The littlest dakini

Once upon a time in a land closer than you might imagine, there lived the littlest dakini. Sofia Alegre was her name. She had many sisters. They made sure sure she had plenty of time to play. She played in the forest. She caught the light that fell between the branches. She played by the seaside. She skipped over the lapping waves. As each wave receded she skimmed her toe in its transparent wake. At night she danced with the fireflies. Her friends were the birds that sang at dawn and the ones that sang at dusk, announcing the coming of day, announcing the coming of night. Sometimes, most often at full moon by the sea, her sisters would join with her and dance in a circle. Sofia was mesmerized by the utter grace of each of her sisters-- some of whom had were barely older than she, and others who had been through many, many, almost countless cycles of the moon. Watching her sisters and listening to her own inner guidance, she learned to become fire, air, water and earth. She learned to fly like a falcon, to swim like a dolphin... They danced for hours, though it seemed like "no time at all, or perhaps", Sofia thought to herself, "like all time at once." Time was a mystery she sometimes pondered as it seemed more fluid to her than the ocean itself, and it seemed like no thing at all, yet the effects of its flow could be seen. She was growing up. First she grew taller, her wheat-colored hair grew longer and longer, then her body filled out and its form changed into vivacious curves. Her curiosity as a woman and about relationships grew. She saw that some of her sisters had life-long partners, others had joined and separated many times, yet others chose a path of intimate solitude. Some took vows of commitment to a partner, some vowed dedication to solitude, all took a vows of service to humanity and all sentient beings in need-- each had her own style, and in time each became a skillful teacher. "I should like a partner who does not bind me," Sofia thought, "one who is my equal, he shall be kindred to fire and earth, he shall be a brother of the coyotes, and he shall know the tenderness of a baby puppy's breath and the generosity of Tara, he shall know how to build a home and adore me unconditionally and challenge me to new depths through our dance of creation, and of solitude and togetherness."