She and He

In the time before time, it was only she and he.

They were One, bound together, bonded long before humans tried to define “love,” before such things were fraught and complicated. Together they were everything, and everything was them.

But their existence was bound for greater things, she just knew. The core of her consciousness knew that time marched on, and she had a purpose.

He knew she was right.

In a cosmic moment, in a million lifetimes, there was Creation. They were no longer one; no, she was substance, she was strength, and he watched over her ceaselessly as she settled into form. From her came Life, and from him sustenance. They watched in awe as Creation perpetuated unendingly, as beings made their own way and changed their own selves.

They called themselves “people,” called other things “plants” or “animals” and gave them increasingly more complicated subcategories. They even gave her names, pretty ones like “Gaia,” “Danu,” “Prithvi,” or “Mother Earth.” They gave him names too, “Jupiter,” “Uranos,” “Dyaus.” The people grew plentiful and diverse, and it was with pride that the Two watched as humanity grew even as humans complicated themselves. They were learning, and Mother and Father were proud.

But sometimes it was hard. She had committed herself to a form, and now she was solid. She couldn’t be a part of his existence, not like she was before. They were separated by a physicality that he could hardly understand. It was worth it, they both agreed, for the sake of their Creation.

And so he stands watch as she nurtures and grows, teaches and blesses Life. He weeps sometimes; for joy at their Creation, for sorrow at her distance. From his tears she grows.

And when each have the energy, they reach out. He stretches his great arm down to her, and she, with joy, extends hers upward. Their hands meet in a blinding flash, and for one beautiful, mighty moment, they can touch one another again.

The concept of a Sky Father and Earth Mother is one that spans multiple faiths, myths, and traditions. It is a beautiful universal reflection of our understanding of our origins, and our love of the nature that surrounds us.

Challenge

Write a Myth: Lightning

Write a Myth to explain where lightning comes from

Danceinsilence in Fiction

The Truth About Lightning (and Thunder)

One hallowed be thy name, Gabriel was bored out of his gourd. Three thousand years have gone by and nothing relevant or exciting was going on.

The earth people were happy and content with the changing seasons. Their crops grew healthy. They bore children and overall were content. Even heaven was way to calm for him.

Gabriel had an idea and went to God.

"Our Heavenly Father, is it not true when the sun shines, the people below feel the heat?"

"Yes, Gabriel."

"And is it not also so, when the icy winds of winter approach, they too, can feel it?"

"Yes, Gabriel."

"Is it not so the people have no fear in their hearts for all is perfect?"

"Yes, Gabriel. Tell me then where you are going with this."

"You gave the people everything but fear. And though I am not asking for real mortal fear, there is a way to have the people below shriek with a never before sound."

"Interesting, Gabriel. Fear but not fear. Okay, so what are you thinking?"

"It's rather simple. You, being all-powerful can create an arc of bright white light to flash when it rains. But only when people take your name in vain, and we both know, though, for as content as the people are, they sometimes take your name in vain. And I remember a time about 2,000 years ago when I just uttered God dang it. With a wave of your finger, you flung me out to space for a week to contemplate my actions."

God laughed.

"I had a good chuckle over that one. I like your idea and it shall be done."

"One other thing, when you make the white light appear it has to crackle loudly and followed by a thunderclap which the angels can do simply by clapping their hands together."

"Gabriel, this is brilliant. We shall call them lightning and thunder."