Why are humans so entranced by tales of mythical creatures and monsters? Are they aggrandized versions of animals that once walked the Earth? Or are these stories a link to another realm just beyond the mundane?
Recently I heard that the rise in fairytales sprouted from the industrialization of the world. That, as wild grasslands and forests were being taken over by factories and warehouses people began to miss their spiritual connection with the natural world. Old stories took on a new importance and, as time goes on, we have have not gotten enough of them! Just look at the recent popularity of romantic literature featuring faeries and dragons.
I will admit, I am currently listening to one such book as an audiobook (the Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros) but, in general I tend to stick to my physical books of new and old folklore when searching for comfort.
This book in particular is one of my favorites. I love how it features creatures of myth from all over the world. There is something so comforting about forgetting my every day worries and delving deeply into the realm where mermaids rule the rocky shores ...
.... or stroll through a mystical forest where you may find a faun playing a flute ...
I don't know where these creatures came from or if they exist outside of our imaginations. I do feel that keeping these fairy tales alive is as important now as much as ever. With the rise of digital technology, worries about the state of the world are ever present. That isn't to say that humans had it easy before the internet existed. Us humans have always been riddled with anxiety. I believe fantastical tales exist to let us escape from the mundane world into one of magic & myth is one tactic to maintaining mental well being.
So, you will find me each frosty morning huddled with my cup of coffee or tea absorbed in the pages of one of these books. And at night eagerly jumping into the (digital) pages of some sci-fi or fantasy. In a way I am simply doing my own version of self care and preventing my mind from worrying too much. In a way I am doing my part of keeping these tales alive and participating in the process of re-enchanting the world that has become so dis-enchanted.