Excerpted from: Wikipedia Highland Dancing Description
HIGHLAND FLING
As was traditional of the old kings of Scotland, Highland dancing was used to choose the best men for their men at arms. These dances tested the culminate of warrior skills including accuracy, agility and stamina. Prospects danced upon a small round shield (called a Targe) and they learned quickly to move with dexterity as a false step would land them upon the spike in the middle. The dance is said to have been inspired by the capers of the stag – the dancers upraised arms representing the animal’s antlers. Danced vigorously and exultantly, it is now highly stylized and calls for the greatest skill in technique and exactness of timing.
SWORD
Tradition suggests a Celtic prince, Ghillie Callum, was a hero of mortal combat against one of MacBeth’s Chiefs at the Battle of Dunsinane in 1054. He is said to have crossed his own bloody claymore with the sword of the defeated Chief and danced over them both in exultation. This dance of exultation became a tradition among the highland warriors. It is believed that to complete the dance without touching the sword is a good omen and indicative of a successful battle.
Sounds like good dances from survivor warriors!
Hi there, I came across your blog last night and read many of your posts. First I want to thank you for your writings. So many of them apply to my situation so closely that I could have written them myself (if I were as eloquent a writer as you, which I am not). It was enormously comforting to know I am not alone; to know that someone out there understands exactly how I feel! Particularly the rage I have finally, almost 15 years into my recovery process, allowed myself to feel toward my mom who knows the truth and stays with her husband, my abuser. I finally cut her out of my life unequivocally, and without apology, last December. I don’t miss her and I am thankful to be free of the burden of feeling sorry for her. But I still seek some kind of understanding of how she can do what she does – stay with my stepfather whom she saw physically and verbally abuse me, and whom she has known since 1999 also sexually abused me (he admitted it and basically dismissed it as “I am a good person who did a bad thing, get over it”. Anyway, I am happy to read through your posts that you are far along on your journey of healing, and I thank you for sharing your story. You may not realize how many people come across your blog and find in it a beacon of hope in the darkness, and who cheer your triumph over the monsters and their aftermath.
Having taken comfort in your writings I wanted you to know I am grateful to you and glad for your healing. Be well and thank you again.
Exultation at the death of an enemy. I like that. I like that a lot.
Good and healing thoughts to you.
Kate