Mashaneja could hear the rumblings long before the people in her village knew that the volcano was about to erupt. It was always like that for her since she was a little child. Today the septuagenarian has forgotten how many times in her life she had warned people of natural calamities long before they happened.
From the gigantic waves that swept away the coastal hamlets to the tremors of the earth, and yes, a few times even the eruption from Mount Shaneja. Named after the sacred volcanic mountain, Mashaneja was not a clairvoyant who saw the future, she was a simple village woman whose whole life was deeply connected to the earth. It was this immersive relationship with nature that gave Mashaneja the gift of understanding what Mother Earth wanted, acutely feel her pain, and rejoice in her abundant happiness. Mount Shaneja, the dormant volcano, that towered a few hundred miles from Mashaneja’s village was a living shrine to Mother Earth, where she breathed deep down in her belly.
As molten lava started oozing out from the crater, to Mashaneja it seemed that Mother Earth was bleeding. In the next few days as ash covered the sky, her village and the surrounding area turned into a grey landscape as if mourning all that was lost. But she knew that nothing is lost forever – everything in the universe is about maintaining a balance. The volcanic ash, which is rich in nutrients, will soon give abundant life, growing from grape vines to the silversword plants. Even the underwater hardened lava that had made its way to the sea will create a perfect ecosystem for aquatic life to flourish.
The cycle of creation and destruction will go on as a seamless play of consciousness. The old woman wished more people in the world could see the balance of nature from her eyes.
This was a beautiful read, really like it.
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Wow, that sounds like the beginning to a wonderful book. I would totally read it!
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I love this take on how a destructive volcano is also a sign of new life and reawakening. You really had a talent with words!
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This was some spectacular writing. I’m with the old woman.
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This was a beautiful read. The descriptions are so detailed and nice to read!
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Mashaneja’s relationship with nature is awe inspiring. I love that she said that even in destruction new life will come. And the character is completely right, renewal can help create a better world. You write so beautifully x
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This is a wonderful story. I would love to read more. You are a talented writer with so much detail.
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I really liked this, I wish to have a relationship with nature as Mashaneja. It is so true how there is a balance in nature. This reminds me that in times of parish to seek for hope in what is to come.
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This was a great start to my morning! Perfect read!
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The earth in all of her majesty is an amazing thing! It’s such a beautiful gift from the creator himself, given to us to enjoy. It is so awesome to think that, without a perfect creation, none of this could have ever existed in perfect harmony like it does today!
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Another lovely read
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This was a good read. I wish we did not take things for granted and learnt to appreciate and value it.And truly – the cycle of creation and destruction will go on.
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This reminds me of some of my favorite books by Nicolas Sparks! Sounds like it would be a good book.
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I love the picture. Great read
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What a wonderful way to capture the way life begins and how it ends.
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This is beautifully written and love what the story is trying to tell us. I love her mindset that nothing is lost forever, that everything in the universe is about maintaining a balance.
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You are a lovely writer… you got a gift of writing… that’s a great story I would love to read more ☺️👍🏻
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You write so beautifully! The balance of nature is like the Yin and Yang (by confusius) – interconnected.
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Totally recharged me, thanks Sudipta.
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