Each year Lover and I spend a week in Maine. The vacation serves many purposes: much needed down time, communing with Ocean, and seeing extended family members.
Vacationing in York is something I’ve been doing since I was wee. It was the first place where I met Ocean. While still suckling at my mother’s breast, I was taken into the water by my mother. And ever since then, summer after summer, I have spent time on Long Sands.
Long Sands is such a special place for me. It is where I go to center myself when I’m in deep emotional trouble. It’s where I go to reconnect with myself. It’s where I go when I want to play Water and get burnt by Sun. It is where I chose to marry.
Over the years I have not spent too much time IN the ocean. I’d walk along the edge but getting in wasn’t on my agenda. The reason is because I don’t like to swim alone and Lover doesn’t swim at all. This year, though, I put myself in the water on a few occasions. And it was blissful.
As I walked into Ocean, I walked slowly. First, if was COLD (as usual for Maine’s ocean water) and because I had a twisted ankle. I took my time. I made my way in all the while thanking Mother Earth, Father Water, Grandfather Sun, Grandmother Moon and Omnipresent Air. I mantraed as I went in “thank you for your abundance Primordial Ocean. Thank you for the intricate dance you do with Grandmother Moon. Thank you for allowing her to tide you across Mother Earth.”
I came out of Ocean refreshed and not just physically. Spiritually I was renewed. I came out more committed to Paganism than I thought possible.
