We welcome Faerie Bard Reilly McCarron to inSpirit Magazine, where she entrances the soul and engages our imagination by connecting us back to the wonders and meanings of the world of storytelling and folklore…
As a young woman I was gifted a book title which would change my life. “Women Who Run with the Wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés was a treasure trove of wisdom and beautiful, poetic insights which nourished my soul at a time when I was in danger of being lost at sea. One of the jewels from this beloved book is the idea of carrying a forest in your pocket. Whether in the dentist’s waiting room, on a crowded train, or at the office, the pocket forest (or ocean if you prefer) can be rolled out for miles around without anyone knowing that you can suddenly feel the earth beneath you, hear the birds and smell the fresh mountain air. Another invaluable prize found amidst this book of riches was the word ‘folklorist’, which rang with the clarity of vocational destiny, despite me having no idea what it meant at the time. In practical terms, becoming a folklorist has led me to the academic study of fairy tales, and ever deeper into the enchanted woods. Fairytales were once told for adults, and many wise, bawdy and gruesome elements have been forgotten in the mists of time or misplaced through cultural editing. The folklorist goes in search of ancient symbols, lost heroines and new interpretations, questing for illuminating insights.
In my early twenties, living alone in a cottage in the mountains with Bob Dylan, poetry and red wine, fears of losing my true self to the constraints of society were intrusive. Knowing that soon I’d be swept up by the necessities of mundane life, I made efforts to anchor my soul life with visions, dreams and promises. I envisaged my future self with a harp and a spinning wheel, and committed to being multilingual before the age of forty. At forty now, I still only speak a spattering of French but I do play the harp and have learnt to spin a yarn - in both senses. Do you know the story of “The Red Shoes”? Once upon a time a poor motherless girl handmade a pair of red shoes from scraps of material, and although they were crude she loved them so. One day a rich old woman whisked the girl away and offered her a life of finery, but the handmade red shoes were destroyed in favour of a more suitable pair. The girl was no longer allowed to run and skip and jump, but was made to read and sew and be proper. She secretly began to yearn for the freedom of her old life. When it came time for the girl to be christened, the old woman, who had poor eyesight, was tricked into buying a pair of fancy red shoes for the girl. These red shoes, however, only led her to trouble. If you’re interested in the end of the tale, it was published by Hans Christian Anderson in 1845, yet draws on an older tradition (as found in Women Who Run with the Wolves). The important fragment here is the handmade shoes which brought the girl such pleasure. The shoes are symbolic of a handmade life. A life which may not look like much to others, but holds great value for us. A life born of our own
creativity and imbued with rich meaning. Joseph Campbell, the eminent mythographer, called this ‘following your bliss’.
ANCIENT WISDOM
G
rowing up in the Dandenong Ranges outside of Melbourne, my childhood was filled with forest adventures. With family and friends, we explored winding pathways through the mountain ash, followed the call of lyrebirds, splashed through waterfalls, hid inside tree hollows, sang ‘coo-ee’ to strangers, made cubby houses from fallen bracken, learnt of death and decay, delighted in faerie sightings and connected with the ancient spirits of the land. While life has since taken me to many parts of this wonderful country, those forests still feel like home.
Along with researching fairy tales, playing music and spinning fleece, the enriching handmade life means many things for me. It means physical health (everything in moderation - including moderation), gentle walks and fresh air, feeling the rain on my skin and delighting in the roar of thunder, getting enough of 13 both solitude and intimacy, talking to the birds, watching a crackling fire, celebrating the seasons and daydreaming. What does it mean for you? Is it pottering in the garden, painting, letter writing, baking? Building boats, learning a language, helping someone in need, hugging a child? These things which bring us closer to the soul, which bring personal meaning into our lives, also bring nourishment. Our health and wellbeing is so important. It can be challenging to find peace and happiness amidst the turmoil of our modern world, yet we find it in small and simple pleasures. Seek out and savour those moments that bring a smile to your face and warm your heart. Your soul life is yours to craft, so be playful and adventurous. And remember, the forest, or ocean, or gypsy caravan filled with crystals and feathers and runes, is in your pocket to enjoy whenever you feel the need for some soul time.
Reilly McCarron is the creator and enchantress of ‘faerie bard’, weaving storytelling and folklore together with harp and song. She is a singer/songwriter, a Bard with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD), an accredited member of the Australian Storytelling Guild (NSW) and has a Graduate Diploma in Australian Folklore with a particular interest in fairy tales. Contact Reilly at: www.faeriebard.com / info@faeriebard.com / Facebook: Faerie Bard