It's Fairy Tale Friday

Here's your fairy tale for today....maybe you can relate.

"Once upon a time there was a friendly lady, who loved to entertain, help people relax and enjoy themselves. She used her creative talents to host many gatherings, summer theme parties, patio parties, Christmas festivities, brunches, Boo Bashes, and assorted other fun adventures.

Now this VERY same lady always vowed to prepare ahead of time for such gatherings but alas life always seemed to get in the way and usually the day before a big event...for example BOO BASH -3, slated for Halloween night, she found herself pondering the menu, making lists, shopping for ingredients, cleaning the house, getting costumes ready, and all sorts of "last minute" details.

In general, the lady was very lucky because even with a lot of "oh my gosh why'd I wait till the last minute whining" her events seem to be fun, enjoyed by others, and perhaps what one could term a success. Only she knew that behind closed doors evil monsters lurked, clothes were piled here and there, and just maybe a few things were stuffed in closets.Now this didn't really help her stress level much when the final hours rolled around but here once again she finds herself preparing for the onslaught.

Magically the house cleans itself, the food is prepped and ready to be cooked to perfection, the decorations are organized and ready to be displayed, the costumes are dug out of boxes and freshly laundered, no dust, no clutter, no last minute toilet cleaning...

HMMMMMM....I did say this was a fairy tale...didn't I? Time to STOP blogging and start cleaning....Enjoy your Friday....I'm off to create a "happily ever after..."

It's Fairy Tale Friday

Image Copyright 2009 Lisa Hunt Used by Permission

It's another Fairy Tale Friday.....and it's time for the Polish tale....The Glass Mountain. Work calls....but I'll be back this evening for more about this fairy tale and thoughts about the card it represents, In the meantime....enjoy reading the tale and feel free to search for some different versions of it...I'd love to see whats out there!!

Okay time to round out my Fairy Tale Friday post. It's been a busy weekend.

Fairy Tale: The Glass Mountain is the tale of a Princess trapped in a beautiful castle at the top of a glass mountain with slippery slopes and deep ravines where many have perished try to reach her. She despairs of ever finding a husband until one day a clever young man makes himself some claws to cling to the side of the mountain. But even with this clever invention he still encounters troubles with birds, and apple trees, and dragons. Finally of course he reaches the princess and in doing so wins not only her hand in marriage but also brings back to life all those that have perished in their attempts to reach her.

The Card: Seven of Cups: challenges and getting past illusions.

Another version: The Glass Mountain

I think the story speaks to creativity and determination but honestly, also a certain amount of luck. It sort of makes me think that some things are meant to be...like being in the right place at the right time.

It's Fairy Tale Friday!!!

Today's fairytale is Urashima and the Turtle. This is a Japanese tale about loss and regret.

Urashima takes pity on a turtle he catches and lets it go, only to be rescued many years later byt this same turtle. It takes him to an underwater kingdom and turns into a beautiful (of course) princess, whom he marries. After several years he wishes to return to shore to visit his home for one last time. Upon doing so he discovers that hundreds of years have passed in what was only a few years beneath the sea. In his grief he opens tha magic box the princess had given him and warned against opening...in doing so he begins to age and dies there on the shore...alone.

Sad....the book states that this card represents sadness and regret. Change has dealt a great blow. Accept loss and move forward. While all of those a very good meanings...what immediately came to mind for me is...."you can nver go back" or pehaps "let go of the past or it will destroy you".

PLEASE be sure and read the comment posted by iceclone for a link to another version of the story.

Fairy Tale Friday: The Snake Prince

When the old woman finds a snake in her pot by the river, she decides to bring it home and basically commit suicide by letting it bite her. Instead she discovers a lovely necklace, which she presents to the king. He locks it away until his wife wishes to wear it and then discovers it has turned into a baby boy. After many years the Prince marries a Princess who discovers that he has a curse and turns into a snake at night. When she uncovers this secret, he returns to the muddy waters of the river. He does visit her again and instructs her to put out bowls of water and sugar and demand from the Snake Queen that she wants her husband. Bravely she does this and her husband is returned to human form.

For some reason I find this a little creepy. Perhaps because I don't like snakes very much but the story reminds me that lots of people have hidden secrets and uncovering them can cause great pain (the loss of her husband) but sometimes it is necessary to really know the truth to move foreward.

This Indian fairy tale is also sometimes called The Enchanted Snake. There is a slightly longer, and a little different version. HERE. As I was looking for other images of The Snake Prince it came to mind that its sort of just a different version of "kissing the frog" which is an enchanted princess under an evil spell. It does bring it to a more sinister level...a snake.