The Initiate
Her head bowed, the novice stands before her Mistress. The Elders gather in a circle, enclosing them both. All of the girl's clothes have been taken from her. She is barefoot and wearing only a simple white cotton gown. Once she is settled in, she will help prepare everything she had owned for distribution to those in need. Nothing of her previous life, nothing of the world outside will remain.
The Mistress tenderly cups the girl's bowed head in her hands, gently kisses her forehead. The circle of women parts as the older woman places her arm around the girl's shoulder, guides her along the cobbled drive to the old stone house, large and forbidding, where she will now live and be cared for.
Once inside, the elder leads the girl up the broad oak staircase to her own small room, austere with an iron frame bed and small desk. There, the older woman helps the novice out of the white gown and into the difficult clothing that she must now wear and wear perfectly: a heavily starched white blouse with detachable collar, a simple navy blue tunic dress. Then, the girl is taken downstairs to the kitchen where she will help prepare meals, to the beautiful drawing room, dining room, and ultimately to her Mistress's study. There, what is expected of her, her schedule and responsibilities are all explained.
The Mistress will use all her powers, her warmth and kindness, encouragement and her own methods of discipline to quell any rebellion at its outset, to mould the girl to her will and direction. In this task she believes in herself: she cannot doubt if she is to follow through thoughtfully, unsparingly while letting the girl know that she is loved and cared for. Her goal, always, is to ensure that her novice continues to grow, through obedience to her, a growing acceptance and a willingness to take direction, in her service to God, to others, to the ideals of the Community.
Rite of Passage
For Anna
For you there's now no other way
The gates are securely locked
Our rules and structures bind and help you
Paths that tempt just return, bring pain
Instead you'll meet life safe with us
Your Mistress as your guide
Loving her truly, giving your best
Is where your future happiness lies
Come With Me to My Study
Care and Compassion
Bliss
A World Apart
The world outside rife with danger, decay This austere retreat, a life set apart Such a serious girl, it's what they thought best Devotion, study, serving others by day Yet now, in this fine woman's room Erect, full breasted, quietly strict in her way
Clear strong eyes, middle years, hair black turning grey
Perceptive, voice quiet, considered and firm
You discuss saints and sinners
What it means to believe
At first with formality but then, step by step She's direct, caring, seats you close by her side And little by little you open yourself Feel safe in her firmness, kind sternness, her clarity And the darkness, the loneliness lift Then one night as you sit to study beside her A flush as you glance to those steady grey eyes Find her fixed upon you with all her intensity While her hand, true and strong Finds its place on your shoulder And her authority calms, reassures And so it is nightly as you read and you study And you work hard to please her without a word said Her arm softly around you, her direction and care And you find each day wanting more to be with her To grow in the light of her world Then one night as your time with her draws to its close She senses you're ready, her eyes honest and clear Touches your forearm, asks you directly Would you like me to take you gently in hand Keep you here, care for you as I will skilfully do Work you hard and with discipline seek out your best As I guide and protect you, my beloved at my side? For tonight as I undress you and bathe you for bed Lay you down upon starched sheets readied and crisp With that beauty surpassing all knowledge and wisdom I will kiss you, explore as you'd never dream dare Woman caring for woman, love pure, noble and true With this love as we struggle in communion together We shall honour our Lord as we do with our prayers Held from behind, my skills setting your pace I'll make music with you as I play you with grace As I search out your cries each immaculate night I will look after and guide you in God's perfect light
A Community of Women, a world apart
I feel that art without passion for subject matter, the need to bring a vision to life whether or not it aligns with the expectations of the world at large, is dead. In building a picture of the Community of Women of my imagination, with its own idylls, mores, structures and rites, ecstasies and sufferings, I'd like to be able to contribute something that matters in some small way, suggests different possibilities, expands the horizon.