This story addresses Wild Man as well as Wild Woman. In all women, there is a goddess who guides us, Wild Woman. When we are in touch with our mentor, she is a sort of witch, meaning healer, young or old, in ancient tradition, (only in our culture, has witch become a bad term - I have done much wicca magic and am a healer, a Reiki Master, so in a sense I am a white witch) we have her guidance and wisdom. Witch also means wise, as in my nickname, Sage. Names are meaningful, secret names, but that is another story in and of itself.
Men must also find their essence, learn to love, live, hunt, sing, drum, hammer, but most of all to cry, to feel compassion for his own woundedness. Like Sarah Maclachlin says in her song, 'beautiful fucked up man', in Building a Mystery. This is not to say that all of us fall in love with the wounded, or must save them.
Here is the story: a man is fishing and he catches something heavy and pulls it in. It is a skeleton of a woman all twisted up on itself, foot over head, arms tangled, etc., like an awkwardest yoga position. He untangles the skeleton and she comes to life. He is somewhat repulsed. She even contains embryos and seaweed growing, and he runs in revulsion. She chases him. Eventually he cries in compassion for her, but not just that but compassion for himself. This is the short version, mind you.
Long story short, she sleeps with him, skin to skin. Yes, and they live happily ever after.
The people of the village could not believe it.
In this story once again is Life/Death/Life again, the theme of every story. There is life and then death and then life again. The Skeleton Woman thrives and once again becomes a feral, full functioning, potent woman, who can even bear children. Once again, she grows skin and flesh.
The meaning of this story is: he pulls in the first thing he finds, but rather than be repulsed by Skeleton Woman, which he is at first, and as in most relationships, the faster he runs from her, the faster she runs after him, but he eventually loves her, regardless, and in fact he is the one who untangles her, which is really significant.
Many of us in today's culture, find ourselves in similar situations, and our impulse is to run, but with all her faults and drawbacks, he loves Skeleton Woman, and this enables her to become whole and alive again, which brings us back to Life/Death/Life. We cannot outrun death. None of us can. This is the beauty of it.
The fact that the man cries is deep, because of his own compassion for his wounds and hers as well.
I would add another component, which is that Skeleton Woman has skeletons, you know like skeletons in the closet, the things we are afraid to be known, lest losing love. I know this all too well.
His love for her overrides it all, and this man and woman are together.
We do not have to run when the first thing goes wrong in love. If the person you love is not who you thought, just stop for a moment, and wait and see. Do not be so quick to succumb to the slightest red flag, because in order for love to sustain, then one must see through the ugliness. No one is beautiful every moment and every second of every day. If they have to be, it is not real love. Love is loving faults and all. This gives men permission in a sense to commit, and yes even to Skeleton Woman, because with the nourishment of his love and nurturing, she thrives and grows back muscle and skin and hair, once more again whole, just as the Handless Maiden who through great love, her hands grow back.
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