Mermaid Moon
Mermaid Moon by Susan Cokal
“Blood calls to blood; charm calls to charm. It is the way of the world. Come close and tell us your dreams”
Sanna is a Mermaid - except her mother was landish, not seavish. The witch who delivered her cast a spell that made her people, and her mother, forget her birth. Sanna longs to find her mother so much that she apprentices herself to the witch, learns the magic of making and unmaking, and fashions herself a pair of lets to go ashore on the Thirty-Seven Dark Islands, the nearest anyone can remember to where they left her mother. There, Sanna stumbles into a wall of white roses and a community desperate for a miracle - and into a baroness who would do anything to live forever.
~ Inside Cover Mermaid Moon by Susan Cokal
Fairytales offer us something in time out of time. A magical tale meets us where we are at a give moment. What is this story speaking to me in this time? If we read with a metaphorical lens as a wider part of our imagination - all stories can find some sort of poignancy for us if we are curious.
“Fire leaves no history;
Air ever forgets;
Water washes away;
Land holds on too long;
Time is the measure of all.”
The Lunar Eclipse is in the cosmos this coming Full Moon on Saturday October 28th. This book mirrors so much of what is being felt in the undercurrents of astrology. In an eclipse time - it is best to just take it easy. No need for grand gesturing - wild proclamations - taking things as they come. However, what is happening in a wider way is a need for your dedicated attention. What is calling you? What is needed in the world? How can you help in ways that are doable for you? Even small ways are lifeways worthy of attention and embrace.
“The moon lowers herself to draw the tide.”
It wasn’t easy. The pains came fast and hard, even at the start. In the light of a half-made moon, she stumbled in the familiar ruts and puddles of the path she’d raced down many times before. Each pain was an ember blazing from her belly to the tips of her fingers and toes: pain blinded her and stole her breath. Only force of will kept her on her feet and stealing toward the waterfront, the one place she knew - or hoped - she’d be safe.
~Prologue - The Mermaid Moon by Susan Coktal
“I intend to narrate everything here exactly as it happened”
As we come upon the Lunar Eclipse - all is not as it seems. The skyways are working upon us in a magical and concentrated way. As the moon is pulling at the tidewaters and our waters - there is a feeling of chaos. Perhaps a feeling of fullness at the same time. Are we ourselves full up with our unique life - unique struggles - unique sadness and joys. What we feel in one part of ourselves - is often reflected outwardly in the world. It is the same as with stories. Their words work on us long after we have finished listening to or reading a story. The images carried from a nourishing book or tale helps us to look out into the world and know what little pieces of gold we can offer or carry into the confusion. It is in trusting what connections are sparked in our imagination - that the “something” is found. There is a knowing that you carry. Can you bring this out into the world wide ways of tending?
Arriving in the Dark Islands, as this place is called, took far more effort than a dive; it required nearly a year of training and chanting, trying and failing, breaking my pride over and over. And now that I’m here, my whole body stings and soars and throbs at once.
From Chapter 1 - The Mermaid Moon by Susan Coktal
This beautiful fairytale is full with imagination and meaningful writing to help immerse oneself in a land of wonder - and also - a land that is fully present in the current moments of the time. We remember that we can dream into existence - in a foundational and profound way. We may be lost now - for a time - maybe always. Then - we can begin to find those ways that we have forgotten. It is a life long journey of growing - remembering.
“Rocking Song
What are these rocks but a haven? What are these arms but a cradle? Swim to me: let me hold you fast. I’ll rock you so gently to sleep.”
“Siren song.
This is just a children’s tale; would you wreck your ship for it? Would you drown for a mere mother’s story? It’s only blood that calls to blood. Our voices are foam on the sea!”