Completion A2Z and NaNoWriCAMP

READ the A2Z Blogs on the 2020 Challenge.

 TO and FOR OTHERS:

    I show empathy;

    I show encouragement;

    I show comfort;

    I stay level and aware;

    I am sensitive

    and I LISTEN.

My concerns are

    feeling relax,

    feeling free.

    feeling aware,

    having the highest ESTEEM for the other and myself.

I am concerned with:

    relating being to being.

    adult to adult
I own my feelings. I own my being  —> 

(parent, adult, youth, child) (anima and animus)

   

I believe:
    The other has enough wisdom and knowledge.
    I expect the other to own reactions.

I trust and LET GO!

#20 - Little Wren, TRIUMPH!

tyrant vs tactics ---> tools.
T the emotional feeling, TRIUMPH!


 
Little Wren, Irish folktale        

I like this tale. The flight of birds is the envy of people because of a bird's power to see the earth from high.

Today’s story is about a flying contest to pick a qualified Ruler of the Birds. The winner is not the biggest, strongest, or most powerful, the winner is the smallest and clever. What if this was a little female bird instead of a male as portrayed in the male-dominated literature of the 12th and 18th centuries, (just a thought), or, no gender.

Do we really know the gender of the Wren? The female lays the eggs. Both build and sit on the nest, both look for food to feed the chicks, The male and female Wrens look alike.


Wren Day, “The origin may be a Samhain or midwinter sacrifice and/or celebration, as Celtic mythology considered the wren a symbol of the past year (the European wren is known for its habit of singing even in mid-winter."  Wikipedia

“Wrann, Wrann, the Ruler of Birds” is the ballad.

#15 Li Chi the Worm Slayer, OWN

opperssion vs obstacle  --> oppose.
O for the emotional feelings --> OWN!

 Li Chi, The Worm Slayer

I LIKE THE STORY. When I found Li Chi in the Asian Art Museum Storyteller's notebook, I was elated!  Dancing!  Shouting, finally, a real heroine from China in 200 BC! Li Chi slew the worm, the monster, that devoured girls in her village, she stopped the sacrifices. I told this story in the Chinese Gallery in the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Boys and girls liked the story.

I realized that as a girl, I had to survive the male-dominant structure and his dictates on my feminine life. As a pre-teen youth reading fairytales, folktale, cautionary tales, and legends, I did absorb successes as other ways we could oppose traditions. 


What helped me, as a girl child, was my dad, bless him. He pushed his daughter to believe in herself. He made me forced me to think of myself as a girl who could do anything she wanted. Only the male lines were there; I don't know if he could see them. I was not asked to go hunting, I could go fishing. For a profession, I could be a librarian, teacher, maid, bookkeeper, secretary, or prostitute. By the 1960's I could go to college. A woman with the future, not yet recognized as an author, artist, storyteller, lawyer, doctor, film producer, judge, president, and on and on. My life was confined by the fairytale and folktale restrictions still present in societies at this time.

As stated before, words for feminine always have a male word hovering inside, man, lad, or he. At least in Latin had an 'a' for the female, the anima, and 'us' for the male the animus. The yin and yang of the Chinese for equality are not true.

--> fe'male,' second to a male;
--> 'lad'y, second to a lad;
--> wo'man', second to the man;
--> s'he' or 'he'r, second to he;
--> 'hero'ine, second the hero;
--> t'he'y has he included;
--- t'he'ir has her included.
--> this has his included
--> the has he and can sound like he.
--> they include the word 'he'.
--> these include the word 'he'.

Unfortunately, 'he' still leads and solves the problems and dilemmas of our world. As a girl, a young feminine, I was pushed from the successes because of my sex, a 'damsel in distress' a maiden to be either an old Maid, unmarried or matron, married.

And what is funny for me, in high school when the school pictures were taken for the yearbook in all the clubs I was a member, and that was many, I wore a small crown in my hair. I did not care if my critical classmates saw or if they did, they were into what they wanted. I was traveling to places. All these years, I wondered what my teenager thought when wearing a crown.

After analyzing thousands of stories, written, told, or filmed, after wanting to be an artist of children's book and a storyteller and then write; after years of pushing for that girl, my youth to succeed; I knew. The maiden, damsel, the servant, the princess, the matron, the mom, the aunt, the grandma, the hag, the crone, the witch, even the sorceress 'had come of age'. I entered the University with a scholarship and loan from the government for a poor female with high grades. I had struggled with all the emotional empowerment from all the damsels in many stories; I won, not as a warrior, as an educated girl with places to go, people to meet, and successes to have.

#13 - Sparrow's Gift, MORALITY

mean vs modest ---> merit.
M for the emotional feeling of MORALITY!

Sparrow's Gift

I like this story. The Komi force, a wood statue of the 8th century, denotes feminine energies.YES!

The Tongue-cut Sparrow, or as I call the story, ‘Sparrow’s Gift,' is a Japanese folktale that tells explains the Shinto beliefs, which are ancient, so ancient, first told not written.

The oldest records are from pieces of pottery showing birds, who were the Tarii spirits. The vital force is Komi, which is in all nature, everything is alive, even rocks. One must walk through the gate to Shinto - the medicine way, one must wash - then calling the spirits, sparrows are of this ancient spirit, Tarii. The ancients before 2,000 AD and earlier called this the Honey Way. 

In this story, Sparrow's Gift, the old grandmothers, one is kind and one is greedy, shows the way to Shinto, the Honey Way, or as gifts given by the sparrows. I have used the voices of the grandmothers to show different means of receiving and what the rewards will be.

#10 - Julnar of the Sea, JUSTIFIED

Read Character Insight,

 junction vs judge --> journey.
J is for the emotional feeling, JUSTIFIED!

Julnar of the Sea 

I like this story!  A young maiden, shunned by her family, sits on an island in a sea. She convinces the merchant to sell her to a Sultan. Though her powers of manipulations of silence and enticing sex, she becomes wealthy. Julnar has the power of seduction and uses it to manipulate.

~~~~~~
 This ancient tale involves a story within a story. The teller Sacheherazade had her motives for telling Julnar of the Sea in 1001 Arabian Nights. This story offers how Sacheherazade saved herself.

After finding out that his first wife, Sultana, deceived Sultan Shahrayar has her strangled. He swears to marry a different woman each night before killing her the following morning to prevent another betrayal. Scheherazade. The Vizier’s, oldest daughter, concocts a plan to end his pattern of killings. When King Shahrayar asks for the younger daughter, Dinarzada, the oldest daughter Sacheherazade too wise in philosophy, medicines, fine arts, and history is one of the most exquisite beauty, goes with her younger sister to spend the night. When King Shahrayar enters, Sacheherazade begins a story. She stops in the middle, so King Shahrayar begs to hear the rest. Sacheherazade tells the Sultan he must wait for next night, thus saving both sister and her. The next evening, Sacheherazade finishes the story and begins another, following the same pattern for 1,001 nights.

Sacheherazade, the witty storyteller, makes her point to King Shahrayar in Julnar of the Sea. Julnar is similar to Sacheherazade, a woman who must save herself and still have respect. By the time, Sacheherazade finishes telling all her stories 1,001 nights pass, she has 3 children by King Shahrayar and becomes the first Queen.

#9 - Tatsuko, Dragon Princess - INSIST

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impossible vs intent --> Industrious.
I is for the emotional feelings - INSIST!

Tatsuko, the Dragon Princess

I like this story.  We can change our lives for our betterment and those we love. Tatsuko, the most beautiful, strongest, and more intelligent than most in her poor village in Japan. The villagers and her friends worked daily for their crops to sell and foods to eat. Tatsuko observed her friends aging: she did not want this for herself, although her mother said to work was the honor. Tatsuko knows more than hard village work.

Japan was settled in the 16 century by generals, who make Japan one very prosperous nation. The 17 century saw the rise of Kyoto, where the rich had the fantasy of fashion, courtesans, and eventually. the geisha, which means persons of art: conversation, dance, music, performing the tea ceremony, reading literature, and fine calligraphy of the well educated. In the 1730s, both men and women were Geishas. These entertainers like the jesters in the European courts. By 1780s, Geishas were mostly women under strict governmental regulation. Geishas lived in Tea Houses to offered their entertainments of the arts. Their gear supported the merchant's shops: the gowns, Komodo; fans; hairdressing and wigs; make-up; instruments, dancing music. The Tea Ceremony is also associated with Geisha. The story, Tatsuko, Dragon Princess, is about a poor maiden who gets her wish to become a rainbow dragon, a Geisha, who has gifts of fish, the wealth, for her mother.

I can attest to Tatsuko's intent from a living a small working town of Colorado Springs, farming, mining, and then the military. I knew I did not want to become old and tired in a small backward town, then 20,000 residents, to married a hard-working drinking husband, having six children, working in a factory or worst living on my own becoming a prostitute for more income. I begged to go to college for more opportunities. My grades were excellent; I got a scholarship and National Defense Loan. I was one of the many young girls allowed to go the college from the poorer parts of the USA. Teaching was the choice, not many avenues for occupations. Many girls 'found' their husbands. I wanted to travel, so went to Alaska and taught first grade.

#8 - Rice Goddess, HONESTY

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hinder vs helper ----> hope 
H is for the emotion, feeling, HONESTY

The RICE GODDESS

Do I like the story? Maybe. She is rewarded by others she helped. What does this say? "Giving gets rewards, honor." I think we (males or females) give though our professions as helpers, teachers, workers, the silent hero/ine. Do all these stories need to be about males and from their point of view? NO! I think this one is saying keep your clothing on.

A Heavenly Being working, serving and saves her family and community while trapped by the greed of a young male. She offers all she knows and has to her situation, and still, he does not honor her. For egos and today the female not recognized and honor for her talents. This code is changing. I was not encouraged to my abilities as an artist and writer that was the male code.
 
Helplessly abandon on earth, this 'damsel in distress' depends on the young man for help, her deceiver. Using her strengths, she survives. Told all around the world in many different versions, unfortunately, from his point of view, I changed to her point of view.

-  he steals her clothing:
-  she helps him;
-  marries the young man, serving him;
-  he peeks into her magic pot:
-  spends years nurturing and serving him;
-  has many children;
-  offers her efforts to starving neighbors;
-  grows worn and tired from her labors.
-  learns her selfish, lusting husband deceived her;
-  takes her children and leaves.    I would!

Today, this heavenly being is honored in every kitchen of South East Asia as the RICE GODDESS, a satisfying ending for another female, woman helper. Giving is the feminine part of all us not to be damaged by foolish male desire. The woman is not just a server, maid, wife, owned, slave, stolen, bought, threatened, abandoned. The female offers balance has hope, desires, wishes, and gifts for us, not to be stolen and used.

Lecture: what the stealing of the clothing/wings means to the women of Java.

#4 - Ursula - DISTINGUISH

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Demand vs dispute --> determined.
D for emotional feeling, distinguish!

 Ursula, The Kitchen Princess

 I do like this story. YES! A girl princess stands up for what she wants. Ursula does accomplish what she desires beyond her father's demands and his misunderstanding of her gift. Much of what women faced when I was a child. 

My dad pushed me to do, to adventure so saved. I saw my friends struggle and comply with the codes and norms, which were steadfast in their families. Most young women got married after high school. I attended Colorado University, which gave me a varied life, although still fenced by male dominance.

URSULA was a princess who lives with her father, King Wilfred, and two older sisters. Their palace was in Eastern Europe sometime in the 14th century when there exist small kingdoms and salt wars to possess the preserver of foods. Ursula, a young feminine 'damsel in distress,' loved to cook and spent all her time in the kitchen. Her father was demanding, disagreeable, and disappointed to his youngest daughter, who preferred the kitchen and the servants. At this time in Europe, the male and the social lines make her a victim. Ursula will not detour her love and runs away from home. A matron, an owner of an INN, helps her improve cooking and serving. The damsel becomes distinguished for her cookery.

Ursula and the Salt of Life, YouTube telling -- is okay, worth viewing.

Story on Wattpad - just a sampling of the first and last parts, as on Bublish.

You are the gift!

Stories are told for you to hear, stories written for you to read. stories acted out and filmed for you to see. You are the reason storytellers tell, authors write, and movies are made.  

May you have plenty in 2020.

Part 9 - Bertha Digby restores the woods.

There are those among us that love Mother Earth and help heal hurts of FIRE. Because of a squirrel, Bertha Digby with her enthusiasm and the animals’ as her helpers, the destroyed woods grew into a forest mightier than the burnt woods.

To this day, Bertha Digby's great, great, grand children guard the trees, bushes, and flowers while directing the visiting humans to walk on the paths and keep campfires in pits. I respect great, great, grandmother's Bertha Digby's work who saved the woods for all of us: the animals and the humans. My hope is that today we respect the wild woods and the animals and help to preserve them from human predators, who are as greedy as FIRE.

~~~~~~

BEWARE of FIRE!

I prepared these last stories before FIRE raged in our Northern California that destroyed 7,000 homes and business and ravaged thousand and thousand of areas forests. My daughter and her family and many of our relatives lived in this area; their homes were spared many of their friend's homes burnt. Animals were not spared as the FIRE roared and eat. About 26 years ago in the East Bay Area of San Francisco, a ravaging FIRE came four blocks from our home. Many of my friends lost years of memories and all they had.

Now, FIRE is ravaging the Los Angeles area; their losses are incredible.

This folktale is to honor all animals or humans who restore our FORESTS, others destroy by one means or other. FIRE is the worst of predators eating everything, humans are second.

Bertha Digby was published as 'Saving the Woods' pages 67 - 69, in an anthology published by the 4th Street Studio's Saturday Salons, The Livermore Wine Country Literary Harvest, © 2006.

Read 'Bertha Digby restores the woods.' on Wattpad.

Part 3 - The Gods control FIRE.

The Humans knew the gods controlled FIRE and lived in the volcanoes. The gods used the glowing fluid lava to created jewels, silver, and golden ores. These forged as gifts for service to their brothers and sisters. Man craved FIRE and its vast offering of treasures, warmth, and power.

However, FIRE can be dangerous, because FIRE eats everything; FIRE has a ferocious appetite. 

READ The Gods control FIRE.

Part 1 - Humans desire FIRE.

Read 'FIRE the Hunger'.

Humans knew the gods controlled FIRE and lived in the volcanoes. The gods used the glowing lava to created jewels, silver, and golden ores. These forged as gifts for service to their brothers and sisters. Man craved FIRE and its vast offering of treasures and warmth.

However, FIRE came with danger, because FIRE eats everything; FIRE has a ferocious appetite.