Underneath the Mango Trees

Underneath the mango trees, the wild women of Atlantis scrubbed their laundry, licked mango juice off their arms and taught their daughters how to live life deliciously. They taught them the art of turning stories into life and turning sorrow into Art … mistakes into beauty. They taught them ways to lose themselves in the outrageous dinner party of life. And then contribute the dishes of their own making. They shared with them the power of refusing to bow down, play the game, chase the should dos, must dos, have tos … They demonstrated the healing that comes when someone can finally wrap their arms around their painful parts, broken hearts, beautiful flaws … and say “I love you” anyway.

From a book in the making”The Mangofesto”

Art and Words by Bethan Stritton