Stories are pure magic! The right story at the right time can change the course of a person’s life.
Here’s a story for children all about this magical power. It all starts when a girl discovers an old woman living in the forest in a cottage filled with magical gems.
“What’s so magical about them?” the little girl asks.
“Each one is filled with stories,” replies the old woman.
“Stories?” said the girl. “What’s so magical about stories?”
But she soon finds out, when the old woman gives her a gem for her mother.
The girl’s mother, you see, was scared of spiders. But the stories that the gem tells are all about how lovely and sweet spiders can be. Soon her mother is looking forward to the latest “spider story”. And then one day, when a spider comes walking across the kitchen floor towards her, instead of shrieking she crouches down and says “Aww, look at you! Where are you off to, then?”
Magic! Soon the little girl is returning to the old woman’s cottage for more gems. And so it goes for the rest of her life. Whenever she or someone in her life needs healing or inspiration or comfort, she goes and asks for another gem, until she herself is an old woman, living in a cottage full of magical story gems!
My wife Sundara joined me in creating a musical accompaniment to this story, playing handpan, whistles and other instruments. We performed it last autumn in The Dragon Sanctuary, our arts hub in Devon. You can find a studio recording of the story below.
Play here or: Play in new window | Download
