On the evening of the fifth moon, Ana once again walked along the water’s edge; this time with a snow pea in her hand. While she never cared for canned peas, she recently discovered she thoroughly enjoyed its natural counterpart. Oh how she loved to open the delicate pod with the tips of her fingers; sniff the fresh fragrance; listen to the light, crunchy sound made biting into it; and feel the smooth texture as each pea rolled around on her tongue just before swallowing.
As the moon rose over the setting sun, Ana searched for the Wise Woman for a fifth lesson. Once again, the Wise Woman was waiting for her. Ana sat on the grass along the water’s edge; popped the last snow pea into her mouth with delight; then opened her right hand palm down to show she was eager to know more.
The Wise Woman said, “Your pinkie finger represents your Spirit – the conscious attitude that excites the heart, inspires the mind, motivates the body, and tantalizes all five senses into action and reaction. It’s what creates passion, provides hope, instills strength, builds confidence, increases self-worth, and affirms self love.”
“Sometimes, though, whether we are fully aware of it, we allow past pains placed upon our spirit, either by our own infliction or by the infliction of others, to diminish the positive outlook we once had about our life. Out of fear of being hurt again, we lose inspiration, become hopeless, grow weaker, lose confidence, question our ability, and eventually lose all desire to live.”
“Don’t tell me…,” Ana looked at the Wise Woman.
The Wise Woman nodded and said, “I’m afraid so.”
“Oh come on!” Ana pouted, folding her arms across her chest. “This is ridiculous!”
Continuing their conversation, Ana remained silent as they built a small fire along the water’s edge.
“Are you ready for a Spiritual Bath?
“Yes,” Ana said a bit disappointed.
Ana disrobed, walking carefully into the gently moving stream. Once comfortable, she closed her eyes to clear her heart, mind, body, five senses, and spirit of all the day’s emotions, thoughts, dreams, and desires.
Totally relaxed now, Ana envisioned her ten fingers as a drawing instrument, her body a canvas.
She touched her soft hair and outlined the shape of her head. Her facial features followed, from her forehead to her chin. Downward still, she touched her neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, and each finger.
As she drew, she started to see and feel who she was with her mind as well as her heart, five senses, and spirit.
Her breasts followed, along with each nipple. Moving downward, she touched her stomach and the sides of her body. She then allowed each of her ten fingers to enter and then slowly exit her navel… Like before, just like the first time.
She opened her eyes and looked into the flame on the water’s edge. As she did, she recalled how as a young girl she loved her aunt who doted on her; a rare treat her own mother never provided. Ana and her aunt would spend the whole day doing what girly girls loved to do best – fuss over the latest up-do, chat over lunch, try on make-up, dress up in frilly things, paint fingernails, and smell flowery perfumes. Thoroughly exhausted by mid-afternoon, they would plop on the bed in the master bedroom and fall asleep in each other’s arms; that was until her uncle came home from work. Then all hell broke loose as he resented the attention her aunt paid her. He would rant and rave about how Ana was not her aunt’s child to spoil, and that if anyone should be pampered, it was him.
For a time Ana cried uncontrollably as it was the last time she and her aunt spent a whole day together to do girly things together. A few years later, her aunt and uncle moved out of state.
With her tears finally diminishing, she looked up at the moon’s brilliant light for guidance as she slowly returned to shore. Once on shore, she stood by the warm fire to dry off before getting dressed. As she did, she noticed the Owl’s voice seemed louder today. “Ana… as you see and feel your self more clearly, my messages become clearer too.”
Looking up at the quarter moon, Ana clearly heard the Owl’s message. She thought about all she learned this evening; about how her past pain and how it held her back from dressing up or from being pampered. In not caring for her own self, she failed to love herself, and failed to see herself as an incredibly beautiful woman who is capable of giving and receiving much love. Never allowing herself to feel feminine or sensuous, she failed to find herself desirable, and failed to allow others to find her desirable too. In reclaiming love for her self once more tonight, calmness soon followed.
Fading in the distance she heard the Wise Woman say, “All five moons on your right hand – your body, mind, heart, spirit, and five senses are gifts from our Creator that empower you to explore your world, our Creator, and your Walking Spirit, too.”
Ready to learn more, Ana searched for, but discovered the Wise Woman was no longer with her. “Where did she go? Have I learned all I need to know yet?” she asked herself.
“Have patience,” the Owl whispered. “There is still so much more to learn.”
Very weary from the journey thus far, Ana returned home to rest.
To be continued…
