"Tell me the story about how the sun loved the moon so much he died every night to let her breathe"
It all started a long time ago, at the beginning actually. The great spirits who formed from the fabric of the cosmos, created two partly immortal beings that could grow but never die of old age. They were to be given tasks, even if they did not know it. The man, Sun was a handsome being, with a radiance even the spirits could not rival. He taught them that fire could take everything away in an instance, but could also create and give life.
The woman, Moon was beautiful; she glowed with a calming light that could captivate and wash away troubles. She taught them that darkness created life, but if it got out of control it could erase it.
When the two immortals first opened their eyes, they saw each other and loved each other from that moment. They settled down and the two had many beautiful children.
All too soon they were torn apart by jealous spirits who decided that Sun must fulfil his duty, given to him at the beginning of time. They increased his powers tenfold and placed him high in the sky; his light filled the firmament and enabled life to exist on the land beneath.
Moon though, was not born to belong in the light, and she began to choke as burning rays engulfed her. When sun saw what he had done he swore to never shine again, extinguishing his flame, killing himself. The sky was spread with darkness making Moon and her children stand out upon the backdrop of black.
Moon was heartbroken; she stopped eating and began to wane. Soon she had become so small that she disappeared from the sky altogether, and went gladly to join Sun on the far side of the veil.
They were happy and reunited in paradise for a brief while, before an angry spirit appeared to them. She told them her name was Anima, spirit of life and the universe.
'Don't you see you? This is bigger than all of you! I have created a world; all it needed was guardians to protect it. Sun, to give it the warmth of light and the ferocity of fire. Moon to calm and guard it in the quiet hours. But Instead of preserve it, you have almost destroyed it.'
The two lovers hung their heads in silence. What can we do now? They thought.
'I am the spirit of life, and you have immortal blood. I will return you to the material realm, and together you will balance the world in an endless cycle. Sun, you must return to the spirit world at the end of every day so that Moon can live. Moon, if you do your task well I will give you a night every month, where you do not have to reside in the sky and can return to the spirit world and be together.'
They reluctantly agreed to her terms and departed. When night fell Sun and Moon's children followed their mother onto her half of the sky, becoming the stars.
The two lovers still dance in perfect cycle, a cycle of death, life and love; balancing each other until the end of time, just how it is and should be.
And that my dear child, is the story about how the sun loved the moon so much he died every night to let her breathe."
The girl sighed dreamily and looked up at the twinkling in the sky. The woman had turned her gaze away from her, eyes tears streaming down her face.
Everything was still. Nothing moved. The world held its breath in anticipation.
A bird began to sing a joyous melody that spoke of glistening clear water, dew on grass, dappled forest floors and the vastness of the sky. The tune soon changed to one that promised refuge in dreams, melting shadows, reflections of the soul and our place in the universe. Just as soon as it started, the song began to dwindle until the last crystal clear note fell like rain into the silent world.
The girl and the woman both looked to the horizon, a halo of light was creeping slowly above the tip of the mountains, the sky was streaked with the colors of dawn, the hues contrasting with the last stars that clung onto all that was left of the night.
A blazing orb rose, tearing apart the sky with white fire.
"Sun." They whispered in unison
The rays of light crept forward slowly, outlining each twig, each leaf lying on the ground with pure gold. It reached the two figures and as its warm fingers reached out and touched them they began to fade. Blossoms swirled around them, soon all that was left of their evanescence was a few glowing, silver embers that climbed the staircase of petals and lush green leaves into the sky, riding the wind, chasing a dream.
It all started a long time ago, at the beginning actually. The great spirits who formed from the fabric of the cosmos, created two partly immortal beings that could grow but never die of old age. They were to be given tasks, even if they did not know it. The man, Sun was a handsome being, with a radiance even the spirits could not rival. He taught them that fire could take everything away in an instance, but could also create and give life.
The woman, Moon was beautiful; she glowed with a calming light that could captivate and wash away troubles. She taught them that darkness created life, but if it got out of control it could erase it.
When the two immortals first opened their eyes, they saw each other and loved each other from that moment. They settled down and the two had many beautiful children.
All too soon they were torn apart by jealous spirits who decided that Sun must fulfil his duty, given to him at the beginning of time. They increased his powers tenfold and placed him high in the sky; his light filled the firmament and enabled life to exist on the land beneath.
Moon though, was not born to belong in the light, and she began to choke as burning rays engulfed her. When sun saw what he had done he swore to never shine again, extinguishing his flame, killing himself. The sky was spread with darkness making Moon and her children stand out upon the backdrop of black.
Moon was heartbroken; she stopped eating and began to wane. Soon she had become so small that she disappeared from the sky altogether, and went gladly to join Sun on the far side of the veil.
They were happy and reunited in paradise for a brief while, before an angry spirit appeared to them. She told them her name was Anima, spirit of life and the universe.
'Don't you see you? This is bigger than all of you! I have created a world; all it needed was guardians to protect it. Sun, to give it the warmth of light and the ferocity of fire. Moon to calm and guard it in the quiet hours. But Instead of preserve it, you have almost destroyed it.'
The two lovers hung their heads in silence. What can we do now? They thought.
'I am the spirit of life, and you have immortal blood. I will return you to the material realm, and together you will balance the world in an endless cycle. Sun, you must return to the spirit world at the end of every day so that Moon can live. Moon, if you do your task well I will give you a night every month, where you do not have to reside in the sky and can return to the spirit world and be together.'
They reluctantly agreed to her terms and departed. When night fell Sun and Moon's children followed their mother onto her half of the sky, becoming the stars.
The two lovers still dance in perfect cycle, a cycle of death, life and love; balancing each other until the end of time, just how it is and should be.
And that my dear child, is the story about how the sun loved the moon so much he died every night to let her breathe."
The girl sighed dreamily and looked up at the twinkling in the sky. The woman had turned her gaze away from her, eyes tears streaming down her face.
Everything was still. Nothing moved. The world held its breath in anticipation.
A bird began to sing a joyous melody that spoke of glistening clear water, dew on grass, dappled forest floors and the vastness of the sky. The tune soon changed to one that promised refuge in dreams, melting shadows, reflections of the soul and our place in the universe. Just as soon as it started, the song began to dwindle until the last crystal clear note fell like rain into the silent world.
The girl and the woman both looked to the horizon, a halo of light was creeping slowly above the tip of the mountains, the sky was streaked with the colors of dawn, the hues contrasting with the last stars that clung onto all that was left of the night.
A blazing orb rose, tearing apart the sky with white fire.
"Sun." They whispered in unison
The rays of light crept forward slowly, outlining each twig, each leaf lying on the ground with pure gold. It reached the two figures and as its warm fingers reached out and touched them they began to fade. Blossoms swirled around them, soon all that was left of their evanescence was a few glowing, silver embers that climbed the staircase of petals and lush green leaves into the sky, riding the wind, chasing a dream.
Eons ago, when the Moon and the Sun were still young, they never saw one another. The Moon would look upon the world and see creation change and grow, till one-day man was brought forth. The Moon would hear man talking about the Great Sun and all he did for them. He brought warmth to them, helped the crops grow and was their protector by day as in the night; evil things would prey upon them. This hurt the Moon terribly and for the first time, she turned her back to the world and man. When the Great Sun heard what man had done, he was angry. He said to the world, "You fools. Don’t you know how fortunate you are to have her in the night? She is your light, your guide and the protector of the night. She gives you, every night, all her light and protection she can. She is a heavenly body, the most beautiful of us all and you shun her. Now you wonder why she has turned her back on you? I should do the same!"
Man, fearing the turning of the Great Sun, begged the Moon to return to them. "Oh, Great Moon, whose light and protection you grant on us, please return and guide us once more. We are bowed low in your Grace and Love. Please Great Moon, return and save us from the wrath of the Great Sun. We have shamed him in the way we have treated you and he will turn from us, as you have done. Please Great Moon, return!"
The Great Moon, having heard the call of the world and what the Great Sun had done, began a slow turn to the world. Unsure if she wanted to trust the world again. But as she turned, she would hear more about what the Sun had done and said. Her heart grew warm with his words and longed to see him. In simple words, she was falling in love with the Great Sun. She moved through the night, faster. Trying to see him, her love! Till at last, when the day and the night over lapped, she saw him. The Great Sun turned to her and smiled. He was so please to see her..
"Great Moon", he said. "You have come at last! I have longed to see you." The Great Sun spread his warmth to the Great Moon and embraced her. His warmth filled her and caressed her. Slowly they came together, their first true embrace. From that day forward, when the Great Moon and the Great Sun would come together, we, the world, would call it an eclipse. For their love would shadow the earth in darkness and allow us to see true love!
Man, fearing the turning of the Great Sun, begged the Moon to return to them. "Oh, Great Moon, whose light and protection you grant on us, please return and guide us once more. We are bowed low in your Grace and Love. Please Great Moon, return and save us from the wrath of the Great Sun. We have shamed him in the way we have treated you and he will turn from us, as you have done. Please Great Moon, return!"
The Great Moon, having heard the call of the world and what the Great Sun had done, began a slow turn to the world. Unsure if she wanted to trust the world again. But as she turned, she would hear more about what the Sun had done and said. Her heart grew warm with his words and longed to see him. In simple words, she was falling in love with the Great Sun. She moved through the night, faster. Trying to see him, her love! Till at last, when the day and the night over lapped, she saw him. The Great Sun turned to her and smiled. He was so please to see her..
"Great Moon", he said. "You have come at last! I have longed to see you." The Great Sun spread his warmth to the Great Moon and embraced her. His warmth filled her and caressed her. Slowly they came together, their first true embrace. From that day forward, when the Great Moon and the Great Sun would come together, we, the world, would call it an eclipse. For their love would shadow the earth in darkness and allow us to see true love!