| THE EPISTOLARIAN |

Years ago, I painted a mermaid and a gentleman. The gentleman, drawn in stark black and white, was a figure of structure and order, embodying the world of logic and terrestrial constraints. His rigid lines and defined form spoke of a life lived above water, dictated by man’s rules and structured systems.

In stark contrast, the mermaid, with her flexible, soft body, was a cascade of colors and flowing lines. She was the embodiment of intuition, water, and magic — a symbol of a world unburdened by the strictures of logic and order. Her domain was one of feeling and fluidity, a realm where the laws of land gave way to the gentle sway of underwater currents.

This piece, though far from a masterpiece, captured an eternal dance of contrasting entities — the logical and the intuitive, the structured and the fluid.

I find myself reflecting on this artistic metaphor and what it represents in my own life. It's a reminder that within each of us lies a duality akin to the mermaid and the gentleman. I yearn to embrace the mermaid's path, to delve into my creativity and magic, and to navigate life with the grace of fins rather than the rigidity of legs.

I aspire to embody the mermaid's rhythm, to experience the sensation of floating and drifting in life's vast ocean, free from the constraints of ceaseless walking or the urgency of running. It's a journey towards finding balance — a balance that allows one to be in harmony with the intuitive flows of existence while engaging with the structured reality of our world.

We all have a touch of the mermaid within us, a part that yearns for the freedom and magic of the waters. Let us lean into that part, let our creativity flourish, and navigate life with the elegance and fluidity of those who dwell in the deep.

The Newest Collector's Seal​
I am delighted to unveil the newest Kathryn Hastings collector's seal. As always, the first 11 are engraved for the register. For those who purchase by December 20th, you will receive free access to my newest program for letter writing, which will run from January through March. (More details on that below)

​Please order your mermaid collector's seal here.​

"The Mermaid" by Alfred Lord Tennyson​
I.

Who would be
A mermaid fair,
Singing alone,
Combing her hair
Under the sea,
In a golden curl
With a comb of pearl,
On a throne?

II.

I would be a mermaid fair;
I would sing to myself the whole of the day;
With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair;
And still as I comb'd I would sing and say,
Who is it loves me? who loves not me?
I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall
Low adown, low adown,
From under my starry sea-bud crown
Low adown and around,
And I should look like a fountain of gold
Springing alone
With a shrill inner sound,
Over the throne
In the midst of the hall;
Till that great sea-snake under the sea
From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps
Would slowly trail himself sevenfold
Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate
With his large calm eyes for the love of me.
And all the mermen under the sea
Would feel their immortality
Die in their hearts for the love of me.

III.

But at night I would wander away, away,
I would fling on each side my low-flowing locks,
And lightly vault from the throne and play
With the mermen in and out of the rocks;
We would run to and fro, and hide and seek,
On the broad sea-wolds in the crimson shells,
Whose silvery spikes are nighest the sea.
But if any came near I would call, and shriek,
And adown the steep like a wave I would leap
From the diamond-ledges that jut from the dells;
For I would not be kiss'd by all who would list,
Of the bold merry mermen under the sea;
They would sue me, and woo me, and flatter me,
In the purple twilights under the sea;
But the king of them all would carry me,
Woo me, and win me, and marry me,
In the branching jaspers under the sea;
Then all the dry pied things that be
In the hueless mosses under the sea
Would curl round my silver feet silently,
All looking up for the love of me.
And if I should carol aloud, from aloft
All things that are forked, and horned, and soft
Would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea,
All looking down for the love of me.

The Timeless Allure of Mermaids in Myth and Culture​
In the collective imagination of humanity, few mythological creatures are as enduring and captivating as the mermaid. From the ancient Assyrian tales of Atargatis to the modern-day fascination in pop culture, mermaids have consistently inhabited the depths of our sea-inspired lore, serving as symbols of beauty, mystery, and, at times, foreboding.

The earliest known mermaid myth dates back to ancient Assyria, where the goddess Atargatis transformed herself into a mermaid out of shame for accidentally killing her human lover. This blend of human and fish form is a recurring theme in many cultures, often reflecting humanity's intrinsic connection and fascination with the sea.

In Greek mythology, the sirens, often conflated with mermaids, were depicted as dangerous creatures who lured sailors to their doom with their enchanting songs. This portrayal contrasts with the benign nature of mermaids in other cultures, such as the Scottish Selkie, who shed their seal skins to become human, often blending tales of romance and tragedy.

The African water spirit Mami Wata, often depicted as a mermaid, is another example of the diversity in mermaid mythology. Revered in many parts of West and Central Africa, and in the African diaspora, Mami Wata is a complex figure associated with both fortune and misfortune, health, and healing, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the sea.

In Eastern cultures, mermaid myths also abound. The Ningyo of Japanese folklore, for instance, is a fish-like creature whose flesh brings immortality, a theme that resonates with humanity’s enduring quest for life beyond the natural order.

The mermaid's symbolism has evolved over time. In medieval and Renaissance Europe, mermaids were often associated with seduction and peril, mirroring the era's attitudes towards female sexuality and the unknown depths of the ocean. By the Victorian era, however, mermaids had begun to take on a more romanticized and sanitized image, often portrayed as symbols of beauty, grace, and enchantment.

In contemporary times, the mermaid’s image has been further softened, especially in popular media. Characters like Hans Christian Andersen’s tragic Little Mermaid and Disney’s Ariel have transformed the mermaid into a figure of youthful innocence and romantic longing, a far cry from the dangerous sirens of Greek lore.

The enduring appeal of mermaids can be attributed to their liminal nature – beings that exist at the boundary between two worlds, the known and the unknown, reality and fantasy. They embody the human quest for exploration and understanding, representing both the allure and the dangers of the uncharted.

In the end, the mythology of mermaids speaks to our perennial fascination with the sea and its mysteries. As symbols, mermaids have mirrored our changing perceptions of nature, the unknown, and even ourselves, serving as a reminder of our deep-rooted connection to the world's waters and the secrets they hold. For me, they represent the mystical and magical feminine energy of unknown watery realms. What about you?

With love,

Kay