We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us – Joseph Campbell
I’m totally hooked on the t.v show Once Upon a Time. I haven’t missed one episode since its debut in September 2011 (and I’m someone who watches maximum 10 hours of television per week).
The series began with a young boy’s quest to reunite his family and help the unfortunate modern-day residents of Storybrooke, Maine ‘remember’ who they really are – vibrant and exciting characters from the fairy tales you and I grew up with and know so well – Snow White, the Evil Queen, Rumpelstilskin, Cinderella, Prince Charming and so many others.
The plot and character development is complex and exciting enough to keep me fully engaged each hour.
Most of these well-known fairy tale people originated from the imagination of two German brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, who lived back in the nineteenth century. Their father died when the boys were 11 and 12 years of age. They were sent to live with an aunt a few years later to attend secondary school with plans to continue on to law school.
In 1808, their mother died and eldest teen child Jacob returned to the town of his birth and secured a job as a librarian to support his younger brothers and sister. Wilhelm returned home soon after and became a librarian as well.
They collaborated and wrote the first volume of 86 fairy tales and it was published just before Christmas in 1812 – just 4 years after their mother’s death.
Six subsequent volumes were produced up until 1857 – leaving a legacy of 211 stories. They were quite controversial at the time in that although they were categorized as children’s tales, their content was deemed too mature for young readers (and not many happy endings in the stories after all).
A child-friendly version of the fables was written by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1825 to appease the masses – and it’s this collection that has inspired countless other books and beloved Disney movie story classics over the ages.
Cut away to the fall of 2011 and back to this new, imaginative television show. Young Henry finds his birth mother and recruits her help in this earnest mission, telling her that she’s the only one who can save them all, and that they must do everything they can to help them remember who they really are “before it’s too late.”
Emma (Henry’s birth mother) discovers as the series develops she is also a fairy tale character, the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming.
We get to see the drama and intrigue play out in the two parallel worlds – one set in present-day, the other…in timeless, far, far away (the actors all play their respective characters in each place so we don’t get too confused).
The thought of people living in two parallel universes is an intriguing premise to me.
I got to fantasizing about the possibilities how you and I could be living the same way. What if as creatives we had forgotten who we really are?
Have you always had a yearning to write or paint or dance or sing and just pushed it aside, telling yourself it’s just a silly fantasy?
What if in a parallel universe you were already there, already following your passion, already successful? How would you feel discovering this?
I think Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm would be astounded to discover how inspirational their work has been to many creatives, how ingrained their little stories have become in our culture, in our literature and art. Even though they had to lose their parents at a very young age, circumstance afforded them the opportunity to work creatively together and produce such an amazing legacy for us all.
If you had to create a fairy tale for yourself, who would your character be? What would your life be like? What great creative work would you produce?
What creative work could you start today in this present reality that might ‘help you remember’ who you really are?
Did you take that photo? That’s a work of art, Carole.
And so is this blog post. I did not know about the TV show (I’m hopeless about all that – I rarely watch anything and never know the popular shows) but it sounds delightful. Thanks for describing it so I could enjoy it vicariously.
And what a psycho thing! ;~) Lately I’ve been exploring the notion of parallel dimensions in my journal and asking myself how I can tap into abilities I’m already living somewhere else (or from past lives). Eerie how your post clues into that . . . same way you did when you “accidentally” republished the Who Says? post, at precisely the moment I was working on some Owl-ish type magic. You’re uncanny! (in all the best ways
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I loved how you gave the background on the Brothers Grimm. I didn’t know their history and it’s quite an amazing one. Some might have spent a lifetime just trying to rebound from the loss of their parents at such a young age, and then having to support their younger siblings while still a teenager. Instead, these brothers used their circumstances to create classics that have long outlived them. So inspiring!
In answer to your question, I’d say my journal is one of the works in progress where I’m exploring who I really am, and how I might reconnect with other creative abilities I have buried somewhere, deep down inside (or in a parallel dimension).
Or . . . perhaps I’ve already been using some of them and I’m just not recognizing how well I’m already doing. I had an experience the other day of being affirmed for an ability that I only developed in order to help me doing something that’s more important to me. Interesting. I sense another journaling insight coming on. . . .
Thanks!
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Hiya Milli,
Yes ma’am the photo is mine indeed; so pleased you noticed it. The sharp shadows helped me to evoke the same foreboding to pay homage to the film noir cinematic device evident in so many black and white Hitchcock movies I’m fond of (one of my favourites is ‘Notorious’ where the shadows are practically secondary characters)
Wow, we really do seem to be continuing on this ‘psycho’ plane; I’m appreciating the excitement of all this synchronicity
Glad to hear your journaling continues to bring forth creative revelations; I know I’ve received goodies too from following your example and journaling on a more consistent basis.
That’s so wonderful to have someone affirm the talent and gifts you possess, and so cool to hear it’s helping you attain your own priorities and creative goals. Talk about confirmation you’re on the right track, eh?
Nice. Just Tweeted and Stumbled your post.
Laurie Buchanan recently posted..I’m a Basket Case!
I appreciate your support, Laurie! So glad you liked it.
Ooh, I love that idea that maybe we creatives are living in a parallel universe in which we’ve forgotten who we are! A woman in my writing group has written a YA novel about parallel universes that her agent is currently shopping–its fascinating. And I adored reading the story of the Brothers Grimm–that could be a novel on its own. By the way, my favorite fairy tale show is Grimm, mostly because it is filmed here in Portland.
Charlotte Rains Dixon recently posted..Writing Tics, or What I’m Learning From the Emma Jean Edits
Hmm, maybe I’ll just have to check out Grimm too then
I was thinking the same how the Brothers Grimm’s biography provides a lot to make compelling fiction!
The idea of parallel universes has always fascinated me, and I’m pretty sure now it will be featured/dealt with in one of my WIPs. The ‘forgotten who we are’ concept resonates deeply with me. The Ugly Duckling is one of my favourite stories.
Fun trip to the past and enjoyed the history Carole!
Beautiful photo too, I love the shadows!
I’m so pleased you ‘got’ the ominous shadows, Terri; you’re the only one to mention it! I studied film noir in school and in those black and white movies, so much is communicated via those shadows. I love shadow play out in nature too; strikes excitement through my heart again and again while I’m out on my photo walks
Very cool. I don’t have time to really watch any show except Fringe. Paranormal….hmmm…..maybe that’s my version of adult fairy tale. Great read, CJ.
Thanks for reading and your kind words, Laura.
We only watch approximately 4 hours of t.v. per week here, and I was glad to see that something imaginative and ‘other’ than reality shows is being produced
Hopefully it’ll develop nicely and gain momentum so it doesn’t get axed like so many interesting shows before.
Ooh, I love the idea of a more self-actualized me existing in a parallel universe! I have two secret creative dreams: writing scripts collaboratively on a team and being a professional dancer. Okay, I guess they’re not so secret anymore.
I think realistically it’s too late on the dance front, so I’ll leave that to my alter ego in Fantasy Land, but I certainly could dance more in real life just for my own enjoyment. I do write collaboratively with my students (we write and produce a play or short film most years) but if I’d love to write with a dream team of adults.
Very cool…by suggesting that this version of myself already exists in a parallel universe, it allowed me to acknowledge dreams I probably wouldn’t have otherwise.
Sue Mitchell recently posted..The Procrastinator in the Mirror
Hi Sue! Love your ideas. By the way, have you read dancer/choreographer extraordinaire Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit? It’s really good; highly recommended.
That is so cool about your writing/theatre/film projects at school with the kids. I wish I had had a teacher like you back in the day, I tell ya!
When I was in my early 20′s, I wanted to write for television and film; I too loved the idea of writing/working collaboratively with other impassioned creative professionals. Never worked out back then but you never know what the future holds
I had the same excited sense of creative freedom and possibility when I was pondering the ‘what if’ of myself existing in a parallel universe where I have spent all my life in a creative career. We can still go for it!
NO, I haven’t read Twyla Tharp’s book but it is sitting at the top of my reading list waiting for me to finish that book I won in that bacon guy’s blog commenting contest!! ;-D Plan to read it on the Kindle my sister is giving me for Christmas!
And yes, I’m planning to be around at least another 40 years so the screenwriting gig may still be in the cards.
Sue Mitchell recently posted..When Was the Last Time You Danced in the Rain?
Yay! You already know your sister is giving you a Kindle for Christmas? Guess that’s one way to avoid buying wrapping paper
I don’t need a crystal ball to figure out that I’m probably getting one as well under the tree this year.
Great post, Carole Jane. I didn’t know that back story on the Brothers Grimm (fascinating) but we too are hooked on Once Upon a Time.
As you know, I’m currently helping myself remember who I am through a return to writing. As to a fairy tale character, well… I’d want part Snow White, where I have woodland animals to handle my chores (leave out grumpy and sleepy dwarfs); part Cinderella, with a fairy godmother (leave out the evil stepsisters); and part candy house a la Hansel and Gretel, but I wouldn’t cook children and the house would be made of bacon.
Patrick Ross recently posted..Honoring Your Child AND Your Muse
Thanks, Patrick. Leave it to you to envision a house made with bacon! lol. Yeah, and Snow White was quite good at convincing those creatures to lighten her housework load, eh? You have her eyes
I’m glad there are more and more of us working on our writing or creative endeavors so that we really do remember who we are, who we were meant to be. I kinda dig the fairy godmother too, except I might be tempted too often to conjure up works of art with the flick of my wrist, rather than going the blood, sweat and tears route. Who are we if not struggling artists
I’m starting to read some of Grimm’s lesser known tales to see if any of those characters fit the bill for me. Really interesting reading.
But if you conjured art via a fairy godmother, wouldn’t it turn into a pumpkin at midnight? Something to consider…
Patrick Ross recently posted..Honoring Your Child AND Your Muse