Telling Stories - Spiritual Healing

Written by Tammie Byram Fowles, PhD, LISW-CP

She sat in the living room later that night with pastor MacLachlan, Tom, old Joe, and Mavis. Mavis and the Pastor were arguing over an old Scottish story. "It wasn't the princess of the fairyland that came riding up to Thomas Learmont, it was the fairy queen!" Mavis insisted.

"Alright. It was the fairy queen. And now where was I?"

"Thomas was admiring the scenery," volunteered old Joe.

"Right," continued the pastor. "He was happy as a clam, admiring the scenery, and along she comes on her horse. She was a real beauty let me tell you, and Thomas was so taken by her that he begged her for a kiss."

"Foolish man, that kiss was about to change his life!" Mavis interrupted.

. "Yes it was Mavis, now how about letting me finish," the pastor coaxed.

"Go ahead, I don't know why you always have to have the limelight though," she complained.

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"Because I started the story, so I should get to tell it!" he retorted. "Now, as soon as Thomas kissed her, she turned into an awful, ugly old crone and told him he was sentenced to seven years in Fairyland."

"And that's where he learned more then he ever did in his own country!" added Mavis.

The pastor ignored Mavis. "Thomas is made to climb up on the queen's horse. He doesn't want to but he has no choice. She takes him to a place where three roads wait before them. The first road is wide, straight and stretches as far as Thomas's eyes can see. It's an easy road, explains the hag, but it's also one that has no significance and no spiritual value. The second road is winding, narrow, and dangerous."

Mavis got up to warm the water for tea. Virginia offered to help, and Mavis motioned her to stay seated.

"Now this road has thorny hedges on both sides, and their all reaching out, just as if they can't wait to pierce Thomas's skin."

"It's the path of righteousness," Mavis called out from the kitchen. Old Joe and Tom smiled at one another.

"This road is a difficult one, the queen tells Thomas, but it's a worthwhile journey because it leads to the city of Kings."

"It's an honor to reach the city, it means you've survived all the terrible hardships put in your way, and you're ready to meet the king," Mavis explained.

"The third road is very beautiful, surrounded by fields of flowers and greenery, with forests so lush that a man could get lost in them forever," the Pastor continues "Now the queen tells him nothing of this road except that it's the road to Fairy Land, and that if he utters so much as one word while traveling there, he'll never be allowed to leave. And so they start off, riding swiftly, until they come to a cave along the river. They've been riding for quite some time and Thomas is famished. He begins to see visions of food dance before him, and he wants it badly."

"He saw fruit," Mavis clarified.

"Yes, fruit, anyway... The queen tells him not to eat the fruit or he'll be lost, and reassures him that he'll receive an apple by and by. Thomas resists his temptation and they continue on their journey. Soon, the old queen stops her horse, climbs down and leads them to a tiny but perfect tree filled with apples. She invites Thomas to eat one, telling him that once he does, he'll receive the gift of truth. Thomas gratefully accepts her offering. They're close to the castle now, and the ugly hag begins to turn back into a beautiful maiden. Or maybe she'd been beautiful all along, only Thomas had been so frightened of her, that maybe he'd only imagined that she'd been ugly," the pastor contemplates.

"Anyways, when they get to the castle, he sees these creatures from another world stuffing themselves at a banquet. Now, these were beings that only experienced pleasure or pain, one extreme or the other. They puzzled Thomas; he was unable to imagine being stuck in any one feeling. He watched them for days. All they did was feast and feel the same thing over and over. He began to long desperately for home, where people's feelings changed."

"Finally, the queen tells him that his seven years are up and that he can now leave. Thomas is amazed that seven years have gone by so quickly."

"That's what happens sometimes, before you know it a decade has passed and you wonder where the hell time's gone," observed Joe.

"Ain't that the truth," agrees Tom, and Mavis nods her head in agreement. Virginia's touched by how these old folks surround the pastor, and like children hang on to his every word.

"The queen offers Thomas the gifts of premonition and poetry, and he takes away an enchanted harp which serves to link him to both the fairy world and his own. And with these gifts, Thomas becomes a wise and fair leader." The pastor stretched and poured himself another cup of tea.

"So that's it?" asked Joe. "That's the end of the story?"

"What more do you want Joe?" quipped Mavis, "and he lived happily ever after?"

"Well, there's usually more to the story when the pastor tells them, " explained Joe.

"Like what?" Virginia wonders out loud. They all look at her, pleased that she's spoken.

"I think what Joe means is, where's the message in the story? There's usually a message," offered Tom.

"Oh there's a message all right, you can bet there's a message. But don't wait for it to hit you over the head," advised Mavis, smiling at the pastor as though they share a wonderful secret. And they do...

That night Virginia dreamed of paths that twisted and turned and never ended.

The old cottage sparkled and was filled with the aroma of lemon, ammonia, and potpourri. There were daisies on the kitchen table, hanging plants in the windows framed by bright yellow curtains, a new couch cover graced with cheerful teal and mauve cushions, a huge yucca tree in one corner of the living room, and elephant ears in the opposite corner. Virginia had filled small baskets with potpourri and placed them in each room. She'd purchased a new bedspread with matching curtains for her bedroom, VanGough prints for the living room, and earth toned prints for the kitchen. She had a new wicker rocker turned toward her favorite ocean view, a small CD player and a CD stand containing some of her favorite music, scented candles, and colorful rugs scattered here and there. Her refrigerator was stocked with milk, cheese, fruit juice, fresh fish, a small steak, eggs, vegetables, a bottle of wine, and real butter. In her cupboard, along with various canned goods, boxes of pasta and cereal, was a new bread maker.

Virginia collapsed in her rocker, worn out from her day of shopping and cleaning. Mavis had finally left after making Virginia promise to heat up the stew she'd left her for dinner. It felt wonderful to be alone. She gazed out at the water, rocking gently and listening to Windham Hill. The rage and grief she carried around inside of her were still there, but they seemed to be silent, leaving only the familiar ache in the center of her belly. It wasn't that she felt good or even at peace, but she felt strangely calm, even with the knowledge that night was approaching.

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