We are the ancestors of the future. And the past. And right now.

In the world of myth and story, retellings reorient time, and open up the way for us to re-map the future.

In the realm of dreams,

where I spend much of my time,

time is malleable.

My deceased grandmother and my adult daughter

appear in the same dream,

though they never walked the earth at the same time.

So it is in the world of myth and story,

retellings re-orient the the present to the past,

and then they

(we)

re-map the future.

As I translate ancient texts to revive and revitalize Sarah’s story for the present moment, I am laying down new lines, and clearing pathways to happier ever-afters.

We’re moving forward — and back!

I recently wrapped up my translation of Genesis 21,in which Sarah finally at age 90 gives birth to a son. But that joy soon turns to pain, as Hagar and Ishmael are sent away into the desert wilderness to face a life-and-death struggle for survival.

However, today we are not moving forward to Genesis 22.

Instead, we’re taking a step backwards into the first verses of my translation of Genesis 20.

Why am I presenting my translations of this story out of order?

Because … well … it’s a long story, which I address briefly in this post. Long (circuitous) story short: I tend to jump into projects and processes in the middle, and … well … whatever happens next, happens!

Somehow I always take a circuitous path through life.

For those of you who would like a (somewhat) linear path through my translations, I’ve created a Table of (evolving) Contents where you can travel with me through the verses (more or less) in order.

“We are the ancestors of the future.”
— Luisah Teish

Entering new territory and going in circles

Genesis Chapter 20, which we’ll begin today, is itself a story that echoes through time. In this chapter Sarah and Abraham arrive at the kingdom of Gerar, where Sarah is given, presumably by her husband, to the King to share his bed.

Strange though this may sound, it’s not unique. Several chapters earlier a similar situation occurs between Sarah, Abraham and another ruler. Then, another dozen or so chapters later, a similar scenario repeats, but with Sarah’s grown son and his wife, Rebekah.

What is going on here? Is Genesis just going in circles?

Well, we’ll have lots to talk about as we move forward into this new section. But for now, listen to my translation of the first two verses of Genesis 20.

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