This folktale from Thailand and Burma, sometimes titled "A Drop of Honey" or "Not My Problem" is perfect for where we're at as a society today. We'll leave you in the capable hands of writer and storyteller Margaret Read Macdonald, who includes it in her book Peace Tales: World Folktales to Talk About. It's a very short story and perfect to share with families too.
We've found a lovely sequence of illustrations that are perfect to scroll slowly through if you'd like some illustrated visuals to accompany the storytelling. Just click play then scroll down. (If your video stops once you've scrolled beyond it, open it in a separate tab in YouTube, press play, then click back to the tab with this page and scroll slowly as the tales unfolds. It works wonderfully.)
Enjoy!
There are variants of this story in other countries too, specifically Myanmar, Iran, and Armenia. There are even two lovely illustrated versions from Armenia, which you can see the covers for below the illustration sequence, though they're a little difficult to track down.
The beautiful illustrations in this post are by Wenda Collins. Go give her a "like" on her page! We think this tale should be much better known and illustrations like hers make tales much easier to share!
“Many characters in fairy tales are under clear stress – or else causing it to others. They badly need to meditate. And so we wondered what would happen if they did.”
Feeling stressed? Us too! Self-care is very important right now as election results remain in flux and the results uncertain.
But let's be real. It's still really hard to stop the stress, the frustration, and restless worry spinning in our minds. The good news is that there is one scientifically proven tool available to use to help and that's meditation and mindfulness. If you're like a lot of folks, though, that seems too hard to make happen and might feel a little "woo-woo" to get started. Thankfully, there's an app for that!
If you've spent any time watching media coverage of the election, there's a good chance you will have seen this pop up every now and then during a commercial break:
Easy, right? And that's pretty much how easy it is to begin.
While the above video is a commercial for a product - a subscription app called Calm- it is also incredibly welcome to see a reminder to just "stop", in the middle of the debate and contention. Calm is the #1 app for guided meditation, breathing, focus, and mindfulness and uses a lot of nature-enhanced visuals and audio to help people deal with anxiety and stress. They also. however, have a whole library of "sleep stories", including some retold fairy tales.
(And, no, we have no affiliation with the company and are not getting any perks - we just think this is awesome.)
To us, though, the most interesting use of the fairy tales they've added is the "Fairy Tales De-stressed" series.
The shared theme of these new tales is the power of meditation, mindfulness, and other mind tools to transform lives.
...The new tales are also loosely inspired by the Dalai Lama’s assertion that, “If every eight year-old is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.”
The four tales we are aware of in this series are "Rumpelstiltskin Learns to Meditate", "The Big Bad Wolf Learns Anger Management", The Wicked Witch of the West Learns Mindfulness", and "Pinocchio and the Sleepless Cricket". These aren't really retellings though. They are more akin to an additional chapter in the already existing story of these angry and messed up characters, in which, by learning new tools to manage stress and emotions, become transformed.
The best part? It's not just a story. The principles are based on scientific evidence of the measurable effects that using meditation can have.
It tells what happens – and what a different turn life takes – when Rumpelstiltskin does what any creature famed for their foul temper should do – and learns to meditate. It starts by recapping the traditional tale of Rumpelstiltskin ... or, what we might call the bad, sad and chronically ill-tempered chapter in his life before he learnt meditation. If there's any truth to the notion that many of us possess our own inner Rumpelstiltskin in some form, then not just the Dalai Lama but plenty of scientific research suggests that meditation might be the answer.
...“There’s a wealth of research showing that meditation can make people kinder, more compassionate and less angry," says Alex Tew. One study by Northeastern University – commissioned by another meditation app – found that as little three weeks of meditation can increase compassion by 23% and reduce aggression by 57%.
The "Fairy Tales De-stressed" series uses celebrities Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones), Keegan Connor Tracy (ABCs Once Upon A Time) and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) as narrators, and join the many other celebrity voices in the Sleep Stories library for Calm.
Calm website screenshot - a small selection of the manhy, many titles available
Calm is available through the Google Play Store for android and the AppleStore for iPhone and iPad products. They are currently having a 7-day free Premium access trial with no obligation exit, which unlocks all the Sleep Stories, and there's also a 40% off welcome offer for the yearly subscription.
While the Sleep Stories are aimed at adults, Calm has just added a whole lot of stories for kids just in time for this stressful season, so there's something for the whole family.
Go HERE to check them out. If you're someone who carries your phone with you most places you go, you'll get a lot out of Calm over the course of the day, every day. Easiest personal trainer for better mental health ever.
"Introducing my new Sleep Story ‘Pinocchio and the Sleepless Cricket’ - with a special appearance by the Blue Fairy. I’ve talked a lot about my insomnia and how these sleep stories were a game-changer for me. So slide into the sheets, relax and get comfortable while I lull you to dreamland with a new twist on an old classic"- Keegan Connor Tracy
As a bonus, here is a trailer for another of the fairy tales available in the Sleep Stories library, though this one made the news not too long ago: this is the first AI-written bedtime story. While most of the stories are written by experienced and respected writers, this one is the "test story" to see if AI is able to write a traditionally-styled fairy tale, but with some contemporary updating, and satisfy listeners. (You be the judge.):
It seems apt that Sleeping Beauty is taking center stage as the fairy tale representative for the USA right now. The whole world is watching a too-close battle for the next Presidency while the US wakes up to just how divided the "United States" actually is.
But for these few days, everyone is focused on colors... and the "dress", rather than who will be wearing it and what it really will look like when it's "being worn". (Independently green Flora, isn't being much help either.)
No matter what happens, there's a lot of work to do.
(Click on the embedded short videos below for a light-hearted summation of the current election #mood.)
When our partner Tahlia Kirk, Creator and Editor of Timeless Tales Magazine, gets involved with a fairy tale event, you know it's going to be good. Tomorrow, Tahlia will be the special guest for The Storied Imaginarium's November Fairy Tale Salon, talking tales and retellings with attendees. It's a chance to ask those questions you've always had about "what makes a good fairy tale retelling?" and "how do you make an old tale new again?" and, if you're a writer, to pick up some writing tips along the way.
Our Fairy Tale Salon series are online and interactive events (conducted via Zoom) during which you’ll get a chance to meet contemporary authors, editors, and illustrators who love fairy tales as much as you do! Each salon includes readings, an interview, an opportunity for you to ask our special guest questions, and a writing game! Come … join us in the land of faerie!
We're re-posting Tahlia's announcement below, in case you missed it, so you have her take on the fairy tale salon and why this will be such a unique opportunity. (And a little secret she doesn't mention: Tahlia is not only an excellent editor, she's a great storyteller and game master too! It's going to be a lot of fun.)
If you're interested, don't hesitate to cick the link HERE and sign up! Not only is it tomorrow but spots are limited! (This is to allow for conversation and real dialogue among attendees and with the salon special guest.) Read on for details.
We're evoking the elegant Parisian salon of 17th century France, when wealthy women hosted gatherings in their living rooms to discuss literature and write stories. One of the most popular parlor games played at these salons was to retell classic folktales. Storytellers would use fanciful language of fairy tales to slyly slip rebellious commentary on aristocratic culture past the court's censors. I hope to share some of my favorite counter-culture tales with you and talk about what makes a retelling resonate. While this is more of a meeting-of-minds than a formal writing workshop, I think all fans of the magical and whimsical will enjoy our time together.
