A Short Film by Zette Harbour

Story Harbour

A Bolt From The Blue

The Crane Wife
a traditional Japanese tale


Every tale has many levels of truth and of wisdom. Like a prism refracting white light and revealing the many colors within, Story Wisdom allows us to peer into a story from different perspectives. We can see, then, the many shades and nuances of truth, receiving the facet that we most need.

On one level, this story reflects to us the apparent conflict between having a loving and simple heart, and, being astute and practical. Too often, I think, our cultural story tells us that we have to make a choice between one or the other.

Loving and astute - is this possible?


We can all relate to the kindness of Yohei’s heart when he is moved to help the injured crane. Without thinking for even an instant about himself, he wraps her with great gentleness in his cloak and with equally great care, he brings her to his home. He tends to her needs, keeping her safe, warm and secure in order for her to heal and become strong enough to return to her wild home. His life returns once again to those long, solitary walks through the snowy mountain paths, and to those quiet evenings spent before the fire.

And, this is where the story could end.

Except that whenever we reach outside of our comfortable, predictable existence we can be certain that change will come. If Yohei had known what would transpire, would he have tended to the crane? He only experiences loss because he says yes to experiencing happiness.

He joins with the Feminine nature - abundant, receptive, giving - in order to learn a lesson about being an effective man in his culture. He had been content, until that time, to merely provide just enough for just himself. When he married this mysterious Feminine, he now understood that just enough, would not be enough - ever again. Its essential that we gain this maturity of vision and the only path is through the experience of loss.

In this story, we learn that we must first meet in partnership with the mysterious Feminine, the energy that is wild in nature, uncontainable, graceful and capable of soaring. Through our recognition and response to it’s vulnerability, this energy brings us a rich treasure that we can share with the world in order to sustain ourselves.

We set out into the world with it and give it away for nearly nothing. We don’t comprehend the treasure’s full value at first and so we have to go the the source to replace it. We are given a yes, again. This time, we begin to understand it’s value; it can be our sustenance and raise us above the mundane. Enrapt with this new awareness, we overlook the promises we’ve made and in doing so lose our connection to the source of the treasure. We are no longer simple and still short of astute. This transition from simple to astute, while preserving our loving heart is costly. Yet, wisdom is the progeny of this experience.

In the end, we can only imagine what Yohei does with that final bolt of transcendent cloth. Will his time with the mysterious Feminine have etched a permanent and personal relationship with this source of transformative energy? The sustaining, and sustainable, path requires him to live in gratitude for the lesson. Only then will that final bolt become an unending source of empowerment.


©copyright 2011 ZetteHarbour.com

It's A Fine Line Between Light And Dogma

"One day Mara, the Buddhist god of ignorance and evil, was traveling through the villages of India with his attendants. He saw a man doing walking meditation whose face was lit up in wonder.

The man had just discovered something on the ground in front of him.

Mara's attendants asked what that was and Mara replied, "A piece of Truth."

"Doesn't this bother you when someone finds a piece of the truth, o evil one?" his attendants asked.

"No," Mara replied. "Right after this they usually make a belief out of it."

From Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart, Christina Feldman & Jack Kornfield.

In this delightful story from the Buddhist tradition I learned, instantly, the story surrounding the idea of enlightenment versus belief. What a gift when a story shines a light so utterly, yet in such an unassuming manner.

This may be the greatest gift that story holds for us - like a magician who tells us to look one way, while switching cards with the other hand - story can offer us just enough misdirection until the trick is revealed. We are educated about our assumptions and the opposite and complementary truth in one swift, jovial blow.

This story also shines a light, for me, on the idea that there is always light and dark. There is balance, in all things. Often, our cultural paradigm tells us there is only yang, only light, only striving, only creating - even beliefs. This story points to the shadow realm of ideas without dogma, moments of insight without a concrete story to which they become anchored. We all know what happens when we anchor something - it doesn't move with the current - safety and stagnation at the same time.

What is it like to live a life where we may carry a look of wonder on our face, without creating a belief about it to explain, or justify, its importance? Can we live freely upon the currents? If we must anchor for a time, will we remember how to become released?


Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived. -Oscar Wilde, writer (1854-1900)

Story Harbour, vol. 1 CD Release

"Every culture has a rich reservoir of folklore which offers entertainment, inspiration and wisdom. These tales do much more than simply entertain. They resonate with universal human desires and emotions. We learn things here that we might not learn in any other way.

We ponder, we laugh and we grow in our understanding of our world and who we are in it."

Síochán,
Zette

Story Harbour vol. 1 is the inaugural collection of world tales for all ages performed by Zette Harbour. Stories travel the world and we can enjoy them when they visit our corner of it. Hear about Anansi, the half-spider, half-man who covets the stories of the sky god. Visit the British Isles and learn a thing or two. A poignant tale from Japan speaks to us all. From the deep reaches of the ancient city of Jerusalem, learn the meaning of poverty and of wisdom. Finally, test your cleverness against the innkeeper's daughter.

Track 1: Anansi & Stories
Track 2:Master Of All Masters
Track 3:The Little Old Woman Who Lived In A Vinegar Bottle
Track 4:The Crane Wife
Track 5:The Sound Of The Money
Track 6:The Innkeeper's Clever Daughter

This cd is in pre-release. You can order now and receive either standard plastic jewel case packaging, or you can order now and receive the Zero Carbon Footprint Digipak™. If you choose the standard plastic jewel case packaging, the cd will be mailed to you immediately. If you choose the Zero Carbon Footprint Digipak™, your cd will be shipped on June 15.

To hear a sample and place an order, visit www.ZetteHarbour.com.

(For International Shipping, contact Zette Harbour at www.zetteharbour.com)

When The Moon's In Full, Then Wits In The Wane

Pray to the Moon when she is round. Luck with you will then abound. What you seek for shall be found, on the sea or solid ground."






"Everyone is a Moon and has a dark side which she never shows to anyone." Mark Twain

Some thoughts on the full moon for the upcoming lunar event.
The Moon has come to represent the feminine/yin. It governs in the sign of Cancer, the crab, and rules the life of the unmanifest world - the unconscious, the spirit, but also the maternal qualities of conception and birth. Its mercurical silvery light calls forth the nocturnal, subterranean parts of ourselves - magic - and of course, the Moon irresistibly attracts the light of the Sun, the male principle to her.

"Enlightenment does not divide you, just as the Moon does not break the water. You cannot hinder enlightenment, just as a drop of water does not hinder the Moon in the sky."
Zen Master Dogen

"Enlightenment is like the Moon reflected on the water. The Moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken. Although its light is wide and great, the Moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide. The whole Moon and the entire sky are reflected in dewdrops on the grass, or even in one drop of water."



Buddha became enlightened when the Moon was full.

"Last night we hung out of the east windows and howled at the Moon, incredible orb gliding up over the eastern hills....and made up a song to her. During the night I fell into a dream that enabled me to go under the belly of death, as the giver of life..."
Margot Adler, Drawing Down The Moon