Read My Lips

On board SeaDragon: Lunchtime Sunday 8 November

Read My Lips, that is the name of the cup of tea that Amanda, the mermaid student from the Yukon just passed me. She has been telling me about a semester she spent on a Tall Ship, I could tell you more but I will encourage her to blog about it. She does it best.
The tea is rich and delicious, full of chocolate and hibiscus. I am enjoying it even though I know it will come back over the side later.

Imogen, our skipper announces that we have reached a way point, a significant change in direction.
Our next way point is Ascension, one of the world's remotest islands. If you want to navigate a ship you need to know its destination.

Where am I heading? I am using this moment to get clear on mine. I am changing course. I am heading to the effortless embodiment of my full feminine human potential and my willingness to share it unselfconsciously with the world.
Destination Ascension.

Night watch

On board SeaDragon: Sunday 8 November

The moon is a tangerine smile, the sky rich with stars.
We see dolphins dancing in phosphorescent waters.

A locust drops into the cockpit and we discuss whether or not to kill it.

By 4 am there are thousands of them and we spend the next day picking them out of our shoes, cups and beds. We hose, hoover and shoo them off the boat.

The challenge of the locusts has bonded us as a team.
Amongst their hard black bodies flutters the tender wings of a butterfly.

I am reminded of the story of Pandora's box.
We have brought hope with us as we cross the Atlantic.
A welcome guest.

Night watch

On board SeaDragon: Saturday 7 November 4am

In Native American ceremonies throwing up is called "getting well". It is something to be done proudly in front of the tipi fire. It is illness moving out of the body physically.
I really got well last night. I was crouching at the helm but Holly heard me from the heads.
When it was over I sank back, my body no longer filled with the tension of trying not to be sick. I was surrendered and open. The ocean sought me out with her white tipped fingers, uncovering and soothing me, enveloping me in her vast soft waves.
The energy of a whale came close "I am Steady," it said, "Steady Mama".
The barrier between myself and the sea, one I was keeping firm and boundaried had dissolved. I was still on the ship but also deep in the sea, ambiotic fluid for parts of me about to birth.

First sight

From Senegal: Friday 6 November

Walking along the beach to catch the launch that will take us to the Seadragon. A line of plastic along the shore. There is nothing here that I have not thrown away my self. Crisp packets, bottles, wrappers.

The launch arrives at the Seadragon. The boat is smaller than I imagined and the women are bigger. They are three dimensional, not just profile pictures. They move about, bustling and alive. They do not speak in bite size tweets.

The skipper who I am to put my trust in is called Imogen. I am used to giving my power away to men but putting my trust in a young blond beautiful woman is new to me. Luckily Imogen exudes capability and calm.

Deep places in me are being challenged, beliefs that women are the weaker sex and that men are in charge. Thousands of years of it in every cell and I have a whole month with these extraordinary women to contradict that and birth a new vision within my body, heart and mind.

 

Foot at the edge of Her...

From Senegal: Wednesday 4 November

 

                                                                             …waiting to meet SeaDragon.

What can they teach us?

From Senegal: Wednesday 4 November

A lizard scuttled past me as I headed off to board the SeaDragon. Good medicine to see a creature that has its belly to the earth.

Teach us how to listen little mighty lizard.

Mightily Lionesses

From Senegal: Wednesday 4 November 2015

Last night I slept in the mouth of the lion. In Senegal near the harbour, my last night on land. Delighted to be sleeping cradled in the jaws of one who walks their path on this earth with such grace and pride. Calling to all the animals of Senegal, may you show us the elegance of harmonious living.

Pride, the collective noun for lions, I wonder what the collective noun for an all-female south Atlantic sailing crew is? A listening? A power? An embrace?