Neil Gaiman's Stardust has been called a fairy tale for adults.
It takes place in Victorian times, starting off in a town called Wall - a borderland that connects England and Mythic Fairy. Guardians of the Gate stand watch making sure no one passes through the opening in the wall. After all, the wall connects as well as separates. Humans are not encouraged to go exploring in a world that is not their own.
Two men, Tristan and his father, both ignore this accepted restriction when they are young men, stepping beyond the known into a liminal realm where few dare go. And this has made all the difference for them.
This novel, now turned movie, is a romance about a boy becoming a man. It is enduring to watch Tristan, starting out as a gawky young man, reach for his deepest starseeds while exploring unfamiliar people, places, and things, greening and growing his true self. Salutations on achieiving your shining self, Tristan - may we all be as lucky (or as courageous) to take our own journeys to selfhood.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Friday, June 30, 2006
The Horse of Legend
The horse has long been a part of history, used in war to carry riders into conflict, and also for sport by knights of old in their jousting matches. In our own near past they were used to draw vehicles prior to the "horseless carriage". In the Western part of the United States they were also used on the ranges to herd cattle and fight in the range wars. Today they are used mostly for recreation and sport. Here is a quick look at some of the Legendary Horses of Old:
The Hungarians and Spanish believed that all black horses were lucky - the French believed the reverse. There was an Irish superstition that a pure white horse, when ridden by its owner, gave the special gift of advising how to cure physical ailments.
THE WHITE HORSE - The Saxon King Alfred in the ninth century had carved in a chalk cliff on the Berkshire Downs in England an enormous white horse, 374 feet long and 120 feet high, to commemorate his victory over the Danes at Ashdown. It is still visible today.
THE TROJAN HORSE - The Trojan Horse is well known to all who have read any Greek history. This was the tremendous image of a mare, built of wooden planks and concealing a group of Greek soldiers. The Trojans were led to believe that this was a peace offering to the goddess Minerva. The stratagem worked. The Trojans opened their gates and widened the gap in their wall to take in the wooden mare - and it soldiers...the rest is history!
THE HOBBY HORSE - The Hobby Horse was originally associated with the ancient May Day festivals of English seamen. It may have been derived from the early English "hobby", meaning a nag.
THE SAILOR'S HORSE - The terms "horse a bill" meaning to pay for work not yet done, or "pay for a dead horse" meaning to pay for something which has been consumed or lost, or "pull the dead horse" meaning to work for wages that have been paid in advance, etc., come from the old maritime custom of giving sailors a note for a month's pay in advance on signing on for a voyage. This they usually cashed at a sizable discount and had 'fun' before sailing. Thus, on sailing, they had 30 days of hard work ahead without pay - "for the dead horse". Then at the end of the payless month, they would "bury" the effigy of the "dead horse".
THE SEA HORSE - The first sea horses had a horse's head, forefeet and barrel, terminating in a fish tail - later the Sea Horse had the head of a horse and the body of a fish. Sea Horses were prevalent in early Irish myths. When a tempest breaks over the sea in Ireland the breakers are said to be the white horse of the Gaelic God of the Sea.
The horse in mythological times naturally would have been associated with the wind because of his swiftness. The wind was deemed the sire of swift horses.
The Arabian horses today are called "Drinkers of the Wind".
The horse in ancient times was also associated with the sea. In myth, Neptune is supposed to have created the horse in a contest with the other gods for the honor of naming what was to be the city of Athens. However, the olive tree, created by Minerva, won out.
THE NIGHTMARE - The 'Nightmare' derives its term from a Saxon demon vampire called Mara or Mare. This vampire rested on the chest of its sleeping victim, partially strangling him and causing fearful visions (hence nightmare). The harnesses of cart horses frequently were ornamented with brass charms to protect them from the witchcraft of 'Mare'.
THE UNICORN - The Unicorn is a mythological animal with the head, neck and body of a horse, the legs of a stag, the tail of a lion and with a long, twisted horn protruding from its forehead. The Unicorn's horn was supposed to effect cures. The Unicorn is famous in heraldry as a supporter of the royal arms of Britain.
PEGASUS - Pegasus is a mythological, white, winged horse, gifted with extraordinary speed and immortality. He carried Apollo and the Muses - and some favored and unfortunate mortal heroes - swiftly through the air. He is alleged to have sprung from the goddess Medusa when she was beheaded.
SAGITTARIUS - The constellation Sagittarius (The Archer) is a centaur. Mythology says that this constellation is Chiron, the "Divine Beast," placed in the sky among the stars after being put to death by Jupiter.
The Hungarians and Spanish believed that all black horses were lucky - the French believed the reverse. There was an Irish superstition that a pure white horse, when ridden by its owner, gave the special gift of advising how to cure physical ailments.
THE WHITE HORSE - The Saxon King Alfred in the ninth century had carved in a chalk cliff on the Berkshire Downs in England an enormous white horse, 374 feet long and 120 feet high, to commemorate his victory over the Danes at Ashdown. It is still visible today.
THE TROJAN HORSE - The Trojan Horse is well known to all who have read any Greek history. This was the tremendous image of a mare, built of wooden planks and concealing a group of Greek soldiers. The Trojans were led to believe that this was a peace offering to the goddess Minerva. The stratagem worked. The Trojans opened their gates and widened the gap in their wall to take in the wooden mare - and it soldiers...the rest is history!
THE HOBBY HORSE - The Hobby Horse was originally associated with the ancient May Day festivals of English seamen. It may have been derived from the early English "hobby", meaning a nag.
THE SAILOR'S HORSE - The terms "horse a bill" meaning to pay for work not yet done, or "pay for a dead horse" meaning to pay for something which has been consumed or lost, or "pull the dead horse" meaning to work for wages that have been paid in advance, etc., come from the old maritime custom of giving sailors a note for a month's pay in advance on signing on for a voyage. This they usually cashed at a sizable discount and had 'fun' before sailing. Thus, on sailing, they had 30 days of hard work ahead without pay - "for the dead horse". Then at the end of the payless month, they would "bury" the effigy of the "dead horse".
THE SEA HORSE - The first sea horses had a horse's head, forefeet and barrel, terminating in a fish tail - later the Sea Horse had the head of a horse and the body of a fish. Sea Horses were prevalent in early Irish myths. When a tempest breaks over the sea in Ireland the breakers are said to be the white horse of the Gaelic God of the Sea.
The horse in mythological times naturally would have been associated with the wind because of his swiftness. The wind was deemed the sire of swift horses.
The Arabian horses today are called "Drinkers of the Wind".
The horse in ancient times was also associated with the sea. In myth, Neptune is supposed to have created the horse in a contest with the other gods for the honor of naming what was to be the city of Athens. However, the olive tree, created by Minerva, won out.
THE NIGHTMARE - The 'Nightmare' derives its term from a Saxon demon vampire called Mara or Mare. This vampire rested on the chest of its sleeping victim, partially strangling him and causing fearful visions (hence nightmare). The harnesses of cart horses frequently were ornamented with brass charms to protect them from the witchcraft of 'Mare'.
THE UNICORN - The Unicorn is a mythological animal with the head, neck and body of a horse, the legs of a stag, the tail of a lion and with a long, twisted horn protruding from its forehead. The Unicorn's horn was supposed to effect cures. The Unicorn is famous in heraldry as a supporter of the royal arms of Britain.
PEGASUS - Pegasus is a mythological, white, winged horse, gifted with extraordinary speed and immortality. He carried Apollo and the Muses - and some favored and unfortunate mortal heroes - swiftly through the air. He is alleged to have sprung from the goddess Medusa when she was beheaded.
SAGITTARIUS - The constellation Sagittarius (The Archer) is a centaur. Mythology says that this constellation is Chiron, the "Divine Beast," placed in the sky among the stars after being put to death by Jupiter.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
The History of Dragons
Copyright © 2006 Francesca Black
The Dragon has played an important part in myths and religions since pre-historic times. The history of dragons goes back at least six thousand years, and there are dragon tales and legends from every continent except Antarctica. In almost every culture, and all throughout history, there are stories of these mythical and magical creatures called dragons. Different people have various theories of why so many cultures developed such a long lasting belief in dragons; however, none can actually be proven.
Many believe that dragons were what we now call dinosaurs. It may be that dragon stories partly grew out of people finding dinosaur bones. The thought is that when dragon bones were dug up later, they were given the new classification of dinosaur. Many evolutionists believe that dinosaurs became extinct millions of years before man walked the planet, while others claims dispute this. It is said that dinosaur fossils, which have been discovered along with human footprints and remains, add proof to the ancient people's history of dragons. Others feel that people forgot that dragons were ever real, and quickly faded into mythology.
In almost every culture and all throughout history there are stories of these magical creatures called dragons. Later, in Europe these dragons in art forms were thought to be real life animals rather than symbols of evil.
Throughout many cultures, dragons may have appeared different, but they have always retained the same basic core elements. When most people think of dragons they generally think of fire breathing monsters, but originally dragons were usually connected with water. To the ancient Chinese, dragons were not creatures of fire, as so many would think, but rather creatures of water. The dragon of the Chinese resided in rivers, lakes, pools and rose in great clouds of mist to promote rainfall. In earlier Mideast stories, the dragons are most often associated with water and wisdom. Historians use this conection with water to distinguish dragons from other mythical animals.
While the east feels that the dragon is a divine, mythical creature that brings good fortune, prosperity and bounty, western dragons are viewed differently. They are connected to the element fire, and they fling their colossal tails about, and viciously create destruction. The contrary views of the east and the west indicate opposing views where humans viewed dragons as a symbols of wisdom and peace, or symbols of chaos and evil. Neither would disagree that dragons were viewed as powerful creatures. This, along with the wide variance in the physical description of dragons, contributes to confusion in the definition of a dragon.
The humans revered the dragons, some clans even calling them gods. Hence, dragons were held in high regard, and their images kept and worn, to win their approval. Originally, it was believed that dragons were the ones who talked directory to the Gods. It was also thought at this time that earthquakes were caused by battles between dragons and gods. In history, many different cultures began to adopt the idea of gods fighting with dragons to restore order.
The dragon may be ancient, but it remains as influential today as it did four thousand years ago. Today, the popularity of fantasy, and such role-playing games as Dungeons and Dragons, means that dragon figurines are a hot commodity.
Francesca Black has long been a fan of dragons with Dragon Gifts http://www.dragon-gifts.com and http://www.mystical-creatures.com
The Dragon has played an important part in myths and religions since pre-historic times. The history of dragons goes back at least six thousand years, and there are dragon tales and legends from every continent except Antarctica. In almost every culture, and all throughout history, there are stories of these mythical and magical creatures called dragons. Different people have various theories of why so many cultures developed such a long lasting belief in dragons; however, none can actually be proven.
Many believe that dragons were what we now call dinosaurs. It may be that dragon stories partly grew out of people finding dinosaur bones. The thought is that when dragon bones were dug up later, they were given the new classification of dinosaur. Many evolutionists believe that dinosaurs became extinct millions of years before man walked the planet, while others claims dispute this. It is said that dinosaur fossils, which have been discovered along with human footprints and remains, add proof to the ancient people's history of dragons. Others feel that people forgot that dragons were ever real, and quickly faded into mythology.
In almost every culture and all throughout history there are stories of these magical creatures called dragons. Later, in Europe these dragons in art forms were thought to be real life animals rather than symbols of evil.
Throughout many cultures, dragons may have appeared different, but they have always retained the same basic core elements. When most people think of dragons they generally think of fire breathing monsters, but originally dragons were usually connected with water. To the ancient Chinese, dragons were not creatures of fire, as so many would think, but rather creatures of water. The dragon of the Chinese resided in rivers, lakes, pools and rose in great clouds of mist to promote rainfall. In earlier Mideast stories, the dragons are most often associated with water and wisdom. Historians use this conection with water to distinguish dragons from other mythical animals.
While the east feels that the dragon is a divine, mythical creature that brings good fortune, prosperity and bounty, western dragons are viewed differently. They are connected to the element fire, and they fling their colossal tails about, and viciously create destruction. The contrary views of the east and the west indicate opposing views where humans viewed dragons as a symbols of wisdom and peace, or symbols of chaos and evil. Neither would disagree that dragons were viewed as powerful creatures. This, along with the wide variance in the physical description of dragons, contributes to confusion in the definition of a dragon.
The humans revered the dragons, some clans even calling them gods. Hence, dragons were held in high regard, and their images kept and worn, to win their approval. Originally, it was believed that dragons were the ones who talked directory to the Gods. It was also thought at this time that earthquakes were caused by battles between dragons and gods. In history, many different cultures began to adopt the idea of gods fighting with dragons to restore order.
The dragon may be ancient, but it remains as influential today as it did four thousand years ago. Today, the popularity of fantasy, and such role-playing games as Dungeons and Dragons, means that dragon figurines are a hot commodity.
Francesca Black has long been a fan of dragons with Dragon Gifts http://www.dragon-gifts.com and http://www.mystical-creatures.com
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Story Musings Continue
It is my belief that we must restore the relevance of deep story, the way of the song filled tongues and the sacred cauldron of the grail. Nowadays the hearth has been replaced by the TV which all too often tells aborted and abbreviated stores. This may be one of the reasons that so many of us are so bored to tears and find life meaningless. But every now and then, something bubbles up into consciousness restoring us once again to the state of true believers. Case in point – look at the buzz generated at the release of Harry Potter, at the return of the epic tales Lord of the Rings and Narnia – deeply mythic and timeless stories that continue to shake and quake to this day.
Great Story lures us with the passion and promise contained in the narrative adventure. But unlike trivial entertainment where escapism is the only goal, mythic story uses the sugar coating as a part of the dance - not as an end in itself. It engages all manner of human function (all modalities of the triune brain) and as a result is a far more effective vehicle for transformation then volumes of theoretical material. If you were to say ----Now this is the way you change your brain---- and so on, one superficial level of you learns a lot of techniques. But unless you engage with these techniques and live them experientially like you do with a great story you will not activate the deep connecting patterns that make it a life lesson instead of a head lesson. Human growth is much deeper and more enduring if it is storied with the great plots and patterns that already live in our psyches.
Great Story lures us with the passion and promise contained in the narrative adventure. But unlike trivial entertainment where escapism is the only goal, mythic story uses the sugar coating as a part of the dance - not as an end in itself. It engages all manner of human function (all modalities of the triune brain) and as a result is a far more effective vehicle for transformation then volumes of theoretical material. If you were to say ----Now this is the way you change your brain---- and so on, one superficial level of you learns a lot of techniques. But unless you engage with these techniques and live them experientially like you do with a great story you will not activate the deep connecting patterns that make it a life lesson instead of a head lesson. Human growth is much deeper and more enduring if it is storied with the great plots and patterns that already live in our psyches.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Great Story Continues
By great story I mean archetypal story, mytho-poetic story – story with patterns of connections, story filled with that most ancient of brain patterns, symbol and metaphor. It is the power of the imaginal, of the symbol, that propels us beyond the personal particular focus of our little local lives toward the realm that I call the personal –universal. Through the symbolic dramas of Psyche, Prometheus, Parsifal, Antigone, Oedipus, Ix Chel, Isis, Rumi, Jesus, Buddha, Faust, and Jaguar, we can discover the broad patterns of our own lives, finding ourselves charged and changed in the process.
Unlike conceptual theory which only touches the intellectual faculties, Mythic Story is both prime and primal. It touches not only the mind but also the imagination, the emotions, and the unconscious depths of a person. Engaging it produces an intense force which in turn produces a mutation in consciousness, both at the personal level and the universal - bubbles within bubbles within bubbles.
At those times when we are open to a sense of our own deeper story coincidences multiply; suddenly there is energy for even tedious tasks, everything glows with meaning. That is the pattern that connects, that is the transformational tales with which my publishing company Mystecha chooses to engage. Mystecha is dedicated to promoting the old bardic concept of mythic fiction, the idea of great story as transformative cauldron of possibility – a means “through which” something charged and momentous like the House of the Jaguar can be coaxed out of the liminal realm and brought into time.
Unlike conceptual theory which only touches the intellectual faculties, Mythic Story is both prime and primal. It touches not only the mind but also the imagination, the emotions, and the unconscious depths of a person. Engaging it produces an intense force which in turn produces a mutation in consciousness, both at the personal level and the universal - bubbles within bubbles within bubbles.
At those times when we are open to a sense of our own deeper story coincidences multiply; suddenly there is energy for even tedious tasks, everything glows with meaning. That is the pattern that connects, that is the transformational tales with which my publishing company Mystecha chooses to engage. Mystecha is dedicated to promoting the old bardic concept of mythic fiction, the idea of great story as transformative cauldron of possibility – a means “through which” something charged and momentous like the House of the Jaguar can be coaxed out of the liminal realm and brought into time.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Great Story
Life is a treasure hunt for story. We’re constantly searching for symbolic dramas that are relevant to our own, ones that run parallel and fill in the missing gaps of our adventures. We are the story tellers of the world. Human connections are deeply natured in the field of story.
Story plays upon our mind like a symphony activating different feeling tones and fancies from both within time and without. When we join Great Story we align our lives with evolutionary forces that carry us beyond old agendas and into new ways of being. We hitch ourselves to the coat tales of the truly great and in turn are carried along by the rhythm of that greatness.
Story is a time release capsule. It works deep within us as a potent structuring force. It is the oldest form of teaching and the basic vehicle of transmission of culture from one generation to the next. Before the invention of writing all human knowledge was conveyed from generation to generation by storytellers who were the sacred minstrels and wise ones of the people.
Unfortunately today, many have lost this knowledge of deep meaningful stories. Our stories have become too small – they are not big enough to provide opportunity for growth into the full potential of our becoming. As a result we are wedded to tales of trivia. Sometimes in moments of despair or grief our stories seem empty of meaning, unable to carry us through our times of deepest need. If we can remember to surround ourselves with great vessels of transformative story then its grace will carry us through our wounded moments gifting us with a deeper journey filled with patterns of connection and meaningful engagements.
Story plays upon our mind like a symphony activating different feeling tones and fancies from both within time and without. When we join Great Story we align our lives with evolutionary forces that carry us beyond old agendas and into new ways of being. We hitch ourselves to the coat tales of the truly great and in turn are carried along by the rhythm of that greatness.
Story is a time release capsule. It works deep within us as a potent structuring force. It is the oldest form of teaching and the basic vehicle of transmission of culture from one generation to the next. Before the invention of writing all human knowledge was conveyed from generation to generation by storytellers who were the sacred minstrels and wise ones of the people.
Unfortunately today, many have lost this knowledge of deep meaningful stories. Our stories have become too small – they are not big enough to provide opportunity for growth into the full potential of our becoming. As a result we are wedded to tales of trivia. Sometimes in moments of despair or grief our stories seem empty of meaning, unable to carry us through our times of deepest need. If we can remember to surround ourselves with great vessels of transformative story then its grace will carry us through our wounded moments gifting us with a deeper journey filled with patterns of connection and meaningful engagements.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
A Praise Song to the Golden Embers of our Life
Am I to be a long burning ember ---
Smouldering, dully red at the edge of sight ?
Is this all that I will remember,
Peering one-eyed from the underbrush of ash ?
Such an odd fate it is to be forever
Bound to the Earth and upward staring,
To be amazed by the cauldron dancing
And mystified by the vapors weaving.
There is the odd fit of flame ---
A brilliant blaze upward leaping,
Above the dark wood dancing…
Yet all too soon it falters, seeming
To stumble back into the dim rubble below.
Stumbling back to quietly watch, dimly glaring, warming the night,
And from time to time to delight in new wood igniting.
AEM
032706
Smouldering, dully red at the edge of sight ?
Is this all that I will remember,
Peering one-eyed from the underbrush of ash ?
Such an odd fate it is to be forever
Bound to the Earth and upward staring,
To be amazed by the cauldron dancing
And mystified by the vapors weaving.
There is the odd fit of flame ---
A brilliant blaze upward leaping,
Above the dark wood dancing…
Yet all too soon it falters, seeming
To stumble back into the dim rubble below.
Stumbling back to quietly watch, dimly glaring, warming the night,
And from time to time to delight in new wood igniting.
AEM
032706
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