Reading, Hearing and Telling Stories

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Reading is one of the few distinctively human activities that set us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. Reading, unlike speaking (language acquisition skills), does not come naturally to human beings. It must be taught. Since it goes beyond chemistry and biology, there is something profoundly spiritual about the human ability and motivation to read.

I find reading, crystals, fairy stories and eating irresistible- for me there is a spiritual connection in jewel bedecked stories and myths from various cultures, crystals, minerals and rocks of all kinds, jewellery, fairy stories, and nature all around the world. Jewellery is one of the most beautiful and oldest types of archaeological artefacts adorning every part of the body from hair to eyebrows, genitals to toes, and is made from every type of material possible. Somehow with pin and hook, cord, strap, tassel, yellow metal, carbon and corundum, fairy stories make a lot of noise in my quiet inner world  and it is my dream to put them down here for you to enjoy reading and reflecting on them.

A caveat- Life is more than a fairy tale. In our childhood fairy tales helped build our imagination, helped us  conjure hope, courage, gave us some insights. As an adult trying to willfully ascribe spiritual meaning to a fairy tale is morally questionable and a dangerous practice if undertaken for too long!

We can knowingly, indulge our penchant for fairy tales if we mindfully acknowledge it is great fun sometimes to just read fairy stories, close our eyes and play pretend, or sometimes to shut out interferences from the outer world. That is to take up a form of meditation in a more entrancing way where hopefully we can get some good answers through all the good vibes present in the ethereal library and good practices such as analytical reading, journaling etc. Reading stories can get children to question and set us pondering again, how could Rapunzel's mother think of giving her  daughter away in exchange for some heads of lettuce, why did Bluebeard behead his wives, why is the grim reaper, etc.       

Fairy stories are universal in their underlying principles: Once upon a time there was a young girl and it happened that—when, where?  Where was it not and when did it not happen? A girl, a beloved queen, a just king, a fisherman, a tailor, a pretty princess, a prince, a struggle, a quest, a glass mountain, a gold ring. Wherever there is a three headed dragon, a  river that is difficult to cross, a wound to heal, a door whose entrance is too narrow to enter, the metaphors of the fairy story give some structure to our thoughts and bring insight to the matter. The ogre in the fairy story is the ego that demands attention and can end up devouring you, the candy house that Hansel and Gretel come across is the lure of worldly pleasures. We must not be entirely captured by material things, we can own them and delight in them but don’t let own you. Caskets of gold, and treasure are rewards; pearls and gemstones are spiritual wealth.

Did you notice how mostly the heroes and heroines are usually going about their own lives and duties until the challenge comes up? And the challenge is not that they are sitting there pining for riches and luxury- yet a challenge comes along. And they have to rise to the challenge. They may have to get out of being charming polite, or unassuming and get ferocious.  So another thing is their nature- it is for the most part human, kind, helpful,  that is why in the stories, there are birds, animals and fairies that help them on their way. In everyday terms, it means that things conspire to make you happy, with some striving and ambition your goal can be attained. I know it's not always that simple but I hope you’ll enjoy rambling through my fairy grounds here as much as I do meandering through.

“By telling you anything at all I'm at least believing in you, believe you're there, I believe you into being. Because I'm telling you this story I will your existence. I tell, therefore you are. So I will go on. So I will myself to go on.”

Quote made by Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale  by Margaret Atwood 

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