| One of the many wonderful things about having my granddaughter Nai'a live with me is that we get to cuddle up on the couch and watch children's movies. Nai'a would watch movies day and night if she could. She'll watch the same DVD over and over, memorizing lines and learning the songs. Some of the best storytellers of our time are moviemakers who are not afraid to create rich stories that deal with the dark and light of life. In child psychiatrist Bruno Bettleheim's seminal book The Uses of Enchantment he talks about the importance of old tales in helping children integrate the often difficult and confusing feelings they experience. He stresses that children need stories that have monsters and challenges presented and resolved. It is through these sometimes troubling stories that a child learns to integrate his or her often conflicting, violent and helpless feelings. Originally these folk tales were shared in the dark of night while gathering around a fire. As books became available to the general public parents began reading stories like Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella to their children, stories with dangerous wolves and cruel sisters. Many bemoan the advent of electronic story telling, or movies, but movies are the folk tales of our children's era, and a number of them are quite good. Of course, there are the fluff movies, such as Alvin and the Chipmunks and others, but there is also a steady stream of fine movies that present real challenges and offer real solutions in creative and exciting ways. One such movie is Monsters vs. Aliens. Monsters vs. Aliens is a movie that has grown on me over the dozens of viewings Nai'a and I have sat through. It is the story of a fairly conventional young woman, Susan, on her wedding day, who is hit by a meteor and finds herself growing humongous, too huge to fit into the church where she is becoming wed to the man of her dreams. How often do we find ourselves going along swimmingly in our life, everything is find and then, BAM!!! out of the blue life hits us with a proverbial meteor? An accident, a shattered dream, a loss of our lives' work, a break-up of a relationship... Against her will Susan becomes a monster with super human powers, but she still feels like just a girl from Modesto in love with a guy. She reluctantly steps into her magical power when threatened with death by an alien and surprises herself with her own strength. Don't we sometimes surprise ourselves with our own strength when life pushes us up against a wall? To protect ourselves or our family, to survive a situation, we do things we never thought we were capable of doing. We go along contented with our lot in life only stepping up to the plate when forced to. After defeating the feared alien, Susan, when asked by her fellow monsters, "Did you ever think you could do that?" replied, "No, I can honestly say that I never did." It's classic for girls to be taught that if they are too smart or too strong or too... no man will want to marry them. In many cultures, ours included, a powerful woman is considered a threat to men. Spurred on by Derick's rejection, Susan turns from a victim of her talent to embracing herself fully, hugeness and all. It is then that Susan loses her super powers that were magically given to her only to discover that their strength is not dependent on the powers that were given, but the power within her. She goes on to save the world a second time, this time without the power provided by the meteorite, armed only with her own power, her own courage and strength. This is a wonderful empowerment myth for our daughters. When I was growing up there was Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, beautiful myths but ones that spoke of more a more passive way of being in the world. Today there are more and more stories portraying strong female archetypes, even nerdy archetypes, who grow into their power and beauty. It can be awkward and threating for a girl to move into her power, threatening everything she loves and everything that brings her comfort. It isn't easy for a girl to grow beyond dependence but it wouldn't be a heroine's journey if it was easy. With more and more encouragement for girls to make this journey it is a good time to become an empowered girl in America. Stories, like koans, speak to the deep, mythic inner reality that guides us. They help us integrate what we intuitively know. It is important for both children and adults to nourish the unseen aspects of life. Stories and koans can help guild us, strengthening us for when life presents its inevitable challenges. The mythic realm nourishes us when we feel alone in our struggles and touches our inner reality. What children's movies and stores nourish you and your children? Where do you find mythic strength? |
| March 2010 |
| From The Hearth |
MISSION: The Hearth Foundation is dedicated to the spiritual growth and well-being of mothers through study, practice and community building activities. While our core philosophy is very much shaped by Buddhist principles and practices, we are a non-sectarian organization which draws on all Wisdom traditions to further positive mothering experiences through spiritual awareness and enlightened actions. |
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| Copyright (c) 2010 by Hearth Foundation. All articles are the copyright of the particular writers and cannot be reprinted without their expressed permission. All rights reserved. International copyright laws prohibit reproduction of or distribution of this page by any means whatsoever, electronic or otherwise, without first obtaining the written permission of the copyright holder. Any advice given is for informational purposes only. |
| JACQUELINE'S DHARMA TALK MONSTERS, ALIENS AND RADICAL GIRLS by Jacqueline Kramer |
| MONTHLY REFLECTION: TRANSFORMATION "Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal and transformation in our lives." ~unknown "The mind, intellect, ego, ether, air, fire, water, and earth are the eightfold transformation of My nature." ~Bhagavad Gita |
| ANNOUNCEMENTS: NEEDED: YOUR INPUT!: The Hearth Foundation would like your input to help us in our transformation. Please take OUR SURVEY to give us your opinion. The survey will remain open during the month of March. COFFEE HOUR: We have opened up a new community board on the forum - a place for you to discuss anything you can think of - parenting, recipes, ecology, green cleaning, homeschooling, etc. This is your "coffee break" place from the classrooms and a chance to really get to know each other. To start the conversations, please go to The Commons and begin by introducing yourself!! ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hearth Foundation will soon be going by a new name: Radiant Hearth! We are looking for an image for our new foundation! If you see something that looks interesting for our cards, brochures and other materials, please email Jacqueline. COUNSELING SERVICES: Jacqueline is available for one-on-one counseling via phone or in person. In order to set up an appointment email Jacqueline directly. FROM THE HEARTH NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS: If you subscribed to receive From the Hearth in your email in-box, but did not receive the latest edition, please contact Wendy Myers to verify your email address. If you aren't subscribed to receive From the Hearth in your in-box, but would like to be, please CLICK HERE. SUBMISSIONS NEEDED: The Monthly Reflections article is a reflection by a student of The Hearth Foundation on a pre-set monthly theme. If any of the themes below call to you for reflection, regardless of where we are in the calendar, please write your reflection down and submit them to Jacqueline. Don't hesitate - we could use submissions right away! January: Beginner's Mind February: Love March: Transformation April: Service May: Joy June: Meditation July: Interdependence August: Abundance September: Learning/Growing October: Death November: Gratitude December: Generosity |
| UPCOMING EVENTS AND CLASSES: EVENTS: If you know of an upcoming local, national or international event which fits in with the Mission of the Hearth Foundation, such as spirituality, meditation, pregnancy and birthing, Buddhism, parenting, women's issues, ecology, education and homemaking, please submit it by emailing Wendy Myers, so that we may all benefit. CLASSES: ONLINE BOOK GROUP: VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY: With these difficult economic times, many of us are looking at how we can simplify our lives and our finances. Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin, is a book about how one family deliberately simplified their lives. If you are interested in doing a book group on this book, with the possibility of other similar books to follow, please email Heather. ONLINE CLASSES: ~MEDITATION CLASS: For those who have finished the Shrine Series and what to take your meditation practice further, this is the class for you. Please email Heather to sign-up. ~KOAN CLASS: The latest Koan class is almost over, but registrations are being taken for the next class. This "salon-style" group is designed to enhance your meditation practice by the use of Koans. John Tarrant, of Pacific Zen, is initiating the class with Jacqueline facilitating. If you have questions, please contact Jacqueline. To register for the next class, please contact Heather. To see a list of all classes offered, please go to The Hearth Foundation Classroom page. Registrations for all classes are taken year-round. When a class fills up, it begins. To sign up for any of the classes or with further questions on the specific classes, please email Heather Thornton. |
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| DANA It is the Buddhist tradition to offer teachings freely. This comes from a heartfelt desire for the happiness of all beings. There is another complimentary Buddhist tradition for the recipients of the teachings to offer dana, or generosity upon receiving the teachings. It is our pleasure to offer From The Hearth and introductory classes free of charge. We are able to do this thanks to a core of dedicated volunteers and a strong commitment to keeping Hearth’s services available for you, regardless of your ability to pay. If this newsletter, the classes or any other Hearth offerings have been helpful to you we are happy to receive your appreciation in the form of donations or services. As it is also a customary "season of giving" during December, it is an excellent time to donate to the Hearth Foundation in honor or memory of somebody special. Your tax-deductible donation makes Hearth services available to moms all over the world. Everyone has something to give and it takes many hands and eyes to create a vital community. Thank you for your support! Write checks to: Hearth Foundation 19201 Twin Oaks Lane Sonoma, CA 95476 |