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I love this, Amy. The part that grabbed at me was the one in which the woman's hands grew back. I love that it happened while in the company of other women, and from putting her stumps into the dirt. It's how I feel about a coming back to writing that is happening for me. I'm looking forward to becoming a woman with eyes the color of a muddy river and hair the color of birchbark.

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Thank you! I was just telling Emily that I've heard this story so many times that I sort of forgot how unexpected the hands growing back is. I love that writing is giving that growth to you! And yes, once you wrote that, I realized my grandmother had hair and eyes that color, so it's a definite possibility for me :)

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I first read this story a few years ago in Women Who Run with the Wolves and it nearly knocked the wind out of me. I can’t say what it was exactly but it was one of those stories that resonated in my bones. A tale with endless lessons hidden inside it - one that that would stay with me for the rest of my life, revealing it’s secrets to me as I moved through my own wilding and grappling with silver hands, deceit, reunion… I was so moved to read your rendition today. Thank you. I’ll be sitting with this as we move through Samhain this week.

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Oct 30·edited Oct 30Author

Yes, it's a true medicine story. I find myself in a substantially different place each time. There are so many layers to this story. You could definitely spend hours telling it. Thank you! I hope this version moves something new for you.

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Oct 29Liked by Amy Walsh

Beautiful - thank you - the longhouse in the woods with all the nourishment for regrowth also resonated with me 💛 And you have inspired me to revisit the book 💛

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Thank you! So many of us have a deep longing for that kind of belonging with both human and more than human life. And yes, always good to revisit CPE from time to time! :)

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Well this is just glorious! Wow! And no surprise, I am with Rita- my nascent hands are in the soil, getting dexterous in the company of women.

You are on fire, and I am so here for it.

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Thank you! I've experienced this story so many times now that I had sort of forgotten how unexpected it is that her hands grew back :) I'm hoping to give the Six Swans a try too. Another great female-led folktale.

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