Gifts of the Old Mermaids: Part Two

On Sunday, we gathered again for the conclusion of the Gifts of the Old Mermaids playshop. We sat around our sprawling altar. We passed around a plate and left offerings for the faeries and ancestors. Then we said nice things about the directions and elements. Talked about our dreams. The women showed me the cigar boxes they were transforming into treasure chests.

And then they journeyed to Aphrodite and got gifts and brought them back for their sister mermaids while I drummed. We kept this knowledge to ourselves and we went to the kitchen and each made a cowrie shell necklace. When we were finished, we blessed the necklaces with the elements and then put all the necklaces into a giant shell.

After lunch, we dressed up and prepared for the Gifted Ceremony. We drummed and then the first sister mermaid sat in the heart tree made from hazel sapling. "Sister Mermaid!" I called. "Are you ready to accept your gifts?" "Yes!" And then one at a time we went up to the sister mermaid and gifted her. The last person lifted one of the cowrie necklaces from the shell and put it over the the now Gifted sister mermaid's head and around her neck.

And then we danced and cheered.

The ceremony was moving and beautiful. I felt very gifted by these women and the Old Mermaids.

When it was over, we realized that we had each been gifted with the necklaces we had made ourselves. I got the necklace I had made. Barbara got the necklace she had made, etc. Every one of us!

As Sister Faye Mermaid said, "The rest is mystery."

Read the whole tale here...

Gifts of the Old Mermaids: Part One

This is what we did today at the Gifts of the Old Mermaids playshop:

We talked about the relationship between mermaids and the ancient sea goddesses. About the true story of Aphrodite, how she is about true passionate love and life—love and understanding of ourselves. She looks into the mirror to remember the way to all truth: Know Thyself.

We journeyed to the Old Sea for a Spirit helper or power animal to take us to Aphrodite. Once with Aphrodite, we each asked her what quality about ourselves we had forgotten. Afterward, we made collages to remind us of our true selves—to remind us of those qualities we had forgotten.

As they made the collages, I read them the scene from Church of the Old Mermaids where the Old Mermaids "Gift" Tulip and Poppy. Next time, we will perform the Gifted ceremony ourselves.

I also told them about the cigar box Myla used to hold the donations from people who listened to her stories at the Church of the Old Mermaids. I showed them my own cigar box with the mermaid painted on it. Inside, I keep treasures. After I told them all this, I brought out empty cigar boxes I had gotten from a tobacco shop in Portland. Their homework was to take a box home and make them into treasure chests.

Next time, we will make cowrie shell necklaces for each other, we will dress up in our Old Mermaid finery, and we will Gift and be Gifted.

This is only an outline of what happened today, in case you would like to do your own Gifts of the Old Mermaids. It was a profound, beautiful, and fun day which I could never quite describe. In two weeks, we meet again for the ceremony.

Blessed sea!

Read the whole tale here...

Gifts of the Old Mermaids

On Saturday, we will dive into the Old Sea and New Desert as we explore the Gifts of the Old Mermaids. This two-part playshop will culminate in a "gifting" ceremony right here at this Old Mermaid Sanctuary. I'll let you know what we do in case you want to be a part of it on your own in your own Old Mermaid Sanctuary.

First I'll paste in part of the letter I sent out to the participants:

Hello Sister Mermaids!

Please dress comfortably. If you have drums and rattles please bring them. Bring magazines, catalogs, etc. with pictures you like that you can use for a collage. Think about home, land, hearth, what brings you joy and makes you feel like yourself.

For the next few days until Saturday, be open to dreaming about the Old Mermaids. Be open to the experience of coming home to yourself and the world. Look around this website, read some of the stories, look at the photos, just experience it.

We'll be making small altars, too. So bring a small piece of cloth (not bigger than 12 x 12), something beautiful or something that speaks to you for our work here at the Old Mermaid Sanctuary. Also, look for something in your house or environment that reminds you of the four elements: air, earth, fire, and water. Don't buy anything. Just pick these things up in or around your home and bring them with your cloth. For instance, a stone might be earth. Or you might find a feather for air. A shell for water. A candle or key for fire. Use your intuition and we'll talk more about it on Saturday.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Blessed sea!

Sister Kim Mermaid

Read the whole tale here...