Throughout the ages, the spoken word has been used as a tool to open the minds, and touch the hearts of children. On every continent, and within every culture, words have been the primary tool to guide and empower the young. Words are like water penetrating deeply into the unseen regions of the earth. Once there, water encourages and frees the dormant seed to begin its journey into the light. The vibration of the voice, and the symbols it contains, likewise accesses hidden levels of a child’s mind and calls forth the latent gifts.
Regardless of a child’s age, its mind is amazingly intelligent. This intelligence is responsible for managing and maturing the miracle of DNA evolving into a human body. This same intelligence takes in an endless stream of impressions, and experiences a constant symphony of feelings. Each of these feelings, no matter how small, are categorized, stored and utilized to guide and develop the child’s consciousness.
The child’s conscious mind is like the tightly woven petals of a flower bud just beginning to open. The child’s unconscious mind is as vast as the universe and capable of achieving things beyond the comprehension of the human imagination. This intelligence is alive and dynamic. Even when the child is very young or asleep; it hears; understands and responds to spoken words. Especially if those words are from someone who loves the child.
SYMBOLS AND THE CHILD’S MIND
The power of love focused through the symbols of a story triggers movements at the deepest level of a child’s mind. When a child hears a story, its unconscious mind instantly translates the words into many different languages that match the different levels of the child’s existence. One language only affects the body. Another level of the mind hears a different language and only the feelings are affected. Still another level of the mind utilizes the same words to create a language which only affects the thought processes.
Within a child there are twelve languages corresponding with the twelve grandparents and the lines of the family tree they represent. Each symbol within a story affects the body; the feelings, and the thoughts in different ways and stirs the genetic memory of a specific family line. The symbol of “water” for example, is a feminine symbol. There is an exact body system and specific area of the brain which responds to the word “water”. There is also a different feeling accessed by the word “water”. As well as a specific action motivated by the same word. The feminine nature of the word “water” opens the mother’s side of the family and begins to increase the flow between the maternal grandmother and the child. In general, the vibration of the word “water”, also accesses the urinary system, the right side of the brain, and the pineal gland. The feeling of water is quiet peace and gentleness. The word “water” encourages the mind towards spatial perception and multiple possibilities. There is an increase in internal mental sensitivity and away from outer body functions. When the word “water” is spoken in combination with other words, its affect is changed into a myriad of other slightly different outcomes. Each combination of words accesses the influences of other family lines, until, by the end of the story, the whole body is humming and flowing.
In contrast, the word “fire” is masculine. The child’s mind that hears the word activates the digestive system, gall bladder; the left side of the brain, and the pituitary gland. The feeling is emotional, like anger or passion. The mind is encouraged towards focused action and determination. The father’s side of the family is activated. Usually the family line of the paternal grandfather comes into play. There is an increase in overall body action, and a decrease in mental states. The masculine qualities of “fire” have a completely different influence from the feminine nature of the word “water”. The intelligence of a young child’s mind knows the universal meanings of each word which is spoken, and adds its own variations from the personal experiences
THE RESOLUTION OF UNRESOLVED FEELINGS
Like the conductor of a grand orchestra, the child’s mind instructs different parts of the body and mind to respond in their own unique ways. By hearing different stories, different systems of the child are stimulated and strengthened. Like tuning the instruments of the orchestra, the symbols of a story can dissolve imbalances in different family lines. It can also guide the child towards naturally existing gifts it would otherwise be unaware of. The “symbolic” or feeling level of the mind stores unresolved feelings like tiny bubbles or images. These unresolved spheres of feelings are the result of hidden fears within the mind. Acquired genetically and through the environment, these fears obstruct the child’s access to higher states of consciousness and optimum physical health. The burden of carrying these hardened bubbles weighs heavy over a lifetime. The energy to store and maintain these crystallized spheres robs vitality which could better be used to raised the consciousness of the child and the family. Over a period of time, the accumulation of these imagery bubbles builds pressure within specific body systems, glands and organs, altering body chemistry and health. A similar pressure builds within various levels of the mind, stimulating thought and action which builds a topography of personal habits. Through this processes, a body type and personality, are formed and expressed.
The flowing of the voice as it tells a story, delivers a rhythmic sequence of images into the symbolic level of a child’s mind. The movement of these story images activates the corresponding unresolved bubbles within the body and mind, bringing up the fears that created them. Repetition of the story, gradually dissolves the bubbles and the pressures they generated. During the same time, the old fears are processed and released. Like pure water flowing over dissolving rocks, loving words of a story clears away the shadows of fear within the child. With the aid of story images, inner blueprints of pain are symbolicly released before they create physical or social outcomes. The result of this process brings peace to the mind and body of the child, allowing the light within to shine more brightly.
The level of the mind that stores and processes images is basically feminine, and represents an “indirect” level of the mind. This feeling level of the mind responds to messages that are “implied” or symbolic. In the early years of a child’s development it is this level of the mind that is growing most rapidly. During this stage of development, a child is extremely sensitive to the feelings and words of its mother. The feminine quality of the mother is attuned to the feeling mind of the child. For this reason, the mother’s voice is the most effective when using stories to nurture and guide the early stages of a developing child’s mind. The femininity of a child’s symbolic mind is one of the reasons that in children’s stories fear is often expressed as an “evil witch”. When the witch dies in a story, the implied message to the child’s mind is to release the fear associated with its symbology. The feminine gender of the witch directs the point of conscious within the child’s mind to a deeper level.
WHICH STORIES TO USE AND HOW
When in doubt about which stories to use, consider the classics. Stories become classics because they work. Many contemporary stories are good for entertainment or building a child’s imagination, but lack the essential mechanics to solve deeper problems. The same is true for most spontaneous stories that children enjoy so much. Continue to use such stories, but regularly add a classic to your story selection. The following is a short list of classic stories that touch different lines in the family tree.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Wizard of Oz
Jack and the Beanstalk
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
The Little Mermaid
Little Red Riding Hood
The Fisherman’s Wife
The Land of the Blue Flower
Hansel and Gretel
The Three Little Pigs
The Little Engine that Could
The Mouse and the Lion
Aladdin
Snow White
How Br’er Rabbit Fooled Br’er Fox
Rumpelstiltskin
Cinderella
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
The Princess and the Pea
Rapunzel
The Emperor’s New Clothes
Here are two examples of how a child’s mind would translate a story:
In the story “The Wizard of Oz”, one of the witches is destroyed by the character, Dorothy, throwing a bucket of water on her. The old fear (evil witch) is purified by Dorothy (child-like innocence) and the movement of water (spiritual feelings).
In the story of “Hansel and Gretel “, the evil witch trying to eat the boy is destroyed when the young girl throws the witch into the oven. The children eat all the sweets they want and return home with precious gem¬stones. In this story, old fear (evil witch) is trying to consume the boy (masculine body), but is interrupted when the girl (pure innocence) throws the witch into the fire (purification). Boy saves girl; girl saves boy. The union of masculine and feminine overcomes the twin fears of abandonment and poverty. The children eat their fill of the sweet house (love) and return home (body) with riches (higher states of consciousness). This story uses the masculine symbol of “fire” to direct the child’s mind into higher states of consciousness and into a different family line than the use of “water” in “The Wizard of Oz “.
There are many other classic stories that are wonderful for touching children and strengthening the family. Start your own list!
GRANDPARENTS AND HOW TO USE RECORDED FAIRYTALES
The indirect and feminine nature of a child’s mind, makes grandparents the perfect candidates to read stories to young children. The childlike softness of a grandparent’s voice is like a key inserted into the lock of a child’s mind. The wisdom within the grandparent’s consciousness calls the child to a higher state of consciousness, as the symbols of the story do their work to dissolve the earthly fears. The union of hearts between a child and a grandparent touches places within the child no one else can. The nature of the love between grandparent and grandchild is to be acknowledged, revered and nurtured. The use of stories builds bridges between grandparents and grandchildren. It also reveals and deepens the timeless connection between them.
Live performances are much better than recordings, but in this day and age, when grandparents are scattered to the four corners of world, recordings are the best option. Parents can play recorded stories for their children just about any time. Stories are much better for your children than television. But perhaps the best time to play stories is just before or after bedtime. The hour around bedtime is the most important hour of the day for children. This is the time when children can release the stresses of the day, and prepare to meet the challenges of tomorrow. This is the time of the family. Like eating meals together, reading or listening to stories strengthens family bonds and builds character in the child. It is the parents who are the best suited to guide the bedtime ritual.
Start your own audio library of recordings of the classics by each of the grandparents in the family tree. Start now before you miss anymore of the opportunity. Make a family project of it.
Supply all of existing grandparents with transcripts of the best versions of the classics. If necessary, provide the recorder and the high quality blank tapes. Be persistent! Give them every manner of support and encouragement to complete the task. Some grandparents will not feel capable of reading and recording stories for the grandchildren. But if they are currently lucid enough to talk and read, then they are capable enough to do at least some of this truly sacred task. Explain to the grandparents that you want them to leave a gift of love for future generations; the gift of the grandparent’s voice. Ask the grandparent to practice reading the story aloud at least 5-7 times before recording it. Ask the grandparent to imagine reading the story to their grandchild as if the child is asleep in the same room.
Theatrical recordings are also wonderful to have, but to access deeper levels of consciousness, a soft voice is best. Having the grandchild present during the recording is usually not practical. Young children have a tendency to interrupt by asking questions or making comments. It makes your heart laugh when they do so, but for making a recording intended for future generations it normally doesn’t work. When the grandparent finishes the story, make duplicates and keep the master copy in a very safe place. Two or three generations later, you have something which is irreplaceable and of immense value. Repeat the process with all the grandparents in the family. In a few years, the family has heirlooms more precious than any diamonds or gold.
If your grandparents are already deceased, incapable or just plain unwilling to participate in this family project, then find replacements. Search the countryside high and low for the best grandparents you can find. Look for that grandparent who is “one in ten thousand”. A grandparent whose life exemplifies the highest in spiritual and personal achievement. Find a grandparent whose eyes sparkle, and whose mind is as open as the galaxy, and as clean as driven snow. Find a grandparent whose heart is filled with courageous joy, and yet is softer than a baby’s butt. But most of all, find a grandparent who loves God. Ask or beg this grandparent to record stories for your children. Make extra copies for your friends and neighbors. When the “fruit” of this grandparent’s voice begins to feed the roots of your children’s minds, your family tree will grow stronger than ever.
The day will arrive when all of the grandparents in your family tree are alive and healthy. Children born into this vibration will never die. The day will come when a grandchild who is in need of a physical or mental healing will listen to a specific story read to them by a specific grandparent. The result will be a return to perfect health of mind and body. Another child who is otherwise healthy, will listen to a sequence of stories that automatically opens a naturally existing gift of genius. That genius might be art, music or mathematics. The genius opened by the loving voices of the grandparents might help solve a problem which has plagued mankind for centuries. The voice of grandparents reading stories is that strong. What a treasure we could leave future generations!
THE BED TIME RITUAL
Children look to parents to provide the sense of security at bedtime. By their consistency, gentleness and physical presence at bedtime, parents protect and guide their children. This is a good time for parents to read classic stories and prepare the child to make their journey into the mystery of sleep. While the child is awake, it is the voice of the parents that is of the greatest importance. Ideally, parents would be healthy, well-rested and happy to read aloud to their children at bedtime. But in the modern world, stress takes its toll on parents, and it is a rare parent who has enough strength and patience to read to their child every single night. Especially when the child wants the same story night after night. Parents often get annoyed or irritated when requested to read the same stories for many nights in a row. Under such circumstances, it is quite common for parents to start reading fast or skipping pages. Children are pretty good at catching their parents in the act of hurrying along. Intuitively, children know they need to hear a story many times in order for them to be satisfied. They are correct. In theory, it takes thirty-three repetitions of a story before the symbolic lesson it contains reaches and alters the template of the child’s mind. The actual number of repetitions a child needs depends on the nature of the situation and inner development of the child.
The best way to satisfy this very real need, is to read the story aloud; put the child to bed, and then turn on a recording of the story. Then the child will have both the security of the parents presence, and the benefit of hearing the story many times. You may play the same fairytale as many times as the story will repeat in one hour. After one hour, allow the child to move into their normal sleep cycle without the recording in the background. Continue using the same story for one or two weeks, then move to a new story. After awhile, a child will pull from the family collection exactly the story they want and need to hear. Whatever story you or your child choose to listen to, it is very important that you do not try to explain to the child the meaning of the story. Their mind benefits most when they process the deeper mysteries without adult interference.
THE FIRST HOUR
The first hour after a child is asleep is a gift from God to parents. During this special hour, a child’s mind becomes completely open to the voice of the parents and grandparents. The inner intelligence of the child hears, receives and processes the symbols within a story. It also feels and responds to the vibration of the voice as if the person were actually present in the room. This is the perfect time to softly play one of the recordings from the family collection of stories recorded by the grandparents. You may even choose to remain in the room and listen to the story yourself. When the parent and the child are both resting quietly, while listening to the voice of a grandparent, something very special begins to happen. Something which transcends the boundaries of everyday life and lifts the family one rung higher up the ladder to heaven.
If the listening to a story during sleep disturbs the child’s sleep or causes nightmares, withdraw the tape for two or three days, then start again with the volume lower than before. When hearing a story, there can be reactions from the child as they cleanse issues from the family tree during sleep. If there is a difficult night, do not despair. Be thankful that something within the child is being accessed and removed. If at any time the child develops fever, treat the fever as you normally would. Remove the tape for two or three days, then start again and continue until the reaction subsides. This method of removing family pain from within a child actually works. Consider this approach as a valuable and powerful tool. Use it wisely. Parents and grandparents have a divine responsibility to give their children and grandchildren the best possible protection and guidance.
The following stories by Denny Johnson are designed to activate specific qualities within a child. These stories are the personal property of Denny Johnson.