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Dawning Star
Unfolding the New Human |
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Free Children's Story The New Apple Tree A story for the New Earth by Salemla ( Sukie Colegrave) Please feel free to download and print this for you and your children The New Apple Tree Dedicated to my granddaughter, Sophia, and our greater body, the Earth Grandma has been telling Sophia “Create a day” stories for the last three years since Sophia was three. She is seven now. In each “create a day” story Grandma and Sophia choose someone or something that needs help and then Grandma tells the story that heals that person or situation.
Sophia and her Grandma are snuggling together before breakfast in the soft green chair on Grandma’s deck in Hawaii overlooking the swaying coconut trees and the white crested ocean waves. They are watching a mother whale playing with her baby in the water as the rising sun warms the soft air, and creates tiny rainbows in the raindrops on the wet bamboo leaves. Sophia is visiting Grandma’s round cedar house, as she does many mornings. Grandma gets up to make breakfast. She makes toast and thickly covers it with almond butter and honey. She then cuts the toast into thin strips which she lays out on a large plate in the shape of a star. Sophia loves this “star toast”. After Grandma and Sophia thank the bees and the almond fairies as well as the earth and the sun for making this “star toast”, Sophia picks up one of the pieces of star toast and eagerly starts eating. “What kind of day do you want to create?’ asks Grandma. . Sophia closes her eyes, munching while she ponders Grandma’s question. “Lets create a day of joy and fun,” she says, opening her eyes and smiling. “Yes,“ says Grandma, enthusiastically. “And let’s do that by creating a day in which the Earth becomes healthier and sad people find happiness and laughter as they remember that all living things are one big family.” Sophia nods with her mouth full of star toast. “Can you see anyone in the world who needs some help today?” Grandma then asks Sophia. Sophia focuses her attention in her magic eye in the middle of her forehead, and gazes out over the earth.” “Well”, she says, “with my magic eye I can see a little girl who lives with her mama and grandma in a old plantation cottage close to us in Hawi. She has a deep cut on her leg which is having difficulty healing. Her name is Leilani. I would like to help her today.” “Well, let’s first ask the sun if this is the right day for Leilani’s leg to be healed,” says Grandma. Grandma and Sophia turn their hearts to the rising sun asking for a sign to show them if this is the right day for Leilani’s healing. Soon Sophia shouts excitedly: “Look Grandma, there is a rainbow appearing over the Koa trees.” Grandma and Sophia smile happily. For they both know that the rainbow is a sign from the sun that this is a good day for Leilani’s healing. They snuggle closer together on the soft green chair overlooking the ocean and Grandma begins the story of how healing comes to Leilani’s leg as well as to the rest of the Earth. * * * “Sophia and Grandma walk across the long grass, still wet with the morning dew,” says Grandma softly. “Soon they come to the large grove of koa trees. In the middle of the wood they see a small opening in the ground with steps leading steeply down into the Earth. “I didn’t know this opening was here,” says Sophia. “I have never seen it before, not even when I play with my friends in this wood, not even when we climb the tall trees and can see far out into the ocean.” “Well”, explains Grandma, “today we are looking with our magic eyes. Our magic eyes can see much more than our body eyes.” As she finishes speaking, Sophia notices something else she has never seen before - a large golden angel standing beside the opening that leads down into the Earth. The angel has golden hair, delicate gold slippers, a shimmering golden dress and golden wings. In her hands she carries a great shining sword of Light. As Grandma and Sophia approach, the Angel speaks to them; “If you want to help Leilani you need to go down these steps into the center of the Earth to the paradise garden of the Earth Mother. She knows how to heal everything.” Sophia looks down the steps leading into the darkness, and then looks back at Grandma with an anxious look on her face. She is not sure she wants to descend into so much darkness. It feels scary. Seeing Sophia’s fear, Grandma asks the angel for some protection for her and Sophia on their journey The big angel hands the great shining sword of Light to Sophia saying “I give you this sword. You can carry it with you down into the centre of the Earth. If anything feels scary you simply need to hold this sword up in front of you. This sword is a sun sword. Just as the sun removes all darkness with its light so can this sword remove and dissolve all dark beings with its brilliant light and power. “Thank you.” say Sophia smiling. She picks up the sun sword, holding firmly onto its shining handle. She and Grandma say good bye to the great golden angel and start descending the dark steps into the Earth. Down and down they go, step after step, into the deep darkness and silence. After descending for a long time, they turn around and look up As they continue down the earth staircase, and the light gets dimmer and dimmer, they pass jagged rocks and strange shapes that they do not recognize. Sophia begins to get scared. So she lifts up the shining sword high above her head. Soon the scary feelings and the scary shapes disappear, and Sophia is no longer afraid of the deepening darkness. She and Grandma continue to descend. Down and down they go. It is now so dark that the only light they have is the light of the great shining sword. After a long, long time they arrive at the bottom of the staircase and find themselves standing in front of a great gold door. Beside the gold door stands another golden angel wearing a crown of rainbow colored flowers. “Welcome to the door into the centre of the Earth”, says the golden rainbow angel. “Very few people are brave enough to come all the way down here. Even fewer have enough love in their hearts to make this long journey just to help someone else, someone on the surface of the Earth. Since you are both brave and filled with love, you may go into the garden and meet the Earth Mother.” The golden angel puts the gold key into the lock of the great gold door and opens it. Instantly the darkness turns to light. As Sophia and Grandma’s eyes become accustomed to the brilliant light of the crystal sun in the center of the Earth, they find themselves looking at a shining world of waterfalls, luscious green fields, gentle animals and flowering trees. They begin to explore the garden, crossing over clear, gurgling streams, and wandering through a sea of flowers, each one the home of a smiling flower fairy. They play with some of the flower fairies beneath a grove of plumeria trees, whose white and yellow petals are softer and more fragrant than any they have ever smelt on the surface of Hawaii. Then they play with a family of mice who are enjoying a game of hide and seek with a herd of large black wild pigs. Sophia and Grandma are surprised how gentle the pigs are; not fierce like some wild pigs on the surface of Hawaii. They also marvel at how happy the birds seem to be as they fly into the outstretched hands of some of the children running around in the garden; confidently eating little seeds out of the hands of these gentle, joyful children. Everywhere they look Grandma and Sophia see people and animals playing and singing together like one big happy family. Even the flowers and trees seem to be participating joyfully in this large happy family. Grandma and Sophia look up in awe at soaring macademia nut trees covered with luscious nuts, and hiding tree houses amidst their strong branches. They notice some children speaking to one of the trees asking her if she wants anything today. They hear the tree inviting the children to climb up and play among her strong branches. “I did not know there was a whole world like this in the centre of the Earth,” says Sophia excitedly. ”I did not know that trees could speak and gentle mice could play with big black pigs without getting scared.” “I know you did not.” says a powerful, gentle voice. “Not many people do.” Sophia and Grandma turn around and find themselves facing the kindest, most beautiful person they have every seen. She has large soft eyes, and a heart so warm that it shines. Bunches of red flowers appear to be growing from her radiant blue dress, and on her head is a crown of red and yellow flowers. “I am the Earth Mother”, she explains. “How do you know about Leilani?” asks Sophia. “I can see and feel everything that happens on the surface of the Earth.” says the Earth Mother. I feel sad when I see people hurting each other. I feel sad when I see people using more water than they need, and not stopping to thank the water spirit for all she does to clean and refresh the Earth. I feel sad when I see people picking flowers without taking the time to ask the flowers if they wish to be picked that day, or thanking them for their beauty. I feel sad when I see flowers and trees withering because so few people are willing to make friends with them. I feel sad when I watch people ignoring the birds and butterflies. I am happy when I see people being kind to my flower friends, speaking to them gently, making sure they have enough water and sunshine. I feel happy when I see children talking to and playing with the flower fairies, thanking them for all that they do. At these times I feel all the flowers across the surface of the Earth smiling and growing strong. I feel happy when I see people being kind to each other and to our animal and insect friends. I feel happy when I watch people choosing to walk or ride their bicycles instead of driving to the local store so as to avoid poisoning the Earth with more gas fumes. I sing with joy when I see children and grownups planting new trees or talking to our big old tree relatives in the remaining forests, and protecting them from being cut down. On those days all of us in this paradise garden smile with joy.” Sophia and Grandma listen to the Earth Mother, and silently promise to themselves to be even more gentle and caring to the trees, flowers and animals when they return to the Earth surface. “I have a gift for you,” Earth mother continues. “It is something that will help Leilani and all people on the surface of the Earth. You see the big apple tree in the centre of the garden with the large, red crisp apples hanging from it?” “Yes”. says Sophia. She had noticed the tree immediately when she and Grandma first entered the garden. She had never before seen a tree with such large, succulent apples growing on it. “Well”, says the Earth Mother, moving towards the tree, picking one of the apples and handing it to Sophia,” “Thank you very much,” say Sophia and Grandma. “We will take great care of this apple and carry it carefully back to Leilani.” Sophia places the apple in the pocket of her coat. ‘One day”, continues the Earth Mother, “the people on the surface of the Earth will be ready for me to bring this paradise garden up to them. When this day comes all pain and tears will leave the Earth for ever. Everyone will play happily with each other, with the animals and with the flowers. Everyone will experience all living things as one large family. When this happens the surface of the Earth will look and feel like this paradise garden. I have been waiting a long, long time for you surface people to remember that you are all one, that you all belong to one great family. I know I will not have to wait much longer. Would you like to help this time come quicker?” “Oh yes”, say Sophia and Grandma. “What can we do?” “Also you can be kind to all animals, and make time to talk to the flowers and tell them how much you appreciate and enjoy their beauty. Above all you can be gentle, kind and accepting of yourselves, treasuring and honoring who you are. “And also you can plant one of the apple seeds from this apple after Leilani has enjoyed a bite. Please plant it in your garden, and water it every day with pure water blessed by your love and your joy.” “We will.” promised Sophia and Grandma. “When the apple seed has grown into a big tree” continues the Earth Mother, “ people will come from across the surface of the Earth to taste the apples of this new apple tree that heals all pain in those whose hearts shine with love. The new apple tree will show people there can be a world without tears. It will help people remember that the true Earth is a paradise garden. When enough people remember this and start relating to all people, animals and plants as members of one great loving Earth family, it will be time for me to bring my paradise garden up from the center of the Earth to the surface of the Earth.” The Earth Mother pauses and smiles lovingly at Sophia and Grandma, and gives them a soft, warm hug. Her dress smells to them like the most beautiful red roses. “Now it is time for you to leave my garden,” she says. “It is time to climb up the earth staircase to the surface of the Earth. Leilani and Earth people need you.” Grandma and Sophia thank the Earth Mother, and somewhat reluctantly say goodbye. Taking one last look at all the beauty, fun and laughter in the paradise garden, they turn and go out of the golden gate, and start the long climb up to the surface of the Earth. It is evening by the time they reach the small entrance in the middle of the Koa wood. Sophia hands the great sun sword back to the angel guarding the entrance, thanking her for her gift of protection. Then they hurry to Leilani’s house and give her the big red apple. As soon as she bites it her leg begins feeling better. “Thank you so much Grandma and Sophia”, says Leilani, marveling at the magic of the red apple. “What can I do for you? How can I say thank you?” “Well”, says Grandma, after telling Leilani of their adventure to visit the Earth Mother, “you can help Sophia and I plant a seed of this paradise apple in our garden. You can help us water the seed every day with pure water blessed by love and joy, until it grows into a big apple tree. One day people from across the world will come and taste these healing apples; and start remembering that we can create a world without pain, a world of love and play; a world inhabited and enjoyed by one big happy family. So the next morning Sophia, Grandma and Leilani find some soft, sheltered earth in which to plant a seed from the paradise apple. Every day the three of them watch over the seed as it grows into a sapling. Talking to the small tree, loving it, and giving it fresh water blessed with love and joy. They continue to take care of the paradise apple tree every day as it grows and grows. Today the new apple tree is still growing. Succulent red apples are beginning to appear on her branches. Very soon she will be ready to offer these red healing apples to all those whose hearts are willing to remember that the whole world is one big family. The End
Copyright 2007: by Sukie Colegrave |