Fantasy worlds and fairytale realms remind us that we are more special than we know. Entering these worlds of magic--whether it's in a YA book or a cool video game--makes us feel inspired and at home. We remember that we have always liked it here.
In fairytales like Snow White, the Goose Girl, Sleeping Beauty, the hero of the story is a Princess before and after the ordeal. She is as beautiful at the end of the story as she was in the beginning, so it's hard to tell sometimes if she changed as a result of her trials.
Yet there is a transformation in the story. The hero does change. Everything changes by the end of the story. By the end of the fairytale, the hero has changed completely because she is now awakened by the kiss of enchantment. The prince represents the Higher Self that has been watching us, adoring us, and waiting to save us. When a dark enchantment is lifted, when a princess is rescued, when children escape danger in folk tales, this represents the Higher Self and its power to save and free us. In our lives, which are mythic journeys, we are part of this love story with the Higher Self. When we step into our journeys with innocence, encounter dark times, and awaken to the magic of transformation and self-love, we come through the darkness changed because we are connected to something we were not connected to consciously before.
This is a positive message because the way the hero retains her sweetness and beauty is a reminder that although we must change, it is not because we are horrible or bad. We must change to be brought through the love story. You were never awful or wrong --you were always always always the beloved of the Beloved. You had to change because you were meant to be connected to the Higher Self and change is just what makes that happen.
Why does the princess go through such a dark time? Why are many fairytales so full of violence? Why is the princess so helpless? I think these elements are meant to send a message about how much the Higher Self loves us and wants us to be happy. We don't understand why dark scary forests happen to beautiful innocent children. You never did anything to bring that dark time upon you. You were always good - you never never deserved pain or suffering or loss that came to you. You were always white as snow and born beautiful as the dawn. Fairytales remind us to just know that at the other side of those dark times is a rescue that you do deserve because you are sweet and beautiful and you always have been. All we know is that through the other side is a new level of connection to your Self.
