Once upon a time, there was a beautiful fairy. Because her vibrational frequencywas different, she was not visible to the human eye but she took great delightin observing human antics.
In order to participate in earthly pleasures, she took a needle and threadand fashioned a bear suit. Unable to disguise her natural lightness of spirit,she became Dancing Bear, traveling from town to town with the carnival. Herdancing drew great crowds and, so intoxicated was she by their applause shegradually forgot being anything other than Dancing Bear.
Oneday, in order to demonstrate his control, the carnival master placed a ringthrough Dancing Bear's upper lip and attached a leash. Though she performeddependably without coercion, Dancing Bear wondered what she had done thatwas so wrong as to deserve this punishment. In her heart she knew somethingwas seriously wrong but could not quite remember what.
The next day, Dancing Bear outdid herself, thinking if she were somehow betterthe leash would be removed. Dancing faster and faster no longer to the musician'stune, Dancing Bear responded to an inner, more vibrant, harmony. As she whirled,she felt a vaguely familiar sensation and when she looked around, the circlehad become still, as if frozen in time. All she had to do was simply walkout of the crowd.
Drinking in the taste of freedom, Dancing Bear ran joyously through the meadowand into the trees. At the same time, a hunter entered the forest. Thisparticular hunter was legendary for his skill with the bow and his successin killing smaller, more timid creatures. Elated at the prospect of killinga bear, he took careful aim and Dancing Bear fell to the ground.
As he knelt to recover his arrow, the hunter`s understandable pride in killingsuch a magnificent beast was suddenly transformed into an overwhelming senseof wonder, for beneath him, emerging from the bear suit and momentarily visibleas she reclaimed her true form, was the shimmering Golden Fairy.
She returned home where she was welcomed into the open arms of the otherfairies eager to hear of her exploits in the world. Golden Fairy became knownas Dancing Fairy due to her adventures as Dancing Bear and her affinity forthe dance. It was, after all, through the whirling that she began to removethe veils of unconsciousness that held her in a self-imposed, if forgotten,prison.
Like Dancing Bear, there are things I only dimly remember and can't quite touch. Through basket-weaving, the Dances of Universal Peace, and the Turn, the external world becomes less distracting, allowing me to focus on the inner search for harmony in my own life. My baskets are named for the sacred phrases or lyrics that inspired them and that I sang during their creation. Each basket is an open unbroken circle, beginning with a clearly defined center, consciously spiraling into a vessel of beauty whose chief function is to hold intention. |  |
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