"This is an astonishing, impressive and magnificent work. ... this is must reading for every parent, would-be parent and teacher world-wide."
- Joseph Chilton Pearce, author 'Magical Child'
"Pure inspiration for teachers and parents."
- Nancy Mellon, author of Storytelling with Children
"Every once in a while one meets a 'real' Kindergarten teacher - one of those rare souls who shake their arms and Kindergarten magic comes flying out. Betty Peck, whom I've known and loved for years, is one of those."
- Joan Almon, US Alliance for Childhood
Twelfth Night customarily takes place on the eve of January 5th, before Twelfth Day, the Day of Epiphany, 12 days after Christmas. For those attending Kindergarten Forum on Winter Twelfth Night, it is a time of warmth and reaffirmation; the yearning towards shorter periods of darkness, and clarifying our intentions as parents and teachers, family and friends. As in years past, Nancy Mellon's visit on this eve marked its passage with the sharing of her gentle wisdom, and the offering of a mighty torch to light our way in the months ahead.
Anna Rainville opened the occasion with a welcome to all, introducing Nancy Mellon and Betty Peck. Betty reminded us that Jan. 6th marks the 100th anniversary honoring Maria Montessori's lifelong work interpreting the development of the child. Handouts were available from Niehaus, relating to Montessori's studies and publications. She said that we are blessed with the spirit and content of Maria Montessori's contribution.
Anna shepherded attendees to the Great Hall's center and quickened the collective pulse of everyone present with instruction for creating "King David's Star", a traditional Morris-dance from the British Isles that signifies good luck and prosperity. Participants then created an image of nurture and protection as an arm-linked inner circle making itself into a barn to warm the outer circle of robins in winter, all the while singing "The North Wind Doth Blow". Afterward, Anna, Margaret More and Nancy Mellon led the room in a Celtic round:
| May the winds be at your back |
| And the sun be overhead |
| May friendship be by your side |
| Wherever you are led |
By this time, we were in good voice for the joyous three-part round, "Ring it In, Ring in the New Year", and all was in readiness for Nancy Mellon's journey into the realm of fairy tales, from which, we were about to learn, spring miraculous insights and energetic solutions for discordant human behavior.
Candle and firelight flickered rhythmically in the Great Hall, lending a hint of timelessness to all gathered there. "Peace" is the single first word Nancy has spoken to us. Dressed all in red, she came before us as a tall, quiet flame, saying that when there is conflict and contradiction in the children we guide, there is help at hand through discovering the storytelling part of ourselves.
The central challenge of finding just the right story for appealing to the "core wisdom that lives within each child" is best answered, Nancy explained, through acceptance, through "meeting children exactly where they are." The "wise story-mother and story-father part" of each of us can work with troubling contradictions in children by showing them they are not alone and that they are free to grow, each in his or her own way. (I suspect that many of us were having some thoughts in common about how this approach is indicated for grownups as well!) She added that the deeper wisdom-"the great wisdom" within us all-is the guiding resource for being "present to the challenge".
Following some reminiscence about earlier periods in human times when a conscious relationship with the natural world was alive and well, she observed that by contrast, the current world landscape is dominated by human will and energy and intellect, "often at odds with the natural world, or with the starry origin of the world." (One very good reason for the "King David's Star" singing game opening this Twelfth Night program might be its requirement of people conjoining to re-form a cooperative image of their very origins.) Over time, the loss of connection to both the stars and the nurturing earth itself has taken its toll, leaving parents and children alike distanced from their true nature: the one that "fits"; the one in which even though life can be cruel and difficult, there is help.
It is in the realm of the fairy tale, Nancy explained to us that we are able, through archetypes, to re-envision the etheric shield-"the angelic embrace"-and also the protective spirits of the elemental or natural world. Once these two forces are restored to our consciousness the resulting balance reassures both parent and child that collaborative help is available in concert with loving human intervention. When each person in turn was then asked to "go deep into a dreaming place" and name a name for herself that would present a true picture of her essential being and/or life experience, we found ourselves entranced by telling words and phrases that bespoke larger worlds and greater connectedness, much of a piece with the ethos of earlier human times.
The twinkling tree lights seemed at times to suspend us humans in the Great Hall between the worlds, where indeed Nancy assured us lie the miraculous opportunities for healing through storytelling. "Fairy tales are a special inoculation for life," she said. Her recounting of the tale, "Three Little Men in the Wood", that involves two families, two-step-sisters, a hut with three gnome-like beings on the border between the farmlands and the forest, and one right-hearted sister's impossible discovery of strawberries growing in the winter snow illustrates the power and the beauty of a life lived under and trust in abundance, despite the unfairness to which the heroine is subjected prior to her incredible journey.
Deep examination by Nancy of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" revealed further "starry wisdom"-the referencing of earlier (pre-literate) understandings about the purpose and meaning of the seven gnomic helpers, who in fact by their work in the mountain--mining planetary minerals--link the earth to the heavens. We are reminded in particular that though terribly cruel behaviors are unfairly visited upon innocent children (the evil stepmother upon Snow White), those who remain close to the natural world (the tender-hearted woodsman) and the seven little gnomish men will help her until she can be saved, by reintegration with the wisdom of nature, and joyfully, by true human love.
Children-and adults for that matter-experience spells of conflict from time to time, and are therefore in need of healing. We were again reminded that we can make stories to meet the moments in which adverse experiences threaten to take hold. What is needed is a sort of "story picture", the image of which Nancy assured us can be found within the energy of the very conflict that disrupts! If we receive that energy with an open heart, transforming it into pictures that bring the child's transgressions into the story-accepting the child and the transgression as a part of the resolution process-the child knows beyond doubt that he is not on his own, that he is held in the adults' love, and within the greater love that constitutes the fabric of the entire cosmos. By holding a mirror to the error in the spirit of acceptance, we appeal to the deep peace that is in the child, and make it accessible to him.
An abundance of soup and plentiful nourishment around the dining room table provided a hearty reinforcement as the entire group took a supper break. Following this time apart in the festively-appointed Peck household, we returned to try out, under Nancy's direction, some practical storytelling applications in small groups. All too soon the evening drew to a close, and we sang more musical rounds together, magically creating a harmonious unity, somehow enhanced by what we'd experienced this Twelfth Night Eve.
At that time the room was darkened, and all participants were given a clear glass of water and a white candle. Margaret More lit her candle, speaking words of wisdom and blessing, then passed her fire to the next person's candle, suggesting that each in turn express a single word of enlightenment for the upcoming year as her candle is lighted. When at last all had spoken, and the room was brilliant with our lights, Margaret asked us to hold forth our water with the candle held behind. Noting that the water which normally quenches fire was instead magnifying the light, she spoke of the thirst for knowledge and of the creative fire, an eloquent study in balance. We then made a toast to teachers, past and present, and one to ourselves, draining our glasses. For a few starry moments we were invited to hold high our candles and bask in the illumination we'd created together--with Margaret's exhortation to imagine billions of tiny fragments of it carrying our blessings outward, even as the mother flames were being tenderly extinguished.
Outside with Betty's Montessori handouts, forum attendee, W.H.Davies had brought lovely personal handouts to share--although perhaps "sheer" is perhaps more to the point. She'd packaged small handfuls of Sonoma County Wool, 2005 spring sheering, with a poem she'd composed specially for this occasion. Visitors who'd come from afar chatted and happily disbanded, a few staying the night in Saratoga for the next day's intensive workshop sessions (Fairy Tales 101) with Nancy Mellon.
Addendum: A dear and treasured friend with whom I shared some of the key content of the Twelfth Night Kindergarten Forum described above stared at me with some dismay and finally asked point-blank: "Are you saying that it is necessary to believe in the kingdom and/or presence of angels and fairies in order to deal with difficult behavior in children?" I thought for a few seconds before I answered, hopefully in keeping with what I took to be the essence of how Nancy Mellon might be saying that today's parents and teachers can work through storytelling to heal the sorrow and confusion we find in our troubled children. I replied, " I'm saying I think it is important to believe in the power of these understandings-the realignment of balance and connectedness, originally conveyed symbolically in times before the written word--to transform fear into courage and discord into joy."
Jade Bradbury
January 2007
Fairy Tales 101 was a day of living enchantment, touching the wonder of the child and reaching into the depths an mysteries of the Universe. The experiential interactions and opportunities to create our own stories made the day very relevant in a very personal way. The day was filled with magic and wonder. A big Thank you! Leslie Griffith
I can't say enough about how positively moving and heart-opening this workshop was-it was powerful and empowering! Thank you, Nancy Mellon, and thanks to Anne for the songs & singing games/parade. The felting was fun, and the food was marvelous! Thank you, Betty--you are very gracious. Anon
Wonderful and inspiring. It brought storytelling back to life for me. Thank you! Tandem
Nancy's wisdom has given me great inspiration in solving many problems. I will tell a story to my own heart. Anon.
A nice mix of talents. Nancy's stories were the highlight! Anon
Inspiring as always! Anon
As always, Nancy brings us deep cosmic perspective with her unique sensitivity always to the children, young ones, babes, youngsters, little ones-of this and other worlds. Nancy Payne
I actually hope to incorporate this in theater writing with the children, re: conflict. That was my goal, but in truth I much to support my personal life, and the stage of life in which I find myself, as well as new ways to help the children appreciate the metaphorical levels of fairy tales and life-metaphors. Joan Harrington
I came {to this Forum} not knowing what to expect, and left in awe with what I will take home with me. I look forward to enjoying and participating with my little girl when she is "visited". I leave with understanding and acceptance. Thank you! Anon
Great workshop! Very interesting and many new approaches to tales of wonder and fairy tales. Well organized and well managed. Anon
Everything was done very well. All of the presenters were very knowledgeable, professional, and articulate. The atmosphere was very pleasant. The food was great! There was time allowed to meet with other teachers. I look forward to coming again. Anon
My journey into the fairy realm with Nancy Mellon at the helm enabled me to tap into the metaphors of spirit/life/nature/conflict/resolution and peace. I was able to journey into a universal picture language of the human soul. Stories are alive when told aloud with from the stale, dry pages of a book. It is my duty as a parent and teacher to link the world above and the world below for my children; to use story wisdom to guide the physical, spiritual and emotional growth of my child. Thank you! Namaste. Judy Cantor
What a wonderful day! Of course the day was about beautiful stories and how we can teach our children with them. But more so, the experience that Nancy creates is about finding the magic of the Universal Truth that lives within all of us, and that can be brought forth in a healing way through these classes and heartfelt tales. Many thanks to Nancy for reconnecting us to that magic. Blessings, Leo Richiuso
Many thanks for your incredible hospitality and amazing home. Megan and I were effected forever with who you are and your presentation__please carry on. …Your home and Forum inspired me/us greatly in the most humble and spiritual ways. Nancy Mellon is most important on the subject of FairyTales for growth and healing. I would love to hear her again!! And Betty's persona and home complimented The Fairy Forum perfectly. Please invite me/us again as we need more of your style. Deborah Johannesen
Betty, I loved your book ,Kindergarten Education: Freeing children's creative potential I gave it to my friend for her birthday. Thank you for opening your home for this wonderful cause The Kindergarten Forum fills me up and I leave full of life. Allyson Penner