Rest. Eat. Let joy fill your heart. (A fairy tale about a magical dream adventure)
A while back, I was feeling down so I wrote myself a fairy tale. It helped. Maybe it will lift your spirits, too.
Nothing can stop this joy. Once it gets into you, you will carry it back to your life.
I found this little fairy tale in the unpublished archives of this Substack blog. I kind of love it and so, today, I’m sharing it with you. Happy Sunday!
ONE
Once upon a time, a weary traveler began to walk. Where she was headed, she could not say. All she knew was, anywhere is better than here. So she pointed her feet toward the farthest hill and closed the door behind her.
She’d never ventured beyond her own backyard but she was so tired of the life she was living. Working so hard, out of dull habit, without recognition. Carrying so much for others, with no reward. She’d packed a small lunch into a little red backpack. Some nut bread and cheese. A thermos of tea. Pleasing only herself, a small sweet. And that first night, she made camp under a protective tree.
Waking with the sun, she felt refreshed and ready to continue. The weather was mild and she set off, the farthest hill closer with every step. On that second day, she came to the top of the farthest hill and, looking beyond, as far as the eye could see there were more hills.
TWO
Up and down she walked until night fell and but the thought of facing another day of uphill and downhill made her weary just thinking about it. But… I’ll just keep on, she thought. Maybe I’ll find something along the way. That afternoon, as the sun was dipping below the horizon she caught the glint of light on water far in the distance. Replenished, excited, she made her way with a lighter heart. That evening, she found a secluded grove where she fell into a deep sleep beneath a tree.
She dreamed that a beautiful white horse was standing beside her. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and the horse bowed its head in greeting. She reached for his mane and, as she touched him, she saw a beautiful vision. She was sitting on the horse’s back, flying over the many hills to the sea.
As she woke up, she could almost smell the briny scent of the ocean. Led by the dream, which she retold herself all morning, she made her way up and down, up and down the hills until she came to the edge of the sea.
When she could walk no farther, she lay down on the warm sand and, the ocean glittering before her, she fell deeply asleep. So deeply that she did not feel the gentle touch of the waves against her toes. So deeply that she did not feel the tide come in to carry her away. So deeply that she floated to the middle of the ocean where, finally, she awoke, having lost all sense of direction.
In circles she spun, around and around.
Where is the land from which I came?
What if I land in a place I do not know?
Finally, exhausted and confused, she lay back.
She gave herself to the ocean.
She gave herself to the sea.
She let the wave lift her and lower her.
All that I was is lost.
All that I have is here.
Surrendered to her fate, she floated beneath the clear blue sky until she fell asleep.
THREE
Now there came a great white bird. Now the bird lifted her into the sky. Over the water they flew and flew until he lay her on the land, on the sand. When the traveler woke up, she was lying on a beach. Another dream, she though, looking around.
How bright the colors seemed, how rich the smells - beach roses, salty surf.
She felt so alive.
Just then, a white butterfly flew up and laughing, she sensed she should follow. It led her to a cove where it flew away and before she could wonder: What now? a yellow bird flew up and again, she followed.
Soon, they reached a town of taverns and sidewalk cafes. The bird led her to the end of a country road where, suddenly, it flew straight upward as the traveler’s eye landed on a wooden sign, The Yellow Bird Inn.
She laughed at the coincidence and stepped inside but as she saw the comfortable inn, she realized, “I have no purse. How will I pay?”
Just then, a kitten raced around her ankles, almost tripping her.
“Oh dear. Please forgive me,” the innkeeper said, gathering the kitten up in his arms. “Would you like a room?”
“Yes,” the traveler replied. ”But I’ve lost my purse…”
The innkeeper winked. “If you don’t mind sleeping with a mother cat and her litter, you’re welcome to stay. We can’t move them - so we can’t rent that room this week.”
“Thank you!” the traveler said, amazed, as he walked away. There, on the back of his jacket was a beautiful white bird.
At breakfast next morning, the innkeeper’s wife poured her a steaming cup of coffee.
“You’ve been incredibly kind,” the traveler said. “How can I repay you?”
“Rest. Eat. Let joy fill your heart. That’s repayment enough.”
Let joy fill my heart, the traveler repeated. I wouldn’t know where to begin. Just then, a book fell from the shelf across the room. Wanting to help, the traveler got up to replace it. Reading the title, A joy-filled heart, Well, that’s funny, she thought. She carried the book back to her breakfast table and opened the cover.
That night, she fell asleep filled with joy. She dreamed that a white bird entered her hotel room and carried her out across the sea back to her own land. When she woke up. she was lying on a beach. Once again, she sat up, starting to panic.
It was then that she saw the familiar hills of her own town in the distance and refreshed, heart full of a light new joy, she headed home.
I don’t have much to add to this little tale. Only this: Writing it helped me dream with my eyes open. As I conjured each magical ordinary creature, I felt my heart lighten. I invite you to write yourself into a magical world of your own. Anything can happen there. Go see.
Beautiful story Amy, very uplifting and much needed. xx
Lovely, Amy. Thank you for sharing it. XO