Relaxing Story Wednesday: Dancing Cloud

The fire dances, mesmerising. Oranges, reds and yellows entwined, the playful sparks swirling skywards like a sparkle of fireflies. The warmth cups our faces, and wild flames gleam in our eyes. We all snuggle together around the bonfire, waiting.

She always keeps us in anticipation. It is part of her magic to appear and cast a spell on you when you are about to give up waiting for her.

I think it is her way of making us grounded in the here and now, forcing us to focus on what is happening around us and within us.

So I sit in a circle of women gathered around the fire and feel. I feel the softness of the soil under my feet. I feel the wind gently ruffling my hair. I feel the heat of the fire softly embracing my body.

So I sit in a circle of women gathered around the fire and listen. I hear willows whispering, birches breathing and the maples murmuring. I hear a scurry of the hedgehogs and the fox’s call. I hear the story of the starry night.

So I sit in a circle of women gathered around the fire and touch. I touch my strong hands, silky hair, and beloved wrinkles around my eyes. I touch the rough skin of a log I am sitting at and the velvety moss covering it. I touch the sky stretching its arms above me.

So I sit in a circle of women gathered around the fire and smell. I smell the perfume of the rain hovering in the air. I smell the scent of pine trees standing tall on the outskirts of the forest. I smell the fragrance of magic brewing among us.

So I sit in a circle of women gathered around the fire and see. I see friends united in the calmness of the night. I see women and their stories hidden in their eyes. I see myself rested and relaxed.

And then a soft chanting reaches my ears.

She has arrived.

We all close our eyes, ready for her song.

And then, it comes:

Dancing Cloud, Dancing Cloud
can't hear the drumming of her heart
clear and loud, clear and loud. 

Her soul was bribed
throughout her wild and stormy youth. 
Lost within, far away from her tribe,
She has forgotten her primal truth.

In the mists of her childhood
through a dream, she could hear
whispers from the darkest wood
- the calling of a deer.
"Come, my child, sit and listen,"
said the ancient voice,
"Make your soul sing and glisten,
you always have a choice."
"There is a powerful treasure
hidden under the great, old oak.
When life gives you stress and pressure,
set off to find it," gently the deer spoke. 

Dancing Cloud, Dancing Cloud
starts hearing the drumming of her heart
Clear and loud, clear and loud. 

Startled, she wakes up from her dream,
the whispers lingering in her mind,
Magic comes back into her bloodstream,
questions and answers untwined. 
Now the time has come
to reclaim the long-lost gift,
to guide her soul home,
to experience this magical shift. 

So she sets off the find the ancient oak,
searching for its welcoming arms,
with a child holding onto her cloak, 
Dancing Cloud hums her spells and charms. 

Dancing Cloud, Dancing Cloud
hears the drumming of her heart
Clear and loud, clear and loud. 

Her magic unravels. 
Her magic unravels.
Her magic unravels.

Night and day, she walks tirelessly,
singing songs and lullabies.
She creates her magic earnestly,
sharing it with the passers-by.
When she finally finds the tree,
she hears the ancient deer:
"Your gift is already within thee,
but here - take this drum, my dear."
"Drum it, summon the healing
- it will make your magic stronger.
Spread the enchanted feeling;
let it make the hearts grow fonder."

Dancing Cloud takes the drum.
Joyful, grateful, her head bows.
She calls for those who have been numb
- makes them shine, makes them rouse.

Drum. Drum. Drum. 

Dancing Cloud, Dancing Cloud
hears the drumming of her heart
clear and loud, clear and loud.

 

She finishes her song, but the drumming continues.

And we?

We stand up and start humming. Chanting. With every drum beat, our voices grow louder and louder until they burst into a song.

We sing and dance. Enchanted and empowered.

Into the night. Into the night.