Girl at the Mall, Ancestors, Veil Between the Worlds
My partner and I were at the mall last week (it couldn’t be helped). We were sitting on a bench talking when a little girl walked toward us. She was looking down at something in her hand and not paying attention to where she was going. When she was a few feet in front of us and still not paying attention, her mother called her name gently and she looked up.
Without hesitating, she burst into a radiant smile. She seemed as delighted as we were! She had been engrossed by a little purple flower cradled in her hand.
I keep thinking of this brief interaction with the girl at the mall. There was something magical about it and that child.
I’m thinking a lot about the ancestors, the descendants, and my place in the circle of life these days. Life is feeling precious and unpredictable. So much lost and so much at stake around the world. The innocence and delight embodied in those few moments of silent connection was a balm.
These are complex, sacred and powerful days. Ancient traditions blend with modern ones. In many cultures this is a time to honor the dead. We do this in earnest with ceremony and ritual, and with play by dressing in costumes of ghosts and skeletons. However you choose to spend these days, remember that the veil between the worlds is thin. Much is not as it seems.
Let’s take good care of our children and our elders.
©2023 Mara Bishop