Lately I've been digging into my musical history and falling in love with songs all over again. If you follow me on Facebook you've probably noticed a bit of Celtic Woman popping up (Because they are AWESOME).
While I was digging though my music I found one of my most favorite songs ever and I've been listening to it a lot lately. The Lady of Shalott by Loreena McKennitt.
I have loved the story of the Lady of Shalott ever since I read the poem by Alfred Tennyson. The poem is about a woman who is mysteriously cursed. She lives in a tower and must continually weave images on her loom without ever looking directly out at the world. Instead, she looks into a mirror which reflects the busy road and the people of Camelot which pass by her island.
At first she delights in her weaving, but as she begins to see life unfolding in front of her she starts to become discontent at life passing her by. There comes a day when she sees the image of Sir Lancelot in a field below and that is it for her. She falls in love. She makes the decision to look out the window and cast her eyes on him. As she does that her mirror cracks and she knows that the curse has come upon her.
Instead of waiting in her tower for her fate to befall her, she rushes from the tower and finds a boat. She climbs in and allows herself to float down to Camelot. For just that moment she has true freedom. By the time she reaches Camelot and Lancelot finds her boat, she has died. "But Lancelot mused a little space; He said, "She has a lovely face; God in his mercy lend her grace, The Lady of Shalott".
The reason I always loved this poem was because I felt like I was her. I was trapped in a tower of my own making, I didn't allow myself to connect to the real world and I was content that way. I was waiting for that one moment to come along where everything would change and I would no longer be content to stay in my tower and watch the world pass me by.
That moment came for me. I stopped existing and I started participating and it feels good. The Lady of Shalott didn't have a happy ending in the traditional sense, but I think her descent down the river, surrounded by the real world, was perferable to a life spent up in a tower, wasting away. Sometimes we have to take a chance!
What chances are you taking right now? When was a time when you stepped out of your tower and embraced life? I'd also love to hear about what songs and poems inspire you!
Have an awesome day!
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