Crazy about Old Mermaids

And who, you may ask, are the Old Mermaids, and why am I so crazy for them?

The Old Mermaids are characters in an as-yet-unpublished novel by Kim Antieau, but they are so much more.  They first caught my fancy when I read about them in Kim's blog last spring when she posted the "13 Suggestions from the Old Mermaids."  The quotations made me laugh and gave me much to ponder.  Then, in a time of crisis, I heard their voices inside my head (no I'm not going crazy, thank you very much). I realized they carried the voice of Deep Wisdom and were so much more than fictional characters.

They teach us how to live our lives with grace and beauty, even in the face of despair, alienation and grief. 

I've had the great pleasure of reading the pre-published novel and fell even more deeply in love with the Old Mermaids.  Now Kim has started another blog, just for the Old Mermaids, to collect their stories and to learn and teach about them.  She's putting out a call for us all to create Old Mermaid Sanctuaries — or to realize that we already live in them.  She writes:

I would like to see Old Mermaid Sanctuaries everywhere. They already exist in some places. In other places, we need to rearrange things a bit so they can come into existence—or so they can truly be seen, like wiping film off of an old window. Old Mermaid Sanctuaries are places where we care for ourselves and each other. Old Mermaid Sanctuaries are places where the sun comes up and the sun goes down. Old Mermaid Sanctuaries are places where the heart opens and love flows in and out. Old Mermaid Sanctuaries are places where cynicism does not exist. Old Mermaid Sanctuaries are places where compassion is a verb. Old Mermaid Sanctuaries are places where you and and I live.

What is an Old Mermaid Sanctuary to you?

Comments

[Kim]

Thanks so much for this, Joanna! I hope you are feeling better. Imagine Grand Mother Yemaya Mermaid with her hand on your forehead, and Sister Bridget Mermaid whistling up some healing for you. And Sister Sheila Na Giggles Mermaid telling you a bawdy joke to make you laugh while Sister Laughs A Lot Mermaid tells another more demure joke that is just as funny...And Sister Ruby Rosarita is serving up some dish that is just exactly what you need.

Big hugs and sloppy kisses!