I loved this story and hearing the tale of the Selkie — A woman abandoning her life and walking into the wild. It is enchanting. And I’m fascinated to read up about the colour of the sky, my son told me a little while ago that it is not blue. It’s startling to think that things are not as you might have thought. Energising perhaps.
Yes I completely agree - sometimes a little unsteadying, but almost always energising. It feels like a whole new world opens up just a little, just enough to feel the magic of not knowing. So glad you enjoyed this piece, Kate! x
I do wonder about that selkie woman - if the story came from a woman who went to the sea and never came back, or if she was a woman who just needed to go to the sea as often as she could to find her wild again. The latter, I think, is so relatable to so many! Some peace and quiet in this noisy world x
This was a wonderful read. I’ve always been entranced by tales of selkies, and your interpretation here was so good, as well as the story of the abandoned hut and the tales we tell ourselves. And the sky isn’t really blue! - that’s something I’ve learned today!
This is a wonderful telling I love how you wove in the selkies. I have several memories that hook in to this article - not least the “seal of approval” that arrived bobbing about on the ocean on my honeymoon! ❤️ I adore this, I love abandoned houses too for the dreams we make around them!
Thank you Susannah, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Oh that sounds like a wonderful encounter. There's something very special about sharing the sea with a seal.
we laughed for hours and hours after my husband said innocently its the seal of approval on our marriage!! he hadn’t realised the perfection of his pun. I also remember being on a Scottish island searching for those lovely tiny cowries that feel like mysterious secrets with a seal following me all the way along the beach and watching my every move.
Ha, brilliant! Yes I'm often followed by a seal as I walk along the beach here (they especially like to watch me playing with my dog). It's always something special.
A truly beautiful piece of writing, just like your previous. I'm so glad I've found you. Your style is captivating and somehow soothing in nature. This is truly one of the most beautiful newsletters I've read lately.
I've been fascinated with selkies ever since I first heard their story a long time ago, decades probably. I like the idea of a selfie being a metaphor for a woman seeking to reclaim her true self, her own time and needs. It's something we can all identify with to this very day.
Thank you so much Ramona, what a lovely thing to read! I'm so glad you're enjoying the newsletter, and that you have your own connection to the selkie story.
"There, in the water, watching the seals watching me, I could imagine abandoning my human form to become some wilder version of myself." Really beautiful piece, Rebecca. Very evocative.
I loved this piece, Rebecca - thank you for sharing it with us. The magic and the mystery just kept on coming, paragraph after paragraph - beautiful work 😍
I love the story of the selkie, the layers of history and memory, the ragged beauty of northern Scotland (though I think the Orcadians are claiming to be part of Norway these days?!😂)
Thanks for this wonderful Sunday morning read. It's perfect!
Beautiful piece, Rebecca. I appreciate how you wove the threads together. I first about encountered the selkie story in Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ book, “Women Who Run With the Wolves,” in a chapter titled, “Sealskin, Soulskin.” How enchanting to hear it in one place of its origin. (Apparently, other cultures tell versions of it.) your descriptions put me inside that house — magical, indeed.
I highly recommend the poet Maggie Nelson’s book, “Bluets.” It’s about her own fascination with the color blue.
This story of the Selkie woman is one I love, and I too got goosebumps reading that you found your self in the very house and swimming in the very same bit of sea as the myth! I do think fate feels like the right word. Beautiful storytelling, Rebecca 🤍
A beautiful piece, narrative non fiction in fact? I became lost in your descriptions of the cove and the derelict house and even the interview my husband was listening to on his iPad didn’t invade those moments I was facing the seals. Looking forward to reading more from you
Thank you Kate, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I hadn't really thought about it but I think you're right - it is narrative nonfiction, which I am very new to writing but really enjoying experimenting with!
I think it's interesting that the husbands in the selkie stories steal the woman's freedom and then think that what they have is love. That they'd be shocked that as soon as the woman has a choice she'd choose freedom again. There are some deep lessons about patriarchy and its constant attempts to exploit nature and women-- and suppress womens' nature.
It is fascinating isn't it? The story has so many layers but a woman caught within a patriarchal system and trying to find her way out is, I think, one of the most important. I like that you've linked the exploitation of nature, too, and I love that in the story both woman and nature overcome suppression/exploitation in the end!
I think I loved it more with its darkness, but it took a little time to adjust.
I loved this story and hearing the tale of the Selkie — A woman abandoning her life and walking into the wild. It is enchanting. And I’m fascinated to read up about the colour of the sky, my son told me a little while ago that it is not blue. It’s startling to think that things are not as you might have thought. Energising perhaps.
Yes I completely agree - sometimes a little unsteadying, but almost always energising. It feels like a whole new world opens up just a little, just enough to feel the magic of not knowing. So glad you enjoyed this piece, Kate! x
I think all mothers, at some point or another, wonder what it would be like to slip into another skin and escape to the sea for silence. x
I do wonder about that selkie woman - if the story came from a woman who went to the sea and never came back, or if she was a woman who just needed to go to the sea as often as she could to find her wild again. The latter, I think, is so relatable to so many! Some peace and quiet in this noisy world x
This was a wonderful read. I’ve always been entranced by tales of selkies, and your interpretation here was so good, as well as the story of the abandoned hut and the tales we tell ourselves. And the sky isn’t really blue! - that’s something I’ve learned today!
Thank you Amanda, I'm so pleased to hear you enjoyed it! And happy to have shared some wonder about the illusions of our sky!
This is a wonderful telling I love how you wove in the selkies. I have several memories that hook in to this article - not least the “seal of approval” that arrived bobbing about on the ocean on my honeymoon! ❤️ I adore this, I love abandoned houses too for the dreams we make around them!
Thank you Susannah, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Oh that sounds like a wonderful encounter. There's something very special about sharing the sea with a seal.
we laughed for hours and hours after my husband said innocently its the seal of approval on our marriage!! he hadn’t realised the perfection of his pun. I also remember being on a Scottish island searching for those lovely tiny cowries that feel like mysterious secrets with a seal following me all the way along the beach and watching my every move.
Ha, brilliant! Yes I'm often followed by a seal as I walk along the beach here (they especially like to watch me playing with my dog). It's always something special.
A lovely piece of writing. I admire your spare, elegant writing style. Well done, congratulations.
Thank you, Pauline! So glad you enjoyed it.
A truly beautiful piece of writing, just like your previous. I'm so glad I've found you. Your style is captivating and somehow soothing in nature. This is truly one of the most beautiful newsletters I've read lately.
I've been fascinated with selkies ever since I first heard their story a long time ago, decades probably. I like the idea of a selfie being a metaphor for a woman seeking to reclaim her true self, her own time and needs. It's something we can all identify with to this very day.
Thank you so much Ramona, what a lovely thing to read! I'm so glad you're enjoying the newsletter, and that you have your own connection to the selkie story.
"There, in the water, watching the seals watching me, I could imagine abandoning my human form to become some wilder version of myself." Really beautiful piece, Rebecca. Very evocative.
Thank you so much Wendy! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you Rebecca
this feels haunting and lovely
I love its insights
Thank you lydia! x
I loved this piece, Rebecca - thank you for sharing it with us. The magic and the mystery just kept on coming, paragraph after paragraph - beautiful work 😍
Thank you, Inge! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it.
I love the story of the selkie, the layers of history and memory, the ragged beauty of northern Scotland (though I think the Orcadians are claiming to be part of Norway these days?!😂)
Thanks for this wonderful Sunday morning read. It's perfect!
Thank you, Beth, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful piece, Rebecca. I appreciate how you wove the threads together. I first about encountered the selkie story in Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ book, “Women Who Run With the Wolves,” in a chapter titled, “Sealskin, Soulskin.” How enchanting to hear it in one place of its origin. (Apparently, other cultures tell versions of it.) your descriptions put me inside that house — magical, indeed.
I highly recommend the poet Maggie Nelson’s book, “Bluets.” It’s about her own fascination with the color blue.
Thank you for the recommendations, Julie! Both books sound right up my street. I will have a look!
This story of the Selkie woman is one I love, and I too got goosebumps reading that you found your self in the very house and swimming in the very same bit of sea as the myth! I do think fate feels like the right word. Beautiful storytelling, Rebecca 🤍
Thank you so much, Victoria! I'm glad you enjoyed it (and that you got goosebumps too!)
A beautiful piece, narrative non fiction in fact? I became lost in your descriptions of the cove and the derelict house and even the interview my husband was listening to on his iPad didn’t invade those moments I was facing the seals. Looking forward to reading more from you
Thank you Kate, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I hadn't really thought about it but I think you're right - it is narrative nonfiction, which I am very new to writing but really enjoying experimenting with!
I think you have a talent for it, and there’s a huge readership for it. So keep going! ✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼
So pleased to discover your wonderful writing today.
Thank you so much Tina, I'm so pleased to have you here!!
I think it's interesting that the husbands in the selkie stories steal the woman's freedom and then think that what they have is love. That they'd be shocked that as soon as the woman has a choice she'd choose freedom again. There are some deep lessons about patriarchy and its constant attempts to exploit nature and women-- and suppress womens' nature.
It is fascinating isn't it? The story has so many layers but a woman caught within a patriarchal system and trying to find her way out is, I think, one of the most important. I like that you've linked the exploitation of nature, too, and I love that in the story both woman and nature overcome suppression/exploitation in the end!