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Maeve

(42,224 posts)
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 09:43 AM Apr 2020

Advice from the fairytales

First, forget what you think you know from Disney--we're not all going to live happily ever after. It would be better if you are familiar with Sondheim--Into the Woods Act 2. That's where things get dark.

We have all gone into the woods. It is dark and there are dangers. Some of us aren't going to come back out. There will be losses. There will also be heroes and victories. Sometimes you have to do things you didn't think you could; sometimes you do things you later regret. But you have to keep going; the only way out is through.

But remember--you are not alone on this journey. There will be helpers--and you should watch out for when you can be one of those helpers. And there will be villains. Don't be one of them.

Yes, there will be obstacles--that's what the woods--the bad times--are. But for most of us, we will see the other side of the woods; the story will go on beyond. Trust yourself.

If you need to rest, remember that healing from wounds is something even the greatest heroes need to do now and again. And to borrow from another source, you can't drink from an empty cup--take time to refresh and refill as needed. (Storytellers borrow from a lot of sources--it's what we do) Reach out when you need to, pull back if that's what necessary. Again, trust yourself.

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Advice from the fairytales (Original Post) Maeve Apr 2020 OP
Thank you for that. FM123 Apr 2020 #1
Thank YOU Maeve Apr 2020 #4
There is a lot of wisdom in the old stories if you really listen to them... Wounded Bear Apr 2020 #2
Thank you Maeve Apr 2020 #3
kick for the lunch crowd Maeve Apr 2020 #5
K&R!! 2naSalit Apr 2020 #6
Thanks for a wonderful OP. greatauntoftriplets Apr 2020 #7
Thank you. When times are scary, we need to look to past times to see the future Maeve Apr 2020 #13
This is an excellent description of what is going on BumRushDaShow Apr 2020 #8
We make a mistake in taking the old tales literally Maeve Apr 2020 #9
Exactly. BumRushDaShow Apr 2020 #10
Yeah, I've been binge-watching "Grimm" on Prime Maeve Apr 2020 #11
One of my sisters has always been a fan of the Grimm's fairytales BumRushDaShow Apr 2020 #12
And now I'm going to have to re-watch "Into the Woods" Maeve Apr 2020 #14
Kick and rec backtoblue Apr 2020 #15
Thank you! Maeve Apr 2020 #18
Heroes' journeys are tremendously wise. Different for women than men. nolabear Apr 2020 #16
Agree--altho men can gain wisdom on the journey too! Maeve Apr 2020 #17

FM123

(10,050 posts)
1. Thank you for that.
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 10:00 AM
Apr 2020

Sometimes all it takes is a few kind words in a post of encouragement from a DU friend to help us face the day.

Wounded Bear

(58,440 posts)
2. There is a lot of wisdom in the old stories if you really listen to them...
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 10:05 AM
Apr 2020

as a bit of a storyteller myself, i heartily endorse this post.

The wisdom of the ages is available to all.

Maeve

(42,224 posts)
3. Thank you
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 10:18 AM
Apr 2020

I'm a storyteller with only a virtual audience right now--normally, I would have had several gigs in March, but these aren't normal times. But the tales still need to be shared.

Maeve

(42,224 posts)
13. Thank you. When times are scary, we need to look to past times to see the future
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 12:30 AM
Apr 2020

We are still dealing with dark ages---how do we find the light? The same way we did before.

BumRushDaShow

(127,312 posts)
8. This is an excellent description of what is going on
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 01:24 PM
Apr 2020

You see this theme appear again and again in literature and fables throughout history, and it reminds us that we (as humanity) have been there before.

Maeve

(42,224 posts)
9. We make a mistake in taking the old tales literally
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 02:56 PM
Apr 2020

They were never just for children and they were always about life and the human experience.

BumRushDaShow

(127,312 posts)
10. Exactly.
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 03:28 PM
Apr 2020

And I am always fascinated when you see the themes recur in modern media - whether on the big screen or the small screen. As a Trekkie, these sorts of themes were the bedrock of much of the episode and film story-telling of the entire Star Trek universe - both on the small screen (and what are now 8 series) and the films.

Maeve

(42,224 posts)
11. Yeah, I've been binge-watching "Grimm" on Prime
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 06:36 PM
Apr 2020

You want some scary reading, get an unexpurgated version of their folktales

BumRushDaShow

(127,312 posts)
12. One of my sisters has always been a fan of the Grimm's fairytales
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 06:41 PM
Apr 2020

and I think one of my former co-workers said she had been regularly watching that show!

Maeve

(42,224 posts)
14. And now I'm going to have to re-watch "Into the Woods"
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 08:33 AM
Apr 2020

I've got three versions--the Broadway one (my favorite, but long), the movie version and a recording of a high school production one of my daughters was in!

nolabear

(41,915 posts)
16. Heroes' journeys are tremendously wise. Different for women than men.
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 03:01 PM
Apr 2020

One of the best things about fairy tales is they depict women’s versions of the “hero’s journey” as well as the men’s. (And I don’t mean those of either gender can’t undertake them, just that there’s more than one way to journey and they are depicted in gender based ways).

“Women” leave the restrictive ordinary, journey in a similar way, but go inward and transform rather than outward and conquer. The things brought back nurture and create growth.

This we need.

Maeve

(42,224 posts)
17. Agree--altho men can gain wisdom on the journey too!
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 04:23 PM
Apr 2020

Too often, collections look just at the tales for the young...the ones that end in a wedding. But you can find tales of middle-age and elders as well, if you look. They speak to the issues of letting go and of finding contentment.

And folktales from around the world, not just European stories, can add a richness to understanding the human condition. I have a friend who compiled a "Cinderella" tale with bits from 20 different cultures--each with their own take, but the same basic concept.

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