A Song of Shadows and Light

Once upon a soft moonbeam, dwelling in a kingdom serene
Where no man ever was angry, no woman was once mean
That knew only of abundance, and which never knew lean
Lived the honorable King Tormon and Herena, his radiant queen...

It is easy to think of fairy tales, myths, and legends as light-hearted things. Stories that are wonderful for amusing children, but irrelevant to the struggles we go through.

But since the dawn of civilization and even before, these stories have told us of the truths that exist beyond truth.

For countless generations, they have been the means of sharing the light of understanding.

From my mother reading me “A Child’s Garden of Verses” and “East of the Son, West of the Moon” as a small child, to reading The Entire series of “The Wizard of Oz”, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, and “The Hobbit” in grade school, to being introduced to the likes of Robert Heinlein and Piers Anthony (and Doctor Who!) by my aunt as an adolescent, to finding Neil Gaiman and George R.R. Martin as an adult, to introducing my daughters to the Disney Movies and the original fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm they were pulled from — fantasy and myth have always had a special place in my heart.

This volume is the offspring of that love.

But like the tales that came before, it is not idle amusement.

There is a profound lesson within these pages, for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

I hope you find it. I hope you share it - especially with your children, and your children's children.

And I hope you live in peace, love, and joy all of your days!

All my Love,

Aaron