“A mermaid found a swimming lad,

Picked him for her own,

Pressed her body to his body,

Laughed; and plunging down,

Forgot in cruel happiness

That even lovers drown.”

– William Butler Yeats

Are you swimming with mermaids?  Not all things that sing the Siren’s song have tails like fish.  Not all mermaids swim in the sea.  But the siren song plays here and there, throughout our lives, and calls to us to leave behind the world where we live and venture into another place.

Those of us who make it our way to tune into Spirit and follow its voice must be careful to listen to the energy that sings the alluring song.  We must be careful to discern whether the singer is one who will lead us on to growth on our journey or one who will leave us lying smashed and broken on the rocks.  We must take the time to tune into the energy that calls our names and use our knowing to make a decision.

We know that all that glitters is not gold.  We know that, with few exceptions, first love with all its excitement and all its passion does not usually usher in a life-long relationship.  We must remember that not all songs are ours to sing.  We must allow ourselves to imagine how excited the boy must have been to meet a mermaid, how captivated he must have been by her song, how joyful he must have felt to have this other-worldly being pay him some attention.  We also must allow ourselves to imagine the horror he felt as he plunged ever deeper below the surface and reached the point where he could no longer hold his breath.

Do not be deceived by mermaids.  Remember the world where you live.  Stretch your limits, learn to hold your breath, become a great swimmer; but until you sprout gills, don’t make the mistake of swimming with a mermaid.  However beautiful her song may be, surely you will drown.