Story Telling – Page 3 – A Year of Time

We enter the glade and form our circle. Above us the stars burn. No one speaks, no one looks at each other. Silent, we stand, in silence we witness and slowly the moon passes over the glade. Its light bathing us, refreshing us, rekindling our powers which had dwindled over the last month.

Once it has passed, we turn taking our leave. All solemn, all silent.

Then to my left someone softly giggles. It is melodious, infused with joy and it is sacrilegious. I freeze, stalling in my procession and glance at the chuckler. She is looking straight at me, her face dark in the shadows of the trees, but her eyes stare brightly at me, and she smiles. Her teeth are white and starlight pours from her. I am chilled, though not with dread, something flickers in my chest. An ache. A yearning. She is beautiful and unashamedly powerful. I turn and hurry from the glade.

Over the next lunar cycle, I busy myself with my healer duties. I try to push the giggler from my mind. She is one of the Lunar Circle; one chosen to take in the powers of the moon and practice the sacred art of healing. A venerable duty. Our place in the circle is an honour. We were picked as children and trained by our predecessor whose place we now stand in. We have always been kept apart. This keeps us safe. Not knowing the other parts of the circle ensures that it can never be broken. I shouldn’t have glanced at the giggler, and she shouldn’t have been looking at me.

I try not to think about her, but I wake at night to the echo of her laugh ringing in my room. I draw my quilts tighter in attempt to shield myself. But what am I shielding myself from? I burn and as I burn it seems like her smile hangs in the dark above me. A bewitching moon cast smile.

I don’t sleep.

Slowly the moon moves through her cycle.

Back to the glade I go. My powers are weak, I am drawn out, wearied, but I am also excited.

I keep my eyes on the ground as I join the circle, then as the moon reaches her zenith and I cast my gaze skyward, I risk a glance to my left. She is there. Her radiant red hair tumbling down her back. She is looking at me and her look tells me she knew I would glance her way. I blush to the tips of my toes, my face smolders. She smiles and my heart nearly bursts from my chest.

Another lunar cycle. Another month of no sleep. She haunts me. Every red head I see could be her. I rush after a woman in the market, but when I reach a tentative hand out to touch her shoulder she turns, and she isn’t my lady of the moon. Her face is tired, bitter and holds none of her magic.

The moon is full and to the glade I go.

This afternoon I took my time as I bathed and dressed. I wanted to look more than myself to be worthy of her.

I steel myself; I don’t look her way. I want to, but I don’t. I am too afraid of what I will see, what I may unleash. The moon clears the glade, and I am sated, but not in the way I wish. As one we turn and take our leave. My spine tingles telling me she is near, just yards from me in the darkness. I can smell her, lavender, sage and something spicy. My hand stretches out instinctively and there it finds another. Fingers curl round fingers and I am undone.

Circle of women in a forest at night – Bing Image Creator 25th June 2024

My grandmothers family are from the Orkney Islands. If you haven’t been – go!! There is something magical about Orkney and its not just because I am an archaeology geek – there is something in the air.

Orkney is one of my most favourite places and I have been writing about it, in particular about the island of Hoy.

Lately I have been writing about Hoy, its landscape and the feeling I have when I am there, these things are being woven into my writing. So far the island, acts as the backdrop for a few pieces I have written and I have several more stories planned which are set there.

I exaggerate aspects of Hoy in these stories, but it is the inspiration. And the nature and geography of the island has definitely helped shaped these stories.

The Bothy at Rackwick Bay – Juliet Robinson © 2022

And I mean look at it? How could such a place not inspire? Rackwick Bay is dramatic, there is a stark contrast between the soaring red sandstone cliffs, the soft green grass, the pristine beach ringed with beautiful coloured stones, the endless sky and the ocean.

Rackwick beach stones – Juliet Robinson © 2022

There is an otherworldly nature to Rackwick Bay, it seems a place apart from time.

Rackwick Bay the burn – Juliet Robinson © 2019

For me there is a sense of connection, a link to my family. My grandmother used to come to Rackwick Bay to camp, my mother did and now I do when I can. The layering of my families history feels heavy in Orkney, but for some reason here in Rackwick Bay the layers feel a little thinner, like I could reach out and touch the past.

A family camping trip to Rackwick Bay, the building in the back is the Bothy which is open to all – predates my time picture taken by mother when she would have been in her late teens

Landscapes naturally inspire the art world, touching painters, poets, writers, comedians and dancers. I love when I read a book which has a deep sense of connection to the place where the story is set.

The Old Man of Hoy – Juliet Robinson © 2022

On our last trip to the island, in 2022 my sister and I spent a couple of nights camping in Rackwick Bay. The Bothy was pretty quiet, other than ourselves the only other campers were two women, both travelling alone. We went our separate ways during the day, but at night we gathered by the fire, shared wine, food and we talked and talked and talked. It was special to be able to share that time with those women, to hear their stories, to get to know a small part of who they were and what brought them to the island.
For me after the isolation of covid, the loss of my mother and several hard years this was a truly magical experience – just being able to connect to others and share. I think I healed more in those couple of days than I can explain.

Inside the Bothy – Juliet Robinson © 2022

So yes it was probably inevitable that I would begin writing about Hoy and the women we met that weekend will be featuring in a story that I have planned. Though I suspect they may not recognise themselves if they were to come across the story!
This morning I felt a sense of urgency, a need to return to Orkney, it’s been two years, which feels far too long. The best I can do for now however is write about the islands and look at photos I have taken on trips there over the years.

Actually smiling in a picture, its because I am on Hoy! – Juliet Robinson © 2022

And one last photo … because Rackwick Bay really is stunning.

Ok I lied .. here’s another

Category: Story Telling

Moon Cast Smile

Rackwick Bay, Orkney