Front cover
THE NIGHT SKY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA offers some of the best stargazing on the planet.
Consequently, the indigenous people of the subcontinent have been exposed to a cosmic clarity since time immemorial, developing complex knowledge systems in the process.
Flowers in the Sky is a collection of stories that provides insight into our traditional cosmologies.
Legends of failed hunts, of Lynx losing her jewelry and moonwater pouring out of the sky are interspersed with common practices such as: why the Chief awarded a cow to the first person to see Canopus, and why Achenar’s rising was a time to avoid getting married.
The introduction of a child to the moon exhibits the kind of intimacy that existed between people and the celestial bodies and highlights the sense of participation in universal events that our forebears acknowledged – one that the author, Clarissa Hughes, maintains is useful in facing the challenges of the twenty-first century .
Why are the Digging Stars called by that name? Why was their dawn rising a significant event on the annual calendar? What do they represent in the minds of the people? And how does this relate to scientific discovery?
These are some of the questions the author tackles in this sensitive and timely work.
Told in an empathic style, the explanation of the symbolism is often inspiring, at times confirming scientific discoveries in the exquisite language of metaphor.
Flowers in the Sky is essential reading for anyone interested in astronomy, indigenous cultures, and the links they share.
Publication Details
Title: Flowers in the Sky
Author: Clarissa Hughes
ISBN: 978-0-620-51387-6
Price: R300
Cover: Soft cover
Pages: 96
Colour: Full colour
For all media enquiries, review copies or interview requests please contact:
Clarissa Hughes
info@clarissahughes.com
072 555 1141
Available directly through the author as only a small quantity left.