Do not pity me for the shadows you see in my eyes my love,for I have come through fires to be able to hold that darkness and not be scared by it.Do not feel sorry for me that my tapestry of life is woven with many black threads,for those dark parts of the picture highlight the gold that also runs through the weave.Do not despair that my soul is made up of so many rips and holes. For they have been sewn together with self love; I have developed the heart of a medicine woman from tending them.Do not feel pity for what I have seen my darling, for it has made me see more life, more beauty and more gold than anything else.Do not worry about the shadows that seeped into my heart, it is these shadows that led me to my most rebellious act; the one of true, deep self love.Do not fear that my spine will break with what it has had to carry, for my spine is no longer a wish bone or a distorted compass, it has developed true guidance and strength from lessons learned.It has taken me years of courage, bravery and truth to be able to stand straight and use this darkness as a tool to embrace life, it has taken me fire and guts to hold both my light and my dark as the friends they have become.Do not fear for me my love, for I am both wolf and maiden, witch and queen and I hold my black and my white with threads of gold.~ Brigit Anna McNeillArt by Susan Seddon BouletDedicated to my shadow dancers