A Love Story

DANCING WITH A WILD DOLPHIN

Have you ever dreamt of something that seemed impossible and then it not only came true, but surpassed far of what you could ever imagine? Such was my love story with a wild Bottlenose dolphin. I was 25 years old and had moved to live in Scotland, at the Findhorn Foundation after I had completed my university education back in Munich. As I walked one day along the ocean, which I loved so much, I felt this strong dream arising to swim with a dolphin. I had not heard of people who had done it, nor was I sure even where. But I spoke a prayer out loud to the sea and the sky; if there was a way may it be fulfilled. I heard the wild geese honking as they travelled bye.

It was not long after, when I overheard a guest telling, that a bottlenose dolphin in Newcastle-Amble had been sighted, all by himself (they usually are in groups) and that he was staying unusually long. Immediately upon hearing the news, I dropped everything and ran to pack a few things to make the journey by train along the coast. It seemed, that my heart beat at double speed. Could this actually be happening? I arrived at the harbor the same day. Dark clouds covered the sky. It was freezing cold and stormy. I did not care. The old fisherman kindly brought me out into the sea in his little boat, to where he had last seen the dolphin. All I wanted was to meet him, whatever it would take I would do. And that meant to enter the ice-cold ocean in a bikini. Luckily I was rather hot blooded and had been swimming in the Atlantic during the winter every day. The fisherman told me that he would pick me up sometime later and wished me good luck. Then he left.

Here I was all alone freezing in the water, calling with all my heart for the dolphin. I wasn’t sure if he would come. I did not know about communicating with animals then, or why I was so nuts about swimming with a dolphin. When a powerful dream of the soul calls, you don't ask questions--you just follow and live it. That was what felt true for me. And that is what I did.

For a while, that seemed like an eternity in holding my breath, nothing happened other than the relentless waves crashing into my face. I did not give up. I was very still, other than paddling to keep afloat and then I experienced an immense love welling up inside of me. In that moment, all of a sudden, skin touched my skin. Soft, like silk. Belly to belly. A huge being touching me. Shocked, I shivered. He was here. Oh my God, he really had come. The dolphin was way bigger than I had thought. He lay completely still next to me. His body pressed against mine. Slowly I touched his skin with my hands in utmost tenderness and caressed him. He moved even closer. Then he turned toward me. I could not believe it. He put his face, his snout into my open hands. Slightly he lifted out of the water and looked into my eyes. I was met with such pure love it broke my heart open. I could only weep and laugh with joy. It was beyond of what I had known. We looked into each other for the longest time and communicated in ways that were of the highest intelligence and love. I just understood him. I do not know how. I was opened to the universal language of the heart, of all beings. That was one of the gifts he gave me, for at that time I had never heard of such a thing happening.

And after a time he nudged me. I wasn’t sure what he wanted until I got it--play. Dolphins live and learn by play. We played together wildly and freely in utter delight. I could hold unto his fin and he pulled me through the water. I was in bliss. This was such fun too. He went under me and then shot out. I dove after him, but of course he was faster. We played hide and seek--he had the easy part for I could never hide from him. He was so incredibly sensual; that I felt he is the best lover I had ever met. His love pure, his joy infectious. We shared in ecstatic beauty. He showed me what it is like to be and dance in union, in love.

Well, what can I say- I was in love. Fully, utterly and madly. With a dolphin. Unfortunately really, that I couldn't live with him in the water. I wished I could transform into a dolphin myself. So instead, I came every weekend over 6 weeks and swam for hours with him. Some people heard and came to see him too. A few were brave enough to venture into the ocean. All with fins and wetsuits. I preferred to touch skin to skin, to feel each other. He always came to me and was with me. Only when I left, did he let some other people come near.

When we were together, it only was us two dancing in perfect love as one being. I don’t know how else to attempt to describe it. Here words end and the mystery, life itself speaks. Only poetry can even come close to it. Or as the Sufis express: It is the moment when lover and beloved are one. The longing when departed seemed endless, only to lead into greater love when we met again. It felt to me, that he too was in love with me. The fisherman once said: "I don’t know what it is this with the two of you. I have never seen Freddie (so the folks in Amble named him) do that or be like that with anyone else around here. I wonder why he is he still here. Very unusual…." he would mutter in his heavy Scottish accent.

One Sunday I woke up in the nearby Bed and Breakfast and I knew that it would be our last time to be together. We had an amazing time, he allowed me to put my arms around him and kiss him everywhere, whilst he nudged me affectionately. We both knew. We savoured our last moments together. The old man picked me up with the boat. It was the moment of good-bye, as I climbed on board. My beloved dolphin did something really unusual: he literally jumped across the boat, above my head. Three times. Back and forth. The fisherman was in awe and I was in tears. Sobbing buckets. My precious friend was saying good-bye to me. I called out loudly: "I love you!" He is always and forever in my heart.

The next day I called the fisherman and he told me that Freddie was gone. He said: "You two had quiet a love story. Write it down girl. That’s a gift from the gods." It was and it is. To this day, whether they are dolphins or whales, when I meet them there is an ancient bond we share, they come close and I am usually invited to be near with them. In my soul I am singing and dancing with them. Always in love.

Here is some information about dolphins: It has become popular to swim with dolphins. Their presence is both healing and loving for many people. Please, never go after a dolphin. Let them come to you, if they want to. They are highly sensitive and intelligent creatures. They read you by your vibration, intent and energy. Do not chase them. They need their spaces for feeding and resting. Never touch a spinner dolphin. Their skin is so sensitive, that our touch alone can give them diseases, which they cannot fight off. Please remember- they are creatures of the wild, they are not objects to be used by us, but are alive and they need to be protected. Let them not be captured and imprisoned, for they suffer deeply in captivity. Please help to keep the beaches and oceans clean. Stop using plastic bags, which kills so many of these amazing ocean creatures. It is the least we can do. Celebrate, enjoy them, learn from them if you like. May their joy lift your spirit!