February 20, 2022

Stories blow through my life like seeds on the wind. Some just pass through. Others take root in the landscape of my memories. For everything prior to this moment … and this moment … is just a memory. After seven decades, it’s a vast and wild landscape.

We create, choose, and nurture those seeds, those stories, that help us make meaning of the events in our life journeys. There is wisdom in creating and welcoming stories about being in right relationship with the sacred, the Earth, and in community, for those are the stories that will guide us back to right relationship if we lose our way. And we all do.

Throughout history and across cultures, it was the elders, the wisdom keepers, who held those stories for their people. Reminding them of their heritage, their myths and legends. Reminding them of their shared values. Reminding them of being in right relationship.

And so I would share a story about those stories. This is a seed that blew into my landscape and took deep root, although I cannot remember when and from where. No web wandering is giving me any clues. But it’s a brilliant story and a brilliant storytelling approach. 

Arrow Stories. My memory tells me this came from the indigenous peoples of the southwest lands in the US. When someone in the tribe acted in a manner that was not in right relationship, that action was brought to the attention of the elders. These wisdom keepers didn’t respond immediately. They kept their own counsel and waited. They waited until the tribe was next gathered together and then one of the elders would tell a story. It wasn’t a story specific to the person or action yet everyone present knew the story’s intended target and intention. It was a story to guide that person back to wholeness. It was an arrow story, flying straight and true to the heart of the individual. It was a story seed to take root and restore balance and harmony.

As I gaze over the wild and chaotic landscape of my memories, I’m inspired to find those seeds that have flourished and are now ready to harvest as arrow stories. A harvest of wisdom, clarity, power, and grace.

Blessings of Crone Wisdom,
Judith

For information on the Legacy of Wisdom and Call to Crone books, sacred journeys to Ireland, and gatherings, visit my StoneFire blog. stonefireblog.com