I have thought of the seals in a deep ecological sense and way...that they (the seals)represent a part of us that yearns for an attachment with the sea, and the often risky nature that this relationship lends itself to... Theirs is one of courage as they swim atop waters that bubble with the dark shapes of hunters that lay in wait below them, and the rocky jagged pounding bone crunching skin lacerating platforms of rock that welcome them home! And yet they return to the sea to run the risk with each new day! Seals, braver folk than we!!
Actually, further to my comment, have you ever wondered why the selky mythology/beliefs are so prominent in the north? I wonder whether the seals of the north are more timid than those in the south? I wonder if...their interaction with humans relates, in part, to their lack of sea predators such as sharks...?? But then seals were hunted and eaten in the north in great numbers, so what protected them from extinction by humans? And what gave rise to the beliefs of the Selkie??
Whenever I have come across a seal, they are curious, like dogs, they want to know us and us them. Like you said Tim, there is an old yearning for the two of us to be friends and cross that threshhold of land and sea. I've heard that around the Orkneys and other places, the seals behave in the same way, despite being hunted. 'The People of the Sea' by David Thompson, is the bestest ever Selkie stories, if want to follow that up.
So many questions ... ! Would be interesting to see if the Selkie myth is paralleled in Indigenous culture. Bet it is, somewhere.
Thank you for your answers to my questions and, I will look up tha reference you gave me... Actually, whenever I think of the Selky myth I think of that film Roan Inish. It is a beautiful film. See: (http://knowledgeflows.org/downloads/secret_of_roan_innish.pdf) for a great analysis of this film and of the Selky story.
I don't know if they are answers or simple musings Tim! And thanks for the link. I love that movie. The book is like an ethnography of the people who lived with seals. I think it was done in the 1940's. A beautiful book.
Gorgeous pic.
ReplyDeleteIt's great hey? Reminds me of the south coast of Tasmania (on a yacht, tired, at dusk, after weeks at sea).
ReplyDeleteI have thought of the seals in a deep ecological sense and way...that they (the seals)represent a part of us that yearns for an attachment with the sea, and the often risky nature that this relationship lends itself to... Theirs is one of courage as they swim atop waters that bubble with the dark shapes of hunters that lay in wait below them, and the rocky jagged pounding bone crunching skin lacerating platforms of rock that welcome them home! And yet they return to the sea to run the risk with each new day! Seals, braver folk than we!!
ReplyDeleteActually, further to my comment, have you ever wondered why the selky mythology/beliefs are so prominent in the north? I wonder whether the seals of the north are more timid than those in the south? I wonder if...their interaction with humans relates, in part, to their lack of sea predators such as sharks...?? But then seals were hunted and eaten in the north in great numbers, so what protected them from extinction by humans? And what gave rise to the beliefs of the Selkie??
ReplyDeleteWhenever I have come across a seal, they are curious, like dogs, they want to know us and us them. Like you said Tim, there is an old yearning for the two of us to be friends and cross that threshhold of land and sea. I've heard that around the Orkneys and other places, the seals behave in the same way, despite being hunted.
ReplyDelete'The People of the Sea' by David Thompson, is the bestest ever Selkie stories, if want to follow that up.
So many questions ... ! Would be interesting to see if the Selkie myth is paralleled in Indigenous culture. Bet it is, somewhere.
Thank you for your answers to my questions and, I will look up tha reference you gave me... Actually, whenever I think of the Selky myth I think of that film Roan Inish. It is a beautiful film. See: (http://knowledgeflows.org/downloads/secret_of_roan_innish.pdf) for a great analysis of this film and of the Selky story.
ReplyDeleteSorry, did I say myth...?? I meant belief!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if they are answers or simple musings Tim! And thanks for the link. I love that movie.
ReplyDeleteThe book is like an ethnography of the people who lived with seals. I think it was done in the 1940's. A beautiful book.