as they circled it, as if they were touching the source of feminine support, wisdom and strength. It was a ritual of deep beauty that I could only watch from the edge. But when the women finally walked back up the beach, I lagged behind just long enough to brush my hand across the shell.
Excerpt from The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd 2:20 p.m. - 2006-01-30 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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