The Moon in the Well Wisdom Tales to Transform Your Life, Family, and Community

by Meade, Erica Helm; Abram, David

• ISBN13: 9780812694406
• ISBN10: 0812694406
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-05-30
• Publisher: Open Court

Summary

The Moon in the Well is a collection of 65 tales from many cultures, followed by interpretive comments, suggested uses, and true-life examples of what can happen when a nourishing story is taken to heart. Erica Meade’s musings and suggestions are intended to pique readers’ interest in story and guide them in weaving wisdom tales into their everyday dialogues.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xi
David Abram
Preface	xvii
Introduction: On Stories and Storytelling	1	(2)
What is a wisdom tale and what does it take to tell one?	3	(1)
Why do we need wisdom tales in education?	4	(3)
How do wisdom tales support the body's capacity to heal?	7	(1)
How do wisdom tales console anxiety and depression, and call forth character?	8	(1)
Is there a right time and place for telling wisdom tales?	9	(4)
How do wisdom tales inspire wonder and respect for the natural world?	13	(2)
How does one learn wisdom tales by heart, and is it okay to improvise?	15	(6)
THE STORIES	21	(224)
How Bright Got Lands for the Poor (Ireland)	23	(2)
Finn McCoul Learns to Run (Ireland)	25	(5)
Finn and the Salmon of Wisdom (Ireland)	30	(6)
Finn and Saeva (Ireland)	36	(9)
How Diarmuid Got the Love Spot (Ireland)	45	(3)
Diarmuid and Grania (Ireland)	48	(10)
Maureen the Red (Ireland)	58	(6)
The Key Flower (Wales)	64	(3)
The Love of Powel and Rhiannon (Wales)	67	(8)
The Vindication of Rhiannon (Wales)	75	(3)
The Stolen Child (Scotland)	78	(6)
Gold Tree and Silver Tree (Scotland)	84	(7)
Old Sultan (Germany)	91	(2)
The Goose Girl at the Spring (Germany)	93	(9)
Snow White and Rose Red (Germany)	102	(6)
Choosing a Bride (Germany)	108	(1)
Rapunzel (Germany)	109	(4)
Rumpelstiltskin (Germany)	113	(4)
The Farmer's Hidden Treasure (Greece)	117	(2)
The Horse and the Lion (Greece)	119	(2)
The Horse, the Stag, and the Man (Greece)	121	(1)
The Mother Crab and Her Child (Greece)	122	(2)
Kore, Queen of Darkness, Maiden of Light (Greece)	124	(3)
Pythagoras and the White Beans (Greece)	127	(2)
The Moon in the Well (Turkey)	129	(3)
The Last Feast (Turkey)	132	(2)
Fair Pay (Turkey)	134	(2)
Hypatia's Gift (Egypt)	136	(2)
The Sesame Seed (Egypt)	138	(3)
Why Death Is Like the Banana Tree (Africa)	141	(2)
How Death Came to Humankind (Africa)	143	(1)
The Twisted Message (Africa)	144	(1)
Queen Hyena's Funeral (Africa)	145	(2)
Not All at Once (Persia)	147	(1)
Two Wives Are Less Than One (Persia)	148	(1)
Three Scholars and a Lion (India)	149	(2)
How Death Came to be Feared (Nepal)	151	(2)
The Potter's Wish (Nepal)	153	(3)
The Monkeys Rescue the Moon (Tibet)	156	(1)
The Boy and the Tiger (Siberia)	157	(3)
Why Hares Have Long Ears (Siberia)	160	(1)
Whale Boy (Siberia)	161	(4)
Undecided (Indonesia)	165	(2)
The Frog (Indonesia)	167	(7)
Grandfather Ape (Indonesia)	174	(5)
Kuan Yin's Vows (East Asia)	179	(5)
Mero's Bride (East Asia)	184	(3)
Amaterasu's Light (Japan)	187	(4)
Maui Snares the Sun (Polynesia)	191	(4)
Maui Fishes Up the Islands (Polynesia)	195	(3)
Hina's Adventure (Polynesia)	198	(4)
Wild Pony and Smoke (North America)	202	(5)
How the Human Race Came to Be (North America)	207	(3)
The Mouse Girls Outsmart Coyote (North America)	210	(3)
Coyote and Mole (North America)	213	(3)
Coyote's Name (North America)	216	(3)
Coyote Creates Human Beings (North America)	219	(3)
Coyote and the Frog People (North America)	222	(1)
Corn Mother (North America)	223	(4)
Strong Wind the Mystic Warrior (North America)	227	(7)
Raven Didn't Look Back (North America)	234	(2)
Raven Brings Light (North America)	236	(3)
IxChel and the Dragonflies (Guatemala)	239	(6)
Acknowledgments	245	(2)
Bibliography	247	(6)
Theme index	253