Venus Rising

The Willendorf Woman (aka Venus of Willendorf) dates back tens of thousands of years, to an Old Stone Age site in Austria. Mystery surrounds her origins, but I've created my own story about her.

Unrobed, the Woman steps out of her favourite bathing pond. Her full figure evokes prosperity and fertility. Above and beyond her personhood, she is a talisman of the continuation of her tribe. And the future of her tribe may well depend on her; for life is dangerous, and fate is fickle.

She cares for herself like the grand woman that she is. Spreading her deerskin robe over the ground, she seats herself comfortably. Reaching for juniper branches, she scrubs her skin until it glows. She dabs pine pitch on stubborn cuts, to help them heal. Scooping from a dish of tallow mixed with ochre, she works the unguent into her skin. Soon she is shiny and reddish, the colour of life. Last of all, she rubs buds of lavender and clary sage on her face, to keep their fragrance near. Lavender is always good for what ails her. So is clary sage, which also makes her desirous. She rises refreshed, resplendent, and ready to reckon with the fates.

We don't know whether the Willendorf Woman's culture used soap-like substances. Yet, the beauty routine described above, doesn't seem improbable.  You can enjoy a soapy version of the Woman's toilette, with the 13th Fairy's Woman of Willendorf soap bar.  Its herbal scents are also juniper, pine, lavender, and clary sage. Like the Woman's ointment, the base is tallow, while walnut oil adds further conditioning and moisturizing qualities.  Ochre and cosmetic clay give colour.  All of this bar's ingredients were likely available to the Woman's culture, in some form.
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#venusofwillendorf  #handmadesoap

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