Peaceful Mountain
She felt invisible. No one ever noticed her or heard her voice, or ever complimented her on all her hard work and effort. She received no recognition as did the other women. She knew why. She was ugly. This is what they told her all the time, even when she was a small child, "You are ugly. No one will ever want you - who wants an ugly wife?"
She knew this was true. Even as a small child, she knew that without what society considered beauty, or talent, she did not have a chance at living a happy life. She would be ostracized forever. No love in her life - given the most menial job, even though she was smart and able. She knew that of herself, but as time passed, and the insults grew worse and never stopped, she began to think, that no, she was mistaken about that too. She was not smart. Nor able - able to do anything worthwhile. She was worthless.
As she grew into womanhood, her pain became so great, she could barely find the courage to leave her home to go shopping for food, let alone to find a life of her own, away from her family, who put up with her because they had no other choice. She felt she was destined to spend the rest of her life, hidden away in her parents' home, helping them into their old age, as she entered old age herself. Never knowing the love of a man, or to have her own children, a life of her own, with happiness and laughter and not just sadness and tears. She was doomed.
Or so she thought.
One day, while sitting outside by the back of the house, where no one could easily see her, she began to day dream. It was a beautiful day and the sun felt so warm and comforting on her face. For the first time in a long time she felt good about herself. Soon, she drifted off into a deep sleep.
The sound of water, soothing, cleansing, renewing; she could smell the perfume from the flowers that seem to be everywhere and the sun was so warm and bright - it sparkled off this huge mountain that surrounded what appeared to be a small valley. She felt so peaceful and safe and for once in her life, she actually felt beautiful. It was an overwhelming beauty, from inside and outside of her being - it was pure and good and filled with light. She no longer felt invisible for the first time in her life.
She awoke suddenly and as she opened her eyes, she was at first startled by the odd sight that appeared in front of her.
"Awaken awaken! Hurry! Hurry!" They sang over and over again.
"Who are you?" she asked, thinking perhaps the warmth of the sun had caused her to see things that were not really there. "Who are you? I am awake!"
"Well then, you must hurry! You must hurry!" they sang together.
"Hurry where?" she asked the little dancing birds - they looked like birds, but she wasn't quite certain. "Just follow us! Just follow us!" They repeated. "Hurry! Hurry!"
She hesitated only a few moments. What do I have to lose? she thought. I have no life here, no love, no laughter. Maybe if I do as they ask, something good will happen to me and I won't feel so ugly, so invisible and unwanted.
So, she stood up and followed the little dancing birds as they hurried along, leaving the village as quickly as they could, urging her all the time, to hurry! Hurry!
They traveled a long way and she was very tired. "I must rest." she told the little dancing birds. "If only for a moment, please. I am so tired."
"You must hurry!" they responded in unison. "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" We must get to Peaceful Mountain before sundown."
Peaceful Mountain she thought - what is Peaceful Mountain? Where could it be? She wanted to ask these question of the three little dancing birds, but thought better of it, and she got up and began to follow them as they instructed.
Suddenly, she was overwhelmed with bright golden light. She squinted her eyes and when she closed them and then opened her eyes again, she was looking at the most beautiful scene she had ever seen. There was this beautiful mountain and flowers and off in the distance, she heard the most beautiful music, soft and soothing, mesmerizing, hypnotic. It was a sound she had never heard before but she loved it immediately and felt it was not the first time she had heard such beautiful music.
She squinted her eyes in the bright golden light and off in the distance she saw what she first thought was a man. But she wasn't sure.
"Go closer," the little dancing birds twittered.
She hesitated, somewhat afraid, but for the first time in her life, she didn't feel the overwhelming fear of everything that surrounded her, waiting for the attack to come, the name-calling, the hurtful words, the cold stares of the people who lived in the village.
So she followed the little dancing birds as they twirled and danced and sang and hurried along, as they grew closer to the unknown figure, she saw that indeed, she had been correct. A man. A handsome man. A man who was bathed in the golden light of the sun, playing a flute, the music soothing and welcoming.
She stood before him, all fear had left her and she felt at ease. She turned to look for the little dancing birds, but they had disappeared. The handsome man looked up at her and smiled, his face glowed with love and acceptance and joy. He stood up and stared deeply into her eyes and she felt this overwhelming peace and acceptance. "I am called Dancing Crane." he said, his voice deep and soothing. "Welcome home."
She didn't know what to say, although she did feel completely at home with this man in this beautiful place. Tear filled her eyes with joy as he reached out to her and held her close. She felt love as she had never felt it in her life. "I have been waiting for you for a very long time." Dancing Crane said.
Suddenly the light seemed to explode all around them and she felt as if she was whirling around and around, in a circle, then dancing, dancing as she had never danced in her life, she and this man who called himself Dancing Crane. She opened her eyes and the man she saw earlier was gone and in his place, stood the most beautiful bird - long feathers and beak, long legs, dancing with joy and love. They danced together and as they grew close to the small lake, she could see their images reflected in the crystal blue waters. She saw two cranes!
The reality of this surreal scene - two beautiful cranes dancing together, made perfect sense to her now. It was really happening. Somehow, she had been transformed into this beautiful dancing bird, a perfect match to the handsome man she saw first, before he had changed into this beautiful, graceful crane.
They entered the water together and she knew without any doubt, she was truly home, where she belonged, with a man who loved her unconditionally and for the first time in her entire life, she felt beautiful and loved and no longer invisible to the world. "Close your eyes," Dancing Crane whispered to her and she did so and when she opened her eyes again, he stood before her, handsome and naked, his body perfect in every way. "Look at yourself." he said to her and she stared at the reflection in the water of this beautiful young woman, with long flowing hair - it could not be! Was it real? Was this really her?
"Yes it's you." Dancing Crane said quietly, a loving smile on his face. "You have always been the most beautiful woman of all the women in your village. Your beauty is from within, from your spirit and from your loving heart - it's a perfect beauty, the beauty our Creator wants in the hearts of all men and women."
"Never again, will you feel sadness or cry tears of lonliness and despair. Your beauty is rare and perfect and this is your home now, with me in this peaceful valley, surrounded by the mighty and beautiful mountains. We will spend forever together here. I am you and you are me and we are one. One with the wind, the flowers, the water, the mighty mountains. We will forever feel the golden warmth of the sun upon our bodies and our children and our children's children will dwell in this valley forever."
So began the life of a young woman who believed she had no right to life; that she was ugly and unloveable and who had lost all hope for any happiness, peace or love in her life. No longer was she invisible. In the eyes and heart of this kind and loving man, she was perfect in every way and he loved her, as she loved him in return.
The Dancing Cranes were soon joined by the little dancing birds and many animals - deer, bear, wolves, mountain lions, rabbits, tiny little chipmunks, and so many different birds. They all danced together as one family, one heart joined together in the strongest and most beautiful bond of all, love.
Written by Evening Rain~September 9, 2008
Jeanne Svhiyeyi Aga (Evening Rain) Chadwick © 2008
The music you are listening to is called Many Feathers Chant, from the Mesa Music Consort, from 2004.
Last updated on September 9, 2008
