|
As a young child, Sila was rescued from the
sea after the boat in which she was traveling, capsized, drowning
her parents. She was taken care of by her five older brothers
even after some of them married and had children of their own.
Sila loved the sea and swam far and well--better
than anyone else in the village. At first her brothers were proud
of her ability, but when the villagers complained they were not
teaching her properly, the brothers told her it was time to stop
swimming and learn the ways of village girls. Sila loved her brothers
and did as she was told, but away from the sea she grew thin and
pale. Her brothers were so worried about her they asked Raven
for help. Raven told them, “Your sister is not like other
young girls. She must be allowed to be who she is if you want
her to be healthy and happy.” Reluctantly the brothers agree
for they loved their sister.
As Sila grew up the villagers ridiculed Sila
and her brothers. The brothers grew ashamed and forced Sila to
do the tasks of young village women. Sila tried but she became
quiet and sad. Once again her brothers called on Raven. He reminded
them, “Your sister is not like other young women. She must
be allowed to be who she is if you want her to be healthy and
happy.” Fearing for her life, the brothers allowed Sila
to return to the sea.
This time, their fears were as large as their
love. They began to follow Sila and noticed that she swam with
a strange creature. The brothers were afraid the creature would
harm their sister so they tried to kill it but the creature escaped.
The brothers made new, sharp arrows. Sila pleaded with her brothers,
“Let the creature be. He is no danger to anyone.”
But her brothers refused to listen. In time, an arrow found its
mark and the creature died.
Sila’s grief upset her brothers. They
assured her they killed the creature for her sake but Sila was
not comforted and refused to speak. The brothers kept Sila under
their watch in a tepee and when Sila gave birth to a child they
were horrified to notice the child did not look like other children.
They were afraid and asked Raven for advice. Raven said, “Your
sister is not like other young mothers. She must be allowed to
be who she is if you want her to be healthy and happy.”
The brothers listened reluctantly, watching Sila and the child
closely.
Although Sila swam with her child, she feared
for his life. She knew she could not keep him safe for very long.
One day, she swam with her son to a place he had never been. She
told him what he needed to know and bid him leave her.
For a second time Sila was consumed with grief.
Her brothers tried to keep her busy helping their wives and children
but Sila yearned for her child. She knew her brothers would kill
him if they saw him so she called on Raven: “Help me safely
see my son. I cannot live this way.”
Raven took pity on Sila and created a thick
white cloud that separated Sila from her brothers. They could
not see her as she swam in the sea, greeting her son. When Sila
did not return, the brothers called on Raven to help them find
her but Raven refused. “You would not let her be who she
is, therefore you do not deserve to live with her. She has gone
to be with those who love her as she is. There will always be
a thick cloud of fog between you.”
This time it was the brothers who grieved.
(Excerpted from Dancing With Wonder:
Self-Discovery Through Stories)
There are many ways to create a story journey. The
following four suggestions are meant to help you begin once you
have paint that you can use with your fingers--at least 6 colors--red,
brown, blue, green, black and yellow-- and non-hardening clay.
It's nice to work with two or three people so points of view can
be shared, but if you are by yourself, read aloud, or tell yourself
the story, and begin exploring.
   
|
