Selkie Tapestry

Selkie tapestry. Many of the folk-tales on selkie folk have been collected from the Northern Isles (Orkney and Shetland). The folk-tales frequently revolve around female selkies (seal women) being coerced into relationships with humans by someone stealing and hiding their sealskin. A typical folk-tale is that of a man who steals a female selkie's skin, finds her on the sea shore, and compels her to become his wife. She will spend her time in captivity longing for the sea, her true home, and will often be seen gazing longingly at the ocean. Once she finds her selkie coat, she can return to the sea, where she really belongs. SYMBOLS IN THIS TAPESTRY: This tapestry features a woman who has just left her home on land behind after finding her selkie skin. The colours of the land are dull, symbolizing how her life on land is not true to who she is, whereas the sea is colourful and vibrant, where she really belongs. The only part of this tapestry that doesnt have much detail is the shore on which she stands. This is to symbolize how she is metamorphosing on neutral land. When we feel the need or want to change our course in life, I believe that it is always best to do it from a neutral place, not one that is governed by extreme emotion, which can cloud our judgement and our hearts true desire. The selkie folktale always reminds me that we should follow the calling within ourselves, whatever it may be. Its only through curiousity and trust in that calling, that we can become who we were always meant to be. Dont let someone keep your skin from you - find it and transform into your highest self.