Monday, March 8, 2010

Egyptian Fable

Long ago, an Egyptian ruler owned a priceless stone. It was said that this stone, when held in the palm of your hand would project your past, present and future. When the ruler died, this stone was buried with him.


Centuries later, a grave robber found the stone. Within a few years, he was eager to sell it. The stone found a new home across the waters. It was handed down thru this family and was given to the last son. This man did not want the stone, he feared it. He did not want to relive his past and did not care to see his future. So, he carefully packed it away.


There it set for many years till this man had a child. Close to his death, the man pulled out the stone and placed it in the hand of his three year old child. "Tell me child," he asked, "what do you see?" Nothing was the reply. The man took the stone and placed it in his hand, to make sure it still worked. He saw wondrous things for his child.


He placed the stone in the child's hand again and asked the same question. The child replied, "nothing, it is blank." The man wrapped the stone and put it away with a chuckle. His family had possessed a fool's stone. The stone showed a person's desire not what the future really was to be. Only one, pure of thought could hold it and not see anything.


I often wondered if J.K. Rowling had heard this story because she has it in her Harry Potter story. Only, she has made it a mirror instead of a stone that Harry finds.


I believe the moral of the story is: trying to achieve your heart's desire and not obtaining it can destroy you. What do you think?

5 comments:

Kay Dennison said...

I think there are lots of variations on that story as it is a theme in the folk literature of most cultures.

Looking to the Stars said...

Kay, I agree with you. Do you think they all had the same moral?

Beth Niquette said...

I don't think achieving one's heart's desire would necessarily destroy a person.

I say this, because in many ways I have achieved my heart's desires--and this gives me much joy.

((hugs))

On the other hand, if one's heart's desire is based on something bad--like hatred or revenge, achieving that goal, could indeed destroy a person...

Beth Niquette said...

By the way--I love the story. I do so enjoy all stories.

Looking to the Stars said...

Beth, I agree achieving your hearts desire doesn't destroy a person but what about a person who never achieves their hearts desire. It always remains a arm length away, always within in reach and then disappears. Do you think that would destroy the person?
Do you see another moral in this story other then what I saw?

Thanks kiddo, I enjoy your pictures :)