Long ago the Earth had only one continent. 

Historians have called that great single continent Pangea but we know it as Celestia.  War, strife, and poverty were unknown throughout Celestia because all men lived as brothers and all their needs were met.  The land was rich with resources and science was the highest calling. 

Celestia was divided into four provinces - The North Star, The Southern Cross, The Orient and the Occident.  Each province was ruled by hereditary leaders from one family.  Celestia was a matriarchy ruled by women of great wisdom and compassion.  All the women of Celestia were mermaids.

The mermaids lived on land as well as the sea because they possessed the power of transformation.  Some preferred to spend all their life on land, others chose to live in the tranquil beauty of the sea but the majority enjoyed both worlds equally, changing their form at will.  

Once each year during the full moon of August, members of the four ruling families held a summit meeting atop the highest peak in Celestia to pay tribute to the moon goddess Celene and make plans for the betterment of Celestia during the coming year.  It was at one of the moon festivals that the four families watched in horror from the heights of the mountain as a huge asteroid came streaking through the sky and struck Celestia a death blow that broke apart the giant continent.  Helplessly they watched as the ocean engulfed their homeland.   Protected by the great height of their mountain, they were the only survivors of Celestia.

Many, many years passed before the four families determined they would explore the world outside their mountain top.  The family from The North Star sailed to North America where they made their new home.   The Southern Cross members sailed their ships to Europe, the Orient to Asia and Australia, and the Occident to Africa. 

During those sad years of wandering, the mermaids lost their power of transformation.  All girls were born with the tail of a mermaid which disappeared while the baby was still an infant if the mother had chosen to live on the land rather than the sea.  The mermaids still retained certain powers which were bestowed on them at their 18th birthday, each mermaid receiving a different power that was suited to her special talents.

Each of the four families had a choice of two first names to pass on to their mermaid daughters and at least one of the names must always be given if the mermaid was to receive her special powers.  The names, of course, are secret.  All mermaids are born with a small brown birthmark somewhere on their body which is a reminder that their ancestor's lower bodies were covered with beautiful scales.

The people of The North Star were great artists and musicians.  The Southern Cross produced artists who worked in fabrics and needlework.  People of the Orient were sculptors and carvers and the Occident produced the best athletes. 

It is forbidden for mermaids to reveal their identities to humans, it would mean a loss of all their powers.   However, if you know a strong, wise and compassionate woman who bears the brown mark of the sea, you may already know a mermaid.  Our world is a kinder place today because mermaids live among us.

Copyright 2002 - Ansalee   All Rights Reserved

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