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Once Upon a Place: Forests, Caverns & Other Places of Transformation in Myths, Fairy Tales & Film by Holly Bellebuono delves into the world of fiction to explore themes and messages that are commonly found in the World Journey or Hero's Journey and how the lessons are conveyed through the use of different locations. The themes are so prevalent that they can be divided into distinct categories: the Cavern, the Deep, the Vessel, the Forest, and the Labyrinth. Furthermore, these tales feature similar character elements: Descent and Resurrection, Chaos and Void, and the Beast and the Guide. She explores a variety of myths from around the world, including not just the ever poignant works of the colonizers, but also tales from indigenous peoples in Africa, South America, and North America, with the expressed goal of showing this is not a Eurocentric phenomenon, but a human one. We are all linked by the stories we tell, and the similarities across cultures reinforce that the human condition is universal.
I absolutely loved her approach and devoured this book in two days. It is not a super-easy read, but Bellebuono is so engaging and thought-provoking, I struggled to put it down. In fact, I was reading snippets in between running dungeons and raids in World of Warcraft, and at one point, my friend told me to wait at the end of the dungeon while he cleared it so I could finish out a chapter. I was that engrossed in the information Bellebuono had to share with the world. Once Upon a Place is very clearly a labor of love.
So why would a witch and an occult publisher be interested in reading and publishing such a work that is clearly meant for the literature analysis world? Because the stories we tell have deep meaning and lessons that all of us can benefit from, especially the witch. As a witch who analyzes old stories to glean magical truth, Bellebuono has given me a lot to think about. Who is the Guide? The Beast? Where is this story taking place, and what does that mean for the protagonist? How is a Forest different from a single tree? A Labrynith different from the Vessel? These locations give a whole new meaning to the stories I have read dozens of times, and as I continue to read more of the Nordic myths, I will be looking out for Bellebuono's classifications.
It's not just in the analysis of ancient myths and legends, however, that Bellenuono's work is helpful. If you are into analyzing your dreams, reading tarot, or hedge riding, this book will be of particular use. Bellebuono ascribes meaning to what a lot of us would otherwise overlook. Thinking of my own hedge riding practice, I also descend into the Otherworld before ascending with enlightenment. I never really understood why until now: thematically, humans have always descended into the unknown before ascending with new knowledge, power, and strength. This is exactly what most hedge riders are doing as well, without even knowing they are doing it! Furthermore, understanding the meaning of places can help you better understand the messages and lessons being taught by your dreams, journey, or divinatory practices. How is finding yourself in a Forest different from finding yourself in a Cavern? Going back and reading through my past hedge riding journeys, I have realized I have been missing valuable information without even realizing it.
I cannot begin to express how helpful and enlightening I found Once Upon a Place. If you are interested in taking your practice to the next level, especially if you are interested in folklore, dream magic, hedge riding, or tarot. My only qualm with Bellebuono's work is the inclusion of Harry Potter, whose inclusion continues to perpetuate an incredibly harmful IP. I wouldn't let its inclusion stop you from picking up this book, though.
Upon a Place: Forests, Caverns & Other Places of Transformation in Myths, Fairy Tales & Film by Holly Bellebuono is available now wherever books are sold. Again, I highly recommend picking up a copy today!
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