Oh my dear friends, what a crazy time we’re living in. It’s so full of contradictions! As we distance ourselves from one another we’re also coming home. As the pandemic threatens our airflow, the atmosphere is clearing. Birds can hear one another sing again. It’s an amazing time, and like you, I’m sure, I’ve been filled with dread and inspiration in equal measure.
But today I wanted to share something with you that came to me in a bolt of light. I woke up the other day with an old fairy tale stirring in me, the Grimm’s “Briar Rose.” A simple but profound story about a princess who is put to sleep by an angry fate.
It urgently wanted to be told, and though I’ve told this story for many years, it wanted to be seen in a new way. I had no idea what it wanted to show me. Fairy tales have this kind of life! So as soon as I could, I put on the recorder and launched into a telling.
Here it is, with all its surprises … glimpses into our times … and the heart-piercing, bright possibilities on other side.
Listening to this felt so magical! You are so beautiful and awesome as always!
Thank you, Hariny. It is so great to hear from you!
Wonderful Michelle. When you came the part of the story at the feast when the 13th wise woman casts her spell of death and the 12th ameliorates it with sleep for a 100 years, such parallels with today came to mind. We ameliorate the spell of death from the covid19 virus by putting our society in a state of suspended animation. Waiting for the moment when we can emerge, following the trail of the heart’s wisdom.
So many interesting parallels to today throughout the story!!
What an interesting reflection, Kathy. I never would have seen that without your insight. Suspended animation, wow. Until this pandemic happened, we haven’t had that experience. But it’s very much like the amended sentence. Which makes me think even more about the importance of protecting the castle and biding our time. Thank you!
Wonderful story and wonderfully told. Thanks so much Michelle!
Thank you, Pixie. Your comments are appreciated!
I had an interesting dream image last night that gave me further insight into the plates in the Briar Rose story. As you might recall, the 13th wise woman was not invited to the feast because there were only “twelve golden plates to eat upon.” In my dream image, I was being shown an ivory ceramic plate that was all craqueled. The plate spoke and said that it had come to the end of its service. It had been useful for some time, but it was not indestructible.
The plate expressed the hope that the next plate would be made of some indestructible metal. I woke up thinking of the golden plates, and of the grail, which serves each according to their needs. There was a strong association with the economy. What would an economy look like that served each according to their needs, and could not be broken?