Story Crossroads

X is for Xolotl vs. Quetzacoatl

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/). The Story Crossroads theme for this year is Finding Resilience & Strength through Traditional Tales.

Xolotl –

From Aztecs

Dogs were considered filthy and undesirable to have around for the Aztecs. As a result of this disdain, Xolotl, the twin of Quetzacoatl, had a dog head. While Quetzacoatl was celebrated and honored, Xolotl was a deceiver and a bringer of doom. In fact, Xolotl guarded the sun as it set all the way back and traveled through the Underworld known as Mictlan. Eventually, the sun would escape from the Underworld to rise the next day.

Xolotl could be helpful such as guiding the dead to the afterlife. He was supposed to sacrifice himself along with the other gods when the sun needed to regain its strength and only sacrifices would bring that power back to the sun. He cried so much to get out of it that he cried his eyes out. No, I mean it. Eyes. Out.

This story below focus on how humans came to be. So Xolotl did help there. Many not-so-flattering stories about him, but this one is where he made it possible for people to exist.

50-word-or-less summary

Xolotl and Quetzacoatl (twins) asked Mother, Citalicue, to create mankind. Traveled to the Underworld. Lord of Death gave a bone of the dead. Xolotl carried the bone but tripped. Bone broke unevenly. He sprinkled the bone parts with blood. Four days later, man created. Four days later, woman created.

Finding the Story:

Book The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures – here

Xolotl – The Underworld Dog God of the Aztecs – here

Video – Who was Xolotl? – here

Finding Resilience & Strength:

Quetzacoatl had to endure quite the twin brother in Xolotl. Quetzacoatl was more benelovent and gave Xolotl chances to redeem himself. Xolotl usually made things…interesting…and not in the positive way. Though, for Quetzacoatl to go to the Underworld with Xolotl, a realm that Xolotl knew quite well, really shows much strength and resilience.

Family is family. We love them no matter what.

Here is an article from HelpGuide.org called “Improving Family Relationships with Emotional Intelligence” to explore mental health strategies.

Please share thoughts in the comments. While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See quick list of programs here.

As for our past A to Z Challenges…

Go to A to Z Archive

While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has been resilient and strong during these past years and looks forward to the next hybrid summit & festival on May 8-11, 2023. We would be honored for you to join us. Explore the schedule and register here: http://www.storycrossroads.org/Festival

Explore Summit & Festival

Thanks to funding from National Endowment for the Arts; National Endowment for the Humanities; Western States Arts Federation; Utah Division of Arts and Museums/Utah Legislature; Utah Humanities; City of Murray; Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) of Salt Lake County; Salt Lake City Arts Council; Ashton Family Foundation

W is for Woman vs. Shape-shifting Monster

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/). The Story Crossroads theme for this year is Finding Resilience & Strength through Traditional Tales.

Woman –

From Nepal

Bamboo is amazing. So versatlie, strong, and can be made into so many things. No wonder the Man in the story was easily enchanted with a voice to go deeper for the best bamboo.

What can bamboo do? Practically anything you can think of. Thomas Edison found it a necessary part of go-to items when inventing. People have used bamboo to make furniture, build roads, produce medicines, and on and on. Need a toothbrush? Use bamboo. Need a surfboard? Use bamboo.

Bamboo is strong yet flexible. Hmmm. Sounds a lot like this theme of Strength and Resilience, right? Right.

In Nepal, bamboo is mainly used for constructing homes. Perhaps the Man needed to add another room to the house due to his growing family? The Woman could have suggested the need for more space.

50-word-or-less summary

Monster enchanted Man to go deeper in forest. Monster transformed into Man. Woman noticed Man’s feet. Odd! Placed pillows in bed for her and Kids. Hid. Monster disappointed. Slipped. Knocked out. Woman put Monster in chest. Night…Thieves stole chest. Ran from Monster. Never stole again. Woman found Man. Enchantment lifted.

Finding the Story:

Book Asian Tales and Tellers – story shared within “A Woman’s Wit” – here

Book Tales of Kathmandu – here

15 Creative Uses of Bamboo – here

Academic article “Embodying Otherness: Shape-Shifting and the Natural World” – here

Finding Resilience & Strength:

How long was that Man roaming the forest under that trance? Don’t know. That could be cause for the need of strength and resilience right there. Though, I think of the observant nature of the Woman. Being intelligent is often about the strength of observation and listening. Despite the Monster looking like her husband, the Woman figured it out. Everything was as it should be…but having the toes backwards and the heels forwards could be cause for alarm.

We can all get busy in our lives and miss things. You may think, “Well, I could have seen those feet and made the same conclusions as that Woman.” Perhaps. If the Man always walked barefoot. But, if the shoes came off at night….

Then, instead of panicking, she found pillows and saved her whole family.

By the way, she purposely left the door open with the chest in view. She expected Thieves to come and rid her of the Monster. She ended up saving those Thieves from ever stealing again.

What a Woman!

Here is a list of tips from Psychology Today called “The Art of Not Panicking” to explore mental health strategies.

Please share thoughts in the comments. While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See quick list of programs here.

As for our past A to Z Challenges…

Go to A to Z Archive

Explore Summit & Festival

V is for Vulcan vs. Venus

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/). The Story Crossroads theme for this year is Finding Resilience & Strength through Traditional Tales.

Vulcan vs. Venus –

From Romans

Vulcan is the Roman counterpart of Hephaestus from the Greeks. Between Vulcan and Hephaestus, I like the Greek version better. Many of the Roman gods and goddesses evolved from the Greeks. Yet, the personalities were slightly different in this transition.

I learned recently (thanks to Despina Ariou and Maria Papanikolaou) from a 4-week deep-dive into Greek Mythology that the gods and goddesses were really a structure and reflection of philosophy rather than as a religion. I suspect the same for the Romans.

In the poem by Hesiod called “The Theogony,” Hephaestus never married Aphrodite. I have to wonder if the Romans with Vulcan had revengeful story linked to Venus and Mars (Ares). Then, in the confusion, both Vulcan and Hephaestus are linked to this story. Hmmm. Greek and Roman myths are often epicentric in that many conflicting versions exist due to every city resonated with certain gods and goddesses more and tweaked stories accordingly.

50-word-or-less summary:

Vulcan and Venus marry. Venus has intimate relations with Mars. Vulcan creates inescapable net that traps Venus and Mars. Vulcan summons other gods and goddesses to reveal infidelity. Released. Mars transforms Sol (sun god) into a rooster/cockerel as punishment for no warning. Explains why roosters are now known for crowing.

Finding the Story:

Article/Story – Mars and Venus Caught in a Net – here

Art – Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan – here

Art – When Love Conquers War: Botticelli’s Venus and Mars – here

Mythopedia – Roman God Vulcan – here

World History Encyclopedia – Venus – here

Finding Resilience & Strength:

Whether looking at this story with Roman eyes (Vulcan) or with Greek eyes (Hephaestus), both cultures have this god as one that was abused. Either Juno (Hera) or Jupiter (Zeus) hurled him over the side of heaven when born and deemed ugly and lame. Vulcan had it rough from the beginning.

Yet, he became known as one of the kindest of the gods.

This story of revenge for Venus and Mars can also be understood as Venus was Vulcan’s wife. Even those known for being kind can have those overwhelming moments. Vulcan did get past this humiliating moments and still gave of his talents of metalwork, smithing, and extreme creativity and engineering to help so many from the weakest of the weak to the strong. Vulcan helped when he could.

Here is a list of tips from Choosing Therapy called “How to Deal with Feeling Overwhelmed: 25 Ways to Cope” to explore mental health strategies. So Vulcan chose to make a net. He certainly was overwhelmed due to relationship stressors!

Please share thoughts in the comments. While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See quick list of programs here.

As for our past A to Z Challenges…

Go to A to Z Archive

Explore Summit & Festival